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- #26
St. Helens 18 Warrington Wolves 36.
It didn't look like that in the first half; Saints were all over Warrington like a rash, and the Wolves struggled to get out of their half. They only got near the Saints try-line three or four times in the entire half, but, tellingly, they scored two tries in those visits, and only trailed 14-12 at half time.
In the second half, it didn't take Warrington long to score first, another precision kick from Lee Briers finding Joel Monaghan, who caught the ball brilliantly, but then lost it behind him, and then recovered quickest to grab the loose ball and shovel it over the line for a fair try. Two tries from Trent Waterhouse, the second of which was lucky to be allowed when Saints had a good case for obstruction, put Warrington in the driving seat, and a further score from Chris Riley, who got two on the night also, meant that Saints could have no complaints. They reached the last four with a somewhat makeshift side, not really in the class of Saints sides of old, when they had the likes of Sean Long, Leon Price, Mal Meninga, Jamie Lyon and Matt Gidley to call on. Lance Hohaia has never really looked comfortable as a 6 for my money.
Brett Hodgson was as reliable as ever with his goal-kicking, missing only once, whereas Saints were more erratic.
I'm glad Warrington got through, the first time they've ever made a GF, and they now face Leeds in a repeat of the Challenge Cup Final. On that day Leeds were well beaten , so they'll hope for a better showing this time as Warrington attempt the league and cup double. So it will be Sinfield against Briers in what should be a cracking Final.
It didn't look like that in the first half; Saints were all over Warrington like a rash, and the Wolves struggled to get out of their half. They only got near the Saints try-line three or four times in the entire half, but, tellingly, they scored two tries in those visits, and only trailed 14-12 at half time.
In the second half, it didn't take Warrington long to score first, another precision kick from Lee Briers finding Joel Monaghan, who caught the ball brilliantly, but then lost it behind him, and then recovered quickest to grab the loose ball and shovel it over the line for a fair try. Two tries from Trent Waterhouse, the second of which was lucky to be allowed when Saints had a good case for obstruction, put Warrington in the driving seat, and a further score from Chris Riley, who got two on the night also, meant that Saints could have no complaints. They reached the last four with a somewhat makeshift side, not really in the class of Saints sides of old, when they had the likes of Sean Long, Leon Price, Mal Meninga, Jamie Lyon and Matt Gidley to call on. Lance Hohaia has never really looked comfortable as a 6 for my money.
Brett Hodgson was as reliable as ever with his goal-kicking, missing only once, whereas Saints were more erratic.
I'm glad Warrington got through, the first time they've ever made a GF, and they now face Leeds in a repeat of the Challenge Cup Final. On that day Leeds were well beaten , so they'll hope for a better showing this time as Warrington attempt the league and cup double. So it will be Sinfield against Briers in what should be a cracking Final.
