Gateshead (6) 6
Tries: McAlpine Goals: Youngquest
St Helens (36) 66
Tries: Gidley 2, Roby, Wellens 2, Flannery 2, Fa'asavalu, Eastmond, Pryce 2, Ashurst Goals: Long 8, Eastmond

Sean Long scored his 1,000th goal for St Helens

Holders St Helens eased into the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup with a thumping 12-try victory over Gateshead.

The win also included Sean Long's 1,000th goal for the club, while Kyle Eastmond sent over a further kick.

A brace of tries each from Matt Gidley, Paul Wellens, Chris Flannery and Leon Pryce did the damage for the Saints.

James Roby, Maurie Fa'asavalu, Eastmond and Matty Ashurst also went over for the visitors, with Gateshead scoring a consolation try through Ben McAlpine.

Nick Youngquest added the extras for the hosts, who were completely outclassed from the second minute when Gidley touched down for the first score of the afternoon.

606: DEBATE Have your say on the match

Saints, winners of the cup in each of the previous three seasons, have now won their last 18 games in the competition.

Saints coach Mick Potter:
"We were professional and the determination was there right through the 80 minutes.

"Given that the width of the field was taken right down to 55 metres we still played accordingly and managed to score through the middle and through the edge.

"It didn't matter to us. There were some good passing moves and some good ones through the middle."

Gateshead coach Steve McCormack:
"This is an historic day for this club. It was always going to be tough. I'm a realist and I knew the task at hand.

"You never enjoy losing games but against a fantastic side like that, I thought we competed and then Saints, as they do, can hit you with three and four quick tries.

"It's important that we learn from the performance. Gateshead sides will never give up. That's the key."

Gateshead: Youngquest, Peers, McAlpine, Franze, Sanderson, Thorman, Branighan, Kahler, R. Clarke, Crowther, Nash, Cording, Knowles. Replacements: Parker, Barron, McBride, Cakacaka.

St Helens: Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Flannery, Wheeler, Pryce, Long, Graham, Roby, Hargreaves, Wilkin, Ashurst, Puletua. Replacements: Fa'asavalu, Cunningham, Clough, Eastmond.

Referee: Ian Smith (Rotherham)

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