6th Round - Castleford v Salford Rugby League: Challenge Cup

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the 2016 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup. We

are in Yorkshire, where last night holders Leeds were knocked out. Our

game this afternoon is Castleford Tigers Salford. The final is at the

end of August. We have no idea who is going to win this magnificent

trophy. It is going to be fun though finding out.

This is what we want. It produces great memories every

season. Last season was no different. And we get under way with

our Challenge Cup coverage this year at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle under

beautiful blue skies. The sun is out. It is probably not the weather

for wearing a cuddly Tiger on your head. It is more weather for an ice

cream or even a pint. Castleford Tigers Salford is our main fare this

afternoon. Plenty of Challenge Cup pedigree. Brian Noble is with us.

And alongside Brian we have the Widnes head coach and England

assistant coach Denis Betts, who has great pedigree in this cup, winning

the Lance Todd Trophy in 1991 as Wigan beat Saints. Happy memories?

Yes. Always. The Challenge Cup always brings the memories flooding

back. Do you talk to your current squad about these and the -- duvet

goal, shut up, coach?! I want to create our own history and run

memories. We want to put your questions to our team. John Wilken

joins us later. Maybe you want to talk to Brian, the new Don of

Canadian elite. We will have plenty to talk about. And also we have got

a very special thing for you this year. We will give you the chance to

be on the pitch at Wembley for the Challenge Cup final as part of a fan

squire to sing abide with me. We have teamed up with songs of praise

to give you the chance. That gives you the chance to turn some of our

team into choirboys. B3 unlikeliest choirboys ever. Doesn't John Wilken

look happy to be part of that trio?! That is the fun and games over.

Let's concentrate on the Challenge Cup. Two games yesterday. Catalan

Dragons winning easily add badly. They put 40 points on the board. The

story though came at Huddersfield as they beat Leeds. The holders are

out. You were there, Brian Noble?

Huddersfield leaders and their win. They were incisive. A bit more

presence. They have got some really good players. The game was

practically won here. That was icing on the cake. Danny Brough had a

terrific game. Problems continue for Leeds. Can you understand the

problems through Leeds? Yes, there are lots of circumstances. Things

have happened this year with the weather and the training ground.

They went to the home of the Huddersfield Giants, a great side

themselves. It was a big ask. The danger is not to give the victors

any credit. Huddersfield have had a rough start. What a springboard that

could be for them? Yes, their structure was good. They played very

well. You cannot get carried away. They have had distractions. Ten

people not featuring that would normally feature. Everybody is

talking about the loss of Jamie Peacock and Gary Sinfield. They knew

about that. Please give credit to other fields. They were strong. I

thought some of their individual performances were very exciting. The

holders going out as well. That will be a fillip to every team. It is a

great competition this year. When you look at the table and you see

how close teams are, everybody feels they have a chance of achieving

something. It is a very tight table. Leeds rock bottom. Brian McDermott,

last night, still talked about getting to the Grand Final as an

ambition. Can you understand that? He is very optimistic. You have to

win 12 games on the bounce. It is not like it used to be. They might

make the eight. But to catch the top four to get into the semifinals is a

huge task. I do not think it can be done. Did home advantage help

Huddersfield last night? Huddersfield were at home, weren't

they? I checked out Headingley first before I went to work for radio

five. I saw a distinct lack of people there so I thought, I might

need to get to Huddersfield in time for kick-off. So you didn't go to

the wrong ground? Kind of! Move on! Let's concentrate on the Challenge

Cup games still to come. We will bring you St Helens against

Hull live on BBC. Shall we take a look at the teams

involved today? Castleford Tigers Salford. Dave Woods has their

Challenge Cup history. Castleford Tigers Mac first

Challenge Cup success came in 1935 with a narrow victory over

Huddersfield. Three years later Salford put the misery of four cup

final defeat behind them to finally lift the trophy, their only cup

success to date. It was not until the 60s that both teams rallied

again. In 1969 they met in the final. Castleford beat Wigan the

following year. Barren years followed but in 1986 they were back.

Castleford Tigers runners-up twice since. A fifth cup triumph still

eludes them. Could 2016 be their year here is this a Salford side set

to savour success? Salford fans and their owner coming

to this game with a sense of injustice. They were deducted six

points in Super League for a breach of a salary capped. The owner will

take this further and try to challenge it. Can you understand the

injustice? If you are caught with your fingers in the tail, the league

has to do something. I'm sure there are reasons how and why it happened.

That is for a Salford to put the case forward. The league have

examined it. They have investigated it. They have to punish the club.

How they punish the club is given down in the rules. Wigan were

punished in 2007. That was a four point deduction. Bradford went into

administration in 2012 and the RFL toughened up those rules to make the

punishment greater. As a coach, can you use the injustice to motivate

your players? Certainly, yes. If your back is against the wall and

you feel the world is against you, it is a motivator. But when you get

going, when you get really into the game, once the collisions start, it

becomes about the game. I think Castleford feel they have their

backs against the wall when you look at the team they are putting out.

They will feel their back is against the wall. We have got to sides with

a lot to play for. The other argument in this case, whether they

have been guilty or not, they have been found guilty, the other

argument centres around the punishment, whether first something

that happened in 2013 or 2014, this team should be punished? I do not

know how you get over that. What do you do to punish retrospectively?

Does not make any sense. People in Bradford were advocating they should

not be in the Super League because of what they did. We have seen in

the Super League in Australia 18 was docked and fined. That is a kick in

the backside. There are other punishments. Maybe some quarters

feel they got away lightly. It is the players who get the injustice

but it is the club that is being punished. The club has made its

call. The administration has done things it should not have done. The

people who suffer are the supporters and the players playing at the

current time. Here are the players, courtesy of

Brian, representing Salford this afternoon.

What an unbelievable back three. Justin Carney, the powerhouse. A

long-awaited debut for Daniel Vidot. Unbelievable form from the two giant

fast and explosive centres Sa'u and Josh Jones. Robert Lui and the

explosion that Mac adding explosion on pace to his game and the ever

controlling Michael Dobson. Craig Kopczak, a recent signing from

Huddersfield, companies fillip jokes about George Griffin in the front

row. And a Superbike three. Murdoch-Masilla and how Raaqy

exploding onto the fringes, orchestrated by Mark Flanagan. --

Raaqy. Off the bench Jordan Walne and Niall Evalds. Adam Walne another

local product companies Olsi Krasniqi, a recent signing from the

London Broncos. Warming up just below me, Robbie

Hunter Paul is in the thick of it. He will tell you how they are going

to play. I have to keep out of their way.

They have got some big boys. One of the team of 2016, I will see if I

can get Craig Kopczak. How have you guys prepared? Really well. We are

looking forward to it. We want to play a fast tempo. Will you try to

run over the top of Castleford? We have got good players on the edges

in Vidot and Carney. Looking to mix it up a little bit. Just as Craig

said, some brilliant players and some big players. None more so than

this man, Justin Carney. An absolute beast when he is carrying the ball.

A very good centre of gravity, very strong in the tackles. Scores tries

for fun. He has got a bit of a mongrel in him as well. Definitely

one to watch. When the ball gets out wide, keep your eyes on him.

It is very difficult to miss him! It will be very easy for us to keep our

eyes on him. A man who was adored at the Jungle, no longer the case.

Dave Woods. You have to be brave to mention Justin Carney around West

Yorkshire. But the Aussie winger was once a Castleford folk hero, scoring

63 tries in 62 appearances. But after a highly publicised fallout

with team-mates he was shown the door. Castleford's loss was

Salford's game, with the Red Devils snapping him up. Six tries already

this season, including a double in a fiery return to Castleford, he is

proving invaluable. He recently pledged his long-term future to

Salford by signing a three-year deal. When he walks out today he can

expect another hostile reception. Given he is going to get a hostile

reception, Denis Betts, if you were his coach what would you say? You do

not change Justin Carney. You let him be himself. He has proven over

the last few years that he is a devastating winger. You have to let

that little mongrel lose. A little bit of mongrel, that is the way he

plays. He'll stab at your ankles, he will challenge you, he will be in

your face, you will get the ball close to the line. He will not

change, he cannot change. That is an interesting dilemma for a coach. Are

you giving one rule for one player and another for another? Not at all.

You do not bring a player in and expect him to be something else.

They brought a player with certain attributes. He brings certain

things. He is a fantastic rugby league player. He is a pain in the

side. He cheers people out, get onto the ball, he is fantastic. If you

word Daryl Powell, -- if you word Daryl Powell... You stick him in the

ribs and you might say something in his ear. He will not change. People

are drawn to this game because of the dynamics of the challenge. He

wants to challenge all the time. I would say do not aggravate him too

much. Do not get on top of him too much. Let him fade away from the

game and try not to get as much ball as he wants. Promise me when you go

to Canada you will not poke a beer -- bear with a steak! Moose! They

have an unbelievable right side. Carney will show up anywhere. It

takes three or four people all the time. You see the big right, he

shoves it in somebody's face. Another four players to bring him

down. The key to this game is not just his progress, there are right

side is full of explosive players, full of players that you have got to

be on top of your game to try to get on top of them. There is Sa'u

looking for an opportunity on the back of Carney trying to help as

well. Look at the size of this guy. You have to be on your game. Carney

with the finish. What a fabulous right side they have got.

Murdoch-Masilla, see you later. Nie A level is, the local product

finishes the play. -- Nile levels. What challenges do they provide

defensively? The threat is all over the field. Gareth O'Brien has really

matured as a full-back. He is able to link, he can pass the ball and

not just be a runner. Gareth O'Brien is a runner and a passer. There is

one thing about the Salford team we have not touched upon. They are

running with a front row player who has played a little bit as Hawker.

They could suffer today because of that? That is a huge point Dennis

makes. Tomkins is suspended. Tommy Lee is suspended. They have a young

kid they have decided not to use. The number nine recognises defensive

shapes in front of him. They will lose that ability today. Castleford

Tigers. Awful injury problems. These are the players representing them

this afternoon. Ryan Hampshire is an explosive

runner. Monaghan and Solomona are world-class stars. Ben Crooks, a

local product, back at his hometown club alongside the powerhouse, Jake

Webster. Here is the challenge for Castleford. Grant Millington and

Paul McShane, a Hawker and a front row given the task of directing the

team around the field. Their back three, immensely talented

at off-loading. Nathan Massey, and Mike McMeeken. Let's talk about Luke

Gale, will not be playing. He is missing. Another blow in a long list

of blows? It is a massive blow. He has been playing exceptionally well.

He has been a big part of their kicking game. He pushes them around

the field, he gives them lots of direction. Losing him is a big blow.

We thought he might play. Now he isn't. It could be one of those late

injuries, we don't know. It might be a hamstring. Millington and McShane

have to do a job. Paul McShane will have more dexterity than Millington.

They will keep their game plan very simple against this Salford team.

Daryl Powell is cute. He will be looking to manufacture some

one-on-one opportunities. Luke Dorn, was part of the interchange, is not

playing. He has been replaced by Danny Tickle. You must be pulling

your hair out midway through the season? Backs against the wall

mentality. There is no use arguing about what you have not got. You

have to work with what you have got. This is a team running with 29s.

Lots of movement out of the ruck. Millington will be more of a runner

than a passer. He is a good passer. They will play the passing game. We

were talking about how hard it is, with a small squad, to bring people

in. Wigan and Leeds and Saints may have academy players ready to go,

but for the smaller clubs that is not the case? You shuffle your hand.

You have got a team that has been shuffled around. We have been there

ourselves a couple of times this season. You have got somebody

training all year and then he pulls something during the week. They have

got pretty good replacements, Castleford. The challenges that the

two people they have got are not halves and they need haves.

Absolutely gorgeous conditions here at the Meadows. A perfect condition

for us to see some of that classic Castleford play. If they get their

opportunity they can play in waves. One of the men leading them around

the park today is the number ten, Grant Millington. How have the boys

prepared? Obviously we'd lost Luke Gale so it has been quite tough. We

have trained well. We have simplified things and made it really

good. I think we can still score some points. As long as we defend

well we are in with a chance. The very best of luck.

Lee Jewitt, great off-load. He will try to keep the ball alive. They

will want to get the off-load going, then the second grade players will

come through. Millington will release the ball to players with the

finishing power, the likes of Ben Crooks, Joel Monaghan, who we know

is an absolutely brilliant finisher. We have also got this man, the man

of the moment, Dennis Solomona. Scoring tries for fun. He has scored

more tries than he has played games. Absolutely dynamic. He can pull out

of the tackles, great core strength, great ability.

He is one to watch. Thank you very much, Robbie. We will talk more

about Solomona in a minute. Nice of you to join us. Did you realise we

were on air at two? I knew what time we were on, I have been training

today! We are going to make sure that you

work between now and five. Let's look more at Dennis Solomona. He has

added more to his game. What has he added? I think he is more composed,

and excellent finisher. He comes off his left foot, his right foot. He

has got himself a decent partnership with Jake Webster that allows him to

do this kind of thing. Raw speed is an asset in this game and he has got

raw speed, with footwork and strength. In a team struggling for

confidence, it speaks volumes that he has scored so many tries. He

creates space around him. His role finishing ability this year has been

exceptional. He is really learning his trade. It is not just about

having fast people. It is about technical position. He is an

athlete. His balance, the way he can move, he is a player. He is

athletic, skilful and he is a great asset. You can have raw speed but

there has to be more to it. It is coaching that. You get somebody like

that who is athletic and gets the game instinctively, you work on the

details. That is why he is a better player.

Let's here from the coaches. Darryl, how big a blow not to have Luke Gale

available? You do not want to lose your half-backs. That is obvious. It

is what it is. We trained really well yesterday without him. We just

get on. We have got a number of players missing. Regardless, we have

got a good team and we have to deliver a performance. It will be

tough today. Salford are a good team in decent form. We have to play well

and if we do we give ourselves a chance. How good would a cup run be

for you guys? It would be massive. We have looked forward to this. We

want to have a really good crack at this. We have had an horrendous

injury one. 1213 players missing at times. We have had to change

training sessions. There is point complaining. It is a contact sport.

We are in an OK place. We need a win. We are in a sport where results

matter massively. This is a knockout competition. If you do not win

today, that is the end of you. How have the team reacted to the 6-point

deduction? We are all positive, we know what we want to achieve. We are

leaving that with the owner to deal with. It is up to him and his

solicitors. We are focusing on the rugby. All of the boys are positive.

They have worked really hard, it must have been a blow? It was a big

disappointment when we first heard. But within minutes people said, it

is what it is. We deal with what we can control, which is the rugby side

of things. Justin Carney got a yellow card on his return last time.

Have you had a quiet word with him to hold his temper? He is a good

lad. He knows what he did wrong last time. It was the first time he came

back, it was a different experience. Hopefully he has grown and matured

from that. Hopefully we will not see yellow cards today. Is he growing

and learning as a coach? Tony Smith took him under his wing with

Warrington. I know Mark Flanagan really well. He speaks highly of

him. As all coaches do, you develop and learn. He has got the best out

of some players at Salford. That is the biggest piece of credit you can

give him. Salford move the ball more than anybody else. They didn't half

give it to us at the beginning of the season. Do you feel Castleford

have got their work cut out this afternoon? I think we're in for an

exciting game. One team with loads of confidence, they want to a point.

Another side with some adversity, they want to play, they want to

score points, it is their home ground. The beauty of it is that at

the moment in Super League, every game is difficult to call? If I was

a gambling man I would probably favour Salford. Their form has been

pretty good. Their style of football... I like this ground.

Castleford like this ground. The atmosphere brings out something in

everybody. They know how to crank up the

atmosphere. There is Daryl Powell, as he takes a deep breath. Both sets

of teams come out here at The Mend-A-Hose Jungle. Were Salford the

hardest side you have played this season? They are the most

challenging. They have big men, and when you combine power and the

ability to move the ball it makes them dangerous. A top quality side.

Well, kick-off is just a couple of minutes away here as we begin our

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup coverage for 2016. We will be with our commentary

team very shortly indeed. Before we do, we will pay tribute to a rugby

league legend. It is fitting we are in Castleford today, the birthplace

of the Rugby League legend Roger Millward who died this week aged 68.

He was a giant for Hull KR who have retired his number 6 shirt as a mark

of respect this week and he was a giant of the sport.

Roger Millward was one of the game's greats, for club and country.

Arguably his greatest game was his last, the 1980 Challenge Cup final

for Hull Kingston Rovers against Hull. A broken jaw in the 13th

minute couldn't stop him producing a captivating performance.

COMMENTARY: He is going to have a dab. I thought he might have a drop

and he does. Ten years earlier, he had inspired a

Test series win for Great Britain against the old enemy, Australia.

COMMENTARY: Millward is in for a beautiful try. A man so tiny, he

could be so big on a pitch, and yet he could be so modest in what he

did. COMMENTARY: Millward! We have lost

another superstar. I'm going to miss him. He was one of my best mates.

One of my best friends. Being a little lad growing up in Castleford,

he had arrived at the pinnacle of his sport. If you love a thing

enough, you will get on with it. COMMENTARY: As ever, the Rugby

League family coming together to remember one of the greats and Roger

Millward's ex-team-mates from Castleford and Hull KR are here

today, all four sides of the ground applauding for that minute's

tribute. It's Castleford against Salford, the 2016 Challenge Cup, and

your commentary team this afternoon are here.

COMMENTARY: The challenge is for these two teams to play in the

spirit of Roger Millward. That is the way they are lining up today.

Castleford injury problems. McShane at scrum-half is a hooker. It is

swap and change about for Cas. Salford give a delayed debut to

Daniel Vidot, he has finally recovered from a shoulder injury.

That is a big pack as well. It will be interesting to see if the giant

Phil Joseph plays out of dummy half. There is our referee today, a late

change, James Child taking charge. It's a grand day down the Lane, but

on who does the Challenge Cup sunshine shine brightest today? It

will be Salford who get the first touch of the ball, the first chance

to test the resolve of this Castleford pack, so let's hear from

the two men alongside me, Jonathan Davies? It is an exciting game. It's

a great game to come and play. A fantastic atmosphere. You are going

to play an open, attractive game with Cas. I agree with the boys in

the studio. The pack have to lay a good platform to get moving around

the field. Flanagan has taken it to the 30-metre mark. John? It will be

interesting to see how long it stays out there and what the replacement

is round about 15 or 20 minutes' time. The bright orange, if you

like, of Castleford here, against the darker colours of Salford and a

chance for Ryan Hampshire to bring it back, the man on loan from Wigan.

Has claimed to be a stand-off but has played most of his time in the

full-back position. It will be a huge challenge for Phil Joseph to

get to every tackle, I think. He is used to playing prop. It will be

difficult for him. There are all kinds of connotations as to how it

might swap and change as the game goes on. It's a fascinating tussle

here. It is not beyond the stretch of any imagination that one of these

two sides could be gracing the Wembley final in August. They have a

very good chance if they negotiate this one today.

That is one of the problems Castleford will have. Luke Gale is

the main kicker within the Castleford team. He's missing today,

McShane comes in with his left foot kick and it was a bit indifferent to

start with. He will need to settle into that and he will need to have a

good kicking game. It's a small field and normally Castleford do

know how to keep this ball on this field. McShane's influence in that,

and Hampshire's will be vital. Making his 100th career appearance

today, Paul McShane. Leeds, Hull, Widnes, Wakefield among his previous

clubs. A lift for Salford here with a penalty. Poor discipline and now

easy field position. I agree with John, the kicking aspect. The

kicking, especially in the last tackle, it will be crucial. Joseph

the man at dummy half, inside of him is a pass from Dobson to Kopczak,

who is wearing the mic today, so we will be hopefully hearing some of

those secrets on the pitch, at half-time, full-time and tomorrow as

well. Joseph, the man, Dobson again now, options right and left. Rob Lui

will be such an influence today. Salford are creeping closer. Joseph.

Flanagan. Dobson. The boy's been dropped and Castleford have some

relief. Griffin ran a great angle. Here's

the mistake. I don't think he was ready for it. The ball was going to

go in front of him, but if you are on the rugby field, you have to be

prepared for the ball to come to you. A missed opportunity for

Salford. Interesting to see Salford as well, they have Vidot on the

right side and Josh Jones in the right centre and interesting to see

the dynamics of that. It is a massive backline. Daniel Vidot looks

almost tiny in that company next to Josh Jones. You wonder what is going

through the mind of Daniel Vidot, and also you wonder what is going on

through the mind of Danny Tickle, he is on the bench. That is a ball

steal. Danny Tickle, if the kicking game isn't going way, Danny Tickle

is a very good kicker out of hand. They might put him on.

There is Danny Tickle, jogging to relieve some of those butterflies,

I'm sure, before his eventual involvement. It is a small pitch

here, John. That is very important for any team who play here, you have

to manage the distance. The lines are not even because it is not quite

100 yards. You are defending very quickly on a pitch like this? You

certainly are. You attempt to use more midfield kicks and Castleford

are very astute at putting the ball high and putting pressure on the

Salford recipients. Great pressure here for Castleford. Crooks is

tackled. A little step by Mike McMeeken. One of several who have

come through the London route in rugby league these days. Jewitt with

a step, but he is going to be held up. But close. Adam Milner at dummy

half. He is going to go himself here. They had him ready and

waiting. Kopczak with the tackle. McShane with the kick. Vidot can

watch it go out of play. It is the weight of the kick. You don't want

to put it dead because if you catch it in goal, you know, if you get the

ball back, that is the problem, but we talk about the size of the pitch.

That is where discipline is so important. Wherever you get a

penalty on this pitch, you could be on the front foot. And also,

Jonathan, with that indifferent kick from Paul McShane, it has gifted

them a 20-metre tap. You don't have to tell us, do you, that it is

Justin Carney. The Castleford fans identified him there. Justin Carney

back to his wing on that left-hand side. Salford working this right

side with Lui, to Murdoch-Masilla, Josh Jones, the giant, a former

Saint playing at centre for Salford. Equally at home in the back row as

well. Kopczak. One tackle to go in this set. Joseph flicks it left.

Dobson puts it high. There is a test here, Monaghan is usually very good

under the high ball and proves that is the case again. That is the

perfect kick. Monaghan fielded the ball. As he fielded it, they tackled

him and that is one tackle of the six gone. Also, if you are a Salford

kicker, you don't want to be putting the ball up to Monaghan and

Solomona, they are big winners. They have to target Hampshire. After two

giant steps by the giant Junior Moors he is beyond the 40-metre mark

on this tiny pitch. Adam Milner in at dummy half. Jewitt again. He is

off on a journey at the end of this year, he is going to Australia,

isn't he? McShane. He puts it high. Castleford's chase is good enough.

No pressure on the full-back there from the high kick. Easy take for

O'Brien. They are feeling each other out at the minute, aren't they?

Wait for the boos, and Carney takes them on and ducks through. He loses

his footing. Sa'u making a hole and Junior Sa'u is over again! They

cannot stop him scoring at the moment, Junior Sa'u. That is a

great, great burst from Sa'u. From a kick play of the ball by Carney, and

he shot out of the blocks. Great, great evasive skills, got on the

outside and no chance at all for Hampshire. He runs at the forward

and once he gets through, no stopping him. Jonathan you picked it

out. He got his nose through the defensive line, played it quickly,

it wasn't a set defensive line and Junior Sa'u picks up, changes the

ball carrying hand there so he's got the right hand to fend if required.

He didn't need it and over in the corner for a very good try from

Junior Sa'u. It was Millington who was getting back there. He is a

front-row forward, so it's going to be difficult for Millington, he will

have the ball-in-hand a lot more. He will be tired. That is a brilliant,

brilliant finish by Junior Sa'u. He comes into this game on the back

of a couple of hat-tricks. Two successive hat-tricks, Junior Sa'u.

He has scored seven tries in three games. This one is only a few

minutes old. Confidence is a fantastic thing. When you are

playing with confidence, you have to make the most of it. You want the

ball-in-hand. A chance to turn four into six. It is a difficult kick,

though, from that touchline. It's good, though. It is right between

the uprights and Salford lead 6-0. Justin Carney there, a bit of

footwork there and he comes through the defensive line, lands on the

front, kick play of the ball, it's a disrupted line, off he goes, Junior

Sa'u, whether he is playing right-centre, left-centre, it

matters not. This boy can carry the ball. Great try. McShane gets us

started again. The kick is too long. Dobson making sure his feet were out

of play, or did he? Or did he? The touch judge on the far side wasn't

sure. Not sure why he caught that. That was going dead anyway. All he

needed to do was put one foot out and hit the ball. He had no need to

catch it. Was his feet in the air there? Well... Feet in the air as he

leapt out of play. Is it is a drop-out under the posts. We are

going to see that again. He's in the air. Yes. That's a mistake. He just

needed to touch the ball and that would have made it a penalty on the

halfway line. He will stand and catch it. A big mistake by Dobson.

Overcomplicating it. Or just not touch the ball at all. It was going

dead. So, Castleford given the bonus of possession back here and a chance

to create some mayhem if they can. Larne Patrick, his first start - it

was his original drive there. Patrick is involved again. And

already up to that 20-metre mark. McMeeken came back on that angled

run. Milner with a dummy and tries to trick his way over. He is

certainly over. But he hasn't touched it down. McMeeken is making

great yardage, good angles of running, causing problems for the

Salford defence. This was a good carry from Milner. Across the line

but good work by O'Brien. That is a big kick which Monaghan takes. The

referee says play on! McMeeken is there to score. I rather think we

are going to the video ref on this. I think it is a try. I think that is

a try as well. The referee said play on. And the referee has given the

try on the field. Let's hear from the video referee to see what the

judgment is. We need to see if they are onside, sit from a kick. -- it

is from a kick. Here we go. So the right-hand side

are all OK. You can see the ball goes forward so

we need to see if it touches, we need to see if it goes back off

Salford. It looks to be Michael Dobson who

touches the ball. Just have a close-up of that, please. Looks to

be Michael Dobson who touches the ball. Here we go. So Joel Monaghan

catches the ball. It's Junior Sa'u's arm, I think.

Yes, it is, number 4, Junior Sa'u's arm. So we can go through to the

grounding. So the majority here are going to

enjoy this moment. A try is given to Mike McMeeken, his fifth of the

season. The tall second rower from Basingstoke and Castleford with an

immediate response. The interesting thing there was the kick. He's so

good in the air, Monaghan. He gets it. Dobson tries to pat it back,

that is unlucky for Salford, but good play by Castleford.

Interesting as well, that it is Paul McShane taking the conversion kick.

He hasn't kicked any so far this year, so it is a good time for him

to start that goal-kicking record. And he has done. So he's got a 100%

kicking record so far this season. One out of one. He will retire now!

We talked about the kicking game. This is where Ryan Hampshire stepped

in. That is a pretty good kick there. It's a strike weapon for any

team with Joel Monaghan in there. He fielded the ball cleanly. He tried

to throw it back. McMeeken came up with a deserved try because

Jonathan, he's made a big impression in the early part of this game. So

we are all square at 6-6. 12 minutes of this first half played.

Castleford, although they are starting on their own line here,

given the dimensions of this pitch, it won't be long before they are

putting real pressure on Salford again if they can keep hold of the

ball for the next six tackles. It's a short pitch. If you get in the

fresh air, it looks a long way. When you have big guys pursuing you. I

remember you scoring a few tries on this field. It seemed a long way to

me. It looked a long way for those watching as well with those little

legs peddling away. But you got there in the end! Castleford are

inside the Salford half. Good yardage here by Cas. Very good set.

Jewitt, he puts the ball under the right shoulder and tries to burst a

way through. Former Salford player, Lee Jewitt, of course. Not the

happiest of times there for him. Hampshire puts the kick in the air.

Carney is having a look at this. Down it comes. It is Millington who

kicks it on. Crooks tries to get the kick, hits a Salford player, O'Brien

comes up with possession, Salford have it back. That is the avenue

they have to go on. Monaghan has got the wood over Carney, he is great in

the air. And Hampshire's taken over the mantle of putting the ball on a

plate for him. They were much better ends of sets. Vidot, a couple of

glimpses of him so far in the game, Daniel Vidot, but nothing explosive

just yet. Wide it goes. Solomona to collect. And talk about

Junior Sa'u being an inspiring try-scoring forward, but Salford

have one of their own in Solomona, but his passing might not be the

best. Ben Crooks has knocked on, a bit of advice from the touch judge

and Solomona is furious. It wasn't a great pass in the first place, was

it? This is what Castleford have got to do. Not the greatest pass. Very

difficult to take. But I think the strike power the boys have mentioned

in the studio, they can't afford mistakes in their own 20-metre area.

He's gifted Salford a really advantageous position there on

tackle one. He's invited Salford in to say, hey, can you score? Jewitt

has gone off to the blood bin as well. Rob Lui. Murdoch-Masilla. So

often you see one passing to the other. Joseph is still going. The

engine is still running at dummy half for Phil Joseph. Flanagan steps

off the left foot and urges himself forward again. Castleford defenders

are already back on their own goal line. Joseph goes left of Kopczak

and Dobson will swing it away. O'Brien is able to recover his poise

and recover the spilt ball. Good read by Crooks. Dobson. Heavily in

by George Griffin. Still got a couple of tackles to go

here. It is back with Dobson. Dobson back to Rob Lui. There is danger

here. Lui can't brush-off the defenders, can off-load well,

though. Dobson... That is great defence by Castleford. Joseph. I'm

sure a tiring back now, Lui with the kick, Crooks tries to reach it.

Carney picks up a ball that was touched by Castleford so another six

tackles for Salford to have a go. This is a fair examination. They

have gifted an error on the first tackle, played a full set out, the

Salford Red Devils, and they have a second consecutive set. Exhausting

moments for the Castleford defence. Can Salford find a way through?

Joseph. Craig Kopczak goes to dummy half. There is not a lot of

sprightliness in that position. Dobson with the pass away.

Castleford's defence pushing up. Salford survive the pressure and

keep possession. Wasn't touched, though, so the tackle count remains

as it was. Jones, Vidot. They are jumping all over the place, they

have lost 20 metres as well here, have Salford. That is tremendous

structured defence there from the Castleford Tigers, really is. Moving

up in a line, working hard for each other, putting the Salford attackers

under pressure. Joseph. Dobson. Salford don't get the break,

Castleford do get the ball. It was desperate defence that time. They

were short of numbers on the right-hand side. The line speed is

very, very good, great decision-making, especially by

Crooks. That will be a big boost for Castleford, it really will. They

will take great comfort in that. Marvellous defence and there's the

end of the Salford 12th, set of 12 tackles. Here they go. They are

sweeping forward in the shape of Solomona. Solomona to Monaghan, back

to Solomona, has he kept a hold of it? No, he's not. Salford have it

back. That is brilliant play by Castleford. Solomona, Monaghan, they

made something out of nothing there. Unfortunate that they just dropped

the ball. Chancing their arm there, the Castleford Tigers.

It is nip and tuck at the moment. It is exciting stuff at the moment as

well. Dobson plugs the left-hand side. It's a forward pass.

Castleford get head and feed. Robbie? The game has opened up right

now. It is very, very free-flowing. I don't know what it looks like on

TV, but I can tell you pitchside, it is baking. The longer the

opposition, the longer the team, your team has to defend, the more

energy it is going to draw out of you. The word has to come from the

sidelines that these players need to make sure they finish out their sets

and they turn those sets into points. There is a chance for both

sets of players to get some water in here. The one clear thing for me,

you know, in the first 18 minutes, is the organisation from the

half-backs of Salford. They look far more threatening and far more

organised when they have got Lui and Dobson, but also O'Brien is there

directing everyone as well. They have a huge advantage with those

three over Castleford, you know, with a makeshift half-back

partnership. Castleford can make things out of nothing, as Solomona

almost did there. 6-6 as it stands. 19th minute is entered and a penalty

here for Castleford as well. Do they think about two points here? It is a

knockout game. It was an easy kick. That ends the debate. Milner at

dummy half. McShane with a short pass, McMeeken has knocked on, I

think it hit a Salford player. There is your answer. Should they have

taken two or shouldn't they? Knockout game, keep the tins

rattling. As Robbie says, finish your sets. They have to finish the

sets. It is very, very warm. Castleford would prefer that Luke

Gale was out on the pitch. Instead he is speaking with Tony.

-- Tanya. He is at the back of the stand surrounded by his team-mates.

What do you make of this so far? We have started really well. We need to

get our kicking game better. Stop their back three from getting on a

roll. What does Grant Millington bring to the role? He is a front row

player. Brings a lot of composure. He has played a lot of games in

Australia. Thanks for your time. Adam Ward is on the field from the

interchange bench. There will be happy with that turnover ten metres

away from the Castleford line. I think Salford are looking more

threatening with the half-backs organisation.

Craig Kopczak has gone off. He is wearing a player microphone today.

We will hear evidence of that today. Only picking up heavy breathing at

the moment as he recovers! Transfer massif. -- a transfer massif to cut

through the middle. Salford on the back foot. They have

to keep it basic. Take a job, trundle it up. Do exactly what they

just did. Try to force the error and play in the opposition half. That

was a good end. It took out the conundrum of the back play-off

Salford by putting it over the sideline. Cas just shading the

territory. It is one of those really exciting weekends. This game today,

delicious, delightful. Tomorrow, St Helens against Hull, which will be

everything this game is and possibly more. The way the Super League is

gone, everybody can beat each other. You might favour them because of

home advantage but you never know. That is a good back line, Jones

against Webster. Monaghan is so good under the high

ball. You sense maybe he is looking after the full-back, Hampshire. The

full-back tends to drift over that way and Monaghan goes on behind the

defensive line to diffuse that problem. Matt Cook has taken

Castleford to the 40 metre line. Some big tackles coming in.

Webster... Solomona with a sway of the hips. Back to Webster. Hampshire

was screaming for it. The defence was good enough. Insert him in. It

is knocked on. It is going Salford's way. That was a big mistake. An

attacking opportunity. Not gone. The referee spotted that. That was a

gilt-edged chance. On half chances such as that cup ties are decided.

It was tremendous initially. Webster, drops of his left foot.

Comes into the gap. I thought Solomona would have backed his

place. I thought exactly the same as you. I thought he would have taken

him on the outside. Good tackle. This Challenge Cup sixth round tie

is boiling up nicely. 25 minutes played.

Flanagan has taken over in the acting half-backs position at the

moment. Doing a good job with their kicking

game. Castleford receiving the ball within ten metres of their own line.

Crooks takes them on. Castleford are flowing. Gadwin Springer, he is an

athlete. It takes three to try to stop him. Eventually they do. The

role is on. The last tackle in the set. Carney

against Monaghan. Carney got there well before Monaghan arrived. Good

play by Sa'u. He did not allow Monaghan to jump for the ball. It

made it easy for his winger. Just checks Monaghan. Offside,

Castleford. A penalty for offside. The referee had to give it because

they were offside. I am with you, Jonathan. Good work by the Salford

defence off the ball, which allowed Carney to defuse any problems.

Carney... They love him! Castleford alert to that. Very good

defence. A couple of tackles to go. Wonderful kick! He is in again!

Sa'u! Second try of the game. Eight try in three games. He is a

veritable try scoring machine. He is an absolutely outstanding form. He

scores in a vast array of ways. We spoke about the Salford sets, how

good they were. Constantly turning Castleford around. This was a cute

one. Is that pass forward? I think the Cas fans feel it was. Regardless

of that, this was the end of the set. A cute ball through from Lui.

On hand there once again Sa'u. A beautifully weighted kick. We spoke

about McShane putting it dead. That was perfection. That is the

difference. Three options to put the ball on the foot. Good

communication. He holds his line. A great line after the kick. So much

advantage for Salford with those three playing around the half-back

area. Some players start the season dreaming of scoring eight in the

campaign. Some people dream of it in their whole career. Sa'u has already

scored eight. Salford lead by six. The kick is confirmed. 6-12 in

favour of Salford. He knows what is happening. He has got the jump on

everyone. Nobody knew him. -- near him. Martin Gleeson with the on

field message carrying for Salford. Just creeping towards the half hour

mark in this game. A slight advantage for Salford.

Again, quick play from Carney. Sa'u jumps in and takes over. It has been

very effective. Name-macro in there as well. -- Hauraki.

A really good kick from Dobson. In the end it went too far but it was

keeping Hampshire guessing. The wind slightly favouring Salford in the

first half. That is probably one of the worst kicks they have put in all

afternoon. Flanagan has moved to the dummy half position.

Gadwin Springer born in French Guiana. He is a handful. He is a

mouthful! That is a good kick but it is taken

easily enough. That needed to be a bit deeper from Hampshire. It was

too easy to take. The Castleford chasers were offside as well. Once

again, look at Carney. Two people on the ground. They call him the tank

on the flank. Jones takes it beyond 40 metres.

Salford going left again. The ball bounces nicely for Milner. The

referee was mindful to blow and then thought again. But then in the end

decided it was a knock-on he had seen. He stops the Milner run. I

just hope the call is right and that it is a knock-on.

REFEREE: I don't need to go. We have got the call. I will watch it

tomorrow! Good defensive pressure from Milner.

There is no not gone there. Or there. I think it was in the tackle.

This is it, watch. My word! This is the one. He doesn't touch the ball.

The boys in the studio can pick the bones of that! Good luck to them. I

think the touch judge has got that wrong. Nile levels is on the field.

-- Niall Evalds is on the field. He is a touch of lightning. Krasniqi,

Albanian born. Not too many of them around in Super League. Great catch

by Hampshire. He can weave a little magic. Cas fans felt there was more

to do that challenge than the referee saw. I think he was going

down. It is fiery, it is feisty but it is fun. Hampshire did a good job

defusing the situation. A very good job.

Springer almost got free again. He did not quite happen. They have

still got another play. Over goes Webster! Jake Webster! Castleford

feel a little justice written into that moment. Great execution on the

kick. That was a beautiful kick. Solomona goes. Great play by him.

Back to Webster. That is a brilliant try. That is the difference when a

kick is spotted. He reads it well. Solomona is brilliant. Great driver

Castleford. The kick is absolutely on the money. Solomona's skill, he

is like a salmon, leaping. A basketball player. Great skill.

Webster obviously knows he can do that. He was on hand. That is a very

good try. It is such an advantage when you have got a winger running

onto the ball, you can time your job. The defensive winger has no

chance. A brilliant, brilliant try. The salmon like Solomona. The salmon

like Solomona who is a basketball player as well! But it is a try.

Castleford look dangerous down the left-hand side. They have Webster,

Moors and Solomona. An attempt at a converging from Paul McShane. --

conversion. Slightly more difficult than the first attempt. He has

struck that superbly. Two out of two. 12 points apiece it is a school

in the game deserves. There is nothing in it. Great tries scored.

But defences are on top. Beautiful kick. Great skill. Lovely dry. It

was excellent. You can see what it meant to that fellow. He is playing

out of position, calling all the shots. He has taken the kicking game

on. He has had a very good half. Jake Webster still carrying a bit of

an injury today. I would suggest just about every player on the field

is carrying something at this stage of the game, at this stage of the

season. I think the only game where you are 100% fit is the first one

you play, really. Monaghan is a way! Steps on the

inside. Great tackle. But when he stops, and other comps. McMeeken

with his second. Castleford finding a path through on the right side.

Finding themselves, in the blink of an eye, from behind into the lead.

We spoke about the threat that Carney and Sa'u pose. This was smart

play. Soft hands. McMeeken stayed alive to complete the job. They got

the numbers wrong. Sa'u comes in. He should stay at out. Lovely support

again. Crooks inside. This guy, McMeeken on the outside, lovely try.

McMeeken is having a really good game. He has caused trouble with his

ball carrying. First class. The place is beginning to bounce a

little. Salford were just getting on top after Sa'u's second try. A

brilliant response from Castleford. Two lovely tries. McShane will take

his time again. Paul McShane. His 100th career appearance. He was at

Wakefield Trinity last season. A swap deal talks got more to

Wakefield and brought McShane here. He started his career at Leeds. That

is where he started, where he came to prominence. A loan spell at Hull.

He is a very good goal kicker. For all that he has not been in that

role this season. Castleford leading by 18-12. Taking every opportunity.

He pulls Sa'u in. He reacts quickest. I love that. He has

created it with his pass and he has followed it. A simple thing you

teach schoolkids but it is still very effective. It is Salford who

need a response. Trailing by six. Gadwin Springer has made a good

impact. He carries the ball very well.

Monaghan will try his luck. He got halfway and then he goes. Unlucky.

There was a great opportunity to go for the drop goal. Great play from

Monaghan. There was a chance to go. It would have been a massive moment

in the context of the game had Monaghan kept his feet.

A delicate kick by Lui. They raise the word delicate. Too heavy. The

hooter will sound at the end of what has been a fascinating first half.

That was the last act. Castleford having to come from behind to lead

at half-time by 18-12. It has been wonderfully, wonderfully

entertaining. Salford's Sa'u with his two tries. McMeeken with two

back for cars. The two teams seem to be staying on the field. Joel

Monaghan is speaking with Tanya Arno.

You may be a patched up team, but you seem to be chancing your arm?

Yes, it is Challenge Cup. It is do or die. How early energy levels?

Will that be key? I think it is. It is a hot day. Whoever controls the

ball, winds. Michael Dobson. Do you feel you have done much wrong? We

need to go back and play a bit more simple. Thank you.

What a cracking first half of rugby that was as our Challenge Cup

coverage starts in the Jungle this season. The statistics for your

perusal. Fairly balanced. We will the opportunities spurned by

Castleford. Brian Noble, you said to me that you can look at as many

statistics as you want, you cannot measure enthusiasm and passion.

Players and crowd in synergy? Absolutely. I think Salford have

looked at the Castleford team sheet and thought they were going to blow

them away. Castleford have got a different agenda. They have found a

way to play. It is very simple. They are following each other. In the

main, while they have made some breaks, there are still some

opportunities. For me, Ian Watson has got the hardest half-time talk

because he has to get his mob going. Castleford are played some great

rugby? Yes, energy. It is an amazing thing. You don't know where it goes

when you lose it and you do not know where you get it from! The crowd are

fired up. They have made some errors but have not made it affect them. We

have got five tries in what has been a cracking first-half. We are going

to rattle through them. Start with the opening Salford try.

Salford looked really threatening. Carney beads one, two, three, lands

on his front. At this point cars are struggling. Then you get Sa'u, a

powerful man. A couple of missed tackles, and he is in the corner. At

that point we were thinking, this is looking shifty fracas. We see Justin

Carney's power. He is in a great position to play the ball quickly.

Sa'u makes it a really difficult opposition to stop. Carney does that

to most teams. It is difficult to stop him. Your dummy half has to be

alert. Perhaps try to stop Sa'u doing what he does. He is hard to

stop. I think they are played Justin Carney really well. When you are on

your heels, it is hard to handle Carney and Sa'u. Cars honking. They

got really quickly into some rhythm. They made no mistakes apart from

mistakes at the right end of the field. Salford made a mistake at the

right end and were punished. Michael Dobson was trying to be smart. We

had Hampshire kick the ball to Joel Monaghan. Joel Monaghan trying to

outjump the opposition. We see this in Super League every week. Dobson

gets a hand and it goes to the video referee. It is a try for McMeeken.

Monaghan is a kick target. A great try fracas. That really got them

into the game. It all came from that error from Dobson. If Monaghan is

such a great kick target, how do you stop at? You have to get people

around the ball. Solomona is a kick target. Daryl Powell has been

extremely clever. Salford have to come up with a

strategy. We will see on the second one in the minute, Figo does not

leave the ground. He is a giant but Solomona out Johnson.

All of the cars fans around us thought there was a forward pass

here. That is because it was a forward pass!

They are difficult ones. The linesman is blocked. Hampshire's job

is to come into the defensive line, pretend he is a defender and move

around the back of the line to cover this kick. Monaghan leaves this

space behind. Hampshire stays in the line may be a fraction too long.

Perfect kick. There is not a lot in that technical -- technically. Very

intricate. It was a great kick. You have to give a lot of credit for the

skill, to put that on the spot. That is a hard kick. Tough kick but a

great chase from Sa'u. He really chased hard and got his

rewards. There's the Castleford dressing room. Daryl Powell might be

giving a different team talk. This is on the back of some great play

from Castleford. The accuracy of that kick is fabulous. Solomona has

got the jump on Vidot, he is a big man, I didn't realise how big this

Vidot is. He goes down, Solomona goes up, Webster finishes the play.

Executed perfectly. When you mentioned it before, they probably

don't think they have got as big a kicking threat now Gale is not

playing, but Gale and Hampshire have put it right on the button. McShane

has been brilliant. He is a very good player. You say that with

surprise on your face! No, careful, you might not be coming back at this

rate! John, you have become our favourite pundit again! Times are

hard. The final Cas try of the 40 minutes? Cas played some great

rugby. We see a bit of instinctive play. McMeeken has been the star

player for Castleford. Justin Carney is in the wrong position. Justin

Carney has to shut that down. He doesn't. Monaghan, what we see

there, is a player who passed the ball stay alive and McMeeken scored.

He has been a stand-out player for Castleford. Justin Carney has to hit

Crooks as he catches the ball. A great piece of play from Cas and a

great try from McMeeken. Cas has been really simple. They are running

out of dummy half, they are moving with one-pass, two-pass plays. It is

up to Salford, they have to be challenging in that area. Ian Watson

has to tell them to be more vigorous in the middle of field. What none of

us have talked about, is this is a Subutteo pitch. You have to

turntables on them. If we hold our nerve and if we are strong, we will

get field position! We will talk about the size of the pitch later.

We have our rugby league forum post-match. You can put questions to

Brian, John or Denis. We have teams up with Songs of Praise to give you

a special opportunity at Wembley. You could be part of a fans' choir

singing Abide With Me. The Challenge Cup is rugby league's

most prestigious competition. Each final is preceded with Abide With

Me. The final two teams will battle it out for the Challenge Cup. You

could be on the pitch before kick-off helping to lead over 80,000

voices in song. We are looking for 32 super supporters to form our

choir. It is a fantastic opportunity to raise the curtain at an historic

sporting event. Someone who knows what it feels like to hear that hymn

is Jamie. I have played in it four or five times. The experience, I

walk out there, it is a bit like, I don't know, the Colosseum. It is

always red-hot. Not sure if you are on the pitch when Abide With Me is

sung, but you can hear it. What impact does that have on you? It is

massive. The words in there, they were written by a guy who was

looking towards God on his final weeks and the song is a narrative

and it gets to the core of who and what we are as human beings. What

will you be looking for as a judge? I will look for passion, enthusiasm,

there are a lot of unsung heroes in rugby league. If you would like to

nominate someone who fits the bill, we would love to hear from you.

Anybody can enter - male or female. You have got over a month to get

involved with that. The closing date is Sunday 26th June, 2016. All the

details on how to enter on the website.

That will be the accompaniment before the Challenge Cup final, we

have a man on the mic for us today, out there in the thick of it, Craig

Kopczak. Craig Kopczak will keep the player

mic on for the second half as well. We will play you a bit at full-time

and during our coverage of St Helens-Hull tomorrow afternoon, the

second Challenge Cup final of the weekend. Let's hope we get another

40 minutes of scintillating rugby league. Back to our commentary team.

COMMENTARY: Nothing to suggest it will be anything but what we saw in

that first half. The cup tie is still very much in the balance.

Castleford will be looking for a quick start in this second period.

It has been a k contraing first half. -- it has been a cracking

first half. Two teams who who will feel they can improve in the second

half as well. Castleford have done exceptionally well. They have kept

it simple. And they have tried to go to their strengths, which is their

kicking game. Brilliant performance by Cas. Salford have got to try and

get back into it a little bit. Hampshire. An anxious looking start

to the second half by Castleford. Craig Kopczak will have the mic on

again in this second half. That is a good off-load by Millington.

McMeeken. Looking to take them on. A fabulous first half he's had. Inside

for Crooks. His dad, Lee, has been involved in a few memorable moments,

hasn't he, over the years? Challenge Cup replay that Hull won. A little

hand-off and away to Webster and Webster, he was going out of play,

so so he's dropped it backs and Denny Solomona has scored, possibly,

the most unlikely try you will see in a long while. I say "possibly"

because the referee has gone for the video here. Brilliant pick-up and

support play. Let's have a listen to the video referee. We are checking

the grounding. Solomona... I can't really tell there. The

on-field decision is a try. I can't tell on that call.

Again, does his hand come off the ball? He's in possession. Fumbles it

a little bit. Still in possession. And then you can't tell. Have you

got anymore angles other than that? Still in possession. Can't really

tell. The on-field decision is a try and I can't overturn that, James, so

it will be a try. Well, it is highly controversial. I can't believe they

have given that. That is never ever a try. I didn't see the grounding.

The process may be at fault there. The referee gave it because he ruled

it was a try. There has to be definite evidence to disprove that.

I think Richard Silverwood feels that there was. He has to put the

ball on the ground! Sometimes you score tries through structure or

through instinct. He toe pokes the ball through, a good pick-up, gives

it to Solomona, I'll leave it to you as to whether he grounds it or not.

That is never ever a try. Never ever a try. I don't know how they have

got that wrong. It is because it is on the scoreboard, so it's a try!

Big decisions, it is a Cup run, it means a lot to these clubs. That is

a mistake, in my book, a big, big mistake. We had Songs of Praise in

the first half with Junior Sa'u, how about something similar for Denny

Solomona because he is a strike weapon? That is his 15th try in 13

appearances this season, 33 in 28 for Castleford. McShane can't add

the two. So it remains at 22-12. A bit of breathing space now. Salford

will be far from happy to find themselves ten points behind. He

passes the ball and it stays alive. He is still tracking there and it is

Webster, he pops the ball inside because he's being shepherded over

the sideline, toe poke, great pick-up, but that is the debate. To

underline for people who don't know the situation, when do video

referees, when the referee on the field goes to the video referee, the

referee on the field tells the video ref whether he thinks it's a try or

no try. The video ref has to find no evidence to disprove that original

decision. And that was the issue there. He didn't feel he had

absolute evidence to disprove the guess. You have to see the ball

being grounded. From every angle, it wasn't grounded. All you want is the

right decision. The process might be at fault there. It may well need

looking at. I wonder what the coaches were talking about at

half-time. Daryl Powell told his side to put them under immediate

pressure, which is what they did. He said he wants them to play like they

did in the last 20 minutes of the first half, not go back to the first

15 or 20 minutes when he felt that Salford had too much of a quick play

and a robust go forward. Ian Watson said his side weren't closing down,

they need to get back to the high completion rate that they had in the

first 20 minutes and get Cas back pedalling. The handover has given

Salford possession here. The pack has stepped up a couple of

levels. The Castleford pack. They are dominating the Salford pack at

the moment. Look at Carney here. He loves a wrestle. The guys in the

studio called it exactly right at half-time. Castleford have

out-enthused this Salford Red Devils outfit. 25 metres away from where he

wants to be. Untidy for Vidot and a fumble for Vidot on that right-hand

side. It will be Cas who get possession again, all things being

equal from this score. Watson will be disappointed with the execution

there. He seemed to be rushing everything, overrunning. There is

plenty of time left. They have to keep hold of it. Finish the set.

Also, it is really interesting that Josh Jones is lining up on the left,

with Carney and on the right is Junior Sa'u with Vidot. Again,

territory just Castleford's. The man behind the glass was Daryl Powell,

the coach of Castleford, twice a Wembley finalist in his playing days

with Leeds. Won it in '99, lost it in 2003.

Took his side to Wembley a couple of years ago. Webster. With some

urgency and determination. Inside the Salford half. Solomona throws it

back to the middle. Good run. Salford are back pedalling here.

Very good run. Moors to his feet and plays it. Springer. Millington. Good

off-load by him. McMeeken flicks it to Monaghan, Monaghan pops it over

the top. Crooks. Sandwiched by two defenders, but two tackles for

Castleford to impose their advantageous position here. A quick

look around and a dart forward by McMeeken. Milner, behind the back of

Springer, into the hands of McShane, Solomona is up there! Came offhands

and then feet and Solomona touches down. And I feel this might be his

second try of the game. But again the referee is asking for video

confirmation. Let's see what he says on the field. He says no try on the

field and we know how significant that might be, so the video referee

with the chance to adjudicate here. We need to check the onside first.

It is from a kick. So, yeah, happy with the onside. Happy with the

onside. Is he tackled in the air, that is what I need to look at? He

goes up for the ball... First glance, he looks as though he's got

his hand on him and pulls him back. His hands are on him. And he pulls

him down. That's the feeling on-field as well. So he goes up, his

hands are on him. And he pulls him back. So I'm going to stick with the

on-field call. It will be a penalty, no try, penalty to Salford. The

Castleford fans are celebrating because they saw the grounding and

thought that was OK. They got that one right. So it remains 22-12. Ten

points in it, two scores behind still, Salford. It could have been

worse. Vidot. He's been quiet, hasn't he? It is his first game for

a long time, his first game for his new club. Is there a penalty there?

That's for messing about with him after the tackle had been completed.

I think he earned that as well, did Vidot. He is working really hard to

try and bring the ball back into play, interfered with, so, rightly,

it's a penalty. He had the option of being a WWE wrestler but he signed

for Salford. Flanagan. Lui. O'Brien. Jones. Matched by Crooks with the

help of a couple of others. O'Brien. Murdoch-Masilla looking to

straighten things up and take them on. Two men in the tackle. Two

penalties. A really good opportunity for Salford now. George Griffin.

Salford within striking range here. Evalds will go from dummy half and

it's a wall of Castleford defenders. Flanagan. Dobson. Lui. Lui, reaches

and scores! Rob Lui. He is a player of class in the middle of the field

and a touch of class has given his side the try here and they are very

much back in the game. Determination and effort there from Rob Lui. They

needed to come away with something, did Salford, after having that

penalty. And my word they did. Here is the penalty. It is Matt Cook, he

strips the ball, the penalty is awarded. Rob Lui does back himself

and showing a gregs and force to crash his way over. It's a good

finish. He has the runners outside that keeps the defenders off him. It

is one against one, really. That is a very good finish. Taking the ball

to the line on the back of two penalties against Castleford. Sets

it up wonderfully well, doesn't it? It's a cracking game. Really good

Cup tie and we have more to come tomorrow, St Helens against Hull.

That will be a good game as well. 22-18. Really good work from the

pivot. Half expecting the half-backs to ship the ball on, Rob Lui doesn't

do that, it's a bit of a show and a bit of a go, and the go is with a

certain amount of aggression and determination. That is how we get

over the whitewash. What have you made of Rob Lui this season? He came

from North Queensland, didn't he? We have seen enough evidence in Super

League and in today's Challenge Cup tie that he is good structurally,

but he is also a running threat. He and Ben Murdoch-Masilla both

involved at West Tigers. One other Cup tie goes on today,

Oldham against Warrington. You can see there that Warrington have a

lead of 22-6. That was a 3.00pm kick-off so they are half an hour

behind us here. Warrington very much the nailed-on favourites for that

game. Oh, that was a late challenge coming in from Vidot. He looked as

though he's hurt himself. In the air... Definitely took him

out in the air. Solomona leaps to claim the ball. A tackle in the air,

so it's a very obvious penalty. He is lucky there that there is no

yellow card. Maybe the hint of the injury that he was showing there was

more a kind of a, I'm in trouble here so I will try and get some

sympathy. REFEREE: Just keep a lid on Jake

Webster for me, please. They are great these conversations on the

field. It is as if he is saying, tell Jake Webster to zip it. If it

is all square after 80 minutes, we are into golden point extra time,

ten minutes each way, if it is all square. Still plenty of time to go,

still under half an hour still to play. There are some more points in

this game, believe me. It is warm out there, so the energy levels will

dip and the gaps will open up. A couple of tackles left in the set.

22 metres to cover. Milner. McShane. Hampshire. Webster. Webster. He's a

real tough figure to bring down, but he is brought down. Five gone,

McShane dances down the blindside. McShane has made something out of

nothing! He should not have had any right to get anywhere close to that

try line, yet somehow he did. He's been brilliant. Thrust into the

half-back position, but he's been alert and now he's finished a try. A

brilliant finish. He's gone from his usual position, throw as dummy and

that is a great try. We talk about tries from structure and systems,

this one is instinct once again from Paul McShane. He looked one way,

looked the other and came up trumps. It was on the back of this carry

from Jake Webster. My word, he beat some good players there, you know.

There is Lui, Sa'u, Weller Hauraki. That is a hooker's try. There's been

a clash of heads in all of that. There is a Salford player down

injured. Not sure who it is. He is receiving some treatment.

Junior Sa'u it is. I think there might be another Salford player

injured, is there? Have a look at this. Ooh! It is

Junior Sa'u. Desperation to try and stop McShane.

Just watch, as they go in, yeah... Ooh! Makes your eyes water just

watching that. Yeah. The good thing about this situation, Dave, is the

medical side of it. They were straight out there and realising it

was a head clash, they are out there doing all the due diligence that is

required in such a situation. Some concern for Ian Watson. A new

ruling this last year or two, with the concussion. They will take him

off now because it's a clash of heads. They will take him off, they

will show a green card, so it will be a medical substitution. And then

they have 15 minutes to check him, to make sure he is OK. If he is not

OK, he stays off the field. If he is OK, he can return to the field and

it is not an interchange. I think it takes the decision away from the

player. Most players would want to stay on. That is why they have

brought that in. Kopczak coming on. O'Brien doesn't look too good. They

could be losing two backs here. He is still out there. Paul McShane,

magical. His 100th career appearance today, he is kicking goals, scoring

tries. Junior Sa'u off the back of Carney there, elusive, determined,

marvellous first try of the afternoon. Great finish. Ryan

Hampshire right on the money for Joel Monaghan. McMeeken crosses that

time. And then another kicked-try, a deft kick for Junior Sa'u before we

got another kicked-try to Webster. It's a potent weapon, the kick.

Sucking the defenders in. And McMeeken goes in, good support play

and finishes it. So many tries, so many good tries.

And your favourite try of the lot(!) Great tackle, no try. This is it, to

finish it. McShane, clash of heads, and they have both gone off. He's

been instrumental in a lot of things that Castleford have done very well.

What a great decision and great selection by Daryl Powell to move

him into the half-back spot when Luke Gale pulled out. McShane's

conversion attempt is cheered by the Castleford fans because over it

goes. What a fantastic day he is having here today. 28-18 is the

scoreline right now. It is that two-score margin again, that buffer

zone that his side, Daryl Powell's side, have once more in this match

as Dobson kicks and gets it on the way again. Solomona... And Danny

Tickle is on the field. What is going through his mind, Jonathan

Davies, after the injury he had in December? Thought his career was

over and here he is making his Castleford debut. He has to enjoy

it. As a professional rugby player, it is a privileged life.

He's got 26 minutes to relish here. His side are leading. By the way,

the Rugby League forum coming up after we have finished here today

and plenty of people you can fire your questions at. In particular,

the Widnes coach and the England assistant coach. So get in touch.

Niall Evalds is playing full-back and Hauraki has moved into the

centre and Joseph and Kopczak have returned to the fray. So a bit of

reorganisation required there by the Salford Red Devils. Milner is

struggling a little bit. He is hobbling here. A bit of cramp, I

think. Vidot. Trying to run it off and get

back into the defensive line. A penalty for Salford. Castleford

have kept Murdoch-Masilla quiet. They have but that was a silly,

silly penalty. It really was. All this has done is given Salford great

field position. Salford have an opportunity. 15 metres out. Six

tackles to bang on the door of this Castleford try line. Can they find a

way? Castleford's defence is ready and

waiting. Lui lost it. It was one-on-one. Salford ball. Castleford

knock-on. Did it go forwards --? It is a great opportunity for Salford.

Third set on the bounce. Ten metres from the Castleford line. 23 minutes

remaining. The cup tie still in the balance. Crooks will have two have a

spell on the sideline because of the blood on his bandage. The referee

warning him that he has to be cleaned up. Joseph took off like a

cannonball from dummy half. They held him up and stopped his

progress. Back to ten. Four tackles still to come.

Straight to Solomona who was in an offside position. Another set of six

for Salford. Yes, I think he went a bit early! It was either Usain Bolt

or he was offside. I think it was the latter! Five tackles remaining.

The nerves building. Castleford desperately hanging on. A try here

for Salford put it right back in the balance. It is another penalty. They

are surely not far away from a team warning. It is set number five. Back

to the ten metre line. Who is pulling who? Lui... If that had

stuck. It had to be him. I thought that Lui was over. It will be

interesting to see that again. Monaghan was offside. It is a great

late run. He would not have made it. Carney overran it. Psychologically

that is huge. Millington defending on the edge. A great piece of work

to work so hard from the inside to chasing down. Castleford will be

feeling really buoyant after that. Moments like that may just be

suggesting that this is not their day. Salford will want to banish

those demons from their minds and get back into this. All that

pressure, all that opportunity, gone. Again, discipline,

frustration. An attacking position for Castleford.

The referee just suggesting that Castleford were heading towards a

team warning. Just look at this, by the way. This is the Solomona try at

the start of the second half. Jonathan Davies justified in his

view that that was never grounded. That is one to you, Jonathan! It was

clear! Milner is hard. I think it is a nasty one. He has got his leg

caught in an awkward position. This is a heartbreaker. Justin Carney

comes across and parts Nathan Massey on the shoulder. It is a nasty one.

He is caught in a very awkward position. You know it is serious

when the opposition player stops straightaway and calls for the

physio. The injury situation at Castleford is absolutely ridiculous.

I think he is all right. I think he has told the stretcher to get off.

I'm not sure if it is a broken leg. He twisted very awkwardly. He seems

all right. We will have a look at this. Be careful.

He is walking off, which is a very good sign. No rugby player likes to

be carried from the field of play. Another injury for Castleford. Great

to see that Nathan Massey is being assisted from the field rather than

being carried from the field. That ten point gap remains. Castleford

getting close to the finish line but not there yet. Salford know that in

20 minutes they can still turn this around. They can ill afford to

concede again. Castleford are in prime position. Three tackles

remaining. The ball has gone free but it has

gone backwards. It is OK. A couple of tackles remaining.

McMeeken stretching towards his hat-trick but not quite there. That

was over the heads of everybody. Not even Solomona is going to get that.

Just overcooked a little therefrom Paul McShane.

19 off-loads for Castleford, seven for Salford.

Carney cannot get into his stride because of the attentions of

Castleford. Well read by Solomona. Well read.

Hampshire scampering... Castleford have it back. It was a very awkward

kick for a Hampshire. He could not get to it. The bounce favoured

Castleford. We have news on Nathan Massey's injury. Tanya, what is the

news? He dislocated his left kneecap. They put it back in when he

was on the pitch. Gareth O'Brien has been cleared to come back on. Sa'u

is on the bench. Yes, I will just put it back in while I am on the

pitch! Yes, do not bother with a stretcher! Patrick tried to run over

the top. Solomona! Just simply go over the

top. The video referee is required. The video referee required to make

sure this is a try or not. Yes, I have got it. We need to see

if they are onside from the kick. OK. The on field call is that Dennis

Solomona has not gone from that Palm back. We need to see that again. --

knocked on. We need to see that again, please.

The on field call is a knock-on. Can we just see that previous angle? It

looks as though it does go forward. This one. So it is knocked. And it

lands in front of Webster. No try. Handover. Knock-on.

I think they guessed it was going to be given as a no try. It was a knock

forward. I want to see the grounding. It was excellent. Look at

this, leaping like a salmon! Fantastic. If that were on come

dancing, that would be a ten! Sensational. Sadly because of the

knock-on, it will never be seen again. More salmonella than Solomona

on that occasion. 17 minutes to play. Castleford still have the ten

point lead. Salford still have a fingertip hold on the game. You just

feel that one more score for cars will be enough. -- Cas. But the

other side of that is one more Salford score.

There is a breeze blowing here now. Played the ball after the tackle was

complete. Salford have lost their shape a little bit. You do not see

Dobson and Lui orchestrating things. And the loss of Sa'u has been a big

blow. Yes, confirmation that June year Sa'u is not coming back. He is

off for the rest of the game. I think Castleford have defended

marvellously. Their enthusiasm with the off-load and the offensive game

has been tremendous, and defensively. They have got a penalty

on the back of that. There are some tired looking Salford

forwards. Just going for the killer try now, Castleford. They are nearly

in the hat for the next round. Gadwin Springer is one of those

nematic sounding players. What he sounds like, he does. I do not know

what that means. What about Jerry Springer?! 14 minutes remaining.

Good play by McShane again. They are saying to Salford, go the full

length of the pitch if you are going to come away with any points. Apart

from Carney, I cannot see anybody who is going to go the full length

of the pitch. There is some heavy breathing going on out there. Carney

lost the ball. Advantage play. It does not matter. It was a free play.

They go back to the original knock-on. A hint of desperation.

Carney trying to changes ball carrying hand to defend. It was a

loose carry. One-on-one. I thought Milner would have been better

putting the ball through hands. There was a bit of space. I thought

the kick was the wrong decision, even though it was a free play.

Whenever there is a spill or a mistake, two passes, get it away,

there is space out white. Castleford just turning the screw.

Until the pressure breaks the Defence! Milner fancies he has got

in. He fancies he has got the try. The referee not entirely sure. On

the field he says try. It is down to Richard Silverwood again to find

evidence not to give this, otherwise Castleford are close.

Tackle four. He is in possession. He is short. He is short there. Take

that back. Clearly short. Overturn the live

call. No try. Tackle five. No try but it is still Castleford's ball.

They have been close twice now. Solomona and Milner. No try. Still

no conclusion. 12 minutes remaining. One tackle in this play for

Castleford. Repeat set. Monaghan dispossessed by Carney. Time is

their ally now. They have to play the clock. Keep them out this side

of the field. Neither levels is one of those players who can go a long

way in a short space of time. -- Niall Evalds.

The last play inside their own half. Castleford back in possession. It

was an easy take for Hampshire. Good play by Castleford. Finishing

the set. Hampshire pudding at high. Asking the question. The ball

bounces. After the Castleford touch, according to the referee. Those two

wingers are brilliant in the air, competing for the kick. If you give

them the ball, you have got an opportunity to come away with

something. The kicking game is brilliant. They realise they lacked

creativity at half-backs. They keep possession, finish the set. They are

doing it very well. Luke Dorn is missing today Andy Lynch, Ben

Roberts. Shenton is probably out for the season. He has not entirely

ruled himself out for the whole campaign.

Castleford content to see that ball go out of play. The second is

ticking away. Every second is one step nearer going into the hat for

the next round. Daryl Powell standing not too far away from our

left-hand side. The energy level with Castleford, they are aggressive

in defence. The line speed is still good. Ian Watson, former Wales

international. Record cup holder. -- caps. Castleford have constructed

the perfect game plan. They have executed it very well. Daryl Powell

has had a terrific impact on this club since his arrival. He has

lifted them from the doldrums. Fourth and fifth in his last couple

of years. They are doing OK this year. They have had a Challenge Cup

final. I think Daryl Powell and the chief executive have revitalised

this club. They are off to a new venue in a couple of years.

The Castleford line is up there to make sure. That is a good chase.

Eight minutes remaining and they are still working as hard as ever. It is

important to keep Salford in this part of the field. One tried now and

it gets nervy. Carney had the ball dragged away from him. According to

the referee. It could be debatable. There is responsibility with the

ball carrier. There is a hint of a hope for Salford.

Four tackles remaining. Less than ten metres to cover for Salford put

themselves right back in this contest.

Solomona is not offside this time! No doubts this time. It is a

question of whether he can outpace Murdoch-Masilla. Of course he can!

He has gone the distance. Dennis Solomona finally does claim his

second try of the game. And in so doing he has in all probability won

the game for Castleford. That is it. As the boys said in the studio, he

is a great athlete. He has become a very fine rugby player. He reads the

game exceptionally well. Once he got the ball, that was it. You can put

your glass down, if you are having a drink, and start clapping as soon as

he hits fresh air. He is so confident. That is a real athlete's

try. It is a rugby player's read and an athlete's finis. Rate to watch.

He has got pace to burn. All in control. He knows he is going over

for his third try, his hat-trick. A great finish. He just treated well.

They have got the numbers on the right-hand side. He puts himself in

a position where they cannot get to the outside. If they throw the past,

he accepts it and runs 90 yards. Another player you have to credit

Daryl Powell with. He was with London. Then signed last year, a

relative unknown. Relatively untested in Super League. He has

taken Super League by storm. His 34th try in 28 appearances. They got

McMeeken from London as well. They have both been real successes.

He was originally with Melbourne Storm. I do not think he got beyond

the under 20s. McShane with the kick. He put that wide. He will not

care. Jonathan Davies, the man of them at Accra? He has scored a

hat-trick but for me... Of areas, interception is great. Lovely

finish. For me, McMeeken, Webster have played well. Solomona has

played well. But the standout player and the Ladbrokes man of the match

is that guy there, Paul McShane. But into the half-backs position. He has

been absolutely brilliant. Try scoring, kicking game, convergence.

-- conversions. He has done everything. His century of games

today. He can lift his bat and take the acclaim of everybody. McShane

still winding things up. Three and a half minutes left. They will be

singing and dancing here at the end. They always do a rendition of Sweet

Caroline when they have won. The whole ground joins in. If you fancy

a singalong, get ready. Doing the basics right again. He has enjoyed

himself, hasn't he? He has controlled it. As the game has

progressed, he has got better and better, more comfortable. Daryl

Powell has constructed his game plan. The players have done it

really well. If you are switching on fur Final Score, where have you

been? ! It will be along shortly. More excellent rugby tomorrow for St

Helens against Hull. Not sure how that decision has been

reached but it is a penalty. It is a knock-on. I think that was

the touch judge helping out. Final Score will be following as soon as

we have finished here. A credit to the touch judge. They got it right

together. Two minutes to go. With Luke Gale dropping out, Salford

would have fancied their chances but they have responded exceptionally

well. They have used their interchange

sparingly because Hitchcox has just come on. The scoreline indicates

they have used them well. It is a lovely step, he just rode

the tackle. Hard in by Patrick, Castleford,

Challenge Cup finalists two years ago, are they setting off on a

similar path again? A real test here today against a very good Salford

team. They are passing it with flying colours.

They are going into the draw for the next round with flying colours.

Joseph. Plenty of evidence still from Murdoch-Masila. Salford

continuing right until the end with real intent. The last few seconds.

O'Brien. A penalty for Salford. This will be

the last act of the game. It is kicked out so there will be just

time, the hooter is sounding but they have the time for the restart.

What do they do? They might as well go for glory. Robert Lui with a

step. Nothing changes even if they score but look at this and it is

kicked out by Ryan Hampshire and confirmation of a very fine

Castleford victory, 32-12. Wonderful stuff here. They have enjoyed it

here on a sunny afternoon. Salford have played their part. Junior Sa'u

with a couple of tries that gave them real hope but it is Cas who win

it in the end. Paul McShane is the man of the match. Congratulations.

Given all the players you had out, what does that say about this group?

We have been on about it all year, some of the results are not gone our

way but the togetherness is showed every week and today proved it. Some

key players missing. How much does it mean to be in the hat for the

next round? It's massive. These boys are still hungry. To get there this

year would be amazing. Congratulations. Thank you.

We have an awful lot to react to and we will do it in the BBC Rugby

league forum which will be on the BBC sport website and the red button

from 5:30pm. That was a remarkable performance. Thoroughly deserved,

they outplayed and found enough creativity to get over the line. It

was a cracking tie. We want your questions for Brian Noble and also

for Denis Betts. And we want to hear from Castleford and Salford fans as

they celebrate here at The Jungle. Tomorrow it is St Helens against

Hull tomorrow on BBC Two and next, there has been a remarkable day at

the Stadium of Light and we will join Final Score next. We will see

you tomorrow.