2021 Men's Challenge Cup Semi Finals Review

After the Women's final earlier in the day, the Men's semi finals followed to complete the Leigh Sports Village triple header.

Grace Brace Sweeps Saints Past Hull FC

St Helens booked their place in next month's final with a 33-18 win over Hull FC. FC struck first with a Marc Sneyd penalty goal for 2-0 before Regan Grace's acrobatic try was followed by a conversion in off the post from Lachlan Coote who soon added a penalty goal for 8-2.

A somewhat controversial score from Theo Fages followed as he collected a free ball dropped by the injured FC back Josh Griffin (Coote conv) made it 14-2 and the 12 point lead lasted into the interval. 

Jack Welsby crossed within eight minutes of the restart with Coote kicking for 20-2 before Hull cut the gap with a Mahe Fonua try which Sneyd converted for 20-8. Fages swept over a drop goal for 21-8 but FC cut the deficit with Danny Houghton going over and Sneyd kicking for 21-14. Cameron Scott dived in to close the score to 21-18 before FC looked to be on course to go ahead but with the line in sight saw a pass intercepted by Grace who dashed clear for his second and Coote converted for 27-18. The tie was settled for certain in the final minutes as Coote crossed and converted to wrap up the 33-18 win. 

Wire's Wembley Hopes End As Tigers Triumph

Castleford Tigers completed the setup for the final with a hard fought 35-20 win over Warrington Wolves. After a tight first 15 minutes, Cas opened the scoring with ex-Wire back Gareth O'Brien crossing and converting for 6-0 before a sinbinning for Wire's Jake Mamo saw Cas storm into an 18-0 lead thanks to a Jordan Turner brace which O'Brien improved. The lead extended to 19-0 with a Paul McShane drop goal just before the interval.

Warrington got off the mark within four minutes of the restart through Ben Currie before Mamo crossed for 19-8. Castleford restored their 15 point advantage with a Jesse Sene-Lefao try before they were reduced to 12 as Jacques O'Neill was sent to the sin-bin. 

Wire utilised the player advantage with Toby King touching down and Gareth Widdop converting for 23-14 but Cas fought on with a hat-trick try for Turner (O'Brien conv) before McShane crossed to surely wrap up the win at 33-14. Warrington cut the gap through Josh Charnley's effort with Widdop kicking for 33-20 but the last say went to the triumphant Tigers as O'Brien swept over a penalty goal to complete the 35-20 victory.