Rhinos charge to Wembley

Leeds battled back from a 10-point half-time deficit to defeat St Helens 32-28 and reach the Carnegie Challenge Cup final.

A barnstorming semi-final at the Galpharm Stadium was settled with seven minutes remaining when Danny McGuire dashed over.

The stand-off's second try was enough to see off their Super League rivals and secure the Rhinos a first trip to Wembley in 11 years.

Saints had been 18-8 in front at the break and then 22-14 ahead early in the second half before the lead changed hands three times in a dramatic final quarter.

Landmark moment

James Graham's try with 10 minutes to play had looked like it might be enough but McGuire had other ideas, latching on to Jamie Peacock's pass and racing over for his 200th, and surely most important, try for Leeds.

Ryan Hall also crossed twice for the Rhinos, including grabbing the opener out on the left after good work from centre Keith Senior.

The winger's effort after 21 minutes was excellently converted by Kevin Sinfield, the Rhinos skipper having already broken the deadlock with a penalty after he had been flattened by a borderline late hit by Scott Moore.

However Saints, who were dealt a blow before kick-off when Leon Pryce was ruled out with a neck injury, hit back in style to score 18 unanswered points.

Moore's inside ball set up Paul Wellens and after a try for Jon Wilkin was correctly chalked off for a knock-on, veteran hooker Keiron Cunningham forced his way over, despite the attentions of four defenders.

A third St Helens try came on the stroke of half time came courtesy of a gift from Rhinos forward Greg Eastwood.

The New Zealand international threw a no-look pass to his right hoping to find a team-mate. Instead all he found was the grateful arms of Francis Meli, the winger galloping away to score underneath the posts.

Jamie Foster added his third conversion to put Saints in a commanding position, though their lead was cut when swift handling by Leeds sent Hall over out on the left right at the start of the second half.

Responded

Saints responded with centre Matt Gidley doing just enough to get the ball on the try-line, though this time Foster was unable to add the extras.

At that stage it appeared the cup kings would inflict a sixth defeat in the last seven meetings of the two heavyweights in the knockout competition.

Leeds, however, weren't done just yet. Brilliant breaks from veterans Senior and Danny Buderus led to simple tries for McGuire and Brent Webb, both of which were converted by Sinfield.

Graham then charged onto Cunningham's short pass to tip the balance back in Saints' favour, Foster's fourth successful kick making it 28-26.

Yet there was still more to come from McGuire, who reaped the dividends of supporting Peacock's break to race past a tired defence and score a try that finally settled a superb advert for the 13-man game.