Now let's make it a Grand day out, say Saints

13 April 2012

Predictably, and, in the end, comfortably, St Helens overcame the afternoon heat and the pressure of being overwhelming favourites to win the first Carnegie Challenge Cup Final at the new Wembley.

And, even before they had left the vast arena, they were focusing on their next target - the engage Super League Grand Final.

Headlock: Wellens halted by Bentley as Long looks on

"We're back in for training on Monday and that'll bring us all down to earth," said Saints' Great Britain full-back and joint Lance Todd Trophy winner Paul Wellens.

"You can spend too much time celebrating so we'll knuckle down again. Super League's a lot tougher this year but we know what we have to do reach the Grand Final again."

Just as this ultra-professional St Helens side knew what had to be done to win the Challenge Cup for the 11th time in 20 finals and for the sixth time in the summer era.

They had to toil in the sun - it was 28 degrees in the shade - to repel the first French side in the 110-year history of the competition to reach the final. And they had to abandon their traditional flamboyance to make sure they did not slip on the banana skin the Catalans Dragons had placed at their feet.

Wellens' solidly efficient performance at full-back and his support play, which brought him a try and set up one for his winger Ade Gardner in the final minutes, looked enough to make him man of the match.

Instead, he had to share the coveted Lance Todd Trophy with Leon Pryce.

Keiron Cunningham, Sean Long and Jason Cayless celebrate with the Challenge Cup

"I don't mind sharing," said Wellens with typical humility. "It is just fantastic to be linked with the legends who took part in the parade of former winners before the game."

Pryce was surprised to win a share of the Lance Todd. "I thought I would have needed to have done a bit more," he said.

Saints coach Daniel Anderson would have handed out 17 trophies if he had been given the option: "I can't think of anyone who was better than anyone else. But Wello handled every situation professionally and Leon is our X-factor."

If the match never really lived up to the occasion, largely because of the heat, it sprang into life seven minutes before the interval when Saints substitute hooker James Roby weaved his way to the try-line with one of his trademark bursts.

Roby, who had been told by Anderson in midweek to rediscover his form, said: "I'd like to think I stood up to be counted today and at least I can say I scored the first try at the new Wembley."

Although the Dragons responded with a try from winger Younes Khattabi, one of nine Frenchmen in their squad, Saints were ahead 12-4 at the interval after the first of Gardner's two tries.

And the holders and world club champions bossed the second period with only a try from Catalans winger Justin Murphy, when Saints presented him with a gift 20 metres out, threatening their dominance.

Wellens, Paul Clough and Gardner, again, ensured the trophy was heading back to Knowsley Road for the second successive year and Sean long kicked five goals.

But try telling any of the exhausted and sweat- stained Saints that this had not been a classic. Job done and another one pending.

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