When Leeds Rhinos and St Helens came out of the hat in the semi-final the build up instantly began to the showdown between Super League's top and second placed clubs at a packed Halliwell-Jones Stadium in Warrington.

The Rhinos had won both league encounters so far this season but Saints were rejuvenated with a good run to the end of the first part of the Super League season, having won four out of their last five matches.

The prize on offer was a trip to Wembley for the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final to play either Hull KR or Warrington Wolves, who meet tomorrow lunchtime at Headingley Stadium.

Four minutes into the game and the Rhinos opened their account with a brilliant passing move after McGuire had earned a penalty on the Saints twenty. Adam Cuthbertson offloaded, Joel Moon jinked across the field and Zak Hardaker stepped off both feet to go in by the posts. skipper Kevin Sinfield kicked the extras to send the travelling supporters from Headingley into raptures.

Sinfield added a penalty after fourteen minutes and the Rhinos were good for the 8-0 lead after dominating field and possession.

On twenty-five McCarthy-Scarsbrook dropped the ball in the Leeds twenty. the Rhinos worked the ball downfield with a Rob Burrow break, Sinfield support and pass to Kallum Watkins who found Joel Moon to wrong foot the last line of the Saints defence to score. Sinfield failed to convert but the margin was two converted tries.

A couple of minutes before half-time and Saints threw themselves a lifeline after a break by Alex Walmsley, a barnstorming run by Adam Quinlan, and a final pass to Mark Percival for him to cross in the corner. Luke Walsh missed the kick but the margin was down to eight points as the teams headed into the interval.

Six minutes into the second half and an incredible try from the old man of rugby league as Jamie Peacock stepped his way twenty metres past the Saints defence off a Rob Burrow pass to dive over under the sticks. Sinfield kicked the extras for 18-4.

On fifty-two Andre Savelio managed to push through three Leeds defenders to ground the ball on the line, and with the try by the posts Luke Walsh's conversion was a simple one.

With a second try in three minutes Percival got his second of the night when he found an overlap on the short side to cross off a Savelio pass. Walsh again failed with the kick although with four points the difference it was 'game on' as we moved into the last quarter. Leeds were starting to doubt themselves and making the mistakes that they'd avoided in the first half.

On sixty-eight the Rhinos were back in charge after a Hardaker tackle had forced a Saints drop out from under their own sticks. Burrow, McGuire and Sinfield all showed fast hands for Kallum Watkins to zig-zag his way past the defence to ground one-handed. Sinfield kicked the extras for 24-14 to steady Leeds' nerves.

As the clock ran down both sides spurned chances to add to their tallies and it was the Rhinos that ran the clock down to a ten point victory to book their place in the showpiece final at Wembley. The Rhinos get their chance to defend the trophy they won last year. Brian McDermott will have a keen eye on the other semi-final tomorrow afternoon.

It had been a great game between two sides who know each other inside out and who presented both partisan fans and neutrals with a feast of intense rugby league.

Rhinos: Hardaker (T), Briscoe, Watkins (T), Moon (T), Hall, McGuire, Sinfield (4G), Cuthbertson, Aiton, Peacock (T), Ablett, Delaney, Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Keinhorst, Garbutt, Burrow, Leuluai.

Saints: Quinlan, Dawson, Percival (2T), Turner, Swift, Burns, Walsh (G), Amor, Roby, Walmsley, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Flanagan. Subs: Jones, Masoe, Savelio (T), Vea.


Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: 11,107