Quarter-Final: Warrington v Widnes Rugby League: Challenge Cup


Quarter-Final: Warrington v Widnes

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Are it is metres, not miles that separate Widnes from Warrington.

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They are close but not that close. A little bit of afters. Warrington

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have claimed the Challenge Cup eight times. That is a special achievement

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by this Warrington side. Widnes, seven. It is a try! Yes! Once, they

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were worlds apart. Widnes, truly the champions of the world in rugby. But

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going from one to the other, sometimes life is just come

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protected. Tonight, they are together again with the Challenge

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Cup semifinals insight. STUDIO: That is the voice of Jonathan Davies who

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enjoyed successful stints at both clubs, just seven miles between the

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grounds of Warrington and Widnes and it is a proper rivalry. The fans

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have turned up in their thousands to night to see the latest instalment

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ASBOs teams battle it out for a place in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup

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semifinals. Three men with 20 Challenge Cup history with me this

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evening. Jamie Peacock, Brian Noble and Brian Wilkin. -- the fact this

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is a derby makes it very special to night. It is one of the key

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ingredients, it will be a classic. Both sides have not had a great form

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in the last few weeks. What would you be saying as a coach before a

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derby game? It is about your performance really. Create a

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distraction by not focusing on the fact it is a derby, it is just

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another game. The atmosphere will be more intense and communication has

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to be better. Clarity of form is required to get you over the line,

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it is huge. All the things in your control, you need to be in control.

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But players in general are sat in the changing room and the coach

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says, this is just another game and you would be thinking, no it isn't.

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Yes, in brutal terms, you would. It is a big game for both sides.

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Magnified by the fact it is a knockout game. Both clubs probably

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on paper are quite close. Ten points between them in the Super League

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table. Warrington have been in form this year, Widnes has so much to

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give. I feel they are ready to produce this performance. You

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mention the table and we can see it. Both sides got off to a blistering

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start. Have they dropped off a little bit different reasons? I

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would say Widnes dropped through injury. It made them realise, these

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things are played this year, they will be around there. Looking at the

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team tonight, they will have more. I think Warrington have a lot of big

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game players. Widnes are pretty much back to full strength and some of us

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were thinking they are going to finish in the top six. People like

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Houston coming back into the side. It is a real battle to night.

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Widnes's expectation has gone from maybe in the basement are now

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expecting to get to major games, big games like to night and get to

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finals. Credit to Denis Betts. The players he has got and their

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expectation levels are beyond what it had been in the last ten years.

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Warrington, big game players, they are missing a big game player

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tonight in Ashton Sims who is out for two matches. He was banned after

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this high tackle against Catalan. You cannot argue with that? He

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didn't miss. They went to try to argue the case, I think trying to do

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that is normally like an 11-year-old argument, you are always going to

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lose. Trying is the word. What you have to try to do is find a reason

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for that and I am thinking, he smacked him round the head. Everyone

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goes into the disciplinary thinking they are right and coming out

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disappointed. I think it was the right decision. Ashton Sims is part

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of our team tomorrow so it will be interesting if they say the same

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things to his face as they have this evening! Jamie Peacock was

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criticising his dress sense but I think it is fabulous! You are

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looking very smart this evening. Let's talk to Jonathan Davies who we

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heard at the start of the programme. He has played for Warrington and

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Widnes and is part of our commentary team this evening. Explain what this

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rivalry means because you have seen it from both sides. I was in shock,

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I didn't expect to get transferred from Widnes. I didn't want to go.

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The chairman said, you are going. I had been practising the goal-kicking

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after training for yours and yours. I went back there for the first time

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with Warrington. The ball boy spat on me! That sums it up in a

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nutshell. They are very close, very passionate. Widnes were in the

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ascendancy when I was there. Now, Warrington have taken over their

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mantle. But I think Widnes deserve to be in this position, playing in

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these games. Widnes were dominant when you were there and we will hear

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from Kevin Brown and a little later on. People have said, maybe Widnes

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are rebuilding and getting back, not to what they were but certainly

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capable of challenging, would you agree? They were the kings of the

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70s and it was a big challenge first to get to Wembley and unfortunately

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we didn't win but we did get there. Then they dropped out of the Super

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League and now they are back and they are capable of performing with

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the best. They have got their finances sorted out, they have

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quality players. I think tonight Warrington are heavy favourites with

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home advantage but looking at the Widnes side, they are capable. I am

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delighted and proud I have played for both of these sides and I am

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looking forward to a fantastic game of rugby and they are well

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supported. Delighted to have played for both, would it be unfair to ask

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who you want to win? I just want Wales to go to the final of the

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European Championships and I would be happy, that is my sporting

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prediction for this weekend. I thought you were close to saying, I

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want rugby to be the winner! Jonathan, thank you very much. Heart

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of our common treaty with John Kear and Dave Ward 's. The Challenge Cup

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got underway last night. Paul Anderson and his team took on

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Wakefield. This is what happened. COMMENTATOR: straightened up by

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Anthony England, almost in touch of that Huddersfield line. A short

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twist and turn and Wakefield scores. What a start by Wakefield. Mawson

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spins it to Finn who lays it back. That ball has been dropped and this

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is a chance. Huddersfield are up and running, has he got it down? I'm not

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sure he has. As Greeks put it down? Not yet. Brunt with a dummy. He goes

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for the corner. Johnson does really well.

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They will claim the drive in the corner. -- the try. I think this is

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going to be a try even from distance because Johnson is quick. Michael

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Lawrence is chasing him. He picks up after right down the middle. -- he

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picks a path. This time he is not going to be stopped, he will not be

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denied a second try of the night. Crabtree comes running in on it

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double run. Ellis puts it back. The response is instant from

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Huddersfield. Wood again, to the right-hand side and Cudjo pops one

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over the top. McGillvary will score this time.

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That game put into context with the funeral of the Huddersfield Giants

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academy player, he died from his injuries suffered during a match

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with Salford. He was just 17 years old. It is a desperately sad story

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and very difficult to put into words the feeling of the sport. It is

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desperately sad. It is a very tragic event. The heart and minds of all

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the rugby league community are with the Costello family and I think they

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have carried themselves with dignity during this time. They handled the

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whole situation impeccably well. Just echoing what Jamie said, I

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really sad time for the sport. Rugby is a dangerous sport, a contact

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sport. People going into it understand the risks. But this stops

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everything, it is a perspective moment in the sport. Games like this

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are important, let's not forget, but the lives and safety of the people

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who play and support the game is paramount. It is.

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... Now on course for their first final since 1979.

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Wigan will play cattle for tomorrow on the BBC. -- Castleford Tigers.

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Like most rivalries, you don't know how it feels or what it is all about

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until you are thrown into it. I have had a few major derbies in my

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playing time but to be involved in a Warrington- Widnes game has been

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sensational. People don't realise how much rivalry runs between needs

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teams and how close they are. We have had some good times here, some

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really good victories, both here and at our home ground. Today will be a

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fantastic day, the quarterfinal of the champions a massive game. Our

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form in the last couple of weeks has been a bit down so it is the sort of

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game I think and bring the best out in this again. The fact it is a

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derby match and we have played each other a few times already, I think

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really makes it a really special occasion. Expecting a big crowd and

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Greg rivalry, really good atmosphere between both clubs. It is made for a

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good game. We are losing games but not by big margins. Points for and

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against really good in the league. That brings us here in a good state.

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We know we can defend our line and score tries. We just have to pull

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that together today. The beauty of being involved in a cup game, is

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there is no second chance. Brian, take through Denis Betts's team.

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The Widnes back three of the overseas trio of Corey Thompson, you

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can break and Patrick Ah Van. -- Luke Hanbury.

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Christine, a local product. -- Chris Dean.

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I wouldn't have thought Buchanan was the name that would cause you the

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problem but anyhow! Let's look at Kevin Brown in a little more detail.

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He has been in good form the last week and he was invited to a squad

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get-together by the new England coach, Steve Bennett, six years

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after he played at international level.

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How are you? Come on in. I really tried to work on my consistency for

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while. I have a real good coach and good players I am playing with. Six

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years since I last played for England so hopefully I can play

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again and make a better go of it this time. Just to be involved and

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be in a room when Wayne Bennett is speaking to you was unbelievable. I

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have played a long time and come across a lot of coaches but never

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known a man to command a room like he did. I was like a sponge, just

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sat there listening, it was like being a little kid again and having

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that first time, when I pulled the Wigan jersey on. I was full of

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energy and it was fun. It is strange because I was playing for England in

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2010 and I was nowhere near the player I am now and hopefully I can

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do that shirt on again and I feel confident now I can have a really

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good crack at it. This is my dog, 14 months old. She

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is our family pet. Sit, sit down! She is obedient as well!

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I think man management wise, there is nobody better than Denis Betts.

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He has definitely brought the debtor out of me as a player. Away from the

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player, did we are good friends. -- he has definitely brought the best

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out in me. He gets me to work hard and I wouldn't want it any other

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way. I came to Widnes and everything they have said, it has happened and

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it has probably surpassed my expectations. You can't force, we

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can compete every time and hopefully we can take that next to a final and

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really have a crack at winning something as well. I didn't realise

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how big this derby was until I came to Widnes. It is unbelievable, the

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fans hate each other. There is a really good rivalry, it will be

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passionate and brutal. Jamie, it feels like it has been a long time

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coming. Every time we have been doing a red button forum, people are

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all was asking why he isn't in the England squad. This is a clean slate

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for him now. He has had to improve. He says he is a better player than

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he was six years ago and I believe him. He is cool, calm and confident

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as a leader. Will a lot of players think like him and go into a room

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with Wayne Bennett and want to soak up what he says? Wayne Bennett does

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have an aura and he commands that kind of respect. It is only natural

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player will feel that way in a new environment. It opens the doors and

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everything else has gone. Kevin Brown has every chance of playing

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for England. Let's take a look at some of the others in the

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half-backs. Look at this battle between Joe Mellor and Chris. Two

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instinctive runners of the ball. Instinctive ball-carrier and he

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scores points and complemented well by Kevin Brown who creates space. He

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pushes in support, not many half-backs in Super League

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competitions to do this. There is a real quality of Mellor and Sandow.

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He will have a crack at the line. Any opportunity, any chink of

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lightning, and they are a threat, they can run and they are very good

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at it. Sandow is a little more direct than Mellor. Both are more

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threatening when they have a controlled ballplayer around them.

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These two guys have perfect support and with Kevin Brown, going back to

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him being picked for England, he has Hanbury and Mellor around him,

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really good players to complemented. I would agree with that.

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Gidley and Brown are the stability. It is balance, in sports teams, it

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is about balance and Widnes and Warrington have great balance in

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their halves. Let's look at how they are going to play this evening. I am

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almost part of the witness team as we speak. Widnes have been a team

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that has risen at the beginning of the season and then they dipped and

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they had just come into form. To do well to night, all 17 players will

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need to step up to the mark. They will be led by this man, Kevin

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Brown, everything revolves around him. He sets up the play very well,

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here's a magician, orchestrating everything. When he carries the ball

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at the line, you have to deal with him. He is not small. A great run of

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the ball and good decision-makers. He is complemented by this man, Joe

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Mellor. Just catching the ball as we speak. He is a fast runner and can

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protect the line. Lightning footwork, can take the line on when

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he has the opportunity. Great outside backs, Rhys Hanbury and this

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man also, Chris Bridge, 10-year 's at this ground. What is it like

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being back? It is good, good atmosphere on a Friday night, always

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electric. This opportunity for Widnes to get one? It is. We give

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ourselves a good chance. Sounds to me like Robbie is involved in the

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warm up, he was panting so much! Take through the Warrington team,

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Brian. Thank you very much, Brian. Robbie

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has actually run from this end to the field, all the way to the other

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end of the stadium and now in between castes of breath, he will

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tell you how Warrington are going to play! I have been moving quite a bit

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and I am a bit out of breath! They say the forwards determine the

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outcome of the game and if we look at Warrington's forward starting

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pack, Westwood, Clark, Hill, all international players in their own

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right. Let's have a look at their half. It Gidley, the first one we

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will focus on. The guy is a master technician. He likes to push players

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around the park, he takes his time, he is like a chess player. He makes

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sure is all the Warrington players know their job and get into position

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at the right time. He is complemented by this fella, not the

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biggest bloke in the world but he is talented and strong and he plays

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instinctive rugby league. I will see if I can have a quick word. How are

:23:07.:23:10.

you looking forward to tonight's game? I am excited, we trained

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really hard all week and it is good coming to play here. You are

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confident you can win tonight? We are really confident. Widnes have

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got a good team but we will try to get the ball as much as we can. Best

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of luck. Thank you. We have spoken a lot about three of the half-backs

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tonight so let's focus on Kurt Gidley, the fourth member of that.

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Robbie pointed him out. A stellar career for the Newcastle nights and

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now he has made Warrington his second professional club.

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I had a great career at Newcastle, it was great for me to play from my

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hometown and play in front of my family. I always wanted to come to

:24:01.:24:04.

the Super League and I always watched it as a kid. I watched kids

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go from Australia and I always wanted to challenge myself. I am

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glad I have taken up that challenge. Plenty of English asked me if there

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is a big difference between this and the NRL and I found Super League is

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a real challenge. It is so even back home and every minute of every game

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is a real battle. Over here, I guess, there are more clubs with

:24:34.:24:35.

more money and they can get more high-profile players. It is still

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quite a lot as even as the NRL, and you have to be up for every game,

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that is for sure. I have my life and two young girls, and we have really

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been enjoying ourselves since we got here in November. A big difference

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from Australia having a winter Christmas. The football is part of

:24:57.:25:05.

the culture I want to get into. I have been to four or five games

:25:06.:25:10.

since I have been over here. Great for me to see some of the

:25:11.:25:15.

world-class players. I heard a fair bit about the rivalry the first time

:25:16.:25:20.

I played Widnes. That was at that stage, a top of the table clash at

:25:21.:25:23.

our home ground and it was a sell-out crowd. A rough time over

:25:24.:25:29.

the past couple of months, but a lot of things earlier in the year,

:25:30.:25:32.

attacking wise, building pressure and defending really well. My

:25:33.:25:40.

brother came and played at St Helens the four years and I learned a bit

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more about the Challenge Cup and the history behind it and obviously, he

:25:44.:25:48.

played at Wembley and it is one of the most well-known stadiums in the

:25:49.:25:51.

world I think. Everyone wants to play it. The more I hear about the

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Challenge Cup, the more I get excited about it and want to be

:25:57.:26:03.

there at the end. Brian Noble, Denis Betts called him the purchase of the

:26:04.:26:09.

season, would you go along with that? It looks like that. Kurt

:26:10.:26:17.

Gidley coming back into their team is the element of organisation, an

:26:18.:26:20.

element of real competitor they have not had for a while. They have

:26:21.:26:27.

brought that direction back to allow people like Chris Sandow in. They

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play what they see, Warrington. They have got pure skills and and to what

:26:37.:26:40.

they do and Kurt Gidley has added that element of runner to their

:26:41.:26:45.

team. Briels is a man that Warrington has missed. I think you

:26:46.:26:51.

are right in terms of running out of dummy half, he is as good as there

:26:52.:26:56.

is. He played for Australia and New South Wales. I agree with Jamie but

:26:57.:27:04.

one thing we need to talk about is Warrington, their great punch in the

:27:05.:27:13.

field. It drizzled a few minutes ago here, the ground is wet. Apache

:27:14.:27:16.

running game with a great kicking game, that is what they need to do

:27:17.:27:20.

tonight. Kicking the ball into corners and managing the game. I

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think Warrington will be too strong in the middle of the field. They

:27:25.:27:30.

need Clark to run but also Sandow and off the back of that, Gidley

:27:31.:27:36.

kicks to corners. Warrington are an athletic team who need to suppress

:27:37.:27:41.

the attack of Widnes. That is the challenge for Widnes, no doubt,

:27:42.:27:45.

disabling Warrington. If they can manage that, we are talking about

:27:46.:27:48.

the prowess of Gidley and his kicking game, Kevin Brown, if he can

:27:49.:27:53.

get on the front foot and kick the ball for Widnes and they can find

:27:54.:27:57.

their structure, all of the Widnes players have to play well. We have

:27:58.:28:01.

talked about Brown and we will talk about Nell and about Mellor and

:28:02.:28:12.

Hanbury. They have to run hard, tackle hard, chaste kicks. At

:28:13.:28:23.

Widnes, there are loads of guys with great attitude. Guys like Hep Cahill

:28:24.:28:29.

in the team. He gets off his line, tackles, controls ruck. A lot of

:28:30.:28:40.

hard work to allow Kevin Brown space. Rhys Hanbury and Kevin Brown

:28:41.:28:47.

tags together, watch for them today. Rhys Hanbury, Lloyd White and the

:28:48.:28:52.

two cars of Widnes are absolutely pivotal for them to get on the score

:28:53.:28:57.

board. Foot soldiers, getting them into the right part of the field and

:28:58.:29:00.

that will help them score points. Just on the weather, you are broken

:29:01.:29:06.

both teams down brilliantly, but how much will the weather play a part?

:29:07.:29:11.

Switching between being dry and then a downpour for 15 minutes or so. For

:29:12.:29:17.

the players, that cannot be great. When it is like and I played at

:29:18.:29:22.

Wembley with showers, you want the ball when it is dry. Your period of

:29:23.:29:27.

momentum is in those 10-15 minutes when it is dry and you can apply

:29:28.:29:33.

maximum pressure. It dampens what they can do with the ball. The first

:29:34.:29:41.

20-25 minutes, the ball will be wet and slippery and potential for that

:29:42.:29:45.

ball to pop out of the ruck. The team that controls the ball best in

:29:46.:29:50.

25 minutes will be in a great position come half-time. Thank you

:29:51.:29:54.

very much to the three of you, the teams are on their way out of this

:29:55.:29:57.

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarterfinal. It is a huge derby,

:29:58.:30:03.

Warrington against Widnes. Being led out by a ram, because tomorrow is

:30:04.:30:09.

Armed Forces day and that ram is the mascot of the Mercian Regiment. A

:30:10.:30:16.

nice touch. As the ram comes out onto the pitch. We will join our

:30:17.:30:20.

commentary team this afternoon, the man played for both clubs, Jonathan

:30:21.:30:26.

Davies, a man who will give us a managerial perspective in John Kear

:30:27.:30:27.

and Dave Woods. COMMENTATOR: Plenty at stake here,

:30:28.:30:37.

the Challenge Cup semifinal, a potential Wembley day here, and

:30:38.:30:44.

above that, local pride. Two towns, seven miles apart, divided by

:30:45.:30:50.

contrasting passions. It should be a good game here. Widnes, the table

:30:51.:30:53.

tells you and recent results tell you that they have lost a bit of

:30:54.:30:58.

form. They set off like a house on fire this year. A lot of people were

:30:59.:31:03.

saying, are they the Leicester City at rugby league? But they have faded

:31:04.:31:07.

away, looking to hold onto a top eight spot but they have not lost by

:31:08.:31:09.

many in the games they have lost. Great noise. These are the teams.

:31:10.:31:26.

Warrington with a few potential game breakers across the back line.

:31:27.:31:32.

Sandow is particular sleek -- particularly eye-catching. A pack

:31:33.:31:39.

that carries a few tricks. As byes two are concerned, this season they

:31:40.:31:43.

have shown how good they can be when they are at their best -- Widnes.

:31:44.:31:50.

Chris Houston's return after a month off with the mumps will be a big

:31:51.:31:59.

boost in the second row. Denis Betts, the Widnes coach, packing

:32:00.:32:02.

plenty of Challenge Cup experience, seven times a Challenge Cup winner

:32:03.:32:08.

with Wigan. This is the referee for the night, James Child. Rhys Hanbury

:32:09.:32:16.

and Widnes getting things underway, Warrington are eight times Challenge

:32:17.:32:22.

Cup winners. Widnes have won seven Challenge Cups but you have to be

:32:23.:32:26.

old enough to remember Jonathan Davies playing to recall the last

:32:27.:32:32.

Wembley success back in 1984. Westwood is the man who leads the

:32:33.:32:37.

drive, right at the start here, for the Warrington Wolves. Let's hear

:32:38.:32:40.

these opinions as the game gets under way from Jonathan Davies and

:32:41.:32:45.

John Key are. Important but both teams look after

:32:46.:32:50.

the ball, as the guys said in the build-up, there have been showers

:32:51.:32:55.

prior to this, the surface was greasy. Which team buys territory

:32:56.:33:01.

with a good kicking game? I agree, the kicking game will be crucial,

:33:02.:33:06.

the ball will be slippery. You have to keep possession, as the boys said

:33:07.:33:11.

in the studio. If Widnes have defence, they can hang on and they

:33:12.:33:16.

are confident of scoring ability and creativity. They had to hang on in

:33:17.:33:24.

there. Sandow with a kick, a test in these conditions. It is a very

:33:25.:33:30.

greasy surface here tonight. We had a strange meteorological phenomenon

:33:31.:33:33.

before the game kicked off, Jonathan Davies noticed, it was raining in

:33:34.:33:38.

one half but sunny in the other. He was amazed, it does not seem like

:33:39.:33:44.

sunshine to you. Thank you, Michael Feis! Widnes move towards the

:33:45.:33:51.

halfway line. Their new signing, Jack Buchanan has arrived from the

:33:52.:33:57.

Tigers just over a month ago -- Michael Fish. Only his fifth

:33:58.:34:01.

appearance since his arrival. Looking for the touchline and

:34:02.:34:04.

finding it. Both teams will be pretty happy with the start, they've

:34:05.:34:11.

looked after the ball, their kicks have been adequate, testing the

:34:12.:34:16.

Warrington kick from Sandow to Hambro. Let's watch the scrum --

:34:17.:34:28.

Rhys Hanbury. It is a very fierce local derby and what are you going

:34:29.:34:32.

to do? Firstly, it is cleaner than when we played, you have to control

:34:33.:34:38.

your emotions. Discipline is crucial in the game today, anyone who spends

:34:39.:34:43.

ten minutes in the bin gives the opposition a huge advantage, you had

:34:44.:34:47.

to keep control of your emotions. Atkins at the 40 metre mark. Picked

:34:48.:34:53.

up by young gun Ben Currie, catching VI last year and certainly. --

:34:54.:35:01.

catching VI. Widnes are pushed back a yard or two, the Warrington coach

:35:02.:35:09.

Tony Smith looking on. Westwood was tackled in the

:35:10.:35:13.

aftermath of the event by Leuluai, trying to stop Gidley. Gidley kicks

:35:14.:35:15.

downfield. Evans advances, Widnes start from

:35:16.:35:26.

there. Widnes put intense pressure on Gidley, putting him on the deck

:35:27.:35:31.

the first time. He just got off his feet, and it was an easy take for

:35:32.:35:40.

the opposition. And Pat Arbon. The circumstances tonight are that win

:35:41.:35:45.

or lose for Warrington here, you would expect them to figure in the

:35:46.:35:49.

late stages in the search for silverware and the play-offs -- pat

:35:50.:35:55.

Ah Van. This is it for Widnes, realistically. This is their season?

:35:56.:36:01.

Yes, a big achievement in the top eight, a poor kick from Brown. A lot

:36:02.:36:06.

of hype around the guy, an outstanding half-backs. But that was

:36:07.:36:11.

shoddy. A kick from the outside of the boot, it will be a turnover

:36:12.:36:16.

would Warrington 35 metres away. The first real opportunity. And the

:36:17.:36:20.

first mistake, he sliced it off of his beard. He was looking for a

:36:21.:36:27.

40-20 kick. -- of his boot. Now pressure on Widnes. A chance here!

:36:28.:36:38.

He gets over the line. Jack Hughes. An indirect consequence of a sliced

:36:39.:36:42.

kick to touch. Warrington have an opening score. In the very early

:36:43.:36:49.

stages of the game. As we said, feet or position, you would not expect

:36:50.:36:54.

Warrington to score that easily. It was a kick to touch. But a strong

:36:55.:36:59.

and big run from Jack Hughes committee would be surprised that he

:37:00.:37:05.

broke through the two tackles. This is the kick and Brown rose efforts

:37:06.:37:12.

on the full gave the turnover to the Wolves. A drop-off ball from Gidley.

:37:13.:37:21.

A good play on these greasy conditions, it tests the players

:37:22.:37:25.

being able to stop and making the tackle. Obviously they could not,

:37:26.:37:28.

Jack Hughes came straight through the other side. Hep Cahill, normally

:37:29.:37:35.

a good defender, rounding handbrake for a good try. He went across to

:37:36.:37:43.

early, I think. He lost his third -- Hanbury. He over read the play, a

:37:44.:37:48.

missed tackle. A good start for Warrington, Widnes will be

:37:49.:37:53.

disappointed with their defence. Fury from Kevin Brown. Widnes under

:37:54.:38:01.

early pressure. Warrington with an early ascendancy. Kurt Gidley is the

:38:02.:38:07.

man who will attempt a kick for goal from here. Such a professional

:38:08.:38:16.

influence on this side, hasn't he? Not necessarily the most flashy of

:38:17.:38:19.

players but in terms of what he gives the side, he has such

:38:20.:38:24.

pedigree. This cake looks successful, and is. Warrington leads

:38:25.:38:30.

6-0. -- kick. He is solid and a great professional. He has done hard

:38:31.:38:38.

yards in Newcastle. Just watch, he over reads the play, Hep Cahill, and

:38:39.:38:45.

this is a run-through. Going back to Gidley, he is a great organiser and

:38:46.:38:53.

complement Sandow. Westwood, eager to lead the charge on both kick-offs

:38:54.:38:57.

in the game so far. Hill is never far behind when it comes to fronting

:38:58.:39:03.

up in the early stages of a set, Clark looks around, a man of steel a

:39:04.:39:10.

couple of years ago. Widnes had the tackle, Warrington

:39:11.:39:11.

are up to the 30 metre mark. Benny Westwood wears number 13 on

:39:12.:39:30.

his back tonight but normally is a prop forward in terms of selection,

:39:31.:39:34.

the kick is taken safely enough by handbrake but the Chase will make

:39:35.:39:38.

sure that he goes no further than that, perhaps a couple of strides

:39:39.:39:44.

back again? -- Hanbury. The Wolves have started well, some indications

:39:45.:39:50.

that the team has come prepared to pay. That is the kick chase which

:39:51.:39:54.

has been exceptional, but they will be disappointed with that aspect of

:39:55.:40:01.

their discipline, and unnecessary penalty, piggybacked to the Vikings

:40:02.:40:06.

up the field. They start in midfield. Let's see what their

:40:07.:40:11.

attack has two offer. Six to go from here. Here comes Buchanan. Called

:40:12.:40:22.

held, the referee decides there was a second effort in here after he

:40:23.:40:28.

screamed. A penalty for Widnes. From being way deep inside of their own

:40:29.:40:32.

half, no. A great attacking position. Not as noted pen -- not as

:40:33.:40:40.

many penalties for that these days, the referee allows the game to carry

:40:41.:40:48.

on. White, 15 yards away from here, Widnes. Set fair for the first time

:40:49.:40:50.

in this game so far. Hanbury, too Greg Hands, almost the

:40:51.:41:10.

chance for Russell to escape. Warrington get a parity. A

:41:11.:41:13.

significant difference, I think, in the play of the ball. -- penalty.

:41:14.:41:20.

Far quicker play of the ball, Widnes are much slower. The line speed of

:41:21.:41:24.

Warrington is faster because the ball is played slower. The timing of

:41:25.:41:30.

the play was not the best, was it Jonathan? The run was too early, the

:41:31.:41:35.

pass from Widnes, it looked shoddy at that point. If he is overrunning,

:41:36.:41:40.

you have two stick and make the decision as a ball-carrier. You have

:41:41.:41:47.

two build pressure in the Warrington 20. A couple of tackles gone, let's

:41:48.:41:54.

remind you that Wakefield is already in the semifinals for the first time

:41:55.:42:03.

since John Kear took them into a thousand eight. Hull against Catalan

:42:04.:42:09.

and Wigan against Castleford on air at 5:15pm tomorrow for that Wigan

:42:10.:42:15.

and Castleford game -- in 2008. Clark with a pass.

:42:16.:42:22.

It has been an incredible story for Wakefield. A great turn around and

:42:23.:42:26.

it could be a great conclusion for the season. A decent kick as well.

:42:27.:42:34.

An awkward bounce. Hanbury comes up with possession in the end. The

:42:35.:42:41.

Warrington kicks, they are asking questions, putting pressure on the

:42:42.:42:46.

catches of the Vikings but once again, a pretty cheap penalty. It

:42:47.:42:51.

has been littered with penalties. A shoulder charge. It was a great

:42:52.:42:59.

kick, nobody claims that. A penalty. Shoulder charge, Sandow. Attack by

:43:00.:43:10.

Bridge, a hero here not long ago, before he switched to Widnes.

:43:11.:43:16.

Hanbury, a twist and a turn but not finding any purchase at the moment.

:43:17.:43:30.

Making decent progress here, Widnes, inside of the Warrington half by a

:43:31.:43:36.

distance. Leuluai tries to straighten up. Still a couple of

:43:37.:43:44.

tackles to go in this set. Hannah Brie looks to chime in but the

:43:45.:43:48.

Warrington defence is organised -- Hanbury. Here comes the last. It is

:43:49.:43:54.

not, I think that the referee will give Widnes another penalty. Hanbury

:43:55.:44:05.

and Atkins, having a little tete-a-tete. Apologies if you picked

:44:06.:44:16.

up any language there. Atkins, I don't think there is anything wrong

:44:17.:44:24.

with that tackle. There we go, that is the reason. An arm around the

:44:25.:44:28.

neck from Atkins. It provoked matters. That is the reason the

:44:29.:44:32.

referee will give a penalty to Widnes. A better pressure on neck

:44:33.:44:40.

there. -- a bit of pressure. Resembling a crusher tackle,

:44:41.:44:43.

slightly. This could well go on report. REFEREE: You had to deal

:44:44.:44:46.

with the situation, the penalty goes to Widnes. You both contributed to

:44:47.:44:56.

that. There is the explanation. WHISTLE

:44:57.:44:59.

I'm not quite sure that Atkins is convinced that he was dealt with

:45:00.:45:04.

fairly but there we go... A chance now for Jack Buchanan to lay a

:45:05.:45:05.

platform for Widnes. Miller looks for a short ball which

:45:06.:45:18.

almost has Chris Dean putting a hole in the Warrington defence but down

:45:19.:45:23.

he goes. They are very close here! -- Mela. Close but not close enough.

:45:24.:45:31.

They still have tackles in the bag. Brown goes against the grain of the

:45:32.:45:38.

defence. But not finding it will stop two tackles to go. Mellor.

:45:39.:45:48.

Evans came out really quickly. Reading the play well. Mellor tries

:45:49.:45:54.

to inject it back again. Dean goes in. Catching it on the fall. That

:45:55.:46:01.

was well defended by Warrington. Two fantastic pieces of defence. Rhys

:46:02.:46:06.

Evans read the play and got it down before and Kevin Penny claimed the

:46:07.:46:11.

high kick in the opening goal. The Warrington Wolves are ratcheting up

:46:12.:46:17.

the play. A great tackle! Lost in the collision, Widnes habit back. A

:46:18.:46:23.

great tackle, good play of the ball -- Widnes have it back.

:46:24.:46:32.

That was great, they came in with a good shoulder hit under the ball,

:46:33.:46:37.

jabbing it free. The reward for tremendous defence was an error.

:46:38.:46:41.

Brown with an inside ball for Buchanan. Down at the knees by the

:46:42.:46:49.

Warrington defence. Imposing a few problems, they are being asked

:46:50.:46:52.

questions. Cahill was the latest to be stopped.

:46:53.:46:58.

They are being stifled at the moment.

:46:59.:47:07.

Pass, chipped on by Mellor, knocked on and Warrington have it again. And

:47:08.:47:13.

not enough questions asked in the right way. I thought Brown could

:47:14.:47:17.

have shown and gone, they ignored him. I think the gap opened up for

:47:18.:47:26.

him. I agree, he was on the inside, wasn't he? They need to look to the

:47:27.:47:30.

outside, prop it on his third and go against the grain. He is a great

:47:31.:47:35.

tactician and rooted well, on that occasion he should have stepped and

:47:36.:47:45.

gone. There was a gap for him. Russell was a Wigan player before he

:47:46.:47:48.

switched to Australia, signing back here for Warrington. Rashford, never

:47:49.:47:56.

far from the centre of action, Westwood.

:47:57.:48:05.

Gidley hammers it downfield. A good take in the end by Rhys Hanbury.

:48:06.:48:15.

Doing that part of the game very well, Warrington. Kicking with

:48:16.:48:20.

plenty of hang time and trying to get the chase up there to restrict

:48:21.:48:28.

this dangerous Widnes back three. Corey Thompson, making marks on that

:48:29.:48:35.

occasion, Pat Ah Van tries to do something similar but slips in the

:48:36.:48:37.

process. WHISTLE

:48:38.:48:41.

Knocked on! That all went for a blue wrong for Pat Ah Van, from start to

:48:42.:48:48.

finish -- horribly wrong. They had to give him a break, losing his

:48:49.:48:53.

footing, they had to keep control of it. I would agree. When it is

:48:54.:49:00.

conditions like this and greasy, you have to be extra careful with the

:49:01.:49:06.

play of the ball, if you are not, something devastating could well

:49:07.:49:07.

happen. Evans... Ratchford is the man at

:49:08.:49:25.

dummy half. Hill canters forward again with purpose. Daryl Clark

:49:26.:49:29.

tries to organise things. Ashton Sims is not playing today, he

:49:30.:49:46.

is suspended, he would love to play and is hoping that his side can

:49:47.:49:50.

carry them through to a semifinal. A forward pass to Penny at the end of

:49:51.:49:55.

that. Widnes have a bit of relief here. The skills have been off from

:49:56.:50:01.

both teams, there has been a slight issue with timing. Then again, it is

:50:02.:50:11.

forward. It is not done as sharp as you would normally see off these two

:50:12.:50:17.

sides. A little lethargic, the conditions are a lot worse than it

:50:18.:50:21.

looks on-screen. Very damp conditions. They are bit difficult.

:50:22.:50:31.

Bridge stands and waits here. Robbie Hunter-Paul is on the sidelines.

:50:32.:50:37.

Warrington are the masters of destruction at this point. Every

:50:38.:50:42.

time the set is together, three players on the bounce. Widnes's

:50:43.:50:46.

line, they give the ball away too easily. Their discipline and allows

:50:47.:50:51.

Widnes to get penalties and get into their own half and if you do that

:50:52.:50:55.

too much you will lose a lot of energy in the opening 20 minutes of

:50:56.:51:01.

the game. Brown. Mellor looks for the early kick, not a 40/20, was

:51:02.:51:06.

nearly at the halfway line. That is the reason why it is not a 40/20.

:51:07.:51:12.

Rashford runs back. The contact is pretty muscular, a little overly

:51:13.:51:18.

muscular for the Warrington fans. Atkins tries to straighten things

:51:19.:51:26.

up. Ratchford, out under way. That is one thing that Warrington do

:51:27.:51:29.

really well, they pick up the ball and have a go quickly. 40/20,

:51:30.:51:35.

Sandow. He was right on the line but he thinks the bounce will be kind,

:51:36.:51:39.

it is not. Pat Ah Van brings it back. In these conditions kicking

:51:40.:51:44.

with a 40/20, you have two zip it along the ground. You cannot get

:51:45.:51:49.

height as the dampest makes it bounce higher, you have to go low

:51:50.:51:54.

and hard, skimming across the top. Hep Cahill for Widnes, just one try

:51:55.:51:59.

so far if you are joining us late. Jack Hughes scored for Warrington

:52:00.:52:07.

early in the piece. Houston. Back with Brown. Macgraff Leuluai. The

:52:08.:52:17.

sixth tackle is next, Brown puts it high. Endeavour and, spinning,

:52:18.:52:23.

Ratchford is the clear favourite to take it safely and does. -- over and

:52:24.:52:29.

over. Looking for penny, nowhere to go.

:52:30.:52:37.

He loses it. That is a bonus for Widnes. Just trying to play field

:52:38.:52:45.

positions and trying to force the error. That is exactly how the

:52:46.:52:49.

tackle was one, macro -- Warrington return the ball, a

:52:50.:53:00.

straightforward drop in the wrestle by Kevin Penny. Widnes have made a

:53:01.:53:06.

change, Dudson has come onto the field, Buchanan has gone off. They

:53:07.:53:10.

did it just before the scrum, they cannot make into changes at the

:53:11.:53:13.

scrum but they did it just beforehand. Here he comes with his

:53:14.:53:17.

first touch, Dudson with a shuddering charge forward. Widnes in

:53:18.:53:21.

decent position here. Mellor with a Dodge and a weave...

:53:22.:53:47.

White tries to get himself over. Warrington are too wise for that

:53:48.:53:53.

ploy. It is a very slow play of the ball here, Westwood gets himself

:53:54.:54:02.

entangled here. Mellor throws it to Brown, they are running out of

:54:03.:54:06.

tackles and options here, Widnes at the moment. Brown with a grubber

:54:07.:54:12.

kick, off of the boot of Atkins. It does not matter, because he Kalex

:54:13.:54:18.

it, but then he drops it stops the clock.

:54:19.:54:22.

-- Kalex. He took a knock while he was on the ground -- he collect it.

:54:23.:54:33.

I think you got a knee in the back of his head as he was going down. He

:54:34.:54:37.

plays the ball with his foot, taking the sting out of it. Looking to

:54:38.:54:44.

reclaim, a total accident. But he has the left knee of Hep Cahill.

:54:45.:54:55.

Closing down very quickly. He is the option. The option Widnes look for

:54:56.:55:01.

at the try line. Closing down, staying on him. Mellor will have two

:55:02.:55:08.

help him out, I think. This is going to be head and feet for Widnes here,

:55:09.:55:17.

isn't it? He has given a penalty. If it is accidental, why is it a

:55:18.:55:23.

penalty and why is it on report? I think because it is contact with his

:55:24.:55:30.

head. The referee says it is accidental... REFEREE: I was too

:55:31.:55:36.

busy talking... That is a scrum for Warrington. He is on his knees. They

:55:37.:55:48.

have looked after him pretty well, the physio and the doctors, as they

:55:49.:55:53.

do. Protocol in Rugby league at the minute is to ensure any head knocks

:55:54.:55:58.

are really looked after and assessed and, if necessary, removed from the

:55:59.:56:03.

field of play. It is fantastic. I know when we played, the physio

:56:04.:56:12.

would check concussion, and he would say, when is my sister 's birthday?

:56:13.:56:17.

I did not know he had a sister! The way it works, for those who are not

:56:18.:56:21.

clear, he goes off and has 15 minutes to have a full assessment.

:56:22.:56:26.

Atkins, and if the doctors on the sideline think he is OK, I did not

:56:27.:56:31.

it counts as an interchange. It takes all decision-making away from

:56:32.:56:34.

the player. Every player thinks that he can stay on, and the decision is

:56:35.:56:41.

taken from his hands, he goes off and is checked. Ryan Bailey comes

:56:42.:56:46.

onto the field. He has a bit of history in the Ladbrokes Challenge

:56:47.:56:51.

Cup. With Leeds, only once as a winner though. It looks like

:56:52.:56:58.

Westwood will be out in the centre. Currie in the centre.

:56:59.:57:02.

An early drive, Westwood at left-centre at the moment.

:57:03.:57:10.

Widnes need to get their Mojo back and ensure that they restrict

:57:11.:57:11.

Warrington. Russell is still going, look at that

:57:12.:57:24.

leg drive, managing to get the balance against his opponents.

:57:25.:57:32.

Hill... Getting closer and closer, less than 20 away. Three tackles to

:57:33.:57:35.

go and Gidley picks it up again. It will be covered but it is in a

:57:36.:57:45.

dangerous position again, all Thompson can do is concede a drop

:57:46.:57:49.

out under the sticks. That is one of the biggest differences, returning

:57:50.:57:54.

the ball over, Warrington, giving pressure. Keeping Widnes in their

:57:55.:58:02.

own half. An element of composure from Sandow there. Seeing if they

:58:03.:58:06.

can slide the ball through, putting it into the in goal, a good chase

:58:07.:58:14.

indeed. Another set of tackles, launching an attack on the NACRO to

:58:15.:58:18.

line. He missed a chunk of the season, there was a 25 minute spell

:58:19.:58:24.

against Wigan where he produced the best performance for many a year,

:58:25.:58:29.

then he got an injury and was missing for a month or so --

:58:30.:58:34.

launching an attack on the Widnes side. He is great to watch. Clark

:58:35.:58:40.

goes to Gidley and Gidley takes on the line. Also this year he has

:58:41.:58:45.

brought in a lot of confidence. He was not previously doing that. Not a

:58:46.:58:53.

lot he could do there when he got the ball, Evans. He was surrounded.

:58:54.:59:04.

Gidley. Advancing by Dudson. Away to Bailey. On the last tackle here now.

:59:05.:59:10.

Where does it go? Left to Sandow, he has a kick to the goal area but it

:59:11.:59:15.

is rescued by Thompson and taken back to the field of play. Thompson

:59:16.:59:21.

read the play well, gambling on the kick, if the password wide, it would

:59:22.:59:26.

have been out of position. -- if the pass went wide. Well read. You have

:59:27.:59:32.

to get back into the field of play. So that you, once again, can clear

:59:33.:59:36.

your line and by territory with a kick at the end of the set. 42

:59:37.:59:48.

tackles made, by Widnes, Wolves have 49. Widnes have made more tackles

:59:49.:59:52.

than any other side in Super League this year, 250 odd, something like

:59:53.:59:57.

that. Mellor slips as he kicks a way, not the end product he would

:59:58.:59:59.

have wanted. Ratchford. Currie. Now Penny. We have seen him

:00:00.:00:19.

score and eye-catching try or two, haven't we? The game is certainly

:00:20.:00:24.

slower because of the conditions. The players are tentative, trying to

:00:25.:00:28.

make sure of the ball before they go into contact. It hasn't got that

:00:29.:00:39.

fizz at the moment. Clark at dummy half, Bailey again and onto Hill and

:00:40.:00:45.

now Sandow. They break the line but taken down by a very good tackle.

:00:46.:00:50.

That is the fifth, this is the sixth. Diddley gets the kick away.

:00:51.:00:55.

Patrick Ah Van in the field of play when he called it so we have to do

:00:56.:01:00.

something about it himself and he is doing a decent job. Hanbury from

:01:01.:01:09.

dummy half. This is good pressure from Warrington. Widnes need a

:01:10.:01:15.

complete set to get a very good kick in.

:01:16.:01:19.

Shifted across to Dudson, who will take on Bailey. Two big fellas.

:01:20.:01:33.

Dudson get a very good ball away. They anticipated it well and

:01:34.:01:36.

suddenly Widnes find themselves inside the Warrington half.

:01:37.:01:42.

They couldn't get the pass away. Hanbury kicks for the corner.

:01:43.:01:51.

Ratchford has a job to do and it will be tackling. Look where they

:01:52.:01:58.

are. Really good because they asked questions. They played a little

:01:59.:02:04.

quicker, lovely dab into the corner to challenge and clear their own

:02:05.:02:10.

end. Westwood can't keep hold of it. He desperately tries to but he has

:02:11.:02:13.

lost it and Widnes have the advantage play. He had the spare

:02:14.:02:21.

plated try something, knowing it would come back to Widnes's head of

:02:22.:02:31.

the field. Kurt Gidley is wearing the player microphone today so we

:02:32.:02:35.

will be hearing from him at half-time what has been going on on

:02:36.:02:40.

the field. There might be a few blue words about what he has just seen

:02:41.:02:43.

there. We will hear more about that later. Fascinating to listen to the

:02:44.:02:49.

organising they do because Kurt Gidley is the conductor of the

:02:50.:02:58.

orchestra. Yes, we have heard the forwards, the big grunts and

:02:59.:03:02.

collisions but that organisational stuff that goes on out there, the

:03:03.:03:08.

general giving his orders. Widnes a close here. Mellor's short pass to

:03:09.:03:19.

Bridge. Good tackle, they caught that right at the defensive line.

:03:20.:03:27.

Still a few tackles to go so still opportunities aplenty. Brown will

:03:28.:03:31.

put the kick to the corner and Russell will take you easily. He is

:03:32.:03:37.

not challenged until he can keep it down and make sure he stays in the

:03:38.:03:41.

field of play. That is an easy take, wrong decision by Brown. I think

:03:42.:03:48.

they look like they are flat at the moment, Widnes, when they attack, no

:03:49.:03:52.

speed on their executions which is easier for the Warrington defenders.

:03:53.:03:57.

The most dangerous they look for the off-load from Dudson and the broken

:03:58.:04:02.

play that came from that. We have had Ashton Sims, on the sidelines.

:04:03.:04:10.

Sandow knocks on and it is clicked on by Mellor. He plays the football,

:04:11.:04:15.

picks it up and has he touched down? The referee will put the square in

:04:16.:04:23.

the air and ask the question. Zero tackle. He thinks he scored. He

:04:24.:04:30.

thinks it is a try on the field, the benefit of the doubt is with Widnes

:04:31.:04:33.

let's hear from our video referee, Phil Bentham. We will just check the

:04:34.:04:41.

ground. The referee is behind the play. We have a clean pick-up and

:04:42.:04:50.

everything there looks like a try to me, happy to give the try.

:04:51.:04:59.

Quick decision and the gift of a try for Widnes. A dreadful mistake first

:05:00.:05:09.

of all, I'm not sure if Sandow thinks it is a forward pass so he

:05:10.:05:13.

gives up on it and Mellor quick as a flash gets his foot to it and scores

:05:14.:05:17.

are very well finished try. Just watch. He let it go through his

:05:18.:05:24.

hands and that is a very good finish, difficult, he could have

:05:25.:05:28.

snatched that end, a very good finish. But an easy try for him,

:05:29.:05:37.

handed on a plate. Just rewarding Jonathan Forte camping down in the

:05:38.:05:42.

Warrington 20, playing field position rugby. Hanbury with a

:05:43.:05:47.

chance to even things up, right in front of the sticks, and he does as

:05:48.:05:52.

expected. I thought this was always going to be a close game. A fierce

:05:53.:05:57.

local derby, rivalry and just watch, this is the pass. King throws the

:05:58.:06:03.

pass and I don't know what Sandow thought was happening. That was

:06:04.:06:08.

great skill. We see conditions, picks it up without breaking stride

:06:09.:06:13.

to score. I always thought if Widnes came and got the defence right, this

:06:14.:06:18.

would be a real test for both sides. Apart from the Hughes tried, they

:06:19.:06:22.

fronted up and they are in this game big-time. All that meaning all the

:06:23.:06:27.

local rivalry, Challenge Cup semifinal, at stake as well. We have

:06:28.:06:33.

got a cup tie on our hands now, six points apiece. Warrington bench

:06:34.:06:42.

looking calm and collected. It is another off-load. Dudson again, he

:06:43.:06:48.

is having an impact on the came on from the bench. He is and they need

:06:49.:06:52.

to switch on to it because they gave him great success in the. --

:06:53.:07:00.

earlier. A little scamper and back down it comes in the middle again

:07:01.:07:05.

and Widnes make indecent yardage. This is what Widnes have to do, make

:07:06.:07:11.

the yardage. Kevin Brown slips away. He passes on to Whitley, now a

:07:12.:07:16.

chance for Bridge. He goes for the line, great tackle. Daryl Clark gets

:07:17.:07:23.

better and stopped the man on the sixth. Played out by Westwood. It is

:07:24.:07:30.

another six if Widnes get it back. It is, Whitley gets away again and

:07:31.:07:36.

he scores. In the blink of an eye, it has all gone white here. Widnes

:07:37.:07:43.

have turned this game around. Again, the half-break, great support,

:07:44.:07:47.

fantastic tackle by Clark. But they kept their composter and Widnes

:07:48.:07:54.

picked the ball up and turned. Brash they kept their composure. Good on

:07:55.:08:02.

Denis Betts as well for sending Heather Myer out there with Lloyd

:08:03.:08:03.

White. Lloyd White puts the kick in, it is

:08:04.:08:14.

back to one and it really is a fractured Warrington defence. Widnes

:08:15.:08:19.

says thank you very much. I will go through those tackles and under the

:08:20.:08:25.

post. Manuokafoa and Dudson have made a huge impact. They have made

:08:26.:08:30.

the yards, the half-backs on the front foot, making attacking play

:08:31.:08:37.

easier and the kicking game easier. Right in front of the sticks. This

:08:38.:08:43.

should not be a problem for Rhys Hanbury and it isn't. From 6-0 down,

:08:44.:08:51.

less than a few minutes ago, Widnes are now 12-6 up at half-time looms.

:08:52.:08:58.

They have grown into this game, Widnes Vikings. I don't think you

:08:59.:09:05.

can believe his luck there. A good bit of footwork but just a bit too

:09:06.:09:14.

easy. A fractured defensive line and Warrington did that and it didn't

:09:15.:09:17.

pay offer them. The last few minutes, the possession is 58 event,

:09:18.:09:23.

as is territory, in favour of Widnes. -- 58%. That is how you have

:09:24.:09:30.

to play in these conditions, looked after the ball and buy some land.

:09:31.:09:40.

There is the statistical proof. Houston tries to send his side in a

:09:41.:09:46.

forward motion again. Dudson once more striking things up. Heremaia

:09:47.:09:54.

weights and then scampers. Warrington's defence being tested

:09:55.:09:59.

again. Playing the ball is a lot quicker with those two as well. He

:10:00.:10:06.

gets his arm free and he wanted the off-load but he couldn't scoop it

:10:07.:10:10.

back to Heremaia who was waiting. Kevin Brown looking for the big

:10:11.:10:12.

patch of grass right down the middle. Danger here because

:10:13.:10:18.

Ratchford can turn something out of nothing but not on this occasion.

:10:19.:10:26.

You would be happy with that. Gil Dudson spoils what has been a very

:10:27.:10:29.

good few minutes the him with a simple penalty. A penalty that

:10:30.:10:37.

Sandow put out of play. Let's hear from him now, Ashton Sims is with

:10:38.:10:43.

Tanya. You are kicking every ball, trying to make every tackle? What do

:10:44.:10:48.

you make of this so far? The game is on a knife edge, Widnes have

:10:49.:10:51.

probably been the better team for the last five minutes but we need to

:10:52.:10:55.

go back to completing. Put some more pressure back on them. Is it

:10:56.:10:59.

frustrating few to watch? Really frustrating. It is a real tight one

:11:00.:11:06.

and that is what a derby is all about. Kurt Gidley looking for a

:11:07.:11:17.

route back down the middle. Ratchford threatening to find a way

:11:18.:11:24.

through. Clark from dummy half. Gidley will kick it, not quite for

:11:25.:11:28.

the corner, a bit of shortness on the ball. Hanbury collect and

:11:29.:11:35.

manages to get it back in play. Defensive kicking from Widnes is

:11:36.:11:41.

pretty good. They had enough numbers around the ball to defuse the

:11:42.:11:46.

situation. Warrington are playing as individuals at the moment. Kurt

:11:47.:11:53.

Gidley, Sandow. Kurt Gidley and Evans doing a job on Patrick Ah Van

:11:54.:11:57.

and it needed doing. Six minutes to the break. One tackle in this set

:11:58.:12:05.

for Widnes. Brown looking for distance and hits, was it an

:12:06.:12:07.

advancing Warrington player? Yes it was. I am with the referee, he

:12:08.:12:16.

didn't play it at the ball. I don't know what Lloyd White was doing

:12:17.:12:20.

there. I think he thought it was an extra man and he was looking for the

:12:21.:12:33.

wing. There wasn't the extra man. He has two defenders. He thinks the

:12:34.:12:38.

winger is on the outside and throws it to the space but he is

:12:39.:12:44.

unfortunately a man shot. -- short. The difference is the pace of the

:12:45.:12:49.

play of the ball. Widnes struggled in the first 20 minutes and

:12:50.:12:53.

Warrington's defence were on top of them. Now they have momentum. If you

:12:54.:12:58.

get that, you have to make the most of it. Widnes have done that.

:12:59.:13:03.

Interesting start because Warrington are renowned of running out of dummy

:13:04.:13:08.

half with the speed of play and Widnes have 18 dummy half carries to

:13:09.:13:13.

Warrington's seven. Sandow at dummy half. Back inside. One of those off

:13:14.:13:22.

the bench George King, tackled 40 metres out. Warrington are looking

:13:23.:13:28.

for and needing a response. They do well to play the ball quickly.

:13:29.:13:35.

Clark. Evans, quickly away to Russell on the right-hand side. The

:13:36.:13:39.

Widnes defence organised enough to be over there. Evans did

:13:40.:13:47.

exceptionally well. Gidley again. Westerman spinning it onto

:13:48.:13:52.

Ratchford. They are going left now. Sandow inside the attempted tackle

:13:53.:13:59.

of Thompson. Whitley concerned for Sandow, asking the referee... Sandow

:14:00.:14:03.

just wanted to play on. This is a kick for the corner. That was a real

:14:04.:14:10.

sucker punch. The referee says tried but he is looking at the grounding

:14:11.:14:15.

again so once again, let's hear from the video ref three, Phil Bentham.

:14:16.:14:21.

Just a grounding check again. Just to make sure he has hands on the

:14:22.:14:25.

ball. And the ball is all the way to the ground. We need to check the

:14:26.:14:34.

kick because... Just to make sure it is onside. The ball is on the ground

:14:35.:14:40.

and then he grabbed it. Just double-check the kick.

:14:41.:14:48.

That is onside, we have no problem with that. Just need the grounding

:14:49.:14:57.

to finish off to confirm it, please. The ball hit the ground first and he

:14:58.:15:02.

has to get his hands on it and he grounds it. Try.

:15:03.:15:14.

There is the evidence Warrington are back in the tie. Smart play as well

:15:15.:15:23.

because the Wolves noticed the right winger, Thompson, came in to shut

:15:24.:15:28.

the play down on Sandow so he was out opposition and then he picked

:15:29.:15:31.

the ball up and slipped it behind what would have been the right wing

:15:32.:15:37.

man and that is where Penny succeeded in grounding it. Very

:15:38.:15:41.

clever play. It all came from that mistake from Lloyd White which gave

:15:42.:15:45.

the field position and this is the cleverness, just slid along and

:15:46.:15:51.

there is penny to ground it. A brilliant piece of play by King. The

:15:52.:15:57.

instincts of the centre. He hadn't dropped back. He thought about it,

:15:58.:16:03.

by that time, Penny had scored. Brilliant play by Warrington. Gidley

:16:04.:16:10.

from the touchline. I think Wall Street is eager to get involved as

:16:11.:16:19.

well from that angle. -- I think Wolfie is eager to get involved. The

:16:20.:16:24.

margin is much less slender than it was. Just watch, he wasn't sure what

:16:25.:16:31.

to do. 22, he made the tackle on Sandow, does he go in or out and

:16:32.:16:36.

fortunately, there is his opposite number. The little back play behind

:16:37.:16:42.

all of that, we saw him playing the ball and clearly uncomfortable,

:16:43.:16:47.

Sandow is still on the field but he has been having treatment while that

:16:48.:16:50.

try was being judged by the video referee and he is not moving as

:16:51.:16:55.

freely as he was. He has basically two and a half minutes to get into

:16:56.:16:58.

the changing room where they can assess him. They will be telling him

:16:59.:17:04.

to get in the defensive line and do his defensive work. Any attacking

:17:05.:17:08.

work is a bonus if he is hobbling about.

:17:09.:17:16.

I don't think we realised how important that try was. Warrington

:17:17.:17:22.

really struggling with the energy levels at this point. Just before

:17:23.:17:27.

that try was scored. It would takes individual brilliance to break that

:17:28.:17:31.

moment. Look at what is happening now, Warrington on the foot. If

:17:32.:17:37.

somebody does score before the break, you would think Warrington

:17:38.:17:40.

would be favourites. The kick safely passed by Hanbury. Set each here

:17:41.:17:49.

before the hooter sounds. You would say so. Pretty conservative and low

:17:50.:17:59.

risk stuff from Widnes. A good kick. You don't want to be handing

:18:00.:18:02.

Warrington possession anywhere in your own half. A bruising run by

:18:03.:18:12.

Patrick Ah Van. Mick Cassidy sitting beside Daniel Spence, looking a bit

:18:13.:18:17.

anxious. Less pressure as it moves out wide. A conservative, thoughtful

:18:18.:18:25.

kick to make sure it is as difficult as possible. There was nothing wrong

:18:26.:18:30.

with that tackle from Lloyd White. He is carrying the ball in one hand

:18:31.:18:34.

as well, Ratchford. You have to go for the ball. If you are on the

:18:35.:18:40.

coaching staff, you have to say, attack that ball when he is running

:18:41.:18:47.

it back. Ratchford collections. Westwood romping forward again.

:18:48.:18:56.

Westwood has been here 14 years. They are looking for width for

:18:57.:19:02.

Sandow who is skipping away and still going but loses it in the

:19:03.:19:06.

tackle from Houston. The referee says it was knocked on. Warrington

:19:07.:19:10.

will rush for the scrum to back it down so the referee stopped the

:19:11.:19:15.

clock. I think it is a forward pass from Sandow. A one-handed off-load

:19:16.:19:22.

here. It is a forward pass. It certainly is. It is interesting

:19:23.:19:31.

because Chris Sandow packed down as Caulker here, and don't want him in

:19:32.:19:40.

that position. -- Coke Delhi hooker -- hooker.

:19:41.:19:47.

That forward pass, the referee was right next door to it. I can't

:19:48.:19:54.

believe how he missed that pass. The game as tight as it is, that is

:19:55.:19:59.

crucial. With 20 seconds, would you just take it in and take one point

:20:00.:20:06.

grid and there are two options, do that or I would take it on the line

:20:07.:20:10.

and put a grubber through. We don't see enough of it in this occasion.

:20:11.:20:14.

Someone should take the ball, Westerman tell Ratchford and it is

:20:15.:20:23.

on. This is the kick. Currie and Sandow chasing this and Widnes happy

:20:24.:20:26.

to get it behind the ball line because they will waste the seven or

:20:27.:20:32.

eight seconds here before the hooter sounds. I think Jonathan Davies

:20:33.:20:37.

played number 11 today. There you have it. A decent cup tie,

:20:38.:20:44.

Warrington 10-12 Widnes. Plenty to come in the second half and plenty

:20:45.:20:50.

to come from him. It will be interesting if he is limping badly,

:20:51.:20:56.

not running as comfortably as we are used to seeing him so a big

:20:57.:21:01.

decision, will he come on in the second half? A very good first half

:21:02.:21:04.

of rugby. Thoroughly enjoyed it, defensive clearly on top on both

:21:05.:21:11.

sides. Let's here from Chris Sandow. You look like you are a little

:21:12.:21:16.

uncomfortable, carrying an injury? Yes, in the first half, hopefully we

:21:17.:21:25.

will attack their kicking game in the second half. I will definitely

:21:26.:21:32.

be back out in the second half. I think we will settle down in the

:21:33.:21:35.

second half and start playing some football. Kevin Brown, happy without

:21:36.:21:43.

half? Yes, plenty to work on. Errors with the ball that were fixed. You

:21:44.:21:49.

think if you can hang onto the ball, you can get over the line? We spoke

:21:50.:21:53.

about completing and we didn't do that earlier on. We dropped a few

:21:54.:21:56.

balls but when we got into the ground, we started looking good.

:21:57.:22:08.

These are the stats from the first. -- first half.

:22:09.:22:23.

11 errors in total, we will come to that in a minute. When we come to

:22:24.:22:30.

the analysis, which we will eliminate, the errors caused a lot

:22:31.:22:31.

of the points that have been scored? As the Warrington Wolves started to

:22:32.:22:50.

make errors... When you do that, you drop off and Widnes came into the

:22:51.:22:55.

game. Widnes will be happy they did that because they didn't look like

:22:56.:22:58.

they were going to add the start. Some of these big games revolve

:22:59.:23:01.

around the kicking game and how well you can kick the ball. Widnes

:23:02.:23:07.

kicking the ball terribly. They forced a couple of errors and

:23:08.:23:11.

back-to-back sets which gave them some respite from the fact

:23:12.:23:14.

Warrington were not playing as well. A couple of errors from Warrington

:23:15.:23:17.

gave them field position and got them back into the game. Kevin Brown

:23:18.:23:24.

mentioned it, the kicking was a problem and he mentioned he kicked

:23:25.:23:27.

the early one on the full. Warrington started brightly. Widnes

:23:28.:23:33.

had issues with their kicking game at the start. Kevin Brown sliced

:23:34.:23:39.

back, a complete mess kit. Under no real pressure. Smart play from Kurt

:23:40.:23:46.

Gidley on the back of that. I am a massive fan of Jack Hughes, great

:23:47.:23:49.

strength and speed to score this try. Smart play in wet conditions.

:23:50.:23:55.

All part of Warrington's bright start. It came from the defence. It

:23:56.:24:00.

resulted in not this try but a period of about 25 minutes of

:24:01.:24:05.

pressure. Ultimately, what caused an end to that were errors from

:24:06.:24:10.

Warrington. When you say Hep Cahill overworked what do you mean? You

:24:11.:24:14.

also looked like you slept. When you get into a position like that, he is

:24:15.:24:20.

working really hard, pushing towards a sideline, to stop and change

:24:21.:24:24.

direction is difficult. He almost made his foot unstable and that is

:24:25.:24:31.

why he slept. Very slippy conditions and Hep Cahill is really racing

:24:32.:24:34.

across the line and going back against that brain as Jack Hughes

:24:35.:24:39.

did, with the drop-off type of play, causes a lot of problems for

:24:40.:24:43.

defenders. Widnes struggled with fluency. I think in big games, you

:24:44.:24:50.

need to nail your fluency so everyone knows what they are doing.

:24:51.:24:53.

Jack Hughes puts Kevin Brown under pressure. I thought Warrington put

:24:54.:24:59.

Widnes under loads of pressure early doors. Hanbury timing it, I thought

:25:00.:25:07.

it was a bit off. Great defence against the Warrington, very

:25:08.:25:12.

aggressive. Off the back of that, Mellor would probably nail this.

:25:13.:25:21.

Great take from Penny. Widnes were ineffective in the first 20 minutes

:25:22.:25:26.

and got back into the game off the back of Warrington making errors and

:25:27.:25:30.

not being able to defend in that kind of energetic, aggressive way.

:25:31.:25:34.

One of the Warrington errors led to the Joe Mellor try as well which got

:25:35.:25:42.

Widnes back into it. We talk about being a support player, running

:25:43.:25:46.

support like that, didn't want the ball, we spoke about Joe Mellor

:25:47.:25:49.

being instinctive and that is instinctive attacking play. Everyone

:25:50.:25:53.

also is waiting and Joe Mellor moved forward, kicked the ball, it is a

:25:54.:25:58.

difficult skill to kick and gather. It changed times. The first half

:25:59.:26:04.

hinged on errors from Warrington. They gifted Widnes. I think

:26:05.:26:10.

Warrington gifted them. Would you say a bigger picture is that

:26:11.:26:17.

Widnes's fluency was caused by the lack -- lack of long Willey fluency

:26:18.:26:21.

was caused by the way Warrington were playing at yet Warrington were

:26:22.:26:28.

the masters of their own downfall? We saw them right in the face of

:26:29.:26:32.

Sandow so they have turned the tables. They put Warrington under

:26:33.:26:36.

pressure so with people in their face and under pressure, they came

:26:37.:26:40.

up with a couple of errors. They also got lucky on a couple of kicks.

:26:41.:26:46.

It took a bit of juice out of Warrington. It is all about balance.

:26:47.:26:50.

Warrington stopped what they were doing. One of the reasons for that I

:26:51.:26:57.

think, we spoke about the weather before the game and when you are

:26:58.:27:01.

player, you talk about lightspeed because you know the ball is more

:27:02.:27:05.

difficult catch. When there has been line speed, that is when the ball

:27:06.:27:09.

been dropped and players have taken their eyes off the ball. Good

:27:10.:27:14.

Warrington switch off after the amazing tackle from Daryl Clark? I

:27:15.:27:20.

think this try summed it up. Heremaia was brought on and he made

:27:21.:27:24.

a big difference running out of dummy half. Big spaces and this is

:27:25.:27:29.

when dummy halves thrive. Great skill and Kevin Brown at his best.

:27:30.:27:32.

Passing the ball. Great cover tackle. Warp speed. Lloyd White

:27:33.:27:40.

attempts to put the kick in, Widnes play around with the ball. What a

:27:41.:27:45.

fantastic piece of instinctive attacking play but poor defence.

:27:46.:27:51.

That is not defence of a knockout game. It is desperation in defence.

:27:52.:27:58.

This winner tries to make a cover tackle and is found out in the

:27:59.:28:03.

middle. It came from that turning momentum, that Widnes grew in

:28:04.:28:08.

confidence and Warrington made a few errors. The energy battle on the

:28:09.:28:13.

field in these conditions is really important and Warrington masted that

:28:14.:28:16.

the 20 minutes and then they fell to bits in terms of the energy. But

:28:17.:28:21.

they had something to say at the end of the half. If that offends? You

:28:22.:28:32.

spoke about it at the start. -- is that defence? You said Warrington

:28:33.:28:40.

can sometimes switch off. I would agree, if you had said those players

:28:41.:28:44.

in and around the ball, if you read that tackle... Warrington are back

:28:45.:28:56.

in it, thanks to the Penny try. That was unbelievable vision. The winger

:28:57.:29:02.

Corey Thompson has come in to make a couple of tackle so he is out of the

:29:03.:29:07.

way. Penny holds his job and holds the width of the sideline. That is a

:29:08.:29:15.

smart kick. King putting a kick in down the short side. That is not

:29:16.:29:19.

something you would see Jamie Peacock doing! I am the drop goal

:29:20.:29:26.

man! And the sidestep man, let's not forget! That came off the back of

:29:27.:29:32.

Lloyd White, it was a mistake and it gifted the possession and Penny

:29:33.:29:35.

scored a try. Errors have been so important in this first half. Both

:29:36.:29:40.

teams I think our defending pretty well. For the first 20 minutes,

:29:41.:29:48.

Warrington were very dominant. They got lucky, they got a couple of

:29:49.:29:52.

errors out of Warrington, because of their defensive line speed and they

:29:53.:29:56.

put some pressure on the Warrington kick and got the ball in the right

:29:57.:29:59.

part of the field so I think they defences are all right.

:30:00.:30:04.

You may remember that we told you about the songs of praise

:30:05.:30:11.

competition, a fans choir would sing abide with me at the Challenge Cup

:30:12.:30:16.

final, looking for a representative from 32 clubs, this week it was the

:30:17.:30:21.

judging section of the competition. Nothing like the X Factor! We ask

:30:22.:30:33.

for someone who has gone beyond the Call of Duty to help and support

:30:34.:30:40.

their team. That is the key line, that he has coached over 1000 boys

:30:41.:30:45.

and girls. I think she is doing a lot of work of the field. He is a

:30:46.:30:51.

lifetime supporter. You have to look further at something original and

:30:52.:30:57.

different. Can't they both do it? I would like both of them as well.

:30:58.:31:04.

When you look at a choir, it is always a bit of a mix. We just have

:31:05.:31:11.

to call them now. The winner for the Warrington Wolves is with me, it is

:31:12.:31:15.

Joan Ayres. What was your reaction when you got the call to say you

:31:16.:31:19.

would sing at Wembley? I could not believe it, I did not know that I

:31:20.:31:25.

had been nominated. A friend of mine sent me the link for rent, but I'm

:31:26.:31:30.

in the middle of house renovations and pushed it to one side -- sent me

:31:31.:31:37.

the link for it. I thought that it was just banter, but I got a call on

:31:38.:31:42.

Tuesday saying I had been successful. RU a good singer? No! I

:31:43.:31:50.

will be the one that will end Wembley, believe me! We look forward

:31:51.:31:56.

to it, thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, I'm

:31:57.:31:59.

eternally grateful. That is what it is all about, the

:32:00.:32:03.

opportunity rather than be singing. Speaking of noises, Wigley has been

:32:04.:32:08.

wearing the player microphone during the first half and this is what it

:32:09.:32:13.

picked up -- Kurt Gidley. Get the ball back. Get in! Here...

:32:14.:32:40.

Push! Push it! Help him, guys. Off the ground. Leuluai! Leuluai! Arm

:32:41.:33:01.

wrestle. Hold it, hold it... Yes. Over! Mine! Referee, tell me when...

:33:02.:33:12.

No one at the back, no one at the back!

:33:13.:33:19.

There is a real difference between when the forwards where the mike and

:33:20.:33:23.

when the backs where the microphone. I think that you can see he is

:33:24.:33:29.

pivotal to the defence on the right edge, if you listen, they have

:33:30.:33:33.

struggled a lot. He has been vocal in organising people around. That is

:33:34.:33:38.

what you expect in senior players. When he says to the referee, tell me

:33:39.:33:42.

when, for those dipping in and out the game, why does he say that? The

:33:43.:33:46.

real reason is to get the referee onside! Get further with the

:33:47.:33:51.

referee. Talk to him and really want him to work with you. That is it.

:33:52.:33:57.

Who would have thought that John would say that? Glasgow back over to

:33:58.:34:00.

other commentary team, Jonathan Davies and John Kear. COMMENTATOR:

:34:01.:34:09.

Warrington have been out for five or six minutes, Widnes are just coming

:34:10.:34:13.

out, Warrington have gone through a warm up on the sidelines, we see

:34:14.:34:17.

this every now and then, teams get different ideas of what to do and

:34:18.:34:21.

how to restart the second half. It seems like a lot of common sense,

:34:22.:34:25.

warming up? It will be interesting to see what the Super League

:34:26.:34:31.

referees do at St Helens... And Jonny Wilkinson is onside! This is

:34:32.:34:36.

the referee tonight, James Child. Denis Betts, down on the sidelines.

:34:37.:34:42.

Barking out one or two last-minute orders before he goes and takes his

:34:43.:34:47.

place in the stand. A game in the balance, 12-10 in the favour of

:34:48.:34:51.

Widnes. I think that you are listening to Gidley seeing stay in

:34:52.:35:00.

the armrest... When the opportunity comes they had to create something

:35:01.:35:06.

and get points on the board. It is all to play for in this half. I feel

:35:07.:35:11.

there is more to come from Warrington attacking wise, as I said

:35:12.:35:15.

before, Widnes had to hang in there and take chances. It is not easy to

:35:16.:35:20.

get to the semifinal of the Challenge Cup... The Ladbrokes

:35:21.:35:26.

Challenge Cup has one occupant, having beaten Huddersfield last

:35:27.:35:30.

night, Wakefield are through. It is nip and tuck. Tomorrow, we have era

:35:31.:35:38.

against Catalan early on, then the big event on the BBC at 5:15pm

:35:39.:35:49.

tomorrow, Wigan play Castleford -- Hull. A decent quarterfinal line-up.

:35:50.:35:58.

Mellor puts boot to ball. Rashford is comfortable, taking it

:35:59.:36:02.

off the bounce. An organised to chose from Widnes. Warrington begin

:36:03.:36:07.

from here. A couple of mistakes that we saw in the game, mistakes giving

:36:08.:36:10.

up field position. The fans have got themselves wound

:36:11.:36:30.

up in the second half, wound up a bit more, right in front of the

:36:31.:36:35.

Warrington supporters, Pat Ah Van. Silly! A misdemeanour. I cannot

:36:36.:36:39.

understand what is going through the head of that man in that last

:36:40.:36:44.

tackle. It was so obvious... He makes the tackle, he has his arms

:36:45.:36:49.

around him. Every man and his dog could see that! WHISTLE

:36:50.:36:57.

He comes on and shows that he is on television tonight. Pat Ah Van has

:36:58.:37:04.

held up an arm of apology to his team-mates. Gidley will slow things

:37:05.:37:12.

down by fastening his boot laces before continuing play... So, Clark

:37:13.:37:22.

will get things going again. Sandow seemingly recovered from that injury

:37:23.:37:26.

he got in the first half. Ratchford passes to the left-hand side of

:37:27.:37:34.

Currie. He was hobbling back into position, wasn't he? He just went

:37:35.:37:50.

dummy, he went very quiet. I mean, to be fair, Clark is a man at dummy

:37:51.:37:58.

half. Pat Ah Van is a cross to make the tackle. A good read from Pat Ah

:37:59.:38:06.

Van. Equally again, into the path of George King but he is chopped down

:38:07.:38:11.

just short, Westwood picks up and goes. -- Gidley. Putting pace on,

:38:12.:38:16.

but the Widnes line was waiting for him. It is a handover back to

:38:17.:38:23.

Widnes. Let's hear the half-time Centre from Tony Arnold. Some

:38:24.:38:27.

slightly worrying news for Atkins, they called an ambulance to take him

:38:28.:38:31.

to hospital because the doctor was unhappy with his condition, he went

:38:32.:38:35.

off with a head injury. Tony Smith told his side to be more patient and

:38:36.:38:42.

cut down on errors, tying up the defence. Denis Betts has said that

:38:43.:38:46.

he has to start the second half better, completing the sets. He says

:38:47.:38:51.

they had not taken advantage of the chances created, more support is

:38:52.:38:54.

needed so that they can need from dummy half. Spun away to Brown,

:38:55.:39:02.

Brown goes for a 40/20 attempt here. Looking for the touchline on the

:39:03.:39:06.

near side. The bounce is unkind, a decent kick, picked up by Matty

:39:07.:39:10.

Russell and he has work to do to get it away. They have shown it, Widnes

:39:11.:39:20.

kicked early. Mellor and Brown. Playing field position. Looking to

:39:21.:39:25.

force the error. Clark at dummy half, going left to Ben Currie.

:39:26.:39:27.

Trying to quicken things. Widnes pull down inside of their own

:39:28.:39:36.

half. Currie at six here. Pat Ah Van is

:39:37.:39:55.

the main man for Widnes on that occasion, trying to step around. He

:39:56.:40:00.

beats the initial attempted tackle from Russell. But there are more in

:40:01.:40:04.

a blue or waiting. He did well, Ah Van. Diffusing the situation, his

:40:05.:40:14.

team going forward. A spill, basic and as we said in the first half,

:40:15.:40:18.

when you play the ball in these conditions, you must be careful. Ah

:40:19.:40:25.

Van, that is sloppy. Giving Warrington a great opportunity. A

:40:26.:40:36.

couple of errors by Widnes. I think that Ben Currie, now out in the

:40:37.:40:42.

centre, he could be useful, he is playing exceptionally well this

:40:43.:40:49.

year. That will be difficult. He is much bigger than his opposite

:40:50.:40:58.

number. Chris Bridge there. An arm stretch from Sandow, he thought

:40:59.:41:00.

there was a penalty in that but nothing was given. George King

:41:01.:41:06.

nipping inside of the 20 metre mark, Sandow. Quickly played, Clark is up

:41:07.:41:16.

there, passing away... Currie in the corner, the referee is not sure. No

:41:17.:41:25.

try. REFEREE: I want to check if he loses it... He thinks he has lost

:41:26.:41:31.

it, has he? Let's look at the video evidence through the eyes of our

:41:32.:41:35.

video referee tonight, Phil Bentham. I want to check the grounding,

:41:36.:41:45.

please? He has a grip on it there. It looks short... I honestly cannot

:41:46.:41:52.

tell from that angle. Need to find proof that he has scored. A hand in

:41:53.:42:02.

there, he still has the ball. And... Does he keep a grip on it and drag

:42:03.:42:06.

it forward? Let's have a look at it, please? Does he maintain his grip on

:42:07.:42:17.

it or does the ball come away from his hand? I can't 100% see whether

:42:18.:42:29.

or not he keeps a grip on the ball, do we have any other angles, please?

:42:30.:42:35.

Thank you. We've just got this angle? We've got

:42:36.:42:56.

no try on the field... The referee's opinion was that it was lost. And

:42:57.:43:04.

there, Ewart had to say with ball around his thighs, that he has lost

:43:05.:43:10.

the ball. -- you would have to say. Can you show that in normal speed?

:43:11.:43:17.

Just to see if it gives us a different view there... My

:43:18.:43:29.

suggestion is that he has dropped the ball, I'm going with the on

:43:30.:43:33.

field decision of no try. A knock-on, it will be a scrum.

:43:34.:43:44.

COMMENTATOR: No try. I think that is the right decision, wasn't it? Under

:43:45.:43:49.

how the rules work. I don't think it was a try anyway, but how they work

:43:50.:43:53.

at the moment, he had to give no try. We decided a kick had to go. I

:43:54.:43:59.

thought he lost possession. So it remains. Advantage Widnes, two

:44:00.:44:08.

points, 35 minutes. To settle this cup tie. Widnes, deep inside of

:44:09.:44:17.

their own half. Warrington have come out with intent and purpose in this

:44:18.:44:22.

second half. But credit to Widnes, up until now, they've withstood the

:44:23.:44:34.

storm. Cheap penalties on nights like this. Ball to Joe Westerman.

:44:35.:44:42.

Kevin Brown has found it... Yes. Matty Russell was interested, he

:44:43.:44:47.

felt he might have got a hand on it, but it did clear him. Houston drives

:44:48.:44:53.

it forward, Widnes get their first tackle, finding themselves inside of

:44:54.:44:59.

the Warrington half. It's the new fella, Buchanan. Plays

:45:00.:45:09.

for the Tigers in Australia. Cahill, a good off-load. Heremaia, Mellor

:45:10.:45:18.

will Spain and he continues to tease the Warrington defence. -- spin. The

:45:19.:45:25.

big fella Hill climbs over him. Heremaia is off again quickly,

:45:26.:45:28.

trying to punch a hole in the resolute Warrington defence, but all

:45:29.:45:31.

they have done is drop the ball and Warrington get it back again. Great

:45:32.:45:42.

defence on both sides, there was a desperate tackle by the shorts.

:45:43.:45:50.

Great urgency, forcing the error. Good play from him initially with

:45:51.:45:59.

that footwork and off-load, and Heremaia and Melo rose support. That

:46:00.:46:05.

is where it is dangerous, around the ruck area with that off-load in

:46:06.:46:12.

broken field, it causes problems in that tactic of play -- Mellor's.

:46:13.:46:26.

A key with Sandow and him struggling... They are the rock and

:46:27.:46:33.

roll of Warrington, Gidley is the rock, Sandow is the role... The

:46:34.:46:38.

partnership, but he is not looking healthy at all, Gidley. Widnes will

:46:39.:46:47.

sense an opportunity here tonight. Clark at dummy half. Sandow half

:46:48.:46:55.

hobble, Gidley full hobble. Nothing wrong with Clark... But he is well

:46:56.:47:07.

matched and down he goes. Hughes got us all blogging in the first half

:47:08.:47:12.

with this early try. Put down, easily enough -- got us all going.

:47:13.:47:16.

Sandow tries to dribble one through but it does not come off. Widnes,

:47:17.:47:24.

back again. Good pressure by the Widnes Vikings there, making it a

:47:25.:47:29.

difficult last tackle for Sandow. No option, Gidley was limping badly as

:47:30.:47:36.

well. Back they come, to try to make their mark. Waiting on the left-hand

:47:37.:47:48.

side commits Houston. -- it is Houston. A good off-load from

:47:49.:47:52.

Cahill, but they weren't quite ready. Hanbury runs back again,

:47:53.:47:59.

clutching a hole. Just about stifling his ambitions. Widnes Rolls

:48:00.:48:04.

on again. Round misses... It was overrun by Pat Ah Van. A typical

:48:05.:48:11.

Kevin Brown pass but it did not quite connect. A surprise that Pat

:48:12.:48:19.

Ah Van overran him, it would have stopped play, a long pass. It would

:48:20.:48:24.

have been in the clear, had he held his depth. Why is he going to

:48:25.:48:29.

overrun it? If you are in front of the ball, you see that Kevin Brown's

:48:30.:48:35.

brain switched on with quick play of the ball he came running across and

:48:36.:48:40.

saw the overlap and the pass way before any other player Pat Ah Van

:48:41.:48:46.

had a hole he had run in. Opportunity knocks for the

:48:47.:48:51.

Warrington door, but it remains shut. They had to get back into

:48:52.:48:59.

this. Westwood, he is the man going off, but interestingly Brad Dwyer is

:49:00.:49:02.

coming on for the first time tonight. That adds something for

:49:03.:49:10.

Warrington here Tony said that he plays the game in fast forward,

:49:11.:49:14.

let's see if that happens... I wonder if he is fully fit, he got

:49:15.:49:18.

special attention from Clark before the game so maybe that is why he was

:49:19.:49:24.

a delayed entry? Two very quick players with Clark and Dwyer... Both

:49:25.:49:30.

on the field, Gidley is still on there, he looks to be running easier

:49:31.:49:39.

than he was. Anxious moments. A push and a barge, Dwyer is in there.

:49:40.:49:52.

Sandow is the man to the right. Stifling and suffocating him with a

:49:53.:50:00.

two man tackle. A penalty not given, Gidley chiming in. Hughes cannot get

:50:01.:50:05.

the ball away. Widnes do a terrific job of getting the ball away.

:50:06.:50:13.

Exerting pressure, the Wolves. All credit to the online defence of the

:50:14.:50:18.

Widnes Vikings, really well organised and urgent, and committed.

:50:19.:50:26.

Patrick Ah Van knows his side, typical in the Challenge Cup tie

:50:27.:50:30.

that he comes up with a try at some point. A good run... Giving a break.

:50:31.:50:41.

Heremaia, looking back to the middle of Cahill. Cahill has been good to

:50:42.:50:46.

night, I think. An ex-Melbourne man, arriving over here in Wales with the

:50:47.:50:53.

Celtic Crusaders. The beginning of his British Super League career.

:50:54.:50:58.

Mellor, pressure on him meant that was the result, not a good kick.

:50:59.:51:03.

Still a six tackle, Warrington get it back. Good pressure from Jordan

:51:04.:51:10.

Cox. A good job from the big prop forward. Really good pressure there.

:51:11.:51:17.

Quick in there, eager and sensing there are opportunities for him.

:51:18.:51:21.

Urgency in how Warrington are playing. WHISTLE

:51:22.:51:30.

A penalty for the second man. The tackle had been done, the job had

:51:31.:51:36.

been done, but To get involved as well. Good work from Houston, wasn't

:51:37.:51:54.

it? Getting the dummy half down. -- but

:51:55.:51:55.

Lloyd White had to get involved as well. The referee having a chat with

:51:56.:52:04.

the Warrington skipper, Chris Hill. Asking for his side to play down a

:52:05.:52:10.

little. Too much chat from his players. Six tackles for Warrington

:52:11.:52:14.

to have a real go. Jordan Cox, very much involved in setting up this

:52:15.:52:23.

position. Clark, eventually put on his back. It is legal. Dwyer and a

:52:24.:52:29.

penalty again. More messing about, this time it is him. Will he go for

:52:30.:52:40.

two to even it up? The debate will be going on but I think it is going

:52:41.:52:47.

for an attack. Two arms pointing at the sticks, the decision is taken

:52:48.:52:51.

that they go for the two. This is to make it all square. I think the

:52:52.:52:58.

indicator was a guy sprinting on! A clue... This is a full-blooded Cup

:52:59.:53:09.

game now, isn't it? It is great, isn't it? It's not too early to tell

:53:10.:53:15.

you that if it is all square after 80 minutes, we go to extra time.

:53:16.:53:22.

Golden point within that ten minutes. If it is all square... A

:53:23.:53:35.

dramatic skyline, isn't it? It is a dramatic game. I like that shot.

:53:36.:53:45.

Carefully placed by Gidley. His Challenge Cup quarterfinal epitaph

:53:46.:53:50.

we were a little too eager to write earlier because he is quite clearly

:53:51.:53:58.

still out there. He is muscular, running off a joint injury. A big

:53:59.:54:04.

moment in a big game, Gidley puts it over. It means that we are all

:54:05.:54:10.

square, 12-12, they are getting excited and we are too. 26 minutes

:54:11.:54:21.

to play to sort this one out. 12-12. Just as we would have wanted it to

:54:22.:54:32.

be. Richie Mathers having a word with Tony Smith. He is involved with

:54:33.:54:38.

the player welfare here these days, still playing at the Bradford Bulls.

:54:39.:54:52.

A big run. There he is. That is good defence. They are rocking now. It

:54:53.:54:57.

has the feel of a cup tie, there is a bit of urgency about it. Chris

:54:58.:55:01.

Hill takes it forward, using that footwork of his to eat out an extra

:55:02.:55:07.

yard or two. Wants to play but is not allowed. A team of warning, you

:55:08.:55:11.

can see the referee swinging his arm around. He is telling Widnes they

:55:12.:55:17.

are on a team warning, the next penalty, however, it said, is off in

:55:18.:55:27.

the sin-bin. It is a rather vague period of time, the referee decides

:55:28.:55:33.

how long to do it. It is an important set here, Denis Betts

:55:34.:55:37.

knows it. Dwyer goes left. We will be hearing from Robbie in a

:55:38.:55:45.

few minutes. Let's see how this develops over the next few moments.

:55:46.:55:53.

Gidley, Evans steps back inside. Hanbury and Cahill between them, one

:55:54.:56:02.

is a speed bump, the other is a full stop. It is taken by Thompson, taken

:56:03.:56:07.

underneath the sticks. Let's hear from Robbie Hunter poll. Down on the

:56:08.:56:12.

sidelines. These Challenge Cup games are all about pressure we get to

:56:13.:56:18.

25-23 minutes left in the game, the experience will step up to the mark.

:56:19.:56:27.

They have had the most exposure in this Challenge Cup, they are coming

:56:28.:56:31.

out on top at this point in time. These are the players to turn to in

:56:32.:56:37.

times like these, Radford. The possession is in the favour of

:56:38.:56:41.

Warrington in the early part of the second half, the first 15 minutes,

:56:42.:56:46.

they must make it pay. Dwyer out of dummy half to Chris Hill. The

:56:47.:56:53.

warrior down the middle. Dwyer picks it up to have a run, to see if those

:56:54.:56:59.

limbs are tiring a little, there was a hint of it.

:57:00.:57:09.

Rhys Evans is squashed. Still tackles in the bag. Ratchford goes

:57:10.:57:20.

nowhere. One tackle to go... It is Dwyer. Gidley tries to get the kick,

:57:21.:57:30.

played out. Warrington have it back again. Another set of six. Another

:57:31.:57:36.

set to have a go. Dwyer just needs one! And the determination, and will

:57:37.:57:46.

score. Warrington have the lead. Widnes, resistance finally broken.

:57:47.:57:53.

They are dancing in sheer delight. Great reward for Warrington. They

:57:54.:57:57.

upped the intensity, keeping possession. A few penalties,

:57:58.:58:05.

discipline for Widnes, the fresh legs of this kid, shadowing in the

:58:06.:58:08.

blocks. Brilliant bitterness from the her car. -- her car. -- hooker.

:58:09.:58:23.

After they regained possession, you could see that Dwyer is scanning

:58:24.:58:32.

from dummy half, off he goes... And over he goes. Real clever dummy half

:58:33.:58:38.

play there, scanning all the time as he approaches. Then he is out like a

:58:39.:58:46.

Jack Russell. And over he goes. Houston I think is a little too

:58:47.:58:50.

wide, the first offender there, a little too wide. He was in the

:58:51.:58:57.

shadows of the first team last year, Dwyer, sent out to London on loan

:58:58.:59:01.

and was called back as an emergency when Nicky Hyams signed for Lee

:59:02.:59:06.

because they needed a dummy half, and when he came back he was a

:59:07.:59:12.

revelation. He has been ever since. Even Tony Smith admitted he was not

:59:13.:59:15.

expecting that sort of progression from him as quickly as it came.

:59:16.:59:23.

Gidley could give Warrington a 6-point lead, they are in the lead

:59:24.:59:27.

for the first time since the half-hour mark.

:59:28.:59:29.

WHISTLE 18-12.

:59:30.:59:35.

It is boiling up nicely here! Yes, it will be interesting to see the

:59:36.:59:40.

response from Widnes, they had to be squeaky clean with penalties, this

:59:41.:59:44.

is just clever, and as Jonathan Riley said, it was too wide. He

:59:45.:59:50.

spotted the defending as he scanned and approached the dummy half. Three

:59:51.:59:55.

he went. I think Tony Smith feels that the substitution was justified.

:59:56.:00:00.

Yes, just play it down there -- through he went. I think that you

:00:01.:00:07.

can sum up Charlie Runciman's involvement in that as

:00:08.:00:11.

"Second-best". He hurt himself trying to get involved. Warrington

:00:12.:00:15.

making progress again, the bit between teeth now.

:00:16.:00:23.

Leuluai, Cahill, amongst those in there. This is Chris Hill again.

:00:24.:00:32.

Couple of tackles to go, Ratchford trying to make mincemeat down the

:00:33.:00:39.

middle but they respond. They put the kick away and again under heavy

:00:40.:00:42.

pressure. Whitley gets there quickly. The full-back claims he was

:00:43.:00:50.

challenged in midair at the referee says, get on with it. If you enjoyed

:00:51.:00:56.

tonight, don't forget tomorrow, 5:15pm, we are on air for the Wigan,

:00:57.:01:03.

Castleford game. After that game, we have the draw for the semifinal are

:01:04.:01:08.

plenty of reasons to be on BBC Two tomorrow. I can't imagine if there

:01:09.:01:12.

is anything else going on in the sporting world tomorrow? That is

:01:13.:01:24.

going to be the highlight (!) Brown. Just looking for the touchline. Back

:01:25.:01:35.

there to cover is Matty Russell. Who is your money on, John Kear? If

:01:36.:01:39.

Warrington maintain this intensity and focus, it will be them but at

:01:40.:01:45.

some stage, Widnes will get a run of possession which will change

:01:46.:01:48.

momentum and when that happens, Widnes have to take advantage.

:01:49.:02:02.

Hill again. Cahill leading the tackle. The top three of Widnes, all

:02:03.:02:12.

above the top three of Warrington. It comes down safely. Into the hands

:02:13.:02:25.

of... Kevin Penny drags him down. That has gone backwards. Slow down a

:02:26.:02:31.

little but still prolific. Charlie Runciman trying to put his head

:02:32.:02:35.

between the two and get Ah Van away but the second part of that equation

:02:36.:02:39.

was not going to come off. Now it is taken against. -- again.

:02:40.:02:51.

A couple of tackles to go. This has been a very good set. All started

:02:52.:03:00.

off by Corey Thompson. Brown puts it into the pocket behind the goal line

:03:01.:03:04.

and Currie has to get out of there. He has got out of there. Big play in

:03:05.:03:13.

the centre. To get back in the field of play, Kurt Gidley looking for the

:03:14.:03:17.

penalty. That was marvellous play from Ben Currie.

:03:18.:03:27.

The inside ball. Is Sandow hurt again? He is not. Lovely flick from

:03:28.:03:48.

Hill. Some tired bodies out there. So there will be gaps opening up on

:03:49.:03:53.

both teams. The final play of that sets his Sandow send the ball

:03:54.:03:57.

downfield, Hanbury dodges away from Sandow and anyone else who cares to

:03:58.:04:03.

get in his wake and here he goes towards and over the halfway line

:04:04.:04:09.

and a big tackle from Hughes. They just need to play on the front foot

:04:10.:04:17.

and play it quick. Two tackles on Bridge already, inside the 40

:04:18.:04:24.

metres, inside the Warrington half. Dobson, it fell, crashing it in. --

:04:25.:04:27.

Dudson. Widnes getting closer and closer. It is Houston, over the top.

:04:28.:04:38.

Runciman will score. A very good rugby league try, eight terrific

:04:39.:04:42.

rugby league try. Runciman touching down. Widnes back in touching

:04:43.:04:50.

distance. A brilliant response. All the momentum has been with

:04:51.:04:54.

Warrington. They will have their time and they have taken the

:04:55.:04:57.

opportunity, they are back in the game. A brilliant cup tie, to and

:04:58.:05:09.

fro,. It all came with this kick return. Lovely bit of footwork.

:05:10.:05:17.

Dwyer could not chasing down. Right up to the halfway, that gets him

:05:18.:05:21.

onto the front foot. The main composure came towards the end of

:05:22.:05:25.

the set and a great part selection from Kevin Brown. This was even

:05:26.:05:29.

better, instinct and over goes Runciman in the corner. Great try. A

:05:30.:05:35.

brilliant off-load. He takes the ball on the short run, Houston, and

:05:36.:05:43.

as he goes down, that is a brilliant off-load. A lovely pass, brilliantly

:05:44.:05:47.

finished, easy finished, but great play by Widnes. That is some skill

:05:48.:05:56.

in these conditions. From start to finish, the whole try, start to

:05:57.:06:00.

finish. Brilliant step from this guy to start. That was a good kick

:06:01.:06:04.

chase, they were all over him. Brilliant step.

:06:05.:06:12.

Having started it, he needs to finish it because this is a big kick

:06:13.:06:19.

from Hanbury and he has kept his nerve and cool and it is also where.

:06:20.:06:25.

18 points apiece. -- it is all square. It is a cup tie that has to

:06:26.:06:32.

be settled. It is what cup ties are all about. Interesting watch Kurt

:06:33.:06:36.

Gidley and Stefan Ratchford, absolutely landing it to the

:06:37.:06:39.

Warrington players. They know they need to stay in this game if they

:06:40.:06:44.

will come away with a victory today. What is he doing on the pitch? Get

:06:45.:06:51.

off! He thinks he can still play! 15 minutes to go to sort it out. 18

:06:52.:06:57.

points apiece. The place is rocking now. We are in for a great last 15

:06:58.:07:05.

because there are two tired teams but both teams have got massive

:07:06.:07:12.

desire to get to the semis. That was risky. He got away with it. I think

:07:13.:07:18.

if Westwood had noticed it, he would have favoured to drop on it but

:07:19.:07:22.

instead it is Patrick Ah Van for Widnes. Jeremiah. Brown behind the

:07:23.:07:30.

40 when he let that fly. How is the bounce? It is OK for Ratchford but

:07:31.:07:37.

it is a good chase. Ratchford has the support of Kevin Penny but

:07:38.:07:41.

determination of Widnes up there to make the tackle good. A very good

:07:42.:07:46.

chase. Some tired Warrington bodies getting behind the ball. Good play

:07:47.:07:51.

by the back three. They gave the forward a bit of time to get back.

:07:52.:07:58.

The three of them work together. Dwyer, relatively fresh pair of

:07:59.:08:01.

legs, going to be important for Warrington now. Sandow was not

:08:02.:08:09.

expecting that and it is kicked on by Joe Mellor. They get another set.

:08:10.:08:14.

Would he have been wiser to drop on the ball? Joe Mellor? Yes. Straight

:08:15.:08:23.

up pressure. Jonathan indicated he is an instinctive player, Joe

:08:24.:08:27.

Mellor. His instinct was to toe poked it. Clark, plenty of space to

:08:28.:08:37.

run into but once he finds the ball, it is an movable.

:08:38.:08:45.

Last play of the set. 30 yards out. Will it be a steeple from Sandow? It

:08:46.:08:56.

is. Where is it coming down? It is knocked out and backwards and he has

:08:57.:09:00.

recovered it, Thompson and now he has a chance to counter. What a

:09:01.:09:08.

game. You thought it was out of the game, he challenged for the ball. It

:09:09.:09:13.

hits the ground and then it is up and he is off. William Pitt again,

:09:14.:09:25.

Westwood. -- brilliant hit again. That is a big call. REFEREE: There

:09:26.:09:31.

was contact on the head. That was a great hit, just watch. How was that

:09:32.:09:35.

contact on the head? I think that was a brilliant tackle. That is a

:09:36.:09:42.

bit harsh. That is a brilliant hit. What has happened? Looking at the

:09:43.:09:47.

replays, I can only assume Warrington player has a hand on it.

:09:48.:09:54.

The Vikings kicked to touch. They touched the ball so it will be for

:09:55.:10:02.

the Widnes Vikings. A bit of luck. They will be happy for a bit of

:10:03.:10:09.

respite as well. The last ten minutes, off-loads, half breaks, it

:10:10.:10:14.

has opened up a lot. The players on blowing a bit which gives players

:10:15.:10:21.

like this guy, the opportunity, Brown, depict the tired ones.

:10:22.:10:35.

Whitley put down 30 yards away. We could be moving into golden points

:10:36.:10:42.

territory. 11 minutes of the match remaining. This is the time to take

:10:43.:10:52.

it now. Ten away, four gone, two tackles to go in this set. Brown

:10:53.:10:58.

down his left hand side. They missed that path again. Ah Van off the

:10:59.:11:04.

four. Not a field position for drop goal. Brown looking to thread it

:11:05.:11:10.

into the in-goal area. It needs dealing with and Ratchford has dealt

:11:11.:11:16.

with it but only as much as conceding again. He is not sure if

:11:17.:11:23.

rapture played at it. A very good kick because they were on the

:11:24.:11:28.

sidelines and he managed to grab the ball through. Had to go for it. He

:11:29.:11:33.

has a very good play but he went too far wide for the drop goal. If he

:11:34.:11:39.

had his foot on the floor on the other side of the line, that would

:11:40.:11:45.

have been a tap at the 20. He couldn't have left the ball to

:11:46.:11:51.

bounce. Here comes a wave of white from Widnes. Cahill driving it in,

:11:52.:11:59.

first time off Heremaia, stands and waits. All square, 18 apiece. Who

:12:00.:12:10.

breaks the game wide open from here? Dudson still going. He has made a

:12:11.:12:15.

case for man of the match tonight. Gary Spence wriggling in his seat,

:12:16.:12:22.

such as the tension. It is thrown wide. I questioned whether it went

:12:23.:12:28.

forward but certainly it went out of play. It needed composure, didn't

:12:29.:12:33.

have to rush it. They were in control of the game. Plenty of

:12:34.:12:42.

tackles left. I am with you there. Perhaps, wrong play selection. I

:12:43.:12:52.

think so. REFEREE: Waiting for the out call, guys. On the out call. You

:12:53.:12:58.

feel Warrington individually have got the far more dangerous players.

:12:59.:13:04.

Clark and Ratchford and Currie. They can do something from nothing from

:13:05.:13:10.

anywhere really. You just still favour them at the moment. Russell.

:13:11.:13:19.

This is Dwyer. Hill over the halfway line with four

:13:20.:13:37.

tackles gone, two to go. Clark again but he is going nowhere, he slips.

:13:38.:13:42.

Last tackle. Sandow. Putting it high. Forward comes Hanbury. He has

:13:43.:13:52.

claimed it then dropped it. It has not only gone forward but has been

:13:53.:13:56.

dropped on by Cahill in an offside position so now Warrington get a

:13:57.:14:02.

very kickable penalty. This might be the match-winning moment. They

:14:03.:14:07.

peppered the back play with high kicks, a great challenge by Kurt

:14:08.:14:12.

Gidley to make it a difficult catch for Hanley. -- Hanbury. Cahill is

:14:13.:14:20.

offside and it is not accidental. You have to compete for the ball in

:14:21.:14:24.

the air. That is what Gidley did there. You can question as much as

:14:25.:14:31.

you want, it is offside. I think Hanbury said, I was tackled in EF.

:14:32.:14:38.

He was not. He was competing for the ball and making it difficult for

:14:39.:14:42.

Hanbury and he picked up the ball in an offside position and

:14:43.:14:44.

unfortunately for Widnes, that is the correct decision. Did well. He

:14:45.:14:50.

pulled wide because Sandow came across and his chase was first class

:14:51.:14:56.

and he contested the ball and if you are up there contesting, things

:14:57.:14:56.

happen. Kurt Gidley, very much the man for

:14:57.:15:13.

the big occasion. Over 250 NRL appearances. 12 Australian caps. A

:15:14.:15:19.

former New South Wales captain. As occasions go, this is pretty big. If

:15:20.:15:24.

he puts this one over, Warrington might have one foot in the Challenge

:15:25.:15:30.

Cup semifinal and he has. Normally, eminently kickable from that

:15:31.:15:35.

position but under these conditions, maybe a little tougher. But

:15:36.:15:38.

nerveless from Gidley and Warrington lead 20-18. It is the correct

:15:39.:15:53.

decision as demonstrated by James Childs, there is still a good six

:15:54.:15:56.

minutes left and that is a pretty good kick. Well done, well held. Did

:15:57.:16:03.

well there. Once spilled ball can change the whole complexion again.

:16:04.:16:11.

One chance, and there is another chance in this game. Six minutes to

:16:12.:16:15.

go and that was nearly an opportunity. Six minutes to go so

:16:16.:16:19.

Widnes will at least get the ball back four times. Warrington want to

:16:20.:16:29.

get away from their end as quickly as possible. Here comes Hughes. It

:16:30.:16:38.

is interesting in this half, Warrington have really made those

:16:39.:16:41.

dummy half runs and it has altered the complexity of the game. It has.

:16:42.:16:48.

They have two runners on, Dwyer, Clark, they have all donated. They

:16:49.:16:54.

have got the yardage. Virtually caught up, the Widnes total. And

:16:55.:17:00.

they were way behind. They were, it certainly turned the game and that

:17:01.:17:02.

was a good kick from Gidley to manage the game. Warrington fans in

:17:03.:17:12.

fine voice at the moment, hoping to draw their side home from this

:17:13.:17:17.

position. The clock has been stopped. REFEREE: Make sure you set

:17:18.:17:28.

up properly. Out they come. This is where they tackle, for their cup

:17:29.:17:36.

lives. Making sure they make every tackle count. You front-load your

:17:37.:17:41.

energy to restrict yardage, you really do. A sturdy carry by Houston

:17:42.:17:48.

but nothing spectacular. Five minutes to play. Three tackles in

:17:49.:18:00.

this set. Leuluai spun down. Inside ball, Dudson pops it back up again,

:18:01.:18:07.

another off-load from the Welshman. Runciman with the step. Evans

:18:08.:18:13.

gathers him up, with the help of two others, gathers it in. Brown, 40

:18:14.:18:20.

metres out, gets a kick away, potential of offside for the

:18:21.:18:25.

chasers. They kept a hold in the end. Sandow looking for the penalty.

:18:26.:18:37.

Not given. This is where Widnes need to invest a bit of energy in their

:18:38.:18:44.

defensive line speed. It is very tough, this 70 odd minutes gone.

:18:45.:18:55.

Ryan Bailey. Exciting moments for young and old alike as Sandow gets

:18:56.:18:59.

the kick away downfield and again, a really efficient kick that winds the

:19:00.:19:04.

clock down a bit more and winds Widnes up a bit more. They will jog

:19:05.:19:10.

it to the scrum to try to the stock clocks. A clever kick from Sandow,

:19:11.:19:17.

just over the sideline, run the clock down and get their defensive

:19:18.:19:23.

line set. It has been a great cup match. By the way, you had the

:19:24.:19:32.

responsibility of picking man of the match so get your thinking caps on

:19:33.:19:37.

together. Come up with a decision soon is the message from down below!

:19:38.:19:38.

Plenty of candidates. There is. Patrick Ah Van, there might be a

:19:39.:19:54.

much winner yet. There might be a man of the match.

:19:55.:20:02.

They still have tackles in the bag, Widnes. Brown is brought back on the

:20:03.:20:09.

inside again. Joe Mellor gets it away. The tackle precipitous on

:20:10.:20:16.

Heremaia and now it comes back to Brown, dodging off that left foot,

:20:17.:20:19.

runs into a bruising shoulder but still gets it away. Hanbury sees

:20:20.:20:24.

some daylight between defenders but he closes quickly. Warrington have

:20:25.:20:29.

the ball back. A miracle ball. It goes to Clark. I think Clark was

:20:30.:20:38.

struggling to get back. He was so tired. All of a sudden, the ball is

:20:39.:20:42.

there for him. It is risky but he will take that one down, Clark.

:20:43.:20:47.

Moments like those age are coached by many years. And this is Hill.

:20:48.:20:56.

Both sides doing well to play the game above walking pace at the

:20:57.:21:02.

moment. Such has been the sapping, draining nature of this match. It

:21:03.:21:07.

has been very humid as well. A great game. The kick from Sandow should

:21:08.:21:13.

give Widnes possession back and this will almost certainly be their last

:21:14.:21:22.

set of the game. Just under two minutes to go. Tap restart on the

:21:23.:21:28.

20, it is all on this moment. The Warrington wingers are back, if they

:21:29.:21:32.

try to kick it into touch, the game yards. Tackle one is done. Tackle

:21:33.:21:45.

two, an Manuokafoa. Clark finds a wonderful tackle but somehow Widnes

:21:46.:21:50.

keep it alive. Jeremiah to the right-hand side and Joe Mellor steps

:21:51.:21:53.

away from the advancing Sandow. -- Heremaia. King making that tackle.

:21:54.:22:03.

Heremaia again. Houston at the halfway line. Four tackles gone, two

:22:04.:22:09.

to go. Two plays for Widnes to make something happen. I like with a kick

:22:10.:22:15.

over the top. Here go the chase. Warrington has it, Penny claims it

:22:16.:22:19.

safely and that should be the game if Warrington keep it safe. They

:22:20.:22:25.

will be very conservative and low risk and over the sideline. Man of

:22:26.:22:30.

the match, Jonathan Davies? Hanbury has brilliant. Been brilliant. But

:22:31.:22:37.

it has to be Kurt Gidley, brilliant performance. Well done to Kurt

:22:38.:22:43.

Gidley but he knows that match isn't quite one might yet. Less than 30

:22:44.:22:50.

seconds to go. This is tackle number five. -- he knows the match is quite

:22:51.:22:57.

won yet. It is taken by Thompson who runs it back. Ambitious ball back to

:22:58.:23:02.

the middle. Hanbury lifting it left and here comes Patrick Ah Van. Evans

:23:03.:23:09.

gets a hold and pulls him down. Will they have time to play the ball?

:23:10.:23:14.

Will they have time? Yes. This is the last play. Rand puts a kick

:23:15.:23:20.

through. Warrington gather it at the second attempt. Warrington have

:23:21.:23:27.

clung on and spend all their energy in doing it but they have climbed

:23:28.:23:30.

onto a famous derby victory against Widnes. They have booked a place

:23:31.:23:35.

also in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semifinal. What a fantastic game of

:23:36.:23:41.

rugby league that was. 30 for players out there and they have apps

:23:42.:23:47.

are lewdly given their all. The standard has been high. Despite

:23:48.:23:50.

difficult conditions. They does not deserve to be a loser but Warrington

:23:51.:23:55.

just shaded it with Gidley's late penalty. Brilliantly played by both

:23:56.:24:02.

sides. They just edged it a little more and Warrington deserved to win.

:24:03.:24:08.

Possession, they turned it around, brilliant play. Warrington into

:24:09.:24:12.

their fifth consecutive semifinal, beating Widnes 20-18.

:24:13.:24:21.

Congratulations, man of the match, it was tight. It was tough. It was

:24:22.:24:27.

what I was expecting after all I have heard of the Challenge Cup and

:24:28.:24:32.

it was a knockout competition. It was a two horse race and I thought

:24:33.:24:38.

we'd probably made too many and errors, too many penalties the

:24:39.:24:43.

second half of the first half. We scored Mike a try on the back of

:24:44.:24:50.

that. You looked cool as a cucumber when you took that kick. Everybody

:24:51.:24:56.

wants that opportunity but that is part of my job description I guess

:24:57.:25:00.

and it was good to get it over. Congratulations, let's bring in your

:25:01.:25:06.

coach, Tony Smith. How were the nerds at the end of that? They were

:25:07.:25:12.

going! We made hard work of it today. All credit to Widnes, they

:25:13.:25:17.

came and had a real crack at it and they played really well. We made a

:25:18.:25:21.

few too many errors in some areas and a few too many penalties but we

:25:22.:25:27.

had to soak it up and we did. Congratulations, you are into the

:25:28.:25:32.

semifinals. Goodness me, that was a brutal game of rugby league. You

:25:33.:25:36.

were biting your nails towards the end. A lot of desire, passion shown,

:25:37.:25:44.

fine margins of error is to separate both teams. A goalkick in the end.

:25:45.:25:49.

The try by Widnes was superb and I think both of these teams have

:25:50.:25:52.

exemplified what this competition is about. I think it is fitting that a

:25:53.:25:57.

kick separated both sides. That is what the difference was between

:25:58.:26:01.

them. Kurt Gidley's kicking was it I think. Warrington applied more

:26:02.:26:08.

pressure and were more accurate. The fact that a winning kick, penalty,

:26:09.:26:12.

came from an error as well because so many of the scores tonight came

:26:13.:26:16.

from errors. Tough task for Hanbury to catch that cleanly. That was

:26:17.:26:24.

ultimately a penalty but Idlib has been brought to add composure and

:26:25.:26:30.

calmness. Applying pressure to the full-back, he was. He forced the

:26:31.:26:38.

error in the end. They let Widnes down in the second half, giving

:26:39.:26:45.

penalties away. Widnes what on the wrong end of field position as a

:26:46.:26:50.

result and Warrington scored a try and spend enough time at the Widnes

:26:51.:26:54.

end to really punish them. That came to a string of a few penalties. What

:26:55.:27:02.

is interesting is just being here, Warrington and Widnes fans both

:27:03.:27:04.

stayed until after the final whistle to make sure their respective teams

:27:05.:27:10.

got standing ovations. It is what sport is about. They have clearly

:27:11.:27:13.

seen all their players have given their all. They were on their

:27:14.:27:18.

backsides out there and they couldn't have given any more. Their

:27:19.:27:27.

discipline aspect. The passion, sometimes you don't have time to

:27:28.:27:33.

have that thought process. I think the fans stay at the end because

:27:34.:27:36.

they have an affinity with commitment from the players. The

:27:37.:27:40.

commitment was outstanding from both sets and maybe just the experience,

:27:41.:27:47.

better game managed side won in the end? They managed the game well,

:27:48.:27:51.

Sandow did, both quality half-backs, fantastic. Thank you very much to

:27:52.:27:57.

all three of you. We have more Challenge Cup rugby tomorrow. The

:27:58.:28:02.

quarterfinal between Wigan and Castleford. That'll be on BBC Two,

:28:03.:28:08.

5:30pm kick-off. The semifinal draw as well and Warrington are in it.

:28:09.:28:12.

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