Saints tough it out

St Helens remained on course to defend their Carnegie Challenge Cup title with a battling 18-24 victory over Hull KR.

Saints, winners for the last two years, emerged victorious from a ferocious encounter at Craven Park to book a place in the last four for the eighth consecutive season.

An Ade Gardner try 10 minutes from time was to be the difference between the sides as the visitors were tested to their limit by Justin Morgan's men.

The home side stated their intent from the outset, mainly thanks to their new Paul Cooke and Michael Dobson half-back partnership.

Cooke, after hitting the target with a 40-20 kick inside the first minute, touched down almost immediately after when he latched onto a Dobson grubber.

Saints levelled the scores shortly before the 15 minute mark, Willie Talau crossing after being fed by Lee Gilmour.

Disallowed

Maurie Fa'asavalu then barged his way through the home defence for Saints' second almost immediately after arriving on the field as a replacement.

Rovers were twice denied as they took the game to the visitors, Shaun Briscoe and Ben Cockayne both seeing their scores disallowed by referee Ashley Klein.

But, just before the interval, Rovers broke from deep to claim a try after Long shunned a drop goal opportunity to kick to the corner.

Jake Webster came up with the ball for Rovers and put Daniel Fitzhenry into a gap for an 80 metre sprint to the line.

Cooke levelled the scores with his boot but Saints reclaimed the lead thanks to Long early in the second half.

Pounced

Rovers however came back straightaway after Paul Wellens missed Dobson's kick and Webster pounced, with Cooke again adding the extras to level.

Cooke missed the opportunity to put the hosts in front, kicking his goal attempt wide. The winning try came in the 70th minute after Talau exploited a gap and carried close to the line.

A fine pass from Long found Gardner out wide who crossed in the corner. Again Long added the extra points to leave a relieved Saints with a six-point margin at the final whistle.