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 Monday, 6 October 2008
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Saints rally to deny Warrington

Last Updated: Sunday, 11 May 2008, 06:24 GMT
- Search: Carnegie Challenge Cup

St Helens' Willie Talau celebrates after scoring a first-half try against Warrington
St Helens' Willie Talau celebrates after scoring a first-half try against Warrington

St Helens remain on course for a third successive Carnegie Challenge Cup after maintaining the Indian sign over local rivals Warrington with a 40-34 victory in a gripping fifth-round tie.

The holders produced a carbon copy of their 30-22 victory at Warrington a fortnight earlier by coming from behind three times to complete a third derby win of the season at the re-named GPW Recruitment Stadium.

The visitors battled courageously to give themselves a great chance of claiming their first win at the home of their neighbours for 14 years and scored the try of the match, a length-of-the-field effort from speedy winger Kevin Penny but three Saints tries in six second-half minutes proved to be decisive.

Adrian Morley celebrated his 31st birthday by crashing over for the first of 13 tries and Chris Hicks kicked a conversion and penalty to give his side an 8-0 lead after 16 minutes.

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Saints struck with two tries in four minutes from Willie Talau and Chris Flannery to take the lead but Hicks crossed and added a touchline conversion to put Warrington back in front briefly.

The holders struck what appeared to be the decisive blow four minutes before the break when left winger Francis Meli, who had earlier been denied a try for obstruction, took advantage of a suspiciously forward-looking pass from Paul Wellens to grab a third try.

Warrington knew their luck was out when Sean Long's conversion went in off an upright but they drew level four minutes into the second half when Hicks went over for his second try.

Six minutes later winger Ade Gardner crossed for Saints' fourth try, but still Warrington were not finished and they hit back with Penny's 100-metre special and Hicks' touchline goal made it 24-22.

But Saints were not finished yet and they pulled away with the aid of a three-try burst in six minutes.

Talau took Leon Pryce's inside pass to go over for his second, substitute Paul Clough took full advantage of a handling error to claim a soft try and Lee Gilmour touched down after a mazy run, with Long taking his goal tally to six before Ben Westwood and substitute Simon Grix scoring late consolation tries for Warrington.