You are in > manchester.com  > News > Anderson relieved after Saints claim Challenge Cup glory

Rugby League

Anderson relieved after Saints claim Challenge Cup glory

30/08/2008

Victorious St Helens coach Daniel Anderson admitted he feared his team were on the verge of losing in the Challenge Cup final to Hull today.

Saints took an early 10-0 lead and were looking to be on their way to comfortably lifting the trophy at Wembley today. But Hull came storming back and a two tries from Kirk Yeaman saw his team take a 14-10 lead with only 15 minutes left of the game.

But St Helens showed their class as they responded with three tries from Francis Meli, Jon Wilkin and Leon Pryce to win a hat-trick of Challenge Cup trophies.

"I definitely got heart palpitations," said Anderson. "We almost found a way to lose. I thought we squandered ample opportunities in the first half, we had genuine try-scoring plays.

"I had a real bad feeling at the start of the second half, I thought it was going to come back to bite us. We are a very good front-running team but I knew the first try would provide momentum for Hull.

"Credit to us. We were honest for 80 minutes and I think that got us through. It was a tough game, I don't think people realise how much the first half took out of us."

Anderson will be leaving Knowsley Road at the end of the season after a hugely successful spell at the Super League giants. He has won the World Club Challenge, the Super League Grand Final, to go with the three Challenge Cup triumphs.