LONDON: Kyle Amor struck the decisive blow as Super League champions St Helens left it late to clinch a Challenge Cup semi-final berth over a struggling Widnes Vikings side.
The Vikings have lost their last three Super League matches and the Saints punished them early on, with Mark Percival, Matty Dawson and Adam Swift all finding the try-line.
But Danny Craven added to an earlier Joe Mellor try just before the break and Widnes came out with all the momentum, former NZ Warrior Patrick Ah Van and Chris Dean crossing in quick succession.
With the score now standing at 20-18 in Vikings' favour, the St Helens breakthrough came on 63 minutes -- Amor's score validated after consultation with the video referee.
And the eventual 36-20 scoreline was a flattering one for St Helens after Jordan Turner and Percival capitalised on tired Widnes legs.
On Saturday's evidence, Championship leaders Leigh Centurions could trouble the very best the Super League has to offer should they be promoted this year, after handing Warrington Wolves a scare before their eventual 34-24 defeat.
Leigh, who had dispatched Salford Red Devils and Wakefield Wildcats in the two previous rounds, were leading 14-12 at half-time but Kevin Penny turned the game on its head with a double -- his second try being of the highest quality.
But the man of the first half was Ryan Brierley, setting up a Greg Worthington try and scoring one himself in response to tries from Ben Currie and ex-NRL prop Ashton Sims.
Liam Kay's score made sure Leigh went in at the break with a slender advantage, only for Penny to pounce for his first soon after the teams returned.
And in a breathtaking feat of agility, an outstretched Penny placed the ball down in the corner before being harried into touch -- a score which ultimately broke Leigh's resolve and sent Warrington into their sixth semi-final in the last seven years.
On Friday, the departing Kevin Sinfield produced a vintage performance to guide holders Leeds Rhinos into the semis in a comfortable 24-6 victory over Hull FC.
Sinfield, who is set to play rugby union for Yorkshire Carnegie next season, returned to the starting line-up following a season-ending knee injury to Liam Sutcliffe.
And the stand-off landed three huge penalties, as well as converting the tries of Joel Moon, Kallum Watkins and Zak Hardaker, amid sopping wet conditions at the KC Stadium.
Hull never got to grips with the weather and their only points came five minutes before time, scrum-half Jordan Abdull the try-scorer.
Elsewhere, Hull KR held on by 32-26 to reach their first Challenge Cup semi-final since 2006 amid a spirited comeback from Catalan Dragons -- with former Parramatta Eel Ken Sio continuing his red-hot form.
Sio had scored 15 tries in 19 games since arriving in England and popped up as soon as the eighth minute against the Dragons on Thursday, beating Fouad Yaha in a footrace to dot down.
Kieran Dixon and Albert Kelly soon crossed over and, with Italy international Josh Mantellato at the heart of things, second-rower Graeme Horne brought up KR's fourth try before half-time.
Krisnan Inu's score had given the Dragons hope however, and the New Zealand winger crashed over again early in the second half before Zeb Taia followed suit.
Sio completed his double on 62 minutes to effectively put the tie to bed, despite late consolations from Ian Henderson and Elliott Whitehead.
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