Long hails greatest honour

Sean Long savoured his greatest Powergen Challenge Cup success after being awarded the Lance Todd trophy for a record third time

The St Helens scrum-half was at his inspirational best as he led his side to a glorious 42-12 win over Huddersfield in the final at Twickenham.

Long took the prestigious prize for man of the match after the finals of 2001 and 2004 but admitted this latest accolade was even sweeter.

Long, who put his side ahead with a crucial try late in the first half, said: "It?s even better to be honest.

"When I won the first I didn?t really take it in, but as you get older you savour the finals.

"It could be my last final, so I?ve taken it in a lot this week. It?s getting better and better and it feels sweet.

"But you?ve got to give credit to all the 17 lads out there. Without them we couldn?t have won the game. I thought it was a great team performance.

"I knew if the boys played well I would have a chance to win it and I?m glad it?s over now so I can sit back and enjoy it."

Long also hailed the performance of team-mate Jon Wilkin, who claimed two tries in the second half while wearing a distinctive bandage around his nose after having it broken early in the match.

He said: "I thought he was awesome. Wilko plays for the team, he is a grafter and you can always rely on him.

"If think if he had stayed on longer and not got injured he would probably have won it."

Huddersfield, in their first final for 44 years, had made life tough for Saints early on, taking a sixth-minute lead through Martin Aspinwall.

Saints took time to hit their stride but forced themselves ahead before the interval with tries from Willie Talau and Long. They then turned on the style to run in five more after the break with Maurie Fa?asavalu, Jamie Lyon and Jason Cayless also getting on the scoresheet.

Long added: "We knew they would come out firing. You can?t take anything away from them, they were pumped up.

"It was tough to come through that so you?ve got to give credit to them."

Saints will hope the win represents the first leg of the double, the Merseysiders also looking poised to secure the engage Super League?s top spot and with it an easier route to October?s Grand Final.

It was coach Daniel Anderson?s first silverware since taking charge of the club last May but he was quick to praise his players.

The Australian said: "We have a fantastic starting 13 and the bench enabled us to maintain intensity.

"We coped with the adversity during the game and we adjusted accordingly. Everyone did the gritty stuff when we had to.

"We have not got a lot wrong at times and I felt we thoroughly deserved to win having withstood a strong challenge from Huddersfield."

Huddersfield must now turn back to the reality of a relegation battle in the engage Super League but coach Jon Sharp could not fault his side.

The Giants were overrun as Saints clicked into gear but their performance was a creditable one and they did claim a late consolation try through Robbie Paul.

Sharp said: "St Helens individually and as a group were outstanding and we knew we would have to be at our best.

"For 50 minutes I felt we were in the game. I am so proud of them and thought they acquitted themselves magnificently.

"In the end they had too much firepower for us, particularly on the bench.

"That was probably the difference between the two sides ? the strength and quality of their bench.

"St Helens left out two internationals this week ? I have got two internationals in my team."

Sharp also had no problem with the decision not to send off Wilkin in the second half for a high tackle on Stuart Donlan for which he was placed on report.

He added: "I have no issues whatsoever there. I thought Wilko hit him on the shoulder then his arm went up."

Source: superleague.co.uk