WiganlTries:l

Brian Juliff, David Stephenson, Henderson Gill

Hull KRlTries:l

Miller, Clark

Wigan had beaten champions and title rivals Hull KR home and away in the season so far and now the sides were to meet in the Challenge Cup Semi Final at Elland Road in Leeds. Wigan took the lead with a great offload from Shaun Wane allowing Brian Juliff to dive over in the right corner for 4-0. Rovers only retaliation before the break was a dropped goal from Paul Harkin that made it 4-1. Rovers made two substitutions at half time and it made immediate impact. Those subs, Gordon Smith and David Hall, combined to send Gavin Miller under the posts. An easy conversion by George Fairbairn made it 7-4. A David Stephenson penalty reduced that to 7-6 soon after and before the hour mark Wigan re-took the lead. From 70 metres away Graeme West made a break down the right wing and slipped a ball inside to get Stephenson over for a try, that Henderson Gill converted for a 12-7 Wigan lead. The see-saw battle continued on 62 minutes when Rovers came back with a try from Garry Clark after a good offload from Phil Hogan. Fairbairn couldn't convert though, so Wigan still led 12-11. That lead was sweated on until the 76th minute when a great pass from West again got Gill over in the left corner. The conversion was crucial for a two score lead and Stephenson nailed it for an 18-11 Wigan lead that left Rovers demoralised. Wigan were back at Wembley for the second year in a row.