ON Day 17 of our Saints Advent feature we go back to 15 May 2004, when Saints finally put their Challenge Cup Final hoodoo against Wigan to rest.

After Saints beating Wigan twice in the 60s, the Riversiders had triumphed in subsequent three finals between the sides in 1989, 1991 and the shock one at Murrayfield in 2002.

However, in the Cardiff sunshine Saints turned on the style in a win that was much tougher than the final score suggests. 

A crowd of 73,734 filed into the Millennium Stadium to see Saints triumph 32-16.

St Helens Star:

It started great for Saints with Jason Hooper's pressure on kicker Kris Radlinski forcing the ball loose for Willie Talau to scoop up and send Lee Gilmour over on three minutes.

Wigan hit back through Terry Newton and in a cat and mouse game Talau and Brett Dallas swapped tries.

St Helens Star:

Paul Wellens' try on the stroke of half time pushed the score out to 20-10 at the break and Saints were in control.

Paul Sculthorpe and Talau added two more in the second half, rendering Dallas' second a mere consolation.

St Helens Star:

Paul Sculthorpe

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Jason Hooper

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Celebrations in the dressing room

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Celebrations

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Craig Smith tackles Keiron Cunningham

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Willie Talau scores

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Paul Sculthorpe lifts the trophy.

READ: When Saints won 1993 Premiership to stop Wigan clean sweep>  

All pictures: Bernard Platt