St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf unhappy with first-half performance as he sees positives in defeat

St Helens went down 20-18 to Wigan Warriors this afternoon in one of the greatest Challenge Cup semi-finals ever witnessed.

Losing 14-0 at the break, Saints came back to lead 18-14 until Liam Marshall scored a length of the field interception try to win the game 20-18.

That piece of luck, according to Saints boss Kristian Woolf, eventually proved the difference.

“It was a real game of two halves, we weren’t quite ourselves in the first-half,” Woolf said.

“We didn’t have the resolve that we usually we do and I thought we showed a lot of character in the second-half.

“At the end of the day it came down to one play and you need  a bit of luck and the bounce of the ball and that’s what Wigan got.”

Woolf was also unhappy with how his side went away from what they usually do – particularly in that first-half.

“The defence wasn’t up to scratch as it usually was and their third try showed that – we didn’t build pressure and we looked like we wanted to score straightaway.

“There were a number of things that didn’t quite go our way, we were probably unlucky not to find a few more points in the second-half.

Woolf did, however, see the positives from defeat.

“It does mean that this group of men will get a break sometime this season.”