St Helens and Hull KR fight their way into Challenge Cup semi-finals
Saints beat a stubborn Hull FC 32-18 as Rovers downed Salford 28-10 in the quarter-final clashes
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.St Helens showed their class and composure to eventually overcome a stubborn Hull FC side, who played the entire second half with 12 men, to reach the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, while a dazzling debut from Tanguy Zenon helped injury-ravaged Hull KR sweep aside Salford to join them in the last four.
The Saints game was on a knife edge at half-time, with the scores locked at 12-12, before Hull star Josh Griffin was sent off for dissent by referee Chris Kendall as the players were leaving the field for the break.
Saints showed patience to grind out the result with a man advantage in the second half, winning 32-18 at the MKM Stadium.
The reigning Super League champions had to show resilience after losing both Mark Percival and Tommy Makinson to injury in the first half but just had too much physicality and speed for Tony Smith’s side in the second period.
The visitors were steered to victory brilliantly by their spine, with Jack Welsby in particular starring at the back. The England international scored a try and set two up to ensure his side advanced one step closer to Wembley and subjected Hull to their second successive defeat.
Meanwhile, Zenon immediately showed his class to help Hull KR to a 28-10 win over Salford at Craven Park.
Drafted in on loan from Catalans Dragons this week to ease Willie Peters’ increasing list of absentees, the 21-year-old Frenchman scored one try and inspired a gutsy response to his side’s miserable run of four straight defeats.
Those losses, which have seen Rovers sink from near the top of the table to outside the play-off zone, included a Magic Weekend defeat to the same side a fortnight ago and it was Salford who entered Saturday’s game on a high on the back of eight wins from their last nine.
But, despite a promising spell at the start of the second half, Salford came out distinctly second best and a pair of late tries from Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Dean Hadley sealed Rovers’ place in the semi-finals for the second straight year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments