St. Helens Schools under 16s 15 Wigan Schoolboys 4 SWITCHED to Edge Hill because of a waterlogged Moss Lane pitch, this NASUWT Trophy quarter-final proved a typical derby affair before a 500-strong crowd.

Mike Loughlin opened the scoring with a drop goal for St Helens, then a 15-minute purple patch by home loose-forward Paul Helsby enabled his side to take a stranglehold on the tie.

First he laid on a perfect pass for centre Martin Proudfoot to touch down, and then supported a break by quicksilver scrum-half James Hitchmough to Proudfoot to cross for his second try.

Helsby rounded off a superb personal performance in chipping to the corner for winger Andrew Perry to race over, and St Helens' hopes of progress were high in holding a 13-0 lead at half time.

Wigan had other ideas however, and hit back with a try by David Hughes before a penalty goal by Loughlin gave St Helens a little more breathing space and, with Chris Giles and Mark Tagg tackling well, a semi-final tie at Workington on March 7 was ensured.

St. Helens Schoolboys: Chris Giles (Rainford); Andrew Perry (De La Salle), Mark Tagg (Sutton), Martin Proudfoot (Rainford), Hugi Anyiam (Rainford); Steve James (Rainford), James Hitchmough (Broadway); Michael Loughlin (Cowley), Neil Budworth (Rainford), Gareth Haggerty (Broadway), Peter Taylor (St. Aelred's), Andrew Bates (St. Augustine's), Neil Helsby (St. Aelred's). Substitutes John Lester (Cowley), Michael Prince (St. Aelred's).

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