Hull KR 26 St Helens 18: Victory is a blur for Hall after Saints star sees red

CRAIG Hall came out of the Hull KR dressing room on Saturday evening admitting his recollections of an epic Challenge Cup tie were already “a little fuzzy”.
Greg EdenGreg Eden
Greg Eden

It was no surprise, really. The Rovers winger had been felled by a horrendous Francis Meli high tackle in the 33rd minute of a frenetic, exciting and thoroughly absorbing encounter.

That Meli actually dislocated his elbow in the offending act showed the ferocity of the impact and it was no surprise when Richard Silverwood soon brandished the Samoan a red card. Hall was left as limp as a rag doll.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He recovered, though, and in the resulting set got on the end of a slick move to his right flank to score his second try and put Rovers 16-6 ahead.

Hull KR celebrate Greg Edens tryHull KR celebrate Greg Edens try
Hull KR celebrate Greg Edens try

With Saints down to 12 men and already blatantly lacking invention given their continued absence of any genuine playmakers, that should have marked a comfortable passage through to today’s fifth round draw for Craig Sandercock’s hosts.

Yet Saints – with uncontrollable ex-Batley Bulldogs prop Alex Walmsley forcefully setting the example – rallied with two quick tries from Paul Wellens and Mark Percival early in the second period to take an unlikely 18-16 lead.

It meant Rovers, who had largely been so dominant and purposeful, had to dig deep.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Eventually, some brilliance from Greg Eden decided it all as the exciting full-back dummied his way over in the 57th minute for his eighth try of the season.

He had already intelligently set up Hall’s 14th-minute opener and, late on, provided another quality assist for Liam Salter, evading tackles before dabbing a clever kick through for the young centre to ease mounting concerns.

It meant stunned Saints – seven-time Challenge Cup winners in the summer era – exited at the first hurdle for the first time in 18 years.

Coincidentally, 1985 was also the last time Rovers defeated the Merseysiders in the Challenge Cup.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, while the tense home fans saw their nerves frayed here, Hall told the Yorkshire Post: “It was the quickest second half I’ve ever had.

“Did we go behind? It’s still all a bit fuzzy for me.

“I know we didn’t want to panic and just needed to kick down field, chase well and get in the wrestle with Saints.

“I thought we were still in control and it’s just brilliant that we’re now in that next round.

“We’d wanted to build up to a performance like that as we have been patchy at times.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We knew if all 17 chipped in we could get there and that’s what happened.”

Hall, moved back out wide after the return of Rovers stand-off Travis Burns following a three-game absence, had been heavily involved in many of the game’s key points.

He had raced clear but ignored some obvious support on his outside to try beating last man Meli in that major flashpoint.

But the ex-Hull FC player, who played on with whiplash, said: “I didn’t want to give a forward pass.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I remember going through but didn’t want to force anything.

“I just wanted to take the tackle and get a nice quick play-the-ball but the next thing I remembered I was sat in the changing room,” he said.

“I know I scored again but I don’t really remember anything of it.”

The merest of touches from Hall’s hand had also seen an Eden effort disallowed by video referee Steve Ganson although, thankfully, the enigmatic Rovers full-back – whose cavalier approach can cause such joy and dread in equal measure – did get that crucial score straight after.

“Greg is one of those players,” added Hall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“When it comes off for him it’s brilliant and he deserved the man of the match today.

“The one before was 50/50 – 
I thought the ball came off my hand backwards – but the main thing was we got the win,” added Hall.

Eden, who under-pressure St Helens coach Nathan Brown had signed for former club Huddersfield Giants last season, is renowned for his attacking flair but it was his defensive ability that brought perhaps his most telling moment during Saturday afternoon.

He had no right whatsoever to get back from behind his own line when penned in by Saints in the 69th minute.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With the visitors just four points behind, sensing blood and increasing the pressure, conceding a drop-out could have broken tiring Rovers.

However, Eden somehow managed to escape three tacklers and then, crucially, stretch back into play.

Soon after, it was his incision at the other end which saw Salter confirm victory and leave Sandercock’s side not only envisaging a long-overdue cup run but also in good nick for Sunday’s visit from Leeds Rhinos.

Michael Dobson, who converted three of the hosts’ five tries including Mickey Paea’s rumble over in the 17th minute, was his usual controlling self. There was also some huge efforts from forwards such as Adam Walker and Cory Paterson.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Depleted Saints, meanwhile, will have a nervous wait for this morning’s match review panel.

Both Ade Gardner – who scored in the 25th minute – and Jon Wilkin were put on report for illegal challenges in the first quarter which could easily warrant a trip to tomorrow’s disciplinary.

There, Meli, now facing a lengthy absence regardless through that injury, will surely already be fearing a hefty ban.

Hull KR: Eden; Hall, Salter, Welham, D Hodgson; Burns, Dobson; Paea, J Hodgson, Walker, Lovegrove, Paterson, Griffin. Substitutes: Beaumont, Carlile, Green, Mika.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

St Helens: Makinson; Gardner, Turner, Jones, Meli; Howarth, Wellens; McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Hohaia, Laffranchi, Puletua, Soliola, Wilkin. Substitutes: Clough, Walmsley, Greenwood, Percival.

Referee: R Silverwood (Mirfield).