Paul Wellens praises Daryl Clark for response as St Helens dump Leeds Rhinos out of Challenge Cup

PAUL WELLENS saluted Daryl Clark for bouncing back as St Helens dumped Leeds out of the Challenge Cup.

The England hooker scored the try that put Saints ahead on the stroke of half-time. And they never looked back even after a bemused Clark was sin-binned in the 57th minute. He was yellow-carded along with Tom Holroyd, the Rhinos prop who almost ended up shoving England star Jack Welsby into the South Stand as the sixth round tie blew-up.

Saints defeated Leeds 18-8 here in Super League a week earlier. They were without injured scrum-half Lewis Dodd last night but he hopes to return from a groin issue for the Good Friday derby with Wigan. Wellens said: “Points were at a premium early on and that’s why we were taking two points.

“But then Daryl stepped up as he has done for so many years. He spotted a gap and went for the line and it was a big moment. I’m pleased as last week he wasn’t poor but he wasn’t at the standard he can be. He certainly was back to somewhere like his best tonight. I was really pleased for everyone as it’s a psychological challenge to play games like this against the same opponents two weeks running.”

Crucially, Saints handled being down to 12 men far better than their rivals. They scored just two minutes later when the unlikely figure of Joe Batchelor grubbered forward. Rhinos’ defence seemed to freeze but Moses Mbye – effortlessly slotting in for Dodd – didn’t. He picked up the ricocheting ball, found Konrad Hurrell and Jon Bennison finished off for Jonny Lomax to make it 16-6.

Shortly after both sides returned to 13, Saints, who defeated Leeds 18-8 here in Super League last Friday, made sure of their place in Monday’s quarter-final draw. Impressive forward James Bell this time kicked for England prop Alex Walmsley to crash over. Rhinos had no way back, making mistake after mistake in the Headingley rain, and they haven’t beaten Saints here now for seven years.

The visitors were 4-0 up after 17 minutes courtesy of two Jonny Lomax penalties. Leeds’ ill-discipline hurt them. James Bentley and Brodie Croft were guilty of a ball steal and Andy Ackers tip-tackled England team-mate Matty Lees to gift Saints those points. They should have responded when Harry Newman broke on the outside of Sione Mata’utia.