Rugby League: Bradford Bulls 14, St Helens 35

Jul 30 2007 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

KEIRON CUNNINGHAM admits he could not have written a better script.

The only survivor from St Helens’ back-to-back Wembley finals of 1996 and 1997, Cunningham was the inspiration behind the holders’ successful bid to become the first team to clinch a place in the first final back at the national stadium on August 25.

The veteran hooker, who escaped a suspension after making a first-ever appearance before the disciplinary committee in midweek, led Saints in the absence of Paul Sculthorpe and – on his 400th appearance – produced a man-of-the-match display to help them to a hugely-impressive 35-14 win over Bradford.

“It’s a bit of a fairytale,” he said. “I couldn’t have written the script any better.

“To reach 400 appearances is an honour – I think I’m in the top 12 now at Saints with appearances.

“It’s massive. Just to emulate anything we did last year is difficult with everybody chasing us down and to make a second Challenge Cup final in a row is special but to be at Wembley is even more special.

“I’ve played there and I know how special it is. Some of the young kids and (coach) Daniel (Anderson) don’t actually know what it means.

“I don’t think you can beat Wembley Stadium. Cardiff is great and Twickenham is great but Wembley is second to none.”

Cunningham, who also won the Cup “on the road” with Saints in 2001, 2004 and 2006, led from the front as the holders took full advantage of the first dry conditions for weeks to boss Saturday’s semi-final at Huddersfield from start to finish.

From the moment Willie Talau scored the first of six skilfully-crafted tries after only six minutes, there was never any doubt that Saints would inflict on their old rivals a sixth successive Challenge Cup defeat.

Francis Meli and Matt Gidley added further tries before half-time and Sean Long put over a cheeky drop goal in first-half stoppage time to make it 17-4.

Bradford briefly threatened a fightback with second-half tries from heavyweight Kiwis Tame Tupou and Joe Vagana but late scores from Leon Pryce and Mike Bennett ensured the scoreline reflected St Helens’ dominance.

“We took Bradford on up the middle,” said Cunningham. “We stuck to our game plan very well. I think we were just a bit more eager than they were.

“I think we were very well-drilled and it shows what we can do in dry conditions.”

Saints’ emphatic victory was all the more remarkable considering the disruption caused in the build-up to the match by the loss of prop Jason Cayless and a shocking injury to valuable utility man James Roby, in addition to Cunningham’s worrying disciplinary hearing.

Cayless flew home to Sydney following the sudden death of his mother while Roby needed hospital scans after a violent clash of heads with team-mate Maurie Fa’asavalu in training left him with a suspected broken cheekbone.

“We had a bit of a stuttering week,” said Cunningham. “Jason Cayless lost his mum, which was a setback for us, and in the same training session James Roby clashes heads with Maurie.

“We thought he was out but he toughed it out. He’s a tough kid and he’ll kick on from there. It just shows the character of the side, when you get a few setbacks, just to carry on and play well.”

Having achieved their first objective, St Helens will now turn their attention to defending their second trophy, the Super League crown.

They are two points ahead of Leeds with six games left of the regular season and no-one will be betting against them completing a second successive double.

Cunningham admits, however, that it will be difficult to put to one side the mouth-watering prospect of Wembley when they return to the bread and butter of the Super League.

“Unfortunately, we have another three games in Super League yet (before the final),” he said. “We want to try and stay at the top of the League and come through unscathed for the Challenge Cup final.”