Stressful afternoon for Anderson

Coaches hail "classic" but Wolves suffer both defeat and injury

Last updated: 10th May 2008

Anderson Daniel St Helens Oct 07

Anderson: stress

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St Helens coach Daniel Anderson paid tribute to rivals Warrington after his side knocked the Wolves out of the Carnegie Challenge Cup thanks to a 40-34 win at Knowsley Road.

Looking for their first win against Saints in 23 games, Warrington led three times in a classic fifth-round tie and also provided a strong candidate for try of the season from Kevin Penny.

The winger sprinted 65 metres to finish off a move begun behind the Warrington posts and, when Chris Hicks added the conversion, the Cup holders trailed 24-22.

But Saints then hit a purple patch, scoring three tries in six minutes - Penny to blame for one after spilling the ball deep in Warrington territory - to go 40-24 ahead before the Wolves produced another late rally.

"It was a very stressful afternoon for both coaches," said Anderson. "But it was one of the most skilful displays I've ever seen.

"All credit to Warrington. Even when they were behind by 16, I thought they would come back. They harassed us and they are an extremely dangerous team."

Anderson described Penny's try as "one of the best I've ever seen" and Warrington coach Paul Cullen said: "It was an exhibition of absolute brilliance."

Warrington were already without hooker Jon Clarke through suspension and then lost his Great Britain team-mate Martin Gleeson through illness before kick-off.

Reardon out

Things got worse for the Wolves when Stuart Reardon hobbled off just six minutes into the match, the full-back suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon which will almost certainly end his season.

They also lost Gleeson's replacement Paul Johnson and makeshift full-back Chris Riley through injury and were out on their feet at the end of a frenetic match played in muggy heat.

Warrington were also on the wrong end of a controversial decision just before half-time when winger Francis Meli appeared to touch down from a forward pass.

"The game was a classic," Cullen added. "It was a fantastic exhibition of rugby league skill in both offence and defence.

"We've controlled everything in our power today as best we could during very difficult circumstances.

"We weren't perfect, Saints weren't perfect and neither were the officials but I would begrudge the headlines being about the competence of the officials because they belong to the players.

"For us to produce a performance of that quality is testament to the character and ability of our players.

"Martin Gleeson was on a drip when we arrived at the ground after being taken ill overnight and we had to make a very late change."

Reardon's injury aside, Johnson and Riley were diagnosed with knee and ankle ligament damage respectively.