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. The standout Saintpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 0-6 St Helens

    John Kear
    Wales coach on BBC One

    There's an edge to Joey Lussick today. He nearly scored again there. He's been sensational. Leigh have been defending for almost the whole time. It's a difficult time.

  2. Postpublished at 24 mins

    Leigh 0-6 St Helens

    Credit to Leigh, St Helens squander their opportunity from Joey Lussick's monster 40/20.

    The Leopards admirably hold them up before they can swiftly cross for another try.

  3. Postpublished at 23 mins

    Leigh 0-6 St Helens

    Wow. Just wow.

    This is an absolutely huge 40/20 from Joey Lussick and early on in St Helens' set as well, coming just three tackles in.

    That kick came shortly after Jack Welsby had botched a pass to Tee Ritson causing him to immediately go to ground pretty much directly in front of their own posts, too.

  4. Saints on toppublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 0-6 St Helens

    Kevin Brown
    Former England international half-back on BBC One

    Joey Lussick is great at scoring tries from close range. He sells the dummy so well. It was subtlety of mind from Joey. There was fatigue in the defence. Leigh haven't been here before and they are the team coming up with errors.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 14:54 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

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

    Gary Ormiston: Saints have bossed the opening quarter and deservingly get the opening try.

  6. Postpublished at 20 mins

    Leigh 0-6 St Helens

    St Helens boss Paul Wellens said pre-match that despite Leigh's fine form this season, their lack of big game experience in comparison to his side could work in Saints' favour.

    Are we seeing that now? That Joey Lussick try came after a Leigh knock-on when they were under pressure to get out of their own half.

  7. try

    TRY: Leigh 0-6 St Helenspublished at 19 mins

    Joey Lussick, goal Tommy Makinson

    Well that didn't take long. Just the one angle was needed to show that Joey Lussick successfully grounded the ball over the line.

    St Helens are off the mark and it comes via Lewis Dodd's quick thinking to tee Lussick up to power over.

    Tommy Makinson adds the two.

  8. TRY REVIEWpublished at 18 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    Leigh concede a knock-on inside their own 10 and St Helens have another set to weave their way through.

    Joey Lussick powers over for Saints, but it's being sent upstairs.

    Bear with us, folks. Video referee Marcus Griffiths is going to take a look.

  9. Postpublished at 17 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    St Helens waste no time in gaining ground and camping out in Leigh's 10.

    Tee Ritson tries a kick before the turnover but it's collected by Leigh much like Edwin Ipape's was at the other end moments earlier.

    That kind of sums up the state of this game so far - both sides are having difficulty getting anywhere near the tryline.

  10. Leigh are hanging in therepublished at 14:47 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    John Kear
    Wales coach on BBC One

    St Helens are dominating territory but Leigh are hanging in there and they will grow into the game. Now it will be interesting to see how Saints can get clear of their line.

  11. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    The answer to whether Leigh can take advantage of their set of six 30 metres out is, no.

    On the last, Edwin Ipape puts a speculative short kick in but it's easily collected by St Helens.

    Not a lot in the way of errors from either side right now, with the quarter-of-an-hour mark gone.

  12. Postpublished at 12 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    Jonny Lomax is penalised for a knock-on deep in the St Helens half after John Asiata claws at his right arm in the midst of him trying to offload the ball.

    Leigh are 30 metres out, but can they take advantage?

  13. Postpublished at 10 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    Sione Mata'utia picks up the ball for St Helens and Leigh dive in to stop him but they can't bring him down at the first attempt and he gains almost another 10 metres before he's eventually grounded.

    Saints can't quite find a pathway this time as Leigh keep them pegged back 20 metres, but Paul Wellens' side continue to threaten early on in this tie.

  14. A strong Saints startpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    Kevin Brown
    Former England international half-back on BBC One

    There is an intensity and energy to this Saints team; They have started really well. Leigh are not penetrating the Saints defence at all so far.

  15. Postpublished at 7 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    Jack Welsby catches a pretty tame Leigh kick on the turnover and St Helens start a set almost on halfway.

    That kick's put Leigh under a fair bit of pressure and Lewis Dodd eventually gets the ball on the last tackle but his kick to goal is swiftly collected by the Leopards.

  16. Postpublished at 4 mins

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    John Kear's just described the early stage of this tie as "an arm wrestle" live on BBC One and that's my assessment too.

    Neither side giving too much away at this stage and not threatening either half with their set of six.

  17. A true test for the Leopardspublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

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

    Leigh have been incredible. The test now will be playing well in a Challenge Cup semi-final. How will they perform under the biggest pressure against the biggest team?

  18. Kick-offpublished at 1 min

    Leigh 0-0 St Helens

    There's a cracking atmosphere in Warrington.

    Both sets of fans are in fine voice.

    St Helens get us going.

  19. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcrlpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh v St Helens (14:30 BST)

    Is this Leigh's time? Are they going to reach a first Challenge Cup final since their victorious trip to Wembley in 1971?

    Or are St Helens going to need to add another shelf to their trophy cabinet?

    Let us know how you see this tie headed using #bbcrl on social media.

  20. Leigh's lethal combinationpublished at 14:29 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Leigh v St Helens (14:30 BST)

    Jon Wilkin
    Former St Helens forward on BBC One

    Josh Charnley has been prolific but he benefits hugely from the combination of Lachlan Lam and John Asiata. I'd bet my bottom dollar Leigh will move the ball through them today.