Challenge Cup semi-finals

[Didgi]

Saint Helens RLFC vs. Wigan Warriors - 4:30pm (1:30am AEST Sunday)

Saint Helens (from): Paul Wellens, Michael Shenton, Sia Soliola, Francis Meli, Leon Pryce, Kyle Eastmond, James Roby, James Graham, Tony Puletua, Jon Wilkin, Chris Flannery, Scott Moore, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Paul Clough, Andrew Dixon, Jonny Lomax, Jamie Foster, Lee Gaskell, Thomas Makinson.

Wigan Warriors (from): Sam Tomkins, George Carmont, Pat Richards, Paul Deacon, Thomas Leuluai, Michael McIlorum, Andy Coley, Harrison Hansen, Joel Tomkins, Sean O'Loughlin, Paul Prescott, Jeff Lima, Ryan Hoffman, Brett Finch, Lee Mossop, Liam Farrell, Josh Charnley, Gareth Hock, Ben Cross.

Castleford Tigers vs. Leeds Rhinos - 3:15pm (12:15am AEST Monday)

Castleford Tigers (from): Joe Arundel, Martin Aspinwall, Rangi Chase, Ben Davies, Kirk Dixon, Brett Ferres, Ryan Hudson, Willie Isa, Oliver Holmes, Paul Jackson, Stuart Jones, Ryan McGoldrick, Adam Milner, Danny Orr, Richard Owen, Rob Parker, Jordan Thompson, Dean Widders, Nick Youngquest

Leeds Rhinos (from): 1 Brent Webb, 2 Lee Smith, 3 Brett Delaney, 5 Ryan Hall, 6 Danny McGuire, 7 Rob Burrow, 8 Kylie Leuluai, 9 Danny Buderus, 10 Jamie Peacock, 11 Jamie Jones Buchanan, 12 Carl Ablett, 13 Kevin Sinfield, 16 Ryan Bailey, 17 Ian Kirke, 19 Kallum Watkins, 20 Weller Hauraki, 21 Chris Clarkson, 23 Ben Jones-Bishop, 24 Paul McShane


Discuss! I'm hoping for Saints and Castleford to win, both have the ability but Cas possibly without Chase and Saints up against Wigan who won't go down easily, I can see it going the opposite.

 

[DINGb@T]

Saints Wigan should be a great game. Winner should be favourite for the Cup.

Leeds Castleford is going to be more interesting. Leeds aren't the Leeds of old at the moment and Cas would have to be hungry. Cas in the final would also be a boon for the smaller teams in the comp so I'm barracking for them although if Chase is out I can't really see it happening.

 

[Evil Homer]

Saints v Wigan about to kick off.

 

[Patorick]

Great game!

 

[Patorick]

"Wigan deserved it. It's fabulous for the club and it's fabulous that the club are going back to Wembley, which in the 1980s seemed to be their spiritual home. The thing for St Helens is that they have a lot of young boys who have learned some good lessons that will serve them well for the future." - Brian Noble

 

[Patorick]

DUE TO AN EXTREMELY HIGH VOLUME OF VISITORS WIGANWARRIORS.COM IS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE.

WE APOLOGISE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE THIS MAY CAUSE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

 

[S.S.T.I.D]

Congrats Wigan and Michael Maguire. It sounded like a great game from what I've read.

 

[RedVee]

Score? details?

 

[Patorick]

Score? details?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/9554761.stm

Wigan Warriors 18-12 St Helens

Wigan (6) 18
Tries: Carmont, Charnley, S. Tomkins
Goals: Richards 3

St Helens (2) 12
Tries: Foster 2
Goals: Foster 2

By Steve Marshall

Wigan survived a stunning St Helens fightback to reach their first Challenge Cup final since 2004.

James Foster kicked Saints ahead after a cagey opening but Wigan led at the break through George Carmont's try.

Quickfire tries from Josh Charnley and Sam Tomkins appeared to have wrapped it up for Wigan at 18-2 with 20 minutes left to play.

But although Foster crossed twice to set up a grandstand finish, Wigan held on to secure a trip to Wembley.

Saints, playing their 11th successive semi-final, were dealt a blow before kick-off as influential scrum-half Kyle Eastmond was ruled out by injury.

Despite that setback, Saints finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Foster slotted over a close-range penalty after Warriors were caught offside.

Wigan hit back with a stunning score six minutes before half-time. It owed much to Charnley, who slipped his marker deep inside his own half and raced upfield before being brought down by Paul Wellens.

But as Saints desperately tried to re-group, Wigan kept their composure and spun the ball across the field to Carmont, who stepped inside the covering defenders to score, Richards adding the conversion.

Sam Tomkins was denied a try early in the second half when video referee Steve Ganson ruled Ryan Hoffman had obstructed Saints' Jonny Lomax, but Wigan did not have to wait long to extend their lead.

Play was this time spread to Charnley, who raced down the wing before cutting past Francis Meli and Wellens to touch down under the posts and present Richards with the simplest of conversions.

Wigan seemed to have taken a firm grip on the game when Sam Tomkins held off three defenders to force his way over, but Saints hit back as Meli twice sent Foster in at the corner to cap two stunning moves.

Foster landed one of his two conversion attempts to leave Saints needing a converted try to send the tie to extra time.

As the tension grew as the clock ticked down Richards missed a last-minute penalty chance to wrap it up, but it did not matter as the Warriors held on to secure a first trip to Wembley since 1998.

LINE-UPS

Wigan: S. Tomkins, Charnley, J. Tomkins, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Deacon, Lima, Leuluai, Coley, Hansen, Hoffman, O'Loughlin.

Replacements: McIlorum, Mossop, Farrell, Cross.

St Helens: Wellens, Makinson, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Pryce, Lomax, Graham, Roby, Puletua, Flannery, Soliola, Wilkin.

Replacements: McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Moore, Clough, Gaskell.

Att: 12,713.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury)

 

[RedVee]

thank you

 

[IanG]

So when's the final? Also will Channel 9 show it live or just in the normal Super League timeslot?

 

[Patorick]

Three weeks.

Doubt very much 9 will show it live.

The internet is your friend though...

 

[VictoryFC]

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsfbJlpzI_k - Leeds Cas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpeRmcFaRmc&feature=channel_video_title - Wigan Saints

Looked and sounded great, especially Wiganites game.