Challenge Cup semi-finals record amazing attendances

Hull KR and Leigh Leopards will meet in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley after they defeated Wigan Warriors and St Helens respectively at the homes of Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves in two amazing Challenge Cup semi-finals.

On Saturday at the home of the Warrington Wolves Leigh Leopards and St Helens served up one of the great Challenge Cup semi-finals in recent memory.

The Leopards were up against it in the first 40 as the Saints served up a near perfect first 40 epitomised by the booming 40/20 by Joey Lussick from inside his own 20 metres all the way to the Leigh 10.

However, the departing hooker was the only try scorer of the first 40 minutes as Leigh held on magnificently with Josh Charnley brilliantly denying Tommy Makinson so it stayed at 6-0 in the first half.

Then at the start of the second half Leigh blew Saints away with two quick fire tries from Oliver Holmes and Zak Hardaker.

They have Leigh a 10-6 lead which was extended to a 12-6 lead by a penalty before Jonny Lomax scored an unconverted try at the death which gave us all a grand stand finish.

Then on Sunday, at the home of Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors and Hull KR needed golden point to separate them in another amazing Challenge Cup semi-final.

Hull KR struck first through Louis Senior in the corner from a scrum move. But Wigan led 8-4 at halftime after a try from Jai Field and a penalty from Harry Smith.

Then came the big turning point in the game when Joe Shorrocks was sent off for a high tackle on Mikey Lewis.

Wigan extended their lead to 10-4 but an Ethan Ryan try sent the game to golden point where a Brad Schneider drop goal would win it and write the final verse in a fantastic weekend of semi-final action.

But did the attendances reflect that?

On Saturday, an impressive 12,113 fans attended the game between Leigh and Warrington with Saints selling out their end.

Meanwhile, hordes of Hull KR fans made for a huge 10,926 strong attendance at Headingley for the game on the Sunday.