Summary

  • FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

  • Leigh beat St Helens to reach first Challenge Cup final since 1971

  • Lussick try gives St Helens 6-0 lead at the break

  • Leigh hit back to lead with tries from Holmes & Hardaker

  • Lomax scores late try to give Saints hope but Makinson misses conversion

  1. Farewell for nowpublished at 17:00 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    That just about does us for today.

    A bumper day in the Challenge Cup as St Helens win a nail-biter against York Valkyrie to reach the Women's Challenge Cup final while Leigh Leopards held off a late attack against St Helens to reach the men's final.

    Wigan's women take on their Leeds counterparts in the first tie of tomorrow's Challenge Cup semi-final double header with the chance to face St Helens at Wembley on 12 August.

    Meanwhile, Wigan's men's side stand 80 minutes from meeting cross-town rivals Leigh in the final when they face Hull KR in the second semi-final tomorrow.

    For now, thank you for joining us.

  2. Joy for Leighpublished at 16:59 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Zak Hardaker celebrates Leigh's win over St HelensImage source, PA Media
    Lachlan Lan celebrates Leigh's win with Zak HardakerImage source, PA Media
    Leigh fans celebrate their side's Challenge Cup semi-final win over St HelensImage source, PA Media
  3. 'I put it on the line for the boys'published at 16:56 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh Leopards' Josh Charnley on BBC One:

    "We knew if it was close at half-time we'd have the mindset to come back in the second half.

    "We have stuck to our systems and come away with the win. I put it on the line for the boys.

    "You can see the workrate we have all put in."

  4. 'Dreams are there to be reached'published at 16:53 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh Leopards back Zak Hardaker on BBC One:

    "Dreams are are there to be reached. We were always confident we could do something special but you have to do it on the day.

    "We competed for 80 minutes. It's just so rewarding. It's unbelievable.

    "There was talk about us in a relegation battle and that spurred us on."

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbcrl, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Sam: I’m a Saints fan but congratulations to Leigh Leopards, amazing defence today. Congrats to Saints Women, what a fantastic performance. Two incredible matches today.

  6. 'Small margins' cost Saints - Wellenspublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    St Helens head coach Paul Wellens told BBC One:

    "In big games like that there are small margins and you can probably point to a lot of things during the course of the game and unfortunately the result didn't go our way today.

    "I want to congratulate Leigh, the journey they have been on as a club to get to Wembley in their first season back in Super League is really special for them. But we're really disappointed.

    "Games like this can turn pretty quickly. We got opened up on our right edge at the start of the second half and that was a momentum shift.

    "I really enjoyed the way our guys stuck at it and finished the game strongly like we did last week, but the same as last week we're on the wrong end of the result."

  7. 'It took a mighty effort to win'published at 16:42 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh Leopards boss Adrian Lam told BBC One:

    "I'm very proud of the efforts of everyone and it's a special moment for the town, which hasn't had much to cheer about.

    "I'm happy for the owner Derek Beaumont and the staff involved.

    "It took a mighty effort to beat the world champions and that's what it was."

  8. 'No one gave us a chance'published at 16:40 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh Leopards half-back Lachlan Lam:

    "I don't have too many words. No one really gave us a chance.

    "We came here full of confidence and worked so hard for each other

    "A lot of our boys fly under the radar."

  9. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:38 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbcrl, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Simon Baddeley: Wow! What a performance from Leigh Leopards That's what makes the Challenge Cup so brilliant.

    Gareth Walker: Sport thrives on storylines and Leigh Leopards is a club littered with them, on and off the field. The passion and emotion across the club made for great TV. Gripping semi-final to watch.

    Reece Duddle: Adrian Lam deserves that. Didn’t work out for him at Wigan but you can tell he really cares and he does have a plan. Terrified for tomorrow now though.

  10. Postpublished at 16:37 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Lois Forsell
    Former England hooker on BBC One

    It was a great game, it had everything. I think Leigh are probably so proud about the way they kept turning up for each other.

    It was an opportunity for them to create history and you could see that tackle after tackle.

  11. 'All we've done is get there'published at 16:34 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh owner Derek Beaumont on BBC One:

    "I thought first half Saints played near-perfect rugby but we kept turning up for ourselves and defending.

    "But eventually we got some good ball and wow.

    "My wife and kids, we live and breath this club everyday, I'm a bit obsessed with it. I'm a competitor and I want to achieve.

    "I always say you never fail at anything until you stop trying and we're still trying. But all we've done is get there but you'd rather lose a final than a semi."

  12. Leigh deserved itpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Jamie Jones-Buchanan
    Former England and Leeds second-rower on BBC One

    It's phenomenal by Leigh. What a fantastic game.

    Lachlan Lam was outstanding but It was a 17-man contribution and they fully deserve to go to Wembley.

  13. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbcrl, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Jo Siddall: What a great game this has been. Glad I'm a neutral!

    Michael Lavelle: Derek Beaumont leading Leigh out of the Wembley tunnel wearing a three piece leopard print suit is actually happening people and I can’t wait to see it.

    Ben Joy: Yep, absolutely love it! Get in Leigh. That’s brilliant. What a win! Hats off to Derek Beaumont, made up for him and the boys They’re on their way to Wembley!

  14. Postpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    And to think, before the start of the season there was chatter that Leigh would be nailed-on relegation candidates.

    Now look at them.

  15. Postpublished at 16:23 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    The 1895 Cup. Promotion. A controversial rebrand. A wave of new signings and causing an upset week after week in Super League.

    And now a Challenge Cup final. What a colossal 18 months it's been for Leigh Leopards.

  16. An epic contestpublished at 16:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Kevin Brown
    Former England international half-back on BBC One

    Wow. That's all you can say. We have been royally entertained. Leigh have come through by the tiniest of margins.

  17. LEIGH INTO CHALLENGE CUP FINALpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 22 July 2023
    Breaking

    FT: Leigh 12-10 St Helens

    Leigh celebrate their first try against St HelensImage source, Getty Images

    Half a century of waiting is over!

    Leigh have held on and they will travel to Wembley next month. The Leopards have reached the Challenge Cup final for the first time since 1971 by beating the world champions.

    What a stunning second-half performance from Adrian Lam's side to beat St Helens.

    Saints looked like they might cause a late upset through Jonny Lomax's try but Tommy Makinson's missed conversion sends Leigh through.

    Leigh owner Derek Beaumont's on the pitch already. It's pandemonium.

  18. try

    TRY: Leigh 12-10 St Helenspublished at 78 mins

    Jonny Lomax

    A lifeline for St Helens!

    That's been coming for the past 15 minutes. Saints work the ball laterally - again - and Jack Welsby serves up the pass for Jonny Lomax to run in.

    There's the big game experience Saints usually rely on. But can they nail the kick?

    Tommy Makinson missed just before the break. He misses again.

    Leigh are in raptures. They're 40 seconds away from the Challenge Cup final.

  19. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Leigh 12-6 St Helens

    Time is quickly running out for St Helens.

    Agnatius Paasi is off. Matty Lees is on.

    Can they make a breakthrough and send it to golden point?

    Josh Charnley is tackled in the in-goal area. Ooh it's tense.

  20. Extra time looming?published at 16:12 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 12-6 St Helens

    John Kear
    Wales coach on BBC One

    The workrate and effort has been so intense. I don't think I could summon the energy for extra time.

    If Leigh win this, it's been about their desperation in defence.