27 Jul: CCSF2: St Helens v Halifax KO 4.30pm (BBC)

[John Drake]

Discuss the Coral Challenge Cup Semi Final: St Helens v Halifax here.

[Old Frightful]

Fax by a drop goal.

You read it here first.

[deluded pom?]

If the real Saints turn up it'll be a flogging. If the Saints from last week turn up it'll still be a flogging.

[Futtocks]

Chances are I won't get to see any of this weekend's action. I hope Halifax show up well and put in a performance to be proud of. But St Helens will win it.

[Phil]

If we keep saints under 50 and cross the line ourselves I’ll be happy 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just joking, Fax by 24

[MZH]

I just hope that the fax players and fans enjoy the occasion and get a few things to cheer about.

However, it could get painful if Saints are really in the mood.

Saints by 50

[Old Frightful]

17 minutes ago, MZH said:

Saints by 50

In true Wembley final fasion then?

[MZH]

14 minutes ago, Old Frightful said:

In true Wembley final fasion then?

I was thinking more about the last time a 2nd tier side reached the semi final.

[Eddie]

I’m a Saints fan but I hope it’s a close game (with us winning). A rout live on BBC would be poor for the game. 

[deluded pom?]

2 hours ago, MZH said:

I was thinking more about the last time a 2nd tier side reached the semi final.

OF was thinking more about the last time a 2nd rate side reached the final.

[Oliver Clothesoff]

2 hours ago, MZH said:

I was thinking more about the last time a 2nd tier side reached the semi final.

2006. Hull KR lost 50-0 to Saints. Before that, I’m sure Toulouse, who weren’t even part of the UK league system, got to the SF in 2005 and got beat by Leeds. 

[Oliver Clothesoff]

No Coote, or at least he’s very unlikely to feature. It’s interesting what we’ll do here. 

At least we’ve acknowledged his injury. Unlike we did with Ben Barba last year, who was clearly playing on one leg for weeks before the semi final and pushed through 80 minutes in the lead up to the game at Bolton only for Holbrook to then acknowledge his injury and then leave him on the pitch. 

I hope we don’t see Paulo at 6, like he played at London. He was poor and just looked completely out of place. I’d rather see us put Makinson to 1, Swift on the wing and Lomax and Fages at 6/7. Makinson’s got more experience than the likes of Jack Welsby, though I wouldn’t be averse to seeing Jack at 1. 

We’ll win. By however many we want, probably. I expect Halifax to have a good first half but ultimately tire and Saints to pull away around 50-60 minutes. 

[Pudsey]

Will saints field a weakened team and save their players for final 

[GUBRATS]

8 hours ago, Old Frightful said:

Fax by a drop goal.

You read it here first.

For the greater good of the game 

[Chris22]

We'll be back to full strength aside from Coote. Holbrook has a decision whether to make a straight swap with Welsby in for Coote, or make two changes and put Lomax to full back and Richardson to 7.

I'd do the latter as Welsby isn't a natural full back and putting Richardson in gives us a recognised a goalkicker. Let's not kid ourselves, if we play to our best, we'll win by a mile. If we play poorly, we should still win comfortably.

Having lost our last 5 semi finals, I can't subscribe to the idea that I hope it's a contest! I just want us to have this game over as a contest as soon as possible!

That being said, it's a huge occasion for Halifax and all the best to them. It's fantastic for their long suffering fans who have had such hard times to have progressed so far in the cup.

[Spike]

if fax Make it to the final, will they have to pay a bond??

[Lounge Room Lizard]

Think we will stick one J.Pendlebury in at Lock. Didnt hurt last time and seen as we have a million to one chance to win, why not? Written off and expected to be given a good old spanking by St.Helens. St.Helens just have to turn up and they have won. For Fax they no doubt will enjoy the day, whether they win by 1 point or get smashed by 100 by the Super Saints. The Fans know this and its another excuse to Party (Drink) and then wake up to the realities of where the Club is on as well as off the field.

Its a Semi Final of two Clubs facing two very different futures. One is going forward and to more money and glories. The other is heading into a future of the unknown with no money and likely no Glory for a long time after Saturday. I wish it was a viewpoint I could see that was different. But the way things seem to be heading for non SL Clubs I dont hold much hope for many Semi Pro Clubs...

[Davo5]

Saints 72-0 Fax 

[Jack Russell]

Saints are the current perrenial big game bottlers, Fax by two tries

[Saint Toppy]

Not that I think they would need it anyway but Saints also have the advantage of now having Marshall on their coaching staff. He knows the strengths & weakness of pretty much every single Fax player and many of their plays, and will no doubt have fed that into Holbrook's game plan.

There's a noticeable change in the attitude around the Saints club this year. Last season they seemed complacent (I suppose even arrogant). They knew they were the best team in the league and just 'expected' to win - coming unstuck in the 2 big SF games. This year they seem to have learned from that, really targeting the big games that matter most. They will be treating this semi-final as if they were playing a Wigan or Warrington, and while they've been guilty of 'over-playing' in some of these games this year I think the pace and intensity Saints will play at will overwhelm Fax in the end.

I think the Ref will have a big bearing on the scoreline. If he allows a fast open game then I can well see a cricket score by saints. If he allows a lot of messing around at the PTB and/or is over zealous with his penalties giving a stop/start game then I think it will keep the score down a fair bit.

[Gooleboy]

Good luck to Halifax, I hope they do the Championship proud.

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

20 hours ago, deluded pom? said:

If the real Saints turn up it'll be a flogging. If the Saints from last week turn up it'll still be a flogging.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

FAX by 10

[Hemel Stag]

  Good Luck Halifax  

I'll be raising a glass or two of Hebden Bridge's finest "Pride & Joy" in your honour.

 

[Old Frightful]

Can anyone confirm whether or not the Saints fans cheered when they drew Fax in the SF draw?

I was just wondering...