JACK GIBSON, the Australian coaching guru whose methods shaped the modern game of rugby league, could not fail to have been impressed by the breathtaking try scored by Kevin Penny in a breathless match at St Helens.

Quite what Gibson, who died on Friday aged 79, would have made of the Warrington wing’s other contribution to this Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round tie is another matter. Gibson once said of one leading player “he’s so quick he can switch off the light and be in bed before the room is dark”, a description which had a resonance for Penny when he lit up Knowsley Road with a dazzling 80-metre run for a memorable try.

Much of Gibson’s ethos revolved around defence, which was the undoing of Penny and Warrington, who were left to curse his costly error that put the Challenge Cup holders into the quarter-finals for an eighth successive year.

Penny’s try, set up when Michael Monaghan fielded a dangerous kick by the artful Sean Long between his own posts before combining with Chris Hicks to give the winger space, put Warrington into a 24-22 lead midway through the second half. The Wolves looked to have the belief to win, even though they gave up their advantage by conceding a 67th-minute try to Willie Talau.

It was vital for both sides to keep their cool, but a rush of blood by Penny as he fielded an innocuous kick close to his own line, was Warrington’s undoing.

Leon Pryce had chipped innocuously when Penny inexplicably fumbled, Matt Gidley scooped up the ball to send Paul Clough through for a try that was hard on the visitors.

Warrington’s woes were compounded when Lee Gilmour split a weary defence to score St Helens’ seventh try, for Long to add his sixth conversion, and though Ben Westwood and Simon Grix grabbed late tries to set up a tense finish, the home side held on.

Saints, who had not lost the previous 22 matches between the sides, were outplayed through much of a fine first half, yet were able to reach the interval 18-14 ahead with converted tries by Talau, Chris Flannery and Francis Meli.

Warrington seized the initiative with a try by Adrian Morley plus two goals by Hicks, who added a try from a deft pass tackle by Paul Johnson.

The centre showed more sleight of hand to put Hicks through for a second shortly after the restart and though the lead again changed hands following a try by Ade Gardner, Penny’s illuminating score appeared to have given Warrington the momentum.

Saints, aided by Penny’s error, hit back to stay on course for a third Challenge Cup final win in a row.

Star man: Sean Long(St Helens)

St Helens:P Wellens; A Gardner, M Gidley, W Talau, F Meli; L Pryce, S Long; J Cayless, K Cunningham (capt), J Graham, L Gilmour, C Flannery, J Wilkin Replacements:J Roby, B Hargreaves, P Clough, M Fa’asavalu

Warrington:S Reardon; C Hicks, Paul Johnson, M King, K Penny; L Briers, M Monaghan; A Morley (capt), Mark Gleeson, P Rauhihi, L Anderson, B Westwood, V Anderson Replacements:C Riley, S Grix, A Bracek, B Harrison

Scorers: St Helens: Tries:Talau 2, Flannery, Meli, Gardner Cons:Long 6

Warrington: Tries:Morley, Hicks 2, Penny, Westwood, Grix Cons:Hicks 4 Pen:Hicks

Referee:R Silverwood Attendance:8,570