DESPITE watching his Warrington Wolves side lose to St Helens in their final Women’s Challenge Cup group game, Lee Westwood declared himself proud of his players’ performance.

With both sides’ progress to the quarter-finals assured, this was a game to decide who would finish top of Group D and earn themselves home advantage in the last-eight.

The Wire were right in the game at the break against their more illustrious neighbours, with Georgia Sutherland’s try taking them into half time 10-4 down.

However, Michelle Davis’ sin-binning early in the second half proved pivotal and while Warrington managed to keep Saints out while down to 12, the hosts took advantage of tired bodies late on to run up a 38-4 scoreline.

Warrington-born Saints and England skipper Jodie Cunningham scored two of Saints’ seven tries, with fellow Warringtonian Emily Rudge also on the scoresheet.

Leah Burke, Lucinda McColm, Shona Hoyle and Zoe Harris rounded off the scoring for the hosts, but Westwood says his players can take plenty from the game.

“We were fantastic in the first half and I was really proud of them,” he said.

“The sin-binning cost us – it took a lot out of us and we were running on fumes at the end.

“But we move on and will have learned a lot from this game.”

Warrington will learn of their quarter-final opponents on Friday, when the draw for the last eight takes place.

Then on Sunday, their attention returns to their Women’s Super League campaign as they travel to face York Valkyrie, kick off 5pm.

Wolves: Michelle Davis; Abigail Johnston, Emily Baggaley, Samantha Simpson, Georgia Sutherland; Lucy Eastwood, Charlize Magraw; Amy Daniels, Ellie Jelves, Abigail Latchford, Katie May Williams, Kacy Hayley, Georgia Westwood. Subs: Amy Boardman, Jessica Courtman, Lauren Roberts, Emily Downes, Claire Mullaney, Keira McCosh