St Helens defeated the Catalans to advance to the semi-finals

Jack Welsby, Louis Dodd, Mark Percival, Morgan Knowles, Dan Norman and Joe Batchelor have been on the goal checklist for St. Helens Problem Cup holders Betfred, as they defeated the Catalan Dragons to advance to the quarter-finals.

Tommy MacKinson and Mark Percival rejoice their St Helens bid

St Helens secured a spot within the semi-finals of the Betfred Problem Cup with a convincing 36-20 victory over the Catalan Dragons at Perpignan.

The Catalans did not take care of the Saints’ masterful assault as Jack Welsby, Louis Dodd, Mark Percival, Morgan Knowles, Dan Norman and Joe Batchelor all breached the group’s protection.

The Dragons misplaced star linebacker Sam Tomkins early within the recreation and his alternative Arthur Morge was unable to catalyze a restoration from a 20-10 downturn within the first half.

And the Catalan group was punished twice early within the recreation and Tommy Mackinson scored the primary factors together with his shoe within the fourth minute in entrance of the crossbars.

However St Helen was the following to be penalized when Percival took a excessive over Tom Davies and the Catalans rolled the ball to the left for Fouad Yaha to proceed his streak of scoring makes an attempt with a contact into the left nook.

The Saints responded instantly when Will Hoboat prolonged the Dragon on the suitable and a easy cross inside to prop up quarterback Welsby put the guests again in entrance at 8-4 with McKinson turning.

Welsby then switched to a supplier for a half-scrum dowd as St Helens simply ripped the Catalans to strive within the twenty ninth minute, with McKinson’s changing pushing them 10 factors forward.

Percival broke by some gentle protection on the left to attain the Saint’s third try in 5 minutes, and McKinson added his fourth profitable conversion to guide 20-4.

Jack Welsby scores the opening try for St. Helens at Perpignan

The match took one other flip when the Catalan full-back Tomkins needed to go away the sector injured, however Curtis Ceronen then sinned with a excessive shot at Dragons captain Ben Garcia and the Catalans instantly responded by making an attempt to assist striker Gil Dodson, Haddad.

Large defender Sam Kasiano’s return from the bench appeared to encourage the Dragons as robust French followers felt a comeback.

Josh Drinkwater was then taken off after a excessive kick and the Catalans resumed their assault however Yaha did not get an excellent cross from Murg to attain on the left, leaving 20-10 within the first half.

The Saints scored first within the second half with a short-range strike from Knowles from the phantom half, McKinson skillfully negotiating robust winds to land huge.

However Yaha scored on the second try of the match within the 57th minute after a interval of strain from the Dragon, and Morgue’s activate the touchline returned the match to steadiness with 10 factors between the 2 groups.

The Saints shortly resumed their energy, when Alex Walmsley created house for Norman to maneuver simply between posts and scoring, earlier than Johnny Lomax put in a killer cross to ship Batchelor over the road with solely 10 minutes left.

After 36-16, the Dragons have been going through a mountain to climb and it obtained steeper when Tyrone Might needed to go away the sector with a facial harm.

Regardless of Davis’ late bid, it wasn’t sufficient towards the Problem Cup holders.