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Challenge Cup match report: St Helens v Featherstone Rovers
St Helens eased into the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive victory over a valiant Featherstone outfit.
The Championship One title-chasers did not disgrace themselves, especially in the first half, with the final scoreline not doing their effort justice.
Saints, without 11 injured first-team players, handed Warren Thompson his debut off the bench alongside Scott Hale.
Thompson marked the occasion with a first-half try with Jamie Foster booting 11 goals from 12 attempts.
Rovers included Ian Hardman against his old club as they made their first visit to Saints for 16 years. Hardman prevented an early Foster try by barging the winger into touch after a bright start by Rovers.
But Saints went ahead in the 11th minute when Francis Meli, latched onto Jon Wilkin’s grubber kick and Foster converted.
Rovers caused Saints problems with desperate defence needed to keep out Ross Divorty.
Rovers’ stubborn resistance was breached by bulldozing forward Thompson after 25 minutes and Foster’s conversion calmed the Saints nerves.
Liam Finn’s promptings from scrum-half caused problems for Saints who managed to go further ahead with Wellens scoring to make it 18-0.
Featherstone almost snatched a deserved try but neither Bryn Powell or Mufaro Mvududu could collect Tom Hemingway’s teasing kick to leave them trailing 18-0 at half-time.
James Graham gave Saints the perfect start to the second half by blasting over with Foster adding his fourth conversion.
Ashe added the fifth try to increase the lead to 30-0 after 51 minutes. Michael Shenton then weaved his way over for a scorching solo effort before Matty Ashurst added to Rovers’ woes as their first-half effort began to take its toll.
Tom Makinson then made it 48-0 before adding his second two minutes later.
Sol Soliola forced his way over the line eight minutes from time but there was still time for Shenton and Tom Armstrong to add further touchdowns.
Rovers coach Daryl Powell said: “We were pretty good in the first half but the second half was unacceptable and to blow it like we did was really disappointing.”
St Helens: Wellens, Gardner, Shenton, Meli, Foster, Wilkin, Ashe, Graham, Roby, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Ashurst, Soliola, Magennis. Subs (all used): Armstrong, Makinson, Hale, Thompson.
Featherstone: Hardman, Powell, Bostock, Smeaton, Hepworth, Hemingway, Finn, Haley, Kaye, Dickens, Grayshon, Spears, Dale. Subs (all used): Welham, Worthington, Divorty, Mvududu.
Referee: James Child (Dewsbury).
Attendance: 2,905.
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