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Warrington Wolves edged a pulsating Challenge Cup quarter-final with St Helens to set up a semi-final showdown with Leigh Leopards next month.
Two of the cup’s most successful clubs met on a sun-drenched afternoon in Warrington, in a contest that was level at half-time and which ebbed and flowed for most of the match. But in the end, it was Sam Burgess’s side who came through a thrilling tie with the England captain, George Williams, scoring the decisive try with 10 minutes remaining.
Before that, the Saints trailed by just two and were pushing for the try that would have put them in front for the first time in the afternoon. But after the ball went to ground, Williams delivered when it mattered to score a sensational long-range solo try and edge the Wire through to the final four.
They are now just one win away from a return to Wembley having reached the final last year during Burgess’s first season as a head coach. They were beaten by Wigan 12 months ago but, with the Warriors already out, will now fancy their chances of going one step further this year. Leigh, the 2023 winners, stand in their way, with Hull KR facing Catalans in the other semi-final.
The two sides could not be split at half-time, with Warrington’s Matt Dufty opening the scoring before Tristan Sailor replied just before the break to make it 6-6. But the Saints lost several players to head injuries throughout that first half, with Mark Percival among those going off.
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And although there was no shortage of spirit from the Saints, they lacked quality in crucial moments. Ben Currie’s try and two goals from the boot of Marc Sneyd made it 14-6 in Warrington’s favour, before Daryl Clark capitalised on a error to narrow the gap to two with 15 minutes remaining.
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But just as the visitors looked like they were capable of finding a play to win the tie, they turned it over cheaply on halfway and Williams spotted a gap in the St Helens line, racing away to give Sneyd a simple conversion to open up an eight-point gap again. This time, there would be no time for the Saints to mount a comeback.
