Quarter-Final: Warrington v Widnes

:00:45. > :00:52.Are it is metres, not miles that separate Widnes from Warrington.

:00:53. > :00:59.They are close but not that close. A little bit of afters. Warrington

:01:00. > :01:05.have claimed the Challenge Cup eight times. That is a special achievement

:01:06. > :01:18.by this Warrington side. Widnes, seven. It is a try! Yes! Once, they

:01:19. > :01:23.were worlds apart. Widnes, truly the champions of the world in rugby. But

:01:24. > :01:26.going from one to the other, sometimes life is just come

:01:27. > :01:33.protected. Tonight, they are together again with the Challenge

:01:34. > :01:37.Cup semifinals insight. STUDIO: That is the voice of Jonathan Davies who

:01:38. > :01:41.enjoyed successful stints at both clubs, just seven miles between the

:01:42. > :01:45.grounds of Warrington and Widnes and it is a proper rivalry. The fans

:01:46. > :01:50.have turned up in their thousands to night to see the latest instalment

:01:51. > :01:56.ASBOs teams battle it out for a place in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup

:01:57. > :02:01.semifinals. Three men with 20 Challenge Cup history with me this

:02:02. > :02:07.evening. Jamie Peacock, Brian Noble and Brian Wilkin. -- the fact this

:02:08. > :02:13.is a derby makes it very special to night. It is one of the key

:02:14. > :02:18.ingredients, it will be a classic. Both sides have not had a great form

:02:19. > :02:24.in the last few weeks. What would you be saying as a coach before a

:02:25. > :02:27.derby game? It is about your performance really. Create a

:02:28. > :02:31.distraction by not focusing on the fact it is a derby, it is just

:02:32. > :02:35.another game. The atmosphere will be more intense and communication has

:02:36. > :02:42.to be better. Clarity of form is required to get you over the line,

:02:43. > :02:48.it is huge. All the things in your control, you need to be in control.

:02:49. > :02:51.But players in general are sat in the changing room and the coach

:02:52. > :02:57.says, this is just another game and you would be thinking, no it isn't.

:02:58. > :03:01.Yes, in brutal terms, you would. It is a big game for both sides.

:03:02. > :03:06.Magnified by the fact it is a knockout game. Both clubs probably

:03:07. > :03:11.on paper are quite close. Ten points between them in the Super League

:03:12. > :03:16.table. Warrington have been in form this year, Widnes has so much to

:03:17. > :03:19.give. I feel they are ready to produce this performance. You

:03:20. > :03:25.mention the table and we can see it. Both sides got off to a blistering

:03:26. > :03:30.start. Have they dropped off a little bit different reasons? I

:03:31. > :03:36.would say Widnes dropped through injury. It made them realise, these

:03:37. > :03:38.things are played this year, they will be around there. Looking at the

:03:39. > :03:53.team tonight, they will have more. I think Warrington have a lot of big

:03:54. > :03:56.game players. Widnes are pretty much back to full strength and some of us

:03:57. > :04:01.were thinking they are going to finish in the top six. People like

:04:02. > :04:07.Houston coming back into the side. It is a real battle to night.

:04:08. > :04:11.Widnes's expectation has gone from maybe in the basement are now

:04:12. > :04:16.expecting to get to major games, big games like to night and get to

:04:17. > :04:19.finals. Credit to Denis Betts. The players he has got and their

:04:20. > :04:25.expectation levels are beyond what it had been in the last ten years.

:04:26. > :04:30.Warrington, big game players, they are missing a big game player

:04:31. > :04:34.tonight in Ashton Sims who is out for two matches. He was banned after

:04:35. > :04:39.this high tackle against Catalan. You cannot argue with that? He

:04:40. > :04:45.didn't miss. They went to try to argue the case, I think trying to do

:04:46. > :04:55.that is normally like an 11-year-old argument, you are always going to

:04:56. > :04:58.lose. Trying is the word. What you have to try to do is find a reason

:04:59. > :05:03.for that and I am thinking, he smacked him round the head. Everyone

:05:04. > :05:09.goes into the disciplinary thinking they are right and coming out

:05:10. > :05:13.disappointed. I think it was the right decision. Ashton Sims is part

:05:14. > :05:17.of our team tomorrow so it will be interesting if they say the same

:05:18. > :05:21.things to his face as they have this evening! Jamie Peacock was

:05:22. > :05:26.criticising his dress sense but I think it is fabulous! You are

:05:27. > :05:30.looking very smart this evening. Let's talk to Jonathan Davies who we

:05:31. > :05:34.heard at the start of the programme. He has played for Warrington and

:05:35. > :05:37.Widnes and is part of our commentary team this evening. Explain what this

:05:38. > :05:43.rivalry means because you have seen it from both sides. I was in shock,

:05:44. > :05:51.I didn't expect to get transferred from Widnes. I didn't want to go.

:05:52. > :05:54.The chairman said, you are going. I had been practising the goal-kicking

:05:55. > :06:00.after training for yours and yours. I went back there for the first time

:06:01. > :06:03.with Warrington. The ball boy spat on me! That sums it up in a

:06:04. > :06:10.nutshell. They are very close, very passionate. Widnes were in the

:06:11. > :06:14.ascendancy when I was there. Now, Warrington have taken over their

:06:15. > :06:19.mantle. But I think Widnes deserve to be in this position, playing in

:06:20. > :06:22.these games. Widnes were dominant when you were there and we will hear

:06:23. > :06:30.from Kevin Brown and a little later on. People have said, maybe Widnes

:06:31. > :06:33.are rebuilding and getting back, not to what they were but certainly

:06:34. > :06:40.capable of challenging, would you agree? They were the kings of the

:06:41. > :06:44.70s and it was a big challenge first to get to Wembley and unfortunately

:06:45. > :06:48.we didn't win but we did get there. Then they dropped out of the Super

:06:49. > :06:52.League and now they are back and they are capable of performing with

:06:53. > :06:57.the best. They have got their finances sorted out, they have

:06:58. > :07:00.quality players. I think tonight Warrington are heavy favourites with

:07:01. > :07:07.home advantage but looking at the Widnes side, they are capable. I am

:07:08. > :07:11.delighted and proud I have played for both of these sides and I am

:07:12. > :07:15.looking forward to a fantastic game of rugby and they are well

:07:16. > :07:21.supported. Delighted to have played for both, would it be unfair to ask

:07:22. > :07:25.who you want to win? I just want Wales to go to the final of the

:07:26. > :07:29.European Championships and I would be happy, that is my sporting

:07:30. > :07:35.prediction for this weekend. I thought you were close to saying, I

:07:36. > :07:40.want rugby to be the winner! Jonathan, thank you very much. Heart

:07:41. > :07:50.of our common treaty with John Kear and Dave Ward 's. The Challenge Cup

:07:51. > :07:51.got underway last night. Paul Anderson and his team took on

:07:52. > :08:03.Wakefield. This is what happened. COMMENTATOR: straightened up by

:08:04. > :08:12.Anthony England, almost in touch of that Huddersfield line. A short

:08:13. > :08:17.twist and turn and Wakefield scores. What a start by Wakefield. Mawson

:08:18. > :08:37.spins it to Finn who lays it back. That ball has been dropped and this

:08:38. > :08:45.is a chance. Huddersfield are up and running, has he got it down? I'm not

:08:46. > :08:55.sure he has. As Greeks put it down? Not yet. Brunt with a dummy. He goes

:08:56. > :08:59.for the corner. Johnson does really well.

:09:00. > :09:10.They will claim the drive in the corner. -- the try. I think this is

:09:11. > :09:18.going to be a try even from distance because Johnson is quick. Michael

:09:19. > :09:27.Lawrence is chasing him. He picks up after right down the middle. -- he

:09:28. > :09:35.picks a path. This time he is not going to be stopped, he will not be

:09:36. > :09:44.denied a second try of the night. Crabtree comes running in on it

:09:45. > :09:51.double run. Ellis puts it back. The response is instant from

:09:52. > :09:57.Huddersfield. Wood again, to the right-hand side and Cudjo pops one

:09:58. > :10:08.over the top. McGillvary will score this time.

:10:09. > :10:17.That game put into context with the funeral of the Huddersfield Giants

:10:18. > :10:22.academy player, he died from his injuries suffered during a match

:10:23. > :10:28.with Salford. He was just 17 years old. It is a desperately sad story

:10:29. > :10:33.and very difficult to put into words the feeling of the sport. It is

:10:34. > :10:43.desperately sad. It is a very tragic event. The heart and minds of all

:10:44. > :10:46.the rugby league community are with the Costello family and I think they

:10:47. > :10:52.have carried themselves with dignity during this time. They handled the

:10:53. > :10:59.whole situation impeccably well. Just echoing what Jamie said, I

:11:00. > :11:03.really sad time for the sport. Rugby is a dangerous sport, a contact

:11:04. > :11:07.sport. People going into it understand the risks. But this stops

:11:08. > :11:13.everything, it is a perspective moment in the sport. Games like this

:11:14. > :11:16.are important, let's not forget, but the lives and safety of the people

:11:17. > :11:23.who play and support the game is paramount. It is.

:11:24. > :11:34.... Now on course for their first final since 1979.

:11:35. > :11:47.Wigan will play cattle for tomorrow on the BBC. -- Castleford Tigers.

:11:48. > :11:56.Like most rivalries, you don't know how it feels or what it is all about

:11:57. > :12:00.until you are thrown into it. I have had a few major derbies in my

:12:01. > :12:04.playing time but to be involved in a Warrington- Widnes game has been

:12:05. > :12:11.sensational. People don't realise how much rivalry runs between needs

:12:12. > :12:17.teams and how close they are. We have had some good times here, some

:12:18. > :12:25.really good victories, both here and at our home ground. Today will be a

:12:26. > :12:29.fantastic day, the quarterfinal of the champions a massive game. Our

:12:30. > :12:35.form in the last couple of weeks has been a bit down so it is the sort of

:12:36. > :12:39.game I think and bring the best out in this again. The fact it is a

:12:40. > :12:45.derby match and we have played each other a few times already, I think

:12:46. > :12:49.really makes it a really special occasion. Expecting a big crowd and

:12:50. > :12:55.Greg rivalry, really good atmosphere between both clubs. It is made for a

:12:56. > :13:01.good game. We are losing games but not by big margins. Points for and

:13:02. > :13:06.against really good in the league. That brings us here in a good state.

:13:07. > :13:11.We know we can defend our line and score tries. We just have to pull

:13:12. > :13:18.that together today. The beauty of being involved in a cup game, is

:13:19. > :13:28.there is no second chance. Brian, take through Denis Betts's team.

:13:29. > :13:37.The Widnes back three of the overseas trio of Corey Thompson, you

:13:38. > :14:10.can break and Patrick Ah Van. -- Luke Hanbury.

:14:11. > :14:24.Christine, a local product. -- Chris Dean.

:14:25. > :14:30.I wouldn't have thought Buchanan was the name that would cause you the

:14:31. > :14:34.problem but anyhow! Let's look at Kevin Brown in a little more detail.

:14:35. > :14:40.He has been in good form the last week and he was invited to a squad

:14:41. > :14:43.get-together by the new England coach, Steve Bennett, six years

:14:44. > :14:48.after he played at international level.

:14:49. > :14:59.How are you? Come on in. I really tried to work on my consistency for

:15:00. > :15:03.while. I have a real good coach and good players I am playing with. Six

:15:04. > :15:07.years since I last played for England so hopefully I can play

:15:08. > :15:14.again and make a better go of it this time. Just to be involved and

:15:15. > :15:18.be in a room when Wayne Bennett is speaking to you was unbelievable. I

:15:19. > :15:23.have played a long time and come across a lot of coaches but never

:15:24. > :15:27.known a man to command a room like he did. I was like a sponge, just

:15:28. > :15:32.sat there listening, it was like being a little kid again and having

:15:33. > :15:36.that first time, when I pulled the Wigan jersey on. I was full of

:15:37. > :15:42.energy and it was fun. It is strange because I was playing for England in

:15:43. > :15:47.2010 and I was nowhere near the player I am now and hopefully I can

:15:48. > :15:49.do that shirt on again and I feel confident now I can have a really

:15:50. > :16:06.good crack at it. This is my dog, 14 months old. She

:16:07. > :16:16.is our family pet. Sit, sit down! She is obedient as well!

:16:17. > :16:23.I think man management wise, there is nobody better than Denis Betts.

:16:24. > :16:31.He has definitely brought the debtor out of me as a player. Away from the

:16:32. > :16:36.player, did we are good friends. -- he has definitely brought the best

:16:37. > :16:41.out in me. He gets me to work hard and I wouldn't want it any other

:16:42. > :16:46.way. I came to Widnes and everything they have said, it has happened and

:16:47. > :16:52.it has probably surpassed my expectations. You can't force, we

:16:53. > :16:56.can compete every time and hopefully we can take that next to a final and

:16:57. > :17:01.really have a crack at winning something as well. I didn't realise

:17:02. > :17:06.how big this derby was until I came to Widnes. It is unbelievable, the

:17:07. > :17:16.fans hate each other. There is a really good rivalry, it will be

:17:17. > :17:19.passionate and brutal. Jamie, it feels like it has been a long time

:17:20. > :17:25.coming. Every time we have been doing a red button forum, people are

:17:26. > :17:32.all was asking why he isn't in the England squad. This is a clean slate

:17:33. > :17:36.for him now. He has had to improve. He says he is a better player than

:17:37. > :17:43.he was six years ago and I believe him. He is cool, calm and confident

:17:44. > :17:46.as a leader. Will a lot of players think like him and go into a room

:17:47. > :17:50.with Wayne Bennett and want to soak up what he says? Wayne Bennett does

:17:51. > :17:56.have an aura and he commands that kind of respect. It is only natural

:17:57. > :18:02.player will feel that way in a new environment. It opens the doors and

:18:03. > :18:06.everything else has gone. Kevin Brown has every chance of playing

:18:07. > :18:09.for England. Let's take a look at some of the others in the

:18:10. > :18:19.half-backs. Look at this battle between Joe Mellor and Chris. Two

:18:20. > :18:22.instinctive runners of the ball. Instinctive ball-carrier and he

:18:23. > :18:29.scores points and complemented well by Kevin Brown who creates space. He

:18:30. > :18:33.pushes in support, not many half-backs in Super League

:18:34. > :18:40.competitions to do this. There is a real quality of Mellor and Sandow.

:18:41. > :18:44.He will have a crack at the line. Any opportunity, any chink of

:18:45. > :18:48.lightning, and they are a threat, they can run and they are very good

:18:49. > :18:52.at it. Sandow is a little more direct than Mellor. Both are more

:18:53. > :19:00.threatening when they have a controlled ballplayer around them.

:19:01. > :19:07.These two guys have perfect support and with Kevin Brown, going back to

:19:08. > :19:10.him being picked for England, he has Hanbury and Mellor around him,

:19:11. > :19:16.really good players to complemented. I would agree with that.

:19:17. > :19:26.Gidley and Brown are the stability. It is balance, in sports teams, it

:19:27. > :19:29.is about balance and Widnes and Warrington have great balance in

:19:30. > :19:38.their halves. Let's look at how they are going to play this evening. I am

:19:39. > :19:41.almost part of the witness team as we speak. Widnes have been a team

:19:42. > :19:45.that has risen at the beginning of the season and then they dipped and

:19:46. > :19:50.they had just come into form. To do well to night, all 17 players will

:19:51. > :19:54.need to step up to the mark. They will be led by this man, Kevin

:19:55. > :20:00.Brown, everything revolves around him. He sets up the play very well,

:20:01. > :20:04.here's a magician, orchestrating everything. When he carries the ball

:20:05. > :20:11.at the line, you have to deal with him. He is not small. A great run of

:20:12. > :20:16.the ball and good decision-makers. He is complemented by this man, Joe

:20:17. > :20:20.Mellor. Just catching the ball as we speak. He is a fast runner and can

:20:21. > :20:24.protect the line. Lightning footwork, can take the line on when

:20:25. > :20:33.he has the opportunity. Great outside backs, Rhys Hanbury and this

:20:34. > :20:40.man also, Chris Bridge, 10-year 's at this ground. What is it like

:20:41. > :20:45.being back? It is good, good atmosphere on a Friday night, always

:20:46. > :20:58.electric. This opportunity for Widnes to get one? It is. We give

:20:59. > :21:03.ourselves a good chance. Sounds to me like Robbie is involved in the

:21:04. > :21:04.warm up, he was panting so much! Take through the Warrington team,

:21:05. > :22:10.Brian. Thank you very much, Brian. Robbie

:22:11. > :22:14.has actually run from this end to the field, all the way to the other

:22:15. > :22:17.end of the stadium and now in between castes of breath, he will

:22:18. > :22:23.tell you how Warrington are going to play! I have been moving quite a bit

:22:24. > :22:27.and I am a bit out of breath! They say the forwards determine the

:22:28. > :22:34.outcome of the game and if we look at Warrington's forward starting

:22:35. > :22:39.pack, Westwood, Clark, Hill, all international players in their own

:22:40. > :22:44.right. Let's have a look at their half. It Gidley, the first one we

:22:45. > :22:51.will focus on. The guy is a master technician. He likes to push players

:22:52. > :22:55.around the park, he takes his time, he is like a chess player. He makes

:22:56. > :22:59.sure is all the Warrington players know their job and get into position

:23:00. > :23:03.at the right time. He is complemented by this fella, not the

:23:04. > :23:06.biggest bloke in the world but he is talented and strong and he plays

:23:07. > :23:10.instinctive rugby league. I will see if I can have a quick word. How are

:23:11. > :23:15.you looking forward to tonight's game? I am excited, we trained

:23:16. > :23:20.really hard all week and it is good coming to play here. You are

:23:21. > :23:25.confident you can win tonight? We are really confident. Widnes have

:23:26. > :23:31.got a good team but we will try to get the ball as much as we can. Best

:23:32. > :23:36.of luck. Thank you. We have spoken a lot about three of the half-backs

:23:37. > :23:41.tonight so let's focus on Kurt Gidley, the fourth member of that.

:23:42. > :23:44.Robbie pointed him out. A stellar career for the Newcastle nights and

:23:45. > :23:54.now he has made Warrington his second professional club.

:23:55. > :24:00.I had a great career at Newcastle, it was great for me to play from my

:24:01. > :24:04.hometown and play in front of my family. I always wanted to come to

:24:05. > :24:09.the Super League and I always watched it as a kid. I watched kids

:24:10. > :24:15.go from Australia and I always wanted to challenge myself. I am

:24:16. > :24:19.glad I have taken up that challenge. Plenty of English asked me if there

:24:20. > :24:26.is a big difference between this and the NRL and I found Super League is

:24:27. > :24:33.a real challenge. It is so even back home and every minute of every game

:24:34. > :24:35.is a real battle. Over here, I guess, there are more clubs with

:24:36. > :24:41.more money and they can get more high-profile players. It is still

:24:42. > :24:47.quite a lot as even as the NRL, and you have to be up for every game,

:24:48. > :24:52.that is for sure. I have my life and two young girls, and we have really

:24:53. > :24:56.been enjoying ourselves since we got here in November. A big difference

:24:57. > :25:05.from Australia having a winter Christmas. The football is part of

:25:06. > :25:10.the culture I want to get into. I have been to four or five games

:25:11. > :25:15.since I have been over here. Great for me to see some of the

:25:16. > :25:20.world-class players. I heard a fair bit about the rivalry the first time

:25:21. > :25:23.I played Widnes. That was at that stage, a top of the table clash at

:25:24. > :25:29.our home ground and it was a sell-out crowd. A rough time over

:25:30. > :25:32.the past couple of months, but a lot of things earlier in the year,

:25:33. > :25:40.attacking wise, building pressure and defending really well. My

:25:41. > :25:43.brother came and played at St Helens the four years and I learned a bit

:25:44. > :25:48.more about the Challenge Cup and the history behind it and obviously, he

:25:49. > :25:51.played at Wembley and it is one of the most well-known stadiums in the

:25:52. > :25:56.world I think. Everyone wants to play it. The more I hear about the

:25:57. > :26:03.Challenge Cup, the more I get excited about it and want to be

:26:04. > :26:09.there at the end. Brian Noble, Denis Betts called him the purchase of the

:26:10. > :26:17.season, would you go along with that? It looks like that. Kurt

:26:18. > :26:20.Gidley coming back into their team is the element of organisation, an

:26:21. > :26:27.element of real competitor they have not had for a while. They have

:26:28. > :26:36.brought that direction back to allow people like Chris Sandow in. They

:26:37. > :26:40.play what they see, Warrington. They have got pure skills and and to what

:26:41. > :26:45.they do and Kurt Gidley has added that element of runner to their

:26:46. > :26:51.team. Briels is a man that Warrington has missed. I think you

:26:52. > :26:56.are right in terms of running out of dummy half, he is as good as there

:26:57. > :27:04.is. He played for Australia and New South Wales. I agree with Jamie but

:27:05. > :27:13.one thing we need to talk about is Warrington, their great punch in the

:27:14. > :27:16.field. It drizzled a few minutes ago here, the ground is wet. Apache

:27:17. > :27:20.running game with a great kicking game, that is what they need to do

:27:21. > :27:24.tonight. Kicking the ball into corners and managing the game. I

:27:25. > :27:30.think Warrington will be too strong in the middle of the field. They

:27:31. > :27:36.need Clark to run but also Sandow and off the back of that, Gidley

:27:37. > :27:41.kicks to corners. Warrington are an athletic team who need to suppress

:27:42. > :27:45.the attack of Widnes. That is the challenge for Widnes, no doubt,

:27:46. > :27:48.disabling Warrington. If they can manage that, we are talking about

:27:49. > :27:53.the prowess of Gidley and his kicking game, Kevin Brown, if he can

:27:54. > :27:57.get on the front foot and kick the ball for Widnes and they can find

:27:58. > :28:01.their structure, all of the Widnes players have to play well. We have

:28:02. > :28:12.talked about Brown and we will talk about Nell and about Mellor and

:28:13. > :28:23.Hanbury. They have to run hard, tackle hard, chaste kicks. At

:28:24. > :28:29.Widnes, there are loads of guys with great attitude. Guys like Hep Cahill

:28:30. > :28:40.in the team. He gets off his line, tackles, controls ruck. A lot of

:28:41. > :28:47.hard work to allow Kevin Brown space. Rhys Hanbury and Kevin Brown

:28:48. > :28:52.tags together, watch for them today. Rhys Hanbury, Lloyd White and the

:28:53. > :28:57.two cars of Widnes are absolutely pivotal for them to get on the score

:28:58. > :29:00.board. Foot soldiers, getting them into the right part of the field and

:29:01. > :29:06.that will help them score points. Just on the weather, you are broken

:29:07. > :29:11.both teams down brilliantly, but how much will the weather play a part?

:29:12. > :29:17.Switching between being dry and then a downpour for 15 minutes or so. For

:29:18. > :29:22.the players, that cannot be great. When it is like and I played at

:29:23. > :29:27.Wembley with showers, you want the ball when it is dry. Your period of

:29:28. > :29:33.momentum is in those 10-15 minutes when it is dry and you can apply

:29:34. > :29:41.maximum pressure. It dampens what they can do with the ball. The first

:29:42. > :29:45.20-25 minutes, the ball will be wet and slippery and potential for that

:29:46. > :29:50.ball to pop out of the ruck. The team that controls the ball best in

:29:51. > :29:54.25 minutes will be in a great position come half-time. Thank you

:29:55. > :29:57.very much to the three of you, the teams are on their way out of this

:29:58. > :30:03.Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarterfinal. It is a huge derby,

:30:04. > :30:09.Warrington against Widnes. Being led out by a ram, because tomorrow is

:30:10. > :30:16.Armed Forces day and that ram is the mascot of the Mercian Regiment. A

:30:17. > :30:20.nice touch. As the ram comes out onto the pitch. We will join our

:30:21. > :30:26.commentary team this afternoon, the man played for both clubs, Jonathan

:30:27. > :30:27.Davies, a man who will give us a managerial perspective in John Kear

:30:28. > :30:37.and Dave Woods. COMMENTATOR: Plenty at stake here,

:30:38. > :30:44.the Challenge Cup semifinal, a potential Wembley day here, and

:30:45. > :30:50.above that, local pride. Two towns, seven miles apart, divided by

:30:51. > :30:53.contrasting passions. It should be a good game here. Widnes, the table

:30:54. > :30:58.tells you and recent results tell you that they have lost a bit of

:30:59. > :31:03.form. They set off like a house on fire this year. A lot of people were

:31:04. > :31:07.saying, are they the Leicester City at rugby league? But they have faded

:31:08. > :31:09.away, looking to hold onto a top eight spot but they have not lost by

:31:10. > :31:26.many in the games they have lost. Great noise. These are the teams.

:31:27. > :31:32.Warrington with a few potential game breakers across the back line.

:31:33. > :31:39.Sandow is particular sleek -- particularly eye-catching. A pack

:31:40. > :31:43.that carries a few tricks. As byes two are concerned, this season they

:31:44. > :31:50.have shown how good they can be when they are at their best -- Widnes.

:31:51. > :31:59.Chris Houston's return after a month off with the mumps will be a big

:32:00. > :32:02.boost in the second row. Denis Betts, the Widnes coach, packing

:32:03. > :32:08.plenty of Challenge Cup experience, seven times a Challenge Cup winner

:32:09. > :32:16.with Wigan. This is the referee for the night, James Child. Rhys Hanbury

:32:17. > :32:22.and Widnes getting things underway, Warrington are eight times Challenge

:32:23. > :32:26.Cup winners. Widnes have won seven Challenge Cups but you have to be

:32:27. > :32:32.old enough to remember Jonathan Davies playing to recall the last

:32:33. > :32:37.Wembley success back in 1984. Westwood is the man who leads the

:32:38. > :32:40.drive, right at the start here, for the Warrington Wolves. Let's hear

:32:41. > :32:45.these opinions as the game gets under way from Jonathan Davies and

:32:46. > :32:50.John Key are. Important but both teams look after

:32:51. > :32:55.the ball, as the guys said in the build-up, there have been showers

:32:56. > :33:01.prior to this, the surface was greasy. Which team buys territory

:33:02. > :33:06.with a good kicking game? I agree, the kicking game will be crucial,

:33:07. > :33:11.the ball will be slippery. You have to keep possession, as the boys said

:33:12. > :33:16.in the studio. If Widnes have defence, they can hang on and they

:33:17. > :33:24.are confident of scoring ability and creativity. They had to hang on in

:33:25. > :33:30.there. Sandow with a kick, a test in these conditions. It is a very

:33:31. > :33:33.greasy surface here tonight. We had a strange meteorological phenomenon

:33:34. > :33:38.before the game kicked off, Jonathan Davies noticed, it was raining in

:33:39. > :33:44.one half but sunny in the other. He was amazed, it does not seem like

:33:45. > :33:51.sunshine to you. Thank you, Michael Feis! Widnes move towards the

:33:52. > :33:57.halfway line. Their new signing, Jack Buchanan has arrived from the

:33:58. > :34:01.Tigers just over a month ago -- Michael Fish. Only his fifth

:34:02. > :34:04.appearance since his arrival. Looking for the touchline and

:34:05. > :34:11.finding it. Both teams will be pretty happy with the start, they've

:34:12. > :34:16.looked after the ball, their kicks have been adequate, testing the

:34:17. > :34:28.Warrington kick from Sandow to Hambro. Let's watch the scrum --

:34:29. > :34:32.Rhys Hanbury. It is a very fierce local derby and what are you going

:34:33. > :34:38.to do? Firstly, it is cleaner than when we played, you have to control

:34:39. > :34:43.your emotions. Discipline is crucial in the game today, anyone who spends

:34:44. > :34:47.ten minutes in the bin gives the opposition a huge advantage, you had

:34:48. > :34:53.to keep control of your emotions. Atkins at the 40 metre mark. Picked

:34:54. > :35:01.up by young gun Ben Currie, catching VI last year and certainly. --

:35:02. > :35:09.catching VI. Widnes are pushed back a yard or two, the Warrington coach

:35:10. > :35:13.Tony Smith looking on. Westwood was tackled in the

:35:14. > :35:15.aftermath of the event by Leuluai, trying to stop Gidley. Gidley kicks

:35:16. > :35:26.downfield. Evans advances, Widnes start from

:35:27. > :35:31.there. Widnes put intense pressure on Gidley, putting him on the deck

:35:32. > :35:40.the first time. He just got off his feet, and it was an easy take for

:35:41. > :35:45.the opposition. And Pat Arbon. The circumstances tonight are that win

:35:46. > :35:49.or lose for Warrington here, you would expect them to figure in the

:35:50. > :35:55.late stages in the search for silverware and the play-offs -- pat

:35:56. > :36:01.Ah Van. This is it for Widnes, realistically. This is their season?

:36:02. > :36:06.Yes, a big achievement in the top eight, a poor kick from Brown. A lot

:36:07. > :36:11.of hype around the guy, an outstanding half-backs. But that was

:36:12. > :36:16.shoddy. A kick from the outside of the boot, it will be a turnover

:36:17. > :36:20.would Warrington 35 metres away. The first real opportunity. And the

:36:21. > :36:27.first mistake, he sliced it off of his beard. He was looking for a

:36:28. > :36:38.40-20 kick. -- of his boot. Now pressure on Widnes. A chance here!

:36:39. > :36:42.He gets over the line. Jack Hughes. An indirect consequence of a sliced

:36:43. > :36:49.kick to touch. Warrington have an opening score. In the very early

:36:50. > :36:54.stages of the game. As we said, feet or position, you would not expect

:36:55. > :36:59.Warrington to score that easily. It was a kick to touch. But a strong

:37:00. > :37:05.and big run from Jack Hughes committee would be surprised that he

:37:06. > :37:12.broke through the two tackles. This is the kick and Brown rose efforts

:37:13. > :37:21.on the full gave the turnover to the Wolves. A drop-off ball from Gidley.

:37:22. > :37:25.A good play on these greasy conditions, it tests the players

:37:26. > :37:28.being able to stop and making the tackle. Obviously they could not,

:37:29. > :37:35.Jack Hughes came straight through the other side. Hep Cahill, normally

:37:36. > :37:43.a good defender, rounding handbrake for a good try. He went across to

:37:44. > :37:48.early, I think. He lost his third -- Hanbury. He over read the play, a

:37:49. > :37:53.missed tackle. A good start for Warrington, Widnes will be

:37:54. > :38:01.disappointed with their defence. Fury from Kevin Brown. Widnes under

:38:02. > :38:07.early pressure. Warrington with an early ascendancy. Kurt Gidley is the

:38:08. > :38:16.man who will attempt a kick for goal from here. Such a professional

:38:17. > :38:19.influence on this side, hasn't he? Not necessarily the most flashy of

:38:20. > :38:24.players but in terms of what he gives the side, he has such

:38:25. > :38:30.pedigree. This cake looks successful, and is. Warrington leads

:38:31. > :38:38.6-0. -- kick. He is solid and a great professional. He has done hard

:38:39. > :38:45.yards in Newcastle. Just watch, he over reads the play, Hep Cahill, and

:38:46. > :38:53.this is a run-through. Going back to Gidley, he is a great organiser and

:38:54. > :38:57.complement Sandow. Westwood, eager to lead the charge on both kick-offs

:38:58. > :39:03.in the game so far. Hill is never far behind when it comes to fronting

:39:04. > :39:10.up in the early stages of a set, Clark looks around, a man of steel a

:39:11. > :39:11.couple of years ago. Widnes had the tackle, Warrington

:39:12. > :39:30.are up to the 30 metre mark. Benny Westwood wears number 13 on

:39:31. > :39:34.his back tonight but normally is a prop forward in terms of selection,

:39:35. > :39:38.the kick is taken safely enough by handbrake but the Chase will make

:39:39. > :39:44.sure that he goes no further than that, perhaps a couple of strides

:39:45. > :39:50.back again? -- Hanbury. The Wolves have started well, some indications

:39:51. > :39:54.that the team has come prepared to pay. That is the kick chase which

:39:55. > :40:01.has been exceptional, but they will be disappointed with that aspect of

:40:02. > :40:06.their discipline, and unnecessary penalty, piggybacked to the Vikings

:40:07. > :40:11.up the field. They start in midfield. Let's see what their

:40:12. > :40:22.attack has two offer. Six to go from here. Here comes Buchanan. Called

:40:23. > :40:28.held, the referee decides there was a second effort in here after he

:40:29. > :40:32.screamed. A penalty for Widnes. From being way deep inside of their own

:40:33. > :40:40.half, no. A great attacking position. Not as noted pen -- not as

:40:41. > :40:48.many penalties for that these days, the referee allows the game to carry

:40:49. > :40:50.on. White, 15 yards away from here, Widnes. Set fair for the first time

:40:51. > :41:10.in this game so far. Hanbury, too Greg Hands, almost the

:41:11. > :41:13.chance for Russell to escape. Warrington get a parity. A

:41:14. > :41:20.significant difference, I think, in the play of the ball. -- penalty.

:41:21. > :41:24.Far quicker play of the ball, Widnes are much slower. The line speed of

:41:25. > :41:30.Warrington is faster because the ball is played slower. The timing of

:41:31. > :41:35.the play was not the best, was it Jonathan? The run was too early, the

:41:36. > :41:40.pass from Widnes, it looked shoddy at that point. If he is overrunning,

:41:41. > :41:47.you have two stick and make the decision as a ball-carrier. You have

:41:48. > :41:54.two build pressure in the Warrington 20. A couple of tackles gone, let's

:41:55. > :42:03.remind you that Wakefield is already in the semifinals for the first time

:42:04. > :42:09.since John Kear took them into a thousand eight. Hull against Catalan

:42:10. > :42:15.and Wigan against Castleford on air at 5:15pm tomorrow for that Wigan

:42:16. > :42:22.and Castleford game -- in 2008. Clark with a pass.

:42:23. > :42:26.It has been an incredible story for Wakefield. A great turn around and

:42:27. > :42:34.it could be a great conclusion for the season. A decent kick as well.

:42:35. > :42:41.An awkward bounce. Hanbury comes up with possession in the end. The

:42:42. > :42:46.Warrington kicks, they are asking questions, putting pressure on the

:42:47. > :42:51.catches of the Vikings but once again, a pretty cheap penalty. It

:42:52. > :42:59.has been littered with penalties. A shoulder charge. It was a great

:43:00. > :43:10.kick, nobody claims that. A penalty. Shoulder charge, Sandow. Attack by

:43:11. > :43:16.Bridge, a hero here not long ago, before he switched to Widnes.

:43:17. > :43:30.Hanbury, a twist and a turn but not finding any purchase at the moment.

:43:31. > :43:36.Making decent progress here, Widnes, inside of the Warrington half by a

:43:37. > :43:44.distance. Leuluai tries to straighten up. Still a couple of

:43:45. > :43:48.tackles to go in this set. Hannah Brie looks to chime in but the

:43:49. > :43:54.Warrington defence is organised -- Hanbury. Here comes the last. It is

:43:55. > :44:05.not, I think that the referee will give Widnes another penalty. Hanbury

:44:06. > :44:16.and Atkins, having a little tete-a-tete. Apologies if you picked

:44:17. > :44:24.up any language there. Atkins, I don't think there is anything wrong

:44:25. > :44:28.with that tackle. There we go, that is the reason. An arm around the

:44:29. > :44:32.neck from Atkins. It provoked matters. That is the reason the

:44:33. > :44:40.referee will give a penalty to Widnes. A better pressure on neck

:44:41. > :44:43.there. -- a bit of pressure. Resembling a crusher tackle,

:44:44. > :44:46.slightly. This could well go on report. REFEREE: You had to deal

:44:47. > :44:56.with the situation, the penalty goes to Widnes. You both contributed to

:44:57. > :44:59.that. There is the explanation. WHISTLE

:45:00. > :45:04.I'm not quite sure that Atkins is convinced that he was dealt with

:45:05. > :45:05.fairly but there we go... A chance now for Jack Buchanan to lay a

:45:06. > :45:18.platform for Widnes. Miller looks for a short ball which

:45:19. > :45:23.almost has Chris Dean putting a hole in the Warrington defence but down

:45:24. > :45:31.he goes. They are very close here! -- Mela. Close but not close enough.

:45:32. > :45:38.They still have tackles in the bag. Brown goes against the grain of the

:45:39. > :45:48.defence. But not finding it will stop two tackles to go. Mellor.

:45:49. > :45:54.Evans came out really quickly. Reading the play well. Mellor tries

:45:55. > :46:01.to inject it back again. Dean goes in. Catching it on the fall. That

:46:02. > :46:06.was well defended by Warrington. Two fantastic pieces of defence. Rhys

:46:07. > :46:11.Evans read the play and got it down before and Kevin Penny claimed the

:46:12. > :46:17.high kick in the opening goal. The Warrington Wolves are ratcheting up

:46:18. > :46:23.the play. A great tackle! Lost in the collision, Widnes habit back. A

:46:24. > :46:32.great tackle, good play of the ball -- Widnes have it back.

:46:33. > :46:37.That was great, they came in with a good shoulder hit under the ball,

:46:38. > :46:41.jabbing it free. The reward for tremendous defence was an error.

:46:42. > :46:49.Brown with an inside ball for Buchanan. Down at the knees by the

:46:50. > :46:52.Warrington defence. Imposing a few problems, they are being asked

:46:53. > :46:58.questions. Cahill was the latest to be stopped.

:46:59. > :47:07.They are being stifled at the moment.

:47:08. > :47:13.Pass, chipped on by Mellor, knocked on and Warrington have it again. And

:47:14. > :47:17.not enough questions asked in the right way. I thought Brown could

:47:18. > :47:26.have shown and gone, they ignored him. I think the gap opened up for

:47:27. > :47:30.him. I agree, he was on the inside, wasn't he? They need to look to the

:47:31. > :47:35.outside, prop it on his third and go against the grain. He is a great

:47:36. > :47:45.tactician and rooted well, on that occasion he should have stepped and

:47:46. > :47:48.gone. There was a gap for him. Russell was a Wigan player before he

:47:49. > :47:56.switched to Australia, signing back here for Warrington. Rashford, never

:47:57. > :48:05.far from the centre of action, Westwood.

:48:06. > :48:15.Gidley hammers it downfield. A good take in the end by Rhys Hanbury.

:48:16. > :48:20.Doing that part of the game very well, Warrington. Kicking with

:48:21. > :48:28.plenty of hang time and trying to get the chase up there to restrict

:48:29. > :48:35.this dangerous Widnes back three. Corey Thompson, making marks on that

:48:36. > :48:37.occasion, Pat Ah Van tries to do something similar but slips in the

:48:38. > :48:41.process. WHISTLE

:48:42. > :48:48.Knocked on! That all went for a blue wrong for Pat Ah Van, from start to

:48:49. > :48:53.finish -- horribly wrong. They had to give him a break, losing his

:48:54. > :49:00.footing, they had to keep control of it. I would agree. When it is

:49:01. > :49:06.conditions like this and greasy, you have to be extra careful with the

:49:07. > :49:07.play of the ball, if you are not, something devastating could well

:49:08. > :49:25.happen. Evans... Ratchford is the man at

:49:26. > :49:29.dummy half. Hill canters forward again with purpose. Daryl Clark

:49:30. > :49:46.tries to organise things. Ashton Sims is not playing today, he

:49:47. > :49:50.is suspended, he would love to play and is hoping that his side can

:49:51. > :49:55.carry them through to a semifinal. A forward pass to Penny at the end of

:49:56. > :50:01.that. Widnes have a bit of relief here. The skills have been off from

:50:02. > :50:11.both teams, there has been a slight issue with timing. Then again, it is

:50:12. > :50:17.forward. It is not done as sharp as you would normally see off these two

:50:18. > :50:21.sides. A little lethargic, the conditions are a lot worse than it

:50:22. > :50:31.looks on-screen. Very damp conditions. They are bit difficult.

:50:32. > :50:37.Bridge stands and waits here. Robbie Hunter-Paul is on the sidelines.

:50:38. > :50:42.Warrington are the masters of destruction at this point. Every

:50:43. > :50:46.time the set is together, three players on the bounce. Widnes's

:50:47. > :50:51.line, they give the ball away too easily. Their discipline and allows

:50:52. > :50:55.Widnes to get penalties and get into their own half and if you do that

:50:56. > :51:01.too much you will lose a lot of energy in the opening 20 minutes of

:51:02. > :51:06.the game. Brown. Mellor looks for the early kick, not a 40/20, was

:51:07. > :51:12.nearly at the halfway line. That is the reason why it is not a 40/20.

:51:13. > :51:18.Rashford runs back. The contact is pretty muscular, a little overly

:51:19. > :51:26.muscular for the Warrington fans. Atkins tries to straighten things

:51:27. > :51:29.up. Ratchford, out under way. That is one thing that Warrington do

:51:30. > :51:35.really well, they pick up the ball and have a go quickly. 40/20,

:51:36. > :51:39.Sandow. He was right on the line but he thinks the bounce will be kind,

:51:40. > :51:44.it is not. Pat Ah Van brings it back. In these conditions kicking

:51:45. > :51:49.with a 40/20, you have two zip it along the ground. You cannot get

:51:50. > :51:54.height as the dampest makes it bounce higher, you have to go low

:51:55. > :51:59.and hard, skimming across the top. Hep Cahill for Widnes, just one try

:52:00. > :52:07.so far if you are joining us late. Jack Hughes scored for Warrington

:52:08. > :52:17.early in the piece. Houston. Back with Brown. Macgraff Leuluai. The

:52:18. > :52:23.sixth tackle is next, Brown puts it high. Endeavour and, spinning,

:52:24. > :52:29.Ratchford is the clear favourite to take it safely and does. -- over and

:52:30. > :52:37.over. Looking for penny, nowhere to go.

:52:38. > :52:45.He loses it. That is a bonus for Widnes. Just trying to play field

:52:46. > :52:49.positions and trying to force the error. That is exactly how the

:52:50. > :53:00.tackle was one, macro -- Warrington return the ball, a

:53:01. > :53:06.straightforward drop in the wrestle by Kevin Penny. Widnes have made a

:53:07. > :53:10.change, Dudson has come onto the field, Buchanan has gone off. They

:53:11. > :53:13.did it just before the scrum, they cannot make into changes at the

:53:14. > :53:17.scrum but they did it just beforehand. Here he comes with his

:53:18. > :53:21.first touch, Dudson with a shuddering charge forward. Widnes in

:53:22. > :53:47.decent position here. Mellor with a Dodge and a weave...

:53:48. > :53:53.White tries to get himself over. Warrington are too wise for that

:53:54. > :54:02.ploy. It is a very slow play of the ball here, Westwood gets himself

:54:03. > :54:06.entangled here. Mellor throws it to Brown, they are running out of

:54:07. > :54:12.tackles and options here, Widnes at the moment. Brown with a grubber

:54:13. > :54:18.kick, off of the boot of Atkins. It does not matter, because he Kalex

:54:19. > :54:22.it, but then he drops it stops the clock.

:54:23. > :54:33.-- Kalex. He took a knock while he was on the ground -- he collect it.

:54:34. > :54:37.I think you got a knee in the back of his head as he was going down. He

:54:38. > :54:44.plays the ball with his foot, taking the sting out of it. Looking to

:54:45. > :54:55.reclaim, a total accident. But he has the left knee of Hep Cahill.

:54:56. > :55:01.Closing down very quickly. He is the option. The option Widnes look for

:55:02. > :55:08.at the try line. Closing down, staying on him. Mellor will have two

:55:09. > :55:17.help him out, I think. This is going to be head and feet for Widnes here,

:55:18. > :55:23.isn't it? He has given a penalty. If it is accidental, why is it a

:55:24. > :55:30.penalty and why is it on report? I think because it is contact with his

:55:31. > :55:36.head. The referee says it is accidental... REFEREE: I was too

:55:37. > :55:48.busy talking... That is a scrum for Warrington. He is on his knees. They

:55:49. > :55:53.have looked after him pretty well, the physio and the doctors, as they

:55:54. > :55:58.do. Protocol in Rugby league at the minute is to ensure any head knocks

:55:59. > :56:03.are really looked after and assessed and, if necessary, removed from the

:56:04. > :56:12.field of play. It is fantastic. I know when we played, the physio

:56:13. > :56:17.would check concussion, and he would say, when is my sister 's birthday?

:56:18. > :56:21.I did not know he had a sister! The way it works, for those who are not

:56:22. > :56:26.clear, he goes off and has 15 minutes to have a full assessment.

:56:27. > :56:31.Atkins, and if the doctors on the sideline think he is OK, I did not

:56:32. > :56:34.it counts as an interchange. It takes all decision-making away from

:56:35. > :56:41.the player. Every player thinks that he can stay on, and the decision is

:56:42. > :56:46.taken from his hands, he goes off and is checked. Ryan Bailey comes

:56:47. > :56:51.onto the field. He has a bit of history in the Ladbrokes Challenge

:56:52. > :56:58.Cup. With Leeds, only once as a winner though. It looks like

:56:59. > :57:02.Westwood will be out in the centre. Currie in the centre.

:57:03. > :57:10.An early drive, Westwood at left-centre at the moment.

:57:11. > :57:11.Widnes need to get their Mojo back and ensure that they restrict

:57:12. > :57:24.Warrington. Russell is still going, look at that

:57:25. > :57:32.leg drive, managing to get the balance against his opponents.

:57:33. > :57:35.Hill... Getting closer and closer, less than 20 away. Three tackles to

:57:36. > :57:45.go and Gidley picks it up again. It will be covered but it is in a

:57:46. > :57:49.dangerous position again, all Thompson can do is concede a drop

:57:50. > :57:54.out under the sticks. That is one of the biggest differences, returning

:57:55. > :58:02.the ball over, Warrington, giving pressure. Keeping Widnes in their

:58:03. > :58:06.own half. An element of composure from Sandow there. Seeing if they

:58:07. > :58:14.can slide the ball through, putting it into the in goal, a good chase

:58:15. > :58:18.indeed. Another set of tackles, launching an attack on the NACRO to

:58:19. > :58:24.line. He missed a chunk of the season, there was a 25 minute spell

:58:25. > :58:29.against Wigan where he produced the best performance for many a year,

:58:30. > :58:34.then he got an injury and was missing for a month or so --

:58:35. > :58:40.launching an attack on the Widnes side. He is great to watch. Clark

:58:41. > :58:45.goes to Gidley and Gidley takes on the line. Also this year he has

:58:46. > :58:53.brought in a lot of confidence. He was not previously doing that. Not a

:58:54. > :59:04.lot he could do there when he got the ball, Evans. He was surrounded.

:59:05. > :59:10.Gidley. Advancing by Dudson. Away to Bailey. On the last tackle here now.

:59:11. > :59:15.Where does it go? Left to Sandow, he has a kick to the goal area but it

:59:16. > :59:21.is rescued by Thompson and taken back to the field of play. Thompson

:59:22. > :59:26.read the play well, gambling on the kick, if the password wide, it would

:59:27. > :59:32.have been out of position. -- if the pass went wide. Well read. You have

:59:33. > :59:36.to get back into the field of play. So that you, once again, can clear

:59:37. > :59:48.your line and by territory with a kick at the end of the set. 42

:59:49. > :59:52.tackles made, by Widnes, Wolves have 49. Widnes have made more tackles

:59:53. > :59:57.than any other side in Super League this year, 250 odd, something like

:59:58. > :59:59.that. Mellor slips as he kicks a way, not the end product he would

:00:00. > :00:19.have wanted. Ratchford. Currie. Now Penny. We have seen him

:00:20. > :00:24.score and eye-catching try or two, haven't we? The game is certainly

:00:25. > :00:28.slower because of the conditions. The players are tentative, trying to

:00:29. > :00:39.make sure of the ball before they go into contact. It hasn't got that

:00:40. > :00:45.fizz at the moment. Clark at dummy half, Bailey again and onto Hill and

:00:46. > :00:50.now Sandow. They break the line but taken down by a very good tackle.

:00:51. > :00:55.That is the fifth, this is the sixth. Diddley gets the kick away.

:00:56. > :01:00.Patrick Ah Van in the field of play when he called it so we have to do

:01:01. > :01:09.something about it himself and he is doing a decent job. Hanbury from

:01:10. > :01:15.dummy half. This is good pressure from Warrington. Widnes need a

:01:16. > :01:19.complete set to get a very good kick in.

:01:20. > :01:33.Shifted across to Dudson, who will take on Bailey. Two big fellas.

:01:34. > :01:36.Dudson get a very good ball away. They anticipated it well and

:01:37. > :01:42.suddenly Widnes find themselves inside the Warrington half.

:01:43. > :01:51.They couldn't get the pass away. Hanbury kicks for the corner.

:01:52. > :01:58.Ratchford has a job to do and it will be tackling. Look where they

:01:59. > :02:04.are. Really good because they asked questions. They played a little

:02:05. > :02:10.quicker, lovely dab into the corner to challenge and clear their own

:02:11. > :02:13.end. Westwood can't keep hold of it. He desperately tries to but he has

:02:14. > :02:21.lost it and Widnes have the advantage play. He had the spare

:02:22. > :02:31.plated try something, knowing it would come back to Widnes's head of

:02:32. > :02:35.the field. Kurt Gidley is wearing the player microphone today so we

:02:36. > :02:40.will be hearing from him at half-time what has been going on on

:02:41. > :02:43.the field. There might be a few blue words about what he has just seen

:02:44. > :02:49.there. We will hear more about that later. Fascinating to listen to the

:02:50. > :02:58.organising they do because Kurt Gidley is the conductor of the

:02:59. > :03:02.orchestra. Yes, we have heard the forwards, the big grunts and

:03:03. > :03:08.collisions but that organisational stuff that goes on out there, the

:03:09. > :03:19.general giving his orders. Widnes a close here. Mellor's short pass to

:03:20. > :03:27.Bridge. Good tackle, they caught that right at the defensive line.

:03:28. > :03:31.Still a few tackles to go so still opportunities aplenty. Brown will

:03:32. > :03:37.put the kick to the corner and Russell will take you easily. He is

:03:38. > :03:41.not challenged until he can keep it down and make sure he stays in the

:03:42. > :03:48.field of play. That is an easy take, wrong decision by Brown. I think

:03:49. > :03:52.they look like they are flat at the moment, Widnes, when they attack, no

:03:53. > :03:57.speed on their executions which is easier for the Warrington defenders.

:03:58. > :04:02.The most dangerous they look for the off-load from Dudson and the broken

:04:03. > :04:10.play that came from that. We have had Ashton Sims, on the sidelines.

:04:11. > :04:15.Sandow knocks on and it is clicked on by Mellor. He plays the football,

:04:16. > :04:23.picks it up and has he touched down? The referee will put the square in

:04:24. > :04:30.the air and ask the question. Zero tackle. He thinks he scored. He

:04:31. > :04:33.thinks it is a try on the field, the benefit of the doubt is with Widnes

:04:34. > :04:41.let's hear from our video referee, Phil Bentham. We will just check the

:04:42. > :04:50.ground. The referee is behind the play. We have a clean pick-up and

:04:51. > :04:59.everything there looks like a try to me, happy to give the try.

:05:00. > :05:09.Quick decision and the gift of a try for Widnes. A dreadful mistake first

:05:10. > :05:13.of all, I'm not sure if Sandow thinks it is a forward pass so he

:05:14. > :05:17.gives up on it and Mellor quick as a flash gets his foot to it and scores

:05:18. > :05:24.are very well finished try. Just watch. He let it go through his

:05:25. > :05:28.hands and that is a very good finish, difficult, he could have

:05:29. > :05:37.snatched that end, a very good finish. But an easy try for him,

:05:38. > :05:42.handed on a plate. Just rewarding Jonathan Forte camping down in the

:05:43. > :05:47.Warrington 20, playing field position rugby. Hanbury with a

:05:48. > :05:52.chance to even things up, right in front of the sticks, and he does as

:05:53. > :05:57.expected. I thought this was always going to be a close game. A fierce

:05:58. > :06:03.local derby, rivalry and just watch, this is the pass. King throws the

:06:04. > :06:08.pass and I don't know what Sandow thought was happening. That was

:06:09. > :06:13.great skill. We see conditions, picks it up without breaking stride

:06:14. > :06:18.to score. I always thought if Widnes came and got the defence right, this

:06:19. > :06:22.would be a real test for both sides. Apart from the Hughes tried, they

:06:23. > :06:27.fronted up and they are in this game big-time. All that meaning all the

:06:28. > :06:33.local rivalry, Challenge Cup semifinal, at stake as well. We have

:06:34. > :06:42.got a cup tie on our hands now, six points apiece. Warrington bench

:06:43. > :06:48.looking calm and collected. It is another off-load. Dudson again, he

:06:49. > :06:52.is having an impact on the came on from the bench. He is and they need

:06:53. > :07:00.to switch on to it because they gave him great success in the. --

:07:01. > :07:05.earlier. A little scamper and back down it comes in the middle again

:07:06. > :07:11.and Widnes make indecent yardage. This is what Widnes have to do, make

:07:12. > :07:16.the yardage. Kevin Brown slips away. He passes on to Whitley, now a

:07:17. > :07:23.chance for Bridge. He goes for the line, great tackle. Daryl Clark gets

:07:24. > :07:30.better and stopped the man on the sixth. Played out by Westwood. It is

:07:31. > :07:36.another six if Widnes get it back. It is, Whitley gets away again and

:07:37. > :07:43.he scores. In the blink of an eye, it has all gone white here. Widnes

:07:44. > :07:47.have turned this game around. Again, the half-break, great support,

:07:48. > :07:54.fantastic tackle by Clark. But they kept their composter and Widnes

:07:55. > :08:02.picked the ball up and turned. Brash they kept their composure. Good on

:08:03. > :08:03.Denis Betts as well for sending Heather Myer out there with Lloyd

:08:04. > :08:14.White. Lloyd White puts the kick in, it is

:08:15. > :08:19.back to one and it really is a fractured Warrington defence. Widnes

:08:20. > :08:25.says thank you very much. I will go through those tackles and under the

:08:26. > :08:30.post. Manuokafoa and Dudson have made a huge impact. They have made

:08:31. > :08:37.the yards, the half-backs on the front foot, making attacking play

:08:38. > :08:43.easier and the kicking game easier. Right in front of the sticks. This

:08:44. > :08:51.should not be a problem for Rhys Hanbury and it isn't. From 6-0 down,

:08:52. > :08:58.less than a few minutes ago, Widnes are now 12-6 up at half-time looms.

:08:59. > :09:05.They have grown into this game, Widnes Vikings. I don't think you

:09:06. > :09:14.can believe his luck there. A good bit of footwork but just a bit too

:09:15. > :09:17.easy. A fractured defensive line and Warrington did that and it didn't

:09:18. > :09:23.pay offer them. The last few minutes, the possession is 58 event,

:09:24. > :09:30.as is territory, in favour of Widnes. -- 58%. That is how you have

:09:31. > :09:40.to play in these conditions, looked after the ball and buy some land.

:09:41. > :09:46.There is the statistical proof. Houston tries to send his side in a

:09:47. > :09:54.forward motion again. Dudson once more striking things up. Heremaia

:09:55. > :09:59.weights and then scampers. Warrington's defence being tested

:10:00. > :10:06.again. Playing the ball is a lot quicker with those two as well. He

:10:07. > :10:10.gets his arm free and he wanted the off-load but he couldn't scoop it

:10:11. > :10:12.back to Heremaia who was waiting. Kevin Brown looking for the big

:10:13. > :10:18.patch of grass right down the middle. Danger here because

:10:19. > :10:26.Ratchford can turn something out of nothing but not on this occasion.

:10:27. > :10:29.You would be happy with that. Gil Dudson spoils what has been a very

:10:30. > :10:37.good few minutes the him with a simple penalty. A penalty that

:10:38. > :10:43.Sandow put out of play. Let's hear from him now, Ashton Sims is with

:10:44. > :10:48.Tanya. You are kicking every ball, trying to make every tackle? What do

:10:49. > :10:51.you make of this so far? The game is on a knife edge, Widnes have

:10:52. > :10:55.probably been the better team for the last five minutes but we need to

:10:56. > :10:59.go back to completing. Put some more pressure back on them. Is it

:11:00. > :11:06.frustrating few to watch? Really frustrating. It is a real tight one

:11:07. > :11:17.and that is what a derby is all about. Kurt Gidley looking for a

:11:18. > :11:24.route back down the middle. Ratchford threatening to find a way

:11:25. > :11:28.through. Clark from dummy half. Gidley will kick it, not quite for

:11:29. > :11:35.the corner, a bit of shortness on the ball. Hanbury collect and

:11:36. > :11:41.manages to get it back in play. Defensive kicking from Widnes is

:11:42. > :11:46.pretty good. They had enough numbers around the ball to defuse the

:11:47. > :11:53.situation. Warrington are playing as individuals at the moment. Kurt

:11:54. > :11:57.Gidley, Sandow. Kurt Gidley and Evans doing a job on Patrick Ah Van

:11:58. > :12:05.and it needed doing. Six minutes to the break. One tackle in this set

:12:06. > :12:07.for Widnes. Brown looking for distance and hits, was it an

:12:08. > :12:16.advancing Warrington player? Yes it was. I am with the referee, he

:12:17. > :12:20.didn't play it at the ball. I don't know what Lloyd White was doing

:12:21. > :12:33.there. I think he thought it was an extra man and he was looking for the

:12:34. > :12:38.wing. There wasn't the extra man. He has two defenders. He thinks the

:12:39. > :12:44.winger is on the outside and throws it to the space but he is

:12:45. > :12:49.unfortunately a man shot. -- short. The difference is the pace of the

:12:50. > :12:53.play of the ball. Widnes struggled in the first 20 minutes and

:12:54. > :12:58.Warrington's defence were on top of them. Now they have momentum. If you

:12:59. > :13:03.get that, you have to make the most of it. Widnes have done that.

:13:04. > :13:08.Interesting start because Warrington are renowned of running out of dummy

:13:09. > :13:13.half with the speed of play and Widnes have 18 dummy half carries to

:13:14. > :13:22.Warrington's seven. Sandow at dummy half. Back inside. One of those off

:13:23. > :13:28.the bench George King, tackled 40 metres out. Warrington are looking

:13:29. > :13:35.for and needing a response. They do well to play the ball quickly.

:13:36. > :13:39.Clark. Evans, quickly away to Russell on the right-hand side. The

:13:40. > :13:47.Widnes defence organised enough to be over there. Evans did

:13:48. > :13:52.exceptionally well. Gidley again. Westerman spinning it onto

:13:53. > :13:59.Ratchford. They are going left now. Sandow inside the attempted tackle

:14:00. > :14:03.of Thompson. Whitley concerned for Sandow, asking the referee... Sandow

:14:04. > :14:10.just wanted to play on. This is a kick for the corner. That was a real

:14:11. > :14:15.sucker punch. The referee says tried but he is looking at the grounding

:14:16. > :14:21.again so once again, let's hear from the video ref three, Phil Bentham.

:14:22. > :14:25.Just a grounding check again. Just to make sure he has hands on the

:14:26. > :14:34.ball. And the ball is all the way to the ground. We need to check the

:14:35. > :14:40.kick because... Just to make sure it is onside. The ball is on the ground

:14:41. > :14:48.and then he grabbed it. Just double-check the kick.

:14:49. > :14:57.That is onside, we have no problem with that. Just need the grounding

:14:58. > :15:02.to finish off to confirm it, please. The ball hit the ground first and he

:15:03. > :15:14.has to get his hands on it and he grounds it. Try.

:15:15. > :15:23.There is the evidence Warrington are back in the tie. Smart play as well

:15:24. > :15:28.because the Wolves noticed the right winger, Thompson, came in to shut

:15:29. > :15:31.the play down on Sandow so he was out opposition and then he picked

:15:32. > :15:37.the ball up and slipped it behind what would have been the right wing

:15:38. > :15:41.man and that is where Penny succeeded in grounding it. Very

:15:42. > :15:45.clever play. It all came from that mistake from Lloyd White which gave

:15:46. > :15:51.the field position and this is the cleverness, just slid along and

:15:52. > :15:57.there is penny to ground it. A brilliant piece of play by King. The

:15:58. > :16:03.instincts of the centre. He hadn't dropped back. He thought about it,

:16:04. > :16:10.by that time, Penny had scored. Brilliant play by Warrington. Gidley

:16:11. > :16:19.from the touchline. I think Wall Street is eager to get involved as

:16:20. > :16:24.well from that angle. -- I think Wolfie is eager to get involved. The

:16:25. > :16:31.margin is much less slender than it was. Just watch, he wasn't sure what

:16:32. > :16:36.to do. 22, he made the tackle on Sandow, does he go in or out and

:16:37. > :16:42.fortunately, there is his opposite number. The little back play behind

:16:43. > :16:47.all of that, we saw him playing the ball and clearly uncomfortable,

:16:48. > :16:50.Sandow is still on the field but he has been having treatment while that

:16:51. > :16:55.try was being judged by the video referee and he is not moving as

:16:56. > :16:58.freely as he was. He has basically two and a half minutes to get into

:16:59. > :17:04.the changing room where they can assess him. They will be telling him

:17:05. > :17:08.to get in the defensive line and do his defensive work. Any attacking

:17:09. > :17:16.work is a bonus if he is hobbling about.

:17:17. > :17:22.I don't think we realised how important that try was. Warrington

:17:23. > :17:27.really struggling with the energy levels at this point. Just before

:17:28. > :17:31.that try was scored. It would takes individual brilliance to break that

:17:32. > :17:37.moment. Look at what is happening now, Warrington on the foot. If

:17:38. > :17:40.somebody does score before the break, you would think Warrington

:17:41. > :17:49.would be favourites. The kick safely passed by Hanbury. Set each here

:17:50. > :17:59.before the hooter sounds. You would say so. Pretty conservative and low

:18:00. > :18:02.risk stuff from Widnes. A good kick. You don't want to be handing

:18:03. > :18:12.Warrington possession anywhere in your own half. A bruising run by

:18:13. > :18:17.Patrick Ah Van. Mick Cassidy sitting beside Daniel Spence, looking a bit

:18:18. > :18:25.anxious. Less pressure as it moves out wide. A conservative, thoughtful

:18:26. > :18:30.kick to make sure it is as difficult as possible. There was nothing wrong

:18:31. > :18:34.with that tackle from Lloyd White. He is carrying the ball in one hand

:18:35. > :18:40.as well, Ratchford. You have to go for the ball. If you are on the

:18:41. > :18:47.coaching staff, you have to say, attack that ball when he is running

:18:48. > :18:56.it back. Ratchford collections. Westwood romping forward again.

:18:57. > :19:02.Westwood has been here 14 years. They are looking for width for

:19:03. > :19:06.Sandow who is skipping away and still going but loses it in the

:19:07. > :19:10.tackle from Houston. The referee says it was knocked on. Warrington

:19:11. > :19:15.will rush for the scrum to back it down so the referee stopped the

:19:16. > :19:22.clock. I think it is a forward pass from Sandow. A one-handed off-load

:19:23. > :19:31.here. It is a forward pass. It certainly is. It is interesting

:19:32. > :19:40.because Chris Sandow packed down as Caulker here, and don't want him in

:19:41. > :19:47.that position. -- Coke Delhi hooker -- hooker.

:19:48. > :19:54.That forward pass, the referee was right next door to it. I can't

:19:55. > :19:59.believe how he missed that pass. The game as tight as it is, that is

:20:00. > :20:06.crucial. With 20 seconds, would you just take it in and take one point

:20:07. > :20:10.grid and there are two options, do that or I would take it on the line

:20:11. > :20:14.and put a grubber through. We don't see enough of it in this occasion.

:20:15. > :20:23.Someone should take the ball, Westerman tell Ratchford and it is

:20:24. > :20:26.on. This is the kick. Currie and Sandow chasing this and Widnes happy

:20:27. > :20:32.to get it behind the ball line because they will waste the seven or

:20:33. > :20:37.eight seconds here before the hooter sounds. I think Jonathan Davies

:20:38. > :20:44.played number 11 today. There you have it. A decent cup tie,

:20:45. > :20:50.Warrington 10-12 Widnes. Plenty to come in the second half and plenty

:20:51. > :20:56.to come from him. It will be interesting if he is limping badly,

:20:57. > :21:01.not running as comfortably as we are used to seeing him so a big

:21:02. > :21:04.decision, will he come on in the second half? A very good first half

:21:05. > :21:11.of rugby. Thoroughly enjoyed it, defensive clearly on top on both

:21:12. > :21:16.sides. Let's here from Chris Sandow. You look like you are a little

:21:17. > :21:25.uncomfortable, carrying an injury? Yes, in the first half, hopefully we

:21:26. > :21:32.will attack their kicking game in the second half. I will definitely

:21:33. > :21:35.be back out in the second half. I think we will settle down in the

:21:36. > :21:43.second half and start playing some football. Kevin Brown, happy without

:21:44. > :21:49.half? Yes, plenty to work on. Errors with the ball that were fixed. You

:21:50. > :21:53.think if you can hang onto the ball, you can get over the line? We spoke

:21:54. > :21:56.about completing and we didn't do that earlier on. We dropped a few

:21:57. > :22:08.balls but when we got into the ground, we started looking good.

:22:09. > :22:23.These are the stats from the first. -- first half.

:22:24. > :22:30.11 errors in total, we will come to that in a minute. When we come to

:22:31. > :22:31.the analysis, which we will eliminate, the errors caused a lot

:22:32. > :22:50.of the points that have been scored? As the Warrington Wolves started to

:22:51. > :22:55.make errors... When you do that, you drop off and Widnes came into the

:22:56. > :22:58.game. Widnes will be happy they did that because they didn't look like

:22:59. > :23:01.they were going to add the start. Some of these big games revolve

:23:02. > :23:07.around the kicking game and how well you can kick the ball. Widnes

:23:08. > :23:11.kicking the ball terribly. They forced a couple of errors and

:23:12. > :23:14.back-to-back sets which gave them some respite from the fact

:23:15. > :23:17.Warrington were not playing as well. A couple of errors from Warrington

:23:18. > :23:24.gave them field position and got them back into the game. Kevin Brown

:23:25. > :23:27.mentioned it, the kicking was a problem and he mentioned he kicked

:23:28. > :23:33.the early one on the full. Warrington started brightly. Widnes

:23:34. > :23:39.had issues with their kicking game at the start. Kevin Brown sliced

:23:40. > :23:46.back, a complete mess kit. Under no real pressure. Smart play from Kurt

:23:47. > :23:49.Gidley on the back of that. I am a massive fan of Jack Hughes, great

:23:50. > :23:55.strength and speed to score this try. Smart play in wet conditions.

:23:56. > :24:00.All part of Warrington's bright start. It came from the defence. It

:24:01. > :24:05.resulted in not this try but a period of about 25 minutes of

:24:06. > :24:10.pressure. Ultimately, what caused an end to that were errors from

:24:11. > :24:14.Warrington. When you say Hep Cahill overworked what do you mean? You

:24:15. > :24:20.also looked like you slept. When you get into a position like that, he is

:24:21. > :24:24.working really hard, pushing towards a sideline, to stop and change

:24:25. > :24:31.direction is difficult. He almost made his foot unstable and that is

:24:32. > :24:34.why he slept. Very slippy conditions and Hep Cahill is really racing

:24:35. > :24:39.across the line and going back against that brain as Jack Hughes

:24:40. > :24:43.did, with the drop-off type of play, causes a lot of problems for

:24:44. > :24:50.defenders. Widnes struggled with fluency. I think in big games, you

:24:51. > :24:53.need to nail your fluency so everyone knows what they are doing.

:24:54. > :24:59.Jack Hughes puts Kevin Brown under pressure. I thought Warrington put

:25:00. > :25:07.Widnes under loads of pressure early doors. Hanbury timing it, I thought

:25:08. > :25:12.it was a bit off. Great defence against the Warrington, very

:25:13. > :25:21.aggressive. Off the back of that, Mellor would probably nail this.

:25:22. > :25:26.Great take from Penny. Widnes were ineffective in the first 20 minutes

:25:27. > :25:30.and got back into the game off the back of Warrington making errors and

:25:31. > :25:34.not being able to defend in that kind of energetic, aggressive way.

:25:35. > :25:42.One of the Warrington errors led to the Joe Mellor try as well which got

:25:43. > :25:46.Widnes back into it. We talk about being a support player, running

:25:47. > :25:49.support like that, didn't want the ball, we spoke about Joe Mellor

:25:50. > :25:53.being instinctive and that is instinctive attacking play. Everyone

:25:54. > :25:58.also is waiting and Joe Mellor moved forward, kicked the ball, it is a

:25:59. > :26:04.difficult skill to kick and gather. It changed times. The first half

:26:05. > :26:10.hinged on errors from Warrington. They gifted Widnes. I think

:26:11. > :26:17.Warrington gifted them. Would you say a bigger picture is that

:26:18. > :26:21.Widnes's fluency was caused by the lack -- lack of long Willey fluency

:26:22. > :26:28.was caused by the way Warrington were playing at yet Warrington were

:26:29. > :26:32.the masters of their own downfall? We saw them right in the face of

:26:33. > :26:36.Sandow so they have turned the tables. They put Warrington under

:26:37. > :26:40.pressure so with people in their face and under pressure, they came

:26:41. > :26:46.up with a couple of errors. They also got lucky on a couple of kicks.

:26:47. > :26:50.It took a bit of juice out of Warrington. It is all about balance.

:26:51. > :26:57.Warrington stopped what they were doing. One of the reasons for that I

:26:58. > :27:01.think, we spoke about the weather before the game and when you are

:27:02. > :27:05.player, you talk about lightspeed because you know the ball is more

:27:06. > :27:09.difficult catch. When there has been line speed, that is when the ball

:27:10. > :27:14.been dropped and players have taken their eyes off the ball. Good

:27:15. > :27:20.Warrington switch off after the amazing tackle from Daryl Clark? I

:27:21. > :27:24.think this try summed it up. Heremaia was brought on and he made

:27:25. > :27:29.a big difference running out of dummy half. Big spaces and this is

:27:30. > :27:32.when dummy halves thrive. Great skill and Kevin Brown at his best.

:27:33. > :27:40.Passing the ball. Great cover tackle. Warp speed. Lloyd White

:27:41. > :27:45.attempts to put the kick in, Widnes play around with the ball. What a

:27:46. > :27:51.fantastic piece of instinctive attacking play but poor defence.

:27:52. > :27:58.That is not defence of a knockout game. It is desperation in defence.

:27:59. > :28:03.This winner tries to make a cover tackle and is found out in the

:28:04. > :28:08.middle. It came from that turning momentum, that Widnes grew in

:28:09. > :28:13.confidence and Warrington made a few errors. The energy battle on the

:28:14. > :28:16.field in these conditions is really important and Warrington masted that

:28:17. > :28:21.the 20 minutes and then they fell to bits in terms of the energy. But

:28:22. > :28:32.they had something to say at the end of the half. If that offends? You

:28:33. > :28:40.spoke about it at the start. -- is that defence? You said Warrington

:28:41. > :28:44.can sometimes switch off. I would agree, if you had said those players

:28:45. > :28:56.in and around the ball, if you read that tackle... Warrington are back

:28:57. > :29:02.in it, thanks to the Penny try. That was unbelievable vision. The winger

:29:03. > :29:07.Corey Thompson has come in to make a couple of tackle so he is out of the

:29:08. > :29:15.way. Penny holds his job and holds the width of the sideline. That is a

:29:16. > :29:19.smart kick. King putting a kick in down the short side. That is not

:29:20. > :29:26.something you would see Jamie Peacock doing! I am the drop goal

:29:27. > :29:32.man! And the sidestep man, let's not forget! That came off the back of

:29:33. > :29:35.Lloyd White, it was a mistake and it gifted the possession and Penny

:29:36. > :29:40.scored a try. Errors have been so important in this first half. Both

:29:41. > :29:48.teams I think our defending pretty well. For the first 20 minutes,

:29:49. > :29:52.Warrington were very dominant. They got lucky, they got a couple of

:29:53. > :29:56.errors out of Warrington, because of their defensive line speed and they

:29:57. > :29:59.put some pressure on the Warrington kick and got the ball in the right

:30:00. > :30:04.part of the field so I think they defences are all right.

:30:05. > :30:11.You may remember that we told you about the songs of praise

:30:12. > :30:16.competition, a fans choir would sing abide with me at the Challenge Cup

:30:17. > :30:21.final, looking for a representative from 32 clubs, this week it was the

:30:22. > :30:33.judging section of the competition. Nothing like the X Factor! We ask

:30:34. > :30:40.for someone who has gone beyond the Call of Duty to help and support

:30:41. > :30:45.their team. That is the key line, that he has coached over 1000 boys

:30:46. > :30:51.and girls. I think she is doing a lot of work of the field. He is a

:30:52. > :30:57.lifetime supporter. You have to look further at something original and

:30:58. > :31:04.different. Can't they both do it? I would like both of them as well.

:31:05. > :31:11.When you look at a choir, it is always a bit of a mix. We just have

:31:12. > :31:15.to call them now. The winner for the Warrington Wolves is with me, it is

:31:16. > :31:19.Joan Ayres. What was your reaction when you got the call to say you

:31:20. > :31:25.would sing at Wembley? I could not believe it, I did not know that I

:31:26. > :31:30.had been nominated. A friend of mine sent me the link for rent, but I'm

:31:31. > :31:37.in the middle of house renovations and pushed it to one side -- sent me

:31:38. > :31:42.the link for it. I thought that it was just banter, but I got a call on

:31:43. > :31:50.Tuesday saying I had been successful. RU a good singer? No! I

:31:51. > :31:56.will be the one that will end Wembley, believe me! We look forward

:31:57. > :31:59.to it, thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity, I'm

:32:00. > :32:03.eternally grateful. That is what it is all about, the

:32:04. > :32:08.opportunity rather than be singing. Speaking of noises, Wigley has been

:32:09. > :32:13.wearing the player microphone during the first half and this is what it

:32:14. > :32:40.picked up -- Kurt Gidley. Get the ball back. Get in! Here...

:32:41. > :33:01.Push! Push it! Help him, guys. Off the ground. Leuluai! Leuluai! Arm

:33:02. > :33:12.wrestle. Hold it, hold it... Yes. Over! Mine! Referee, tell me when...

:33:13. > :33:19.No one at the back, no one at the back!

:33:20. > :33:23.There is a real difference between when the forwards where the mike and

:33:24. > :33:29.when the backs where the microphone. I think that you can see he is

:33:30. > :33:33.pivotal to the defence on the right edge, if you listen, they have

:33:34. > :33:38.struggled a lot. He has been vocal in organising people around. That is

:33:39. > :33:42.what you expect in senior players. When he says to the referee, tell me

:33:43. > :33:46.when, for those dipping in and out the game, why does he say that? The

:33:47. > :33:51.real reason is to get the referee onside! Get further with the

:33:52. > :33:57.referee. Talk to him and really want him to work with you. That is it.

:33:58. > :34:00.Who would have thought that John would say that? Glasgow back over to

:34:01. > :34:09.other commentary team, Jonathan Davies and John Kear. COMMENTATOR:

:34:10. > :34:13.Warrington have been out for five or six minutes, Widnes are just coming

:34:14. > :34:17.out, Warrington have gone through a warm up on the sidelines, we see

:34:18. > :34:21.this every now and then, teams get different ideas of what to do and

:34:22. > :34:25.how to restart the second half. It seems like a lot of common sense,

:34:26. > :34:31.warming up? It will be interesting to see what the Super League

:34:32. > :34:36.referees do at St Helens... And Jonny Wilkinson is onside! This is

:34:37. > :34:42.the referee tonight, James Child. Denis Betts, down on the sidelines.

:34:43. > :34:47.Barking out one or two last-minute orders before he goes and takes his

:34:48. > :34:51.place in the stand. A game in the balance, 12-10 in the favour of

:34:52. > :35:00.Widnes. I think that you are listening to Gidley seeing stay in

:35:01. > :35:06.the armrest... When the opportunity comes they had to create something

:35:07. > :35:11.and get points on the board. It is all to play for in this half. I feel

:35:12. > :35:15.there is more to come from Warrington attacking wise, as I said

:35:16. > :35:20.before, Widnes had to hang in there and take chances. It is not easy to

:35:21. > :35:26.get to the semifinal of the Challenge Cup... The Ladbrokes

:35:27. > :35:30.Challenge Cup has one occupant, having beaten Huddersfield last

:35:31. > :35:38.night, Wakefield are through. It is nip and tuck. Tomorrow, we have era

:35:39. > :35:49.against Catalan early on, then the big event on the BBC at 5:15pm

:35:50. > :35:58.tomorrow, Wigan play Castleford -- Hull. A decent quarterfinal line-up.

:35:59. > :36:02.Mellor puts boot to ball. Rashford is comfortable, taking it

:36:03. > :36:07.off the bounce. An organised to chose from Widnes. Warrington begin

:36:08. > :36:10.from here. A couple of mistakes that we saw in the game, mistakes giving

:36:11. > :36:30.up field position. The fans have got themselves wound

:36:31. > :36:35.up in the second half, wound up a bit more, right in front of the

:36:36. > :36:39.Warrington supporters, Pat Ah Van. Silly! A misdemeanour. I cannot

:36:40. > :36:44.understand what is going through the head of that man in that last

:36:45. > :36:49.tackle. It was so obvious... He makes the tackle, he has his arms

:36:50. > :36:57.around him. Every man and his dog could see that! WHISTLE

:36:58. > :37:04.He comes on and shows that he is on television tonight. Pat Ah Van has

:37:05. > :37:12.held up an arm of apology to his team-mates. Gidley will slow things

:37:13. > :37:22.down by fastening his boot laces before continuing play... So, Clark

:37:23. > :37:26.will get things going again. Sandow seemingly recovered from that injury

:37:27. > :37:34.he got in the first half. Ratchford passes to the left-hand side of

:37:35. > :37:50.Currie. He was hobbling back into position, wasn't he? He just went

:37:51. > :37:58.dummy, he went very quiet. I mean, to be fair, Clark is a man at dummy

:37:59. > :38:06.half. Pat Ah Van is a cross to make the tackle. A good read from Pat Ah

:38:07. > :38:11.Van. Equally again, into the path of George King but he is chopped down

:38:12. > :38:16.just short, Westwood picks up and goes. -- Gidley. Putting pace on,

:38:17. > :38:23.but the Widnes line was waiting for him. It is a handover back to

:38:24. > :38:27.Widnes. Let's hear the half-time Centre from Tony Arnold. Some

:38:28. > :38:31.slightly worrying news for Atkins, they called an ambulance to take him

:38:32. > :38:35.to hospital because the doctor was unhappy with his condition, he went

:38:36. > :38:42.off with a head injury. Tony Smith told his side to be more patient and

:38:43. > :38:46.cut down on errors, tying up the defence. Denis Betts has said that

:38:47. > :38:51.he has to start the second half better, completing the sets. He says

:38:52. > :38:54.they had not taken advantage of the chances created, more support is

:38:55. > :39:02.needed so that they can need from dummy half. Spun away to Brown,

:39:03. > :39:06.Brown goes for a 40/20 attempt here. Looking for the touchline on the

:39:07. > :39:10.near side. The bounce is unkind, a decent kick, picked up by Matty

:39:11. > :39:20.Russell and he has work to do to get it away. They have shown it, Widnes

:39:21. > :39:25.kicked early. Mellor and Brown. Playing field position. Looking to

:39:26. > :39:27.force the error. Clark at dummy half, going left to Ben Currie.

:39:28. > :39:36.Trying to quicken things. Widnes pull down inside of their own

:39:37. > :39:55.half. Currie at six here. Pat Ah Van is

:39:56. > :40:00.the main man for Widnes on that occasion, trying to step around. He

:40:01. > :40:04.beats the initial attempted tackle from Russell. But there are more in

:40:05. > :40:14.a blue or waiting. He did well, Ah Van. Diffusing the situation, his

:40:15. > :40:18.team going forward. A spill, basic and as we said in the first half,

:40:19. > :40:25.when you play the ball in these conditions, you must be careful. Ah

:40:26. > :40:36.Van, that is sloppy. Giving Warrington a great opportunity. A

:40:37. > :40:42.couple of errors by Widnes. I think that Ben Currie, now out in the

:40:43. > :40:49.centre, he could be useful, he is playing exceptionally well this

:40:50. > :40:58.year. That will be difficult. He is much bigger than his opposite

:40:59. > :41:00.number. Chris Bridge there. An arm stretch from Sandow, he thought

:41:01. > :41:06.there was a penalty in that but nothing was given. George King

:41:07. > :41:16.nipping inside of the 20 metre mark, Sandow. Quickly played, Clark is up

:41:17. > :41:25.there, passing away... Currie in the corner, the referee is not sure. No

:41:26. > :41:31.try. REFEREE: I want to check if he loses it... He thinks he has lost

:41:32. > :41:35.it, has he? Let's look at the video evidence through the eyes of our

:41:36. > :41:45.video referee tonight, Phil Bentham. I want to check the grounding,

:41:46. > :41:52.please? He has a grip on it there. It looks short... I honestly cannot

:41:53. > :42:02.tell from that angle. Need to find proof that he has scored. A hand in

:42:03. > :42:06.there, he still has the ball. And... Does he keep a grip on it and drag

:42:07. > :42:17.it forward? Let's have a look at it, please? Does he maintain his grip on

:42:18. > :42:29.it or does the ball come away from his hand? I can't 100% see whether

:42:30. > :42:35.or not he keeps a grip on the ball, do we have any other angles, please?

:42:36. > :42:56.Thank you. We've just got this angle? We've got

:42:57. > :43:04.no try on the field... The referee's opinion was that it was lost. And

:43:05. > :43:10.there, Ewart had to say with ball around his thighs, that he has lost

:43:11. > :43:17.the ball. -- you would have to say. Can you show that in normal speed?

:43:18. > :43:29.Just to see if it gives us a different view there... My

:43:30. > :43:33.suggestion is that he has dropped the ball, I'm going with the on

:43:34. > :43:44.field decision of no try. A knock-on, it will be a scrum.

:43:45. > :43:49.COMMENTATOR: No try. I think that is the right decision, wasn't it? Under

:43:50. > :43:53.how the rules work. I don't think it was a try anyway, but how they work

:43:54. > :43:59.at the moment, he had to give no try. We decided a kick had to go. I

:44:00. > :44:08.thought he lost possession. So it remains. Advantage Widnes, two

:44:09. > :44:17.points, 35 minutes. To settle this cup tie. Widnes, deep inside of

:44:18. > :44:22.their own half. Warrington have come out with intent and purpose in this

:44:23. > :44:34.second half. But credit to Widnes, up until now, they've withstood the

:44:35. > :44:42.storm. Cheap penalties on nights like this. Ball to Joe Westerman.

:44:43. > :44:47.Kevin Brown has found it... Yes. Matty Russell was interested, he

:44:48. > :44:53.felt he might have got a hand on it, but it did clear him. Houston drives

:44:54. > :44:59.it forward, Widnes get their first tackle, finding themselves inside of

:45:00. > :45:09.the Warrington half. It's the new fella, Buchanan. Plays

:45:10. > :45:18.for the Tigers in Australia. Cahill, a good off-load. Heremaia, Mellor

:45:19. > :45:25.will Spain and he continues to tease the Warrington defence. -- spin. The

:45:26. > :45:28.big fella Hill climbs over him. Heremaia is off again quickly,

:45:29. > :45:31.trying to punch a hole in the resolute Warrington defence, but all

:45:32. > :45:42.they have done is drop the ball and Warrington get it back again. Great

:45:43. > :45:50.defence on both sides, there was a desperate tackle by the shorts.

:45:51. > :45:59.Great urgency, forcing the error. Good play from him initially with

:46:00. > :46:05.that footwork and off-load, and Heremaia and Melo rose support. That

:46:06. > :46:12.is where it is dangerous, around the ruck area with that off-load in

:46:13. > :46:26.broken field, it causes problems in that tactic of play -- Mellor's.

:46:27. > :46:33.A key with Sandow and him struggling... They are the rock and

:46:34. > :46:38.roll of Warrington, Gidley is the rock, Sandow is the role... The

:46:39. > :46:47.partnership, but he is not looking healthy at all, Gidley. Widnes will

:46:48. > :46:55.sense an opportunity here tonight. Clark at dummy half. Sandow half

:46:56. > :47:07.hobble, Gidley full hobble. Nothing wrong with Clark... But he is well

:47:08. > :47:12.matched and down he goes. Hughes got us all blogging in the first half

:47:13. > :47:16.with this early try. Put down, easily enough -- got us all going.

:47:17. > :47:24.Sandow tries to dribble one through but it does not come off. Widnes,

:47:25. > :47:29.back again. Good pressure by the Widnes Vikings there, making it a

:47:30. > :47:36.difficult last tackle for Sandow. No option, Gidley was limping badly as

:47:37. > :47:48.well. Back they come, to try to make their mark. Waiting on the left-hand

:47:49. > :47:52.side commits Houston. -- it is Houston. A good off-load from

:47:53. > :47:59.Cahill, but they weren't quite ready. Hanbury runs back again,

:48:00. > :48:04.clutching a hole. Just about stifling his ambitions. Widnes Rolls

:48:05. > :48:11.on again. Round misses... It was overrun by Pat Ah Van. A typical

:48:12. > :48:19.Kevin Brown pass but it did not quite connect. A surprise that Pat

:48:20. > :48:24.Ah Van overran him, it would have stopped play, a long pass. It would

:48:25. > :48:29.have been in the clear, had he held his depth. Why is he going to

:48:30. > :48:35.overrun it? If you are in front of the ball, you see that Kevin Brown's

:48:36. > :48:40.brain switched on with quick play of the ball he came running across and

:48:41. > :48:46.saw the overlap and the pass way before any other player Pat Ah Van

:48:47. > :48:51.had a hole he had run in. Opportunity knocks for the

:48:52. > :48:59.Warrington door, but it remains shut. They had to get back into

:49:00. > :49:02.this. Westwood, he is the man going off, but interestingly Brad Dwyer is

:49:03. > :49:10.coming on for the first time tonight. That adds something for

:49:11. > :49:14.Warrington here Tony said that he plays the game in fast forward,

:49:15. > :49:18.let's see if that happens... I wonder if he is fully fit, he got

:49:19. > :49:24.special attention from Clark before the game so maybe that is why he was

:49:25. > :49:30.a delayed entry? Two very quick players with Clark and Dwyer... Both

:49:31. > :49:39.on the field, Gidley is still on there, he looks to be running easier

:49:40. > :49:52.than he was. Anxious moments. A push and a barge, Dwyer is in there.

:49:53. > :50:00.Sandow is the man to the right. Stifling and suffocating him with a

:50:01. > :50:05.two man tackle. A penalty not given, Gidley chiming in. Hughes cannot get

:50:06. > :50:13.the ball away. Widnes do a terrific job of getting the ball away.

:50:14. > :50:18.Exerting pressure, the Wolves. All credit to the online defence of the

:50:19. > :50:26.Widnes Vikings, really well organised and urgent, and committed.

:50:27. > :50:30.Patrick Ah Van knows his side, typical in the Challenge Cup tie

:50:31. > :50:41.that he comes up with a try at some point. A good run... Giving a break.

:50:42. > :50:46.Heremaia, looking back to the middle of Cahill. Cahill has been good to

:50:47. > :50:53.night, I think. An ex-Melbourne man, arriving over here in Wales with the

:50:54. > :50:58.Celtic Crusaders. The beginning of his British Super League career.

:50:59. > :51:03.Mellor, pressure on him meant that was the result, not a good kick.

:51:04. > :51:10.Still a six tackle, Warrington get it back. Good pressure from Jordan

:51:11. > :51:17.Cox. A good job from the big prop forward. Really good pressure there.

:51:18. > :51:21.Quick in there, eager and sensing there are opportunities for him.

:51:22. > :51:30.Urgency in how Warrington are playing. WHISTLE

:51:31. > :51:36.A penalty for the second man. The tackle had been done, the job had

:51:37. > :51:54.been done, but To get involved as well. Good work from Houston, wasn't

:51:55. > :51:55.it? Getting the dummy half down. -- but

:51:56. > :52:04.Lloyd White had to get involved as well. The referee having a chat with

:52:05. > :52:10.the Warrington skipper, Chris Hill. Asking for his side to play down a

:52:11. > :52:14.little. Too much chat from his players. Six tackles for Warrington

:52:15. > :52:23.to have a real go. Jordan Cox, very much involved in setting up this

:52:24. > :52:29.position. Clark, eventually put on his back. It is legal. Dwyer and a

:52:30. > :52:40.penalty again. More messing about, this time it is him. Will he go for

:52:41. > :52:47.two to even it up? The debate will be going on but I think it is going

:52:48. > :52:51.for an attack. Two arms pointing at the sticks, the decision is taken

:52:52. > :52:58.that they go for the two. This is to make it all square. I think the

:52:59. > :53:09.indicator was a guy sprinting on! A clue... This is a full-blooded Cup

:53:10. > :53:15.game now, isn't it? It is great, isn't it? It's not too early to tell

:53:16. > :53:22.you that if it is all square after 80 minutes, we go to extra time.

:53:23. > :53:35.Golden point within that ten minutes. If it is all square... A

:53:36. > :53:45.dramatic skyline, isn't it? It is a dramatic game. I like that shot.

:53:46. > :53:50.Carefully placed by Gidley. His Challenge Cup quarterfinal epitaph

:53:51. > :53:58.we were a little too eager to write earlier because he is quite clearly

:53:59. > :54:04.still out there. He is muscular, running off a joint injury. A big

:54:05. > :54:10.moment in a big game, Gidley puts it over. It means that we are all

:54:11. > :54:21.square, 12-12, they are getting excited and we are too. 26 minutes

:54:22. > :54:32.to play to sort this one out. 12-12. Just as we would have wanted it to

:54:33. > :54:38.be. Richie Mathers having a word with Tony Smith. He is involved with

:54:39. > :54:52.the player welfare here these days, still playing at the Bradford Bulls.

:54:53. > :54:57.A big run. There he is. That is good defence. They are rocking now. It

:54:58. > :55:01.has the feel of a cup tie, there is a bit of urgency about it. Chris

:55:02. > :55:07.Hill takes it forward, using that footwork of his to eat out an extra

:55:08. > :55:11.yard or two. Wants to play but is not allowed. A team of warning, you

:55:12. > :55:17.can see the referee swinging his arm around. He is telling Widnes they

:55:18. > :55:27.are on a team warning, the next penalty, however, it said, is off in

:55:28. > :55:33.the sin-bin. It is a rather vague period of time, the referee decides

:55:34. > :55:37.how long to do it. It is an important set here, Denis Betts

:55:38. > :55:45.knows it. Dwyer goes left. We will be hearing from Robbie in a

:55:46. > :55:53.few minutes. Let's see how this develops over the next few moments.

:55:54. > :56:02.Gidley, Evans steps back inside. Hanbury and Cahill between them, one

:56:03. > :56:07.is a speed bump, the other is a full stop. It is taken by Thompson, taken

:56:08. > :56:12.underneath the sticks. Let's hear from Robbie Hunter poll. Down on the

:56:13. > :56:18.sidelines. These Challenge Cup games are all about pressure we get to

:56:19. > :56:27.25-23 minutes left in the game, the experience will step up to the mark.

:56:28. > :56:31.They have had the most exposure in this Challenge Cup, they are coming

:56:32. > :56:37.out on top at this point in time. These are the players to turn to in

:56:38. > :56:41.times like these, Radford. The possession is in the favour of

:56:42. > :56:46.Warrington in the early part of the second half, the first 15 minutes,

:56:47. > :56:53.they must make it pay. Dwyer out of dummy half to Chris Hill. The

:56:54. > :56:59.warrior down the middle. Dwyer picks it up to have a run, to see if those

:57:00. > :57:09.limbs are tiring a little, there was a hint of it.

:57:10. > :57:20.Rhys Evans is squashed. Still tackles in the bag. Ratchford goes

:57:21. > :57:30.nowhere. One tackle to go... It is Dwyer. Gidley tries to get the kick,

:57:31. > :57:36.played out. Warrington have it back again. Another set of six. Another

:57:37. > :57:46.set to have a go. Dwyer just needs one! And the determination, and will

:57:47. > :57:53.score. Warrington have the lead. Widnes, resistance finally broken.

:57:54. > :57:57.They are dancing in sheer delight. Great reward for Warrington. They

:57:58. > :58:05.upped the intensity, keeping possession. A few penalties,

:58:06. > :58:08.discipline for Widnes, the fresh legs of this kid, shadowing in the

:58:09. > :58:23.blocks. Brilliant bitterness from the her car. -- her car. -- hooker.

:58:24. > :58:32.After they regained possession, you could see that Dwyer is scanning

:58:33. > :58:38.from dummy half, off he goes... And over he goes. Real clever dummy half

:58:39. > :58:46.play there, scanning all the time as he approaches. Then he is out like a

:58:47. > :58:50.Jack Russell. And over he goes. Houston I think is a little too

:58:51. > :58:57.wide, the first offender there, a little too wide. He was in the

:58:58. > :59:01.shadows of the first team last year, Dwyer, sent out to London on loan

:59:02. > :59:06.and was called back as an emergency when Nicky Hyams signed for Lee

:59:07. > :59:12.because they needed a dummy half, and when he came back he was a

:59:13. > :59:15.revelation. He has been ever since. Even Tony Smith admitted he was not

:59:16. > :59:23.expecting that sort of progression from him as quickly as it came.

:59:24. > :59:27.Gidley could give Warrington a 6-point lead, they are in the lead

:59:28. > :59:29.for the first time since the half-hour mark.

:59:30. > :59:35.WHISTLE 18-12.

:59:36. > :59:40.It is boiling up nicely here! Yes, it will be interesting to see the

:59:41. > :59:44.response from Widnes, they had to be squeaky clean with penalties, this

:59:45. > :59:50.is just clever, and as Jonathan Riley said, it was too wide. He

:59:51. > :59:55.spotted the defending as he scanned and approached the dummy half. Three

:59:56. > :00:00.he went. I think Tony Smith feels that the substitution was justified.

:00:01. > :00:07.Yes, just play it down there -- through he went. I think that you

:00:08. > :00:11.can sum up Charlie Runciman's involvement in that as

:00:12. > :00:15."Second-best". He hurt himself trying to get involved. Warrington

:00:16. > :00:23.making progress again, the bit between teeth now.

:00:24. > :00:32.Leuluai, Cahill, amongst those in there. This is Chris Hill again.

:00:33. > :00:39.Couple of tackles to go, Ratchford trying to make mincemeat down the

:00:40. > :00:42.middle but they respond. They put the kick away and again under heavy

:00:43. > :00:50.pressure. Whitley gets there quickly. The full-back claims he was

:00:51. > :00:56.challenged in midair at the referee says, get on with it. If you enjoyed

:00:57. > :01:03.tonight, don't forget tomorrow, 5:15pm, we are on air for the Wigan,

:01:04. > :01:08.Castleford game. After that game, we have the draw for the semifinal are

:01:09. > :01:12.plenty of reasons to be on BBC Two tomorrow. I can't imagine if there

:01:13. > :01:24.is anything else going on in the sporting world tomorrow? That is

:01:25. > :01:35.going to be the highlight (!) Brown. Just looking for the touchline. Back

:01:36. > :01:39.there to cover is Matty Russell. Who is your money on, John Kear? If

:01:40. > :01:45.Warrington maintain this intensity and focus, it will be them but at

:01:46. > :01:48.some stage, Widnes will get a run of possession which will change

:01:49. > :02:02.momentum and when that happens, Widnes have to take advantage.

:02:03. > :02:12.Hill again. Cahill leading the tackle. The top three of Widnes, all

:02:13. > :02:25.above the top three of Warrington. It comes down safely. Into the hands

:02:26. > :02:31.of... Kevin Penny drags him down. That has gone backwards. Slow down a

:02:32. > :02:35.little but still prolific. Charlie Runciman trying to put his head

:02:36. > :02:39.between the two and get Ah Van away but the second part of that equation

:02:40. > :02:51.was not going to come off. Now it is taken against. -- again.

:02:52. > :03:00.A couple of tackles to go. This has been a very good set. All started

:03:01. > :03:04.off by Corey Thompson. Brown puts it into the pocket behind the goal line

:03:05. > :03:13.and Currie has to get out of there. He has got out of there. Big play in

:03:14. > :03:17.the centre. To get back in the field of play, Kurt Gidley looking for the

:03:18. > :03:27.penalty. That was marvellous play from Ben Currie.

:03:28. > :03:48.The inside ball. Is Sandow hurt again? He is not. Lovely flick from

:03:49. > :03:53.Hill. Some tired bodies out there. So there will be gaps opening up on

:03:54. > :03:57.both teams. The final play of that sets his Sandow send the ball

:03:58. > :04:03.downfield, Hanbury dodges away from Sandow and anyone else who cares to

:04:04. > :04:09.get in his wake and here he goes towards and over the halfway line

:04:10. > :04:17.and a big tackle from Hughes. They just need to play on the front foot

:04:18. > :04:24.and play it quick. Two tackles on Bridge already, inside the 40

:04:25. > :04:27.metres, inside the Warrington half. Dobson, it fell, crashing it in. --

:04:28. > :04:38.Dudson. Widnes getting closer and closer. It is Houston, over the top.

:04:39. > :04:42.Runciman will score. A very good rugby league try, eight terrific

:04:43. > :04:50.rugby league try. Runciman touching down. Widnes back in touching

:04:51. > :04:54.distance. A brilliant response. All the momentum has been with

:04:55. > :04:57.Warrington. They will have their time and they have taken the

:04:58. > :05:09.opportunity, they are back in the game. A brilliant cup tie, to and

:05:10. > :05:17.fro,. It all came with this kick return. Lovely bit of footwork.

:05:18. > :05:21.Dwyer could not chasing down. Right up to the halfway, that gets him

:05:22. > :05:25.onto the front foot. The main composure came towards the end of

:05:26. > :05:29.the set and a great part selection from Kevin Brown. This was even

:05:30. > :05:35.better, instinct and over goes Runciman in the corner. Great try. A

:05:36. > :05:43.brilliant off-load. He takes the ball on the short run, Houston, and

:05:44. > :05:47.as he goes down, that is a brilliant off-load. A lovely pass, brilliantly

:05:48. > :05:56.finished, easy finished, but great play by Widnes. That is some skill

:05:57. > :06:00.in these conditions. From start to finish, the whole try, start to

:06:01. > :06:04.finish. Brilliant step from this guy to start. That was a good kick

:06:05. > :06:12.chase, they were all over him. Brilliant step.

:06:13. > :06:19.Having started it, he needs to finish it because this is a big kick

:06:20. > :06:25.from Hanbury and he has kept his nerve and cool and it is also where.

:06:26. > :06:32.18 points apiece. -- it is all square. It is a cup tie that has to

:06:33. > :06:36.be settled. It is what cup ties are all about. Interesting watch Kurt

:06:37. > :06:39.Gidley and Stefan Ratchford, absolutely landing it to the

:06:40. > :06:44.Warrington players. They know they need to stay in this game if they

:06:45. > :06:51.will come away with a victory today. What is he doing on the pitch? Get

:06:52. > :06:57.off! He thinks he can still play! 15 minutes to go to sort it out. 18

:06:58. > :07:05.points apiece. The place is rocking now. We are in for a great last 15

:07:06. > :07:12.because there are two tired teams but both teams have got massive

:07:13. > :07:18.desire to get to the semis. That was risky. He got away with it. I think

:07:19. > :07:22.if Westwood had noticed it, he would have favoured to drop on it but

:07:23. > :07:30.instead it is Patrick Ah Van for Widnes. Jeremiah. Brown behind the

:07:31. > :07:37.40 when he let that fly. How is the bounce? It is OK for Ratchford but

:07:38. > :07:41.it is a good chase. Ratchford has the support of Kevin Penny but

:07:42. > :07:46.determination of Widnes up there to make the tackle good. A very good

:07:47. > :07:51.chase. Some tired Warrington bodies getting behind the ball. Good play

:07:52. > :07:58.by the back three. They gave the forward a bit of time to get back.

:07:59. > :08:01.The three of them work together. Dwyer, relatively fresh pair of

:08:02. > :08:09.legs, going to be important for Warrington now. Sandow was not

:08:10. > :08:14.expecting that and it is kicked on by Joe Mellor. They get another set.

:08:15. > :08:23.Would he have been wiser to drop on the ball? Joe Mellor? Yes. Straight

:08:24. > :08:27.up pressure. Jonathan indicated he is an instinctive player, Joe

:08:28. > :08:37.Mellor. His instinct was to toe poked it. Clark, plenty of space to

:08:38. > :08:45.run into but once he finds the ball, it is an movable.

:08:46. > :08:56.Last play of the set. 30 yards out. Will it be a steeple from Sandow? It

:08:57. > :09:00.is. Where is it coming down? It is knocked out and backwards and he has

:09:01. > :09:08.recovered it, Thompson and now he has a chance to counter. What a

:09:09. > :09:13.game. You thought it was out of the game, he challenged for the ball. It

:09:14. > :09:25.hits the ground and then it is up and he is off. William Pitt again,

:09:26. > :09:31.Westwood. -- brilliant hit again. That is a big call. REFEREE: There

:09:32. > :09:35.was contact on the head. That was a great hit, just watch. How was that

:09:36. > :09:42.contact on the head? I think that was a brilliant tackle. That is a

:09:43. > :09:47.bit harsh. That is a brilliant hit. What has happened? Looking at the

:09:48. > :09:54.replays, I can only assume Warrington player has a hand on it.

:09:55. > :10:02.The Vikings kicked to touch. They touched the ball so it will be for

:10:03. > :10:09.the Widnes Vikings. A bit of luck. They will be happy for a bit of

:10:10. > :10:14.respite as well. The last ten minutes, off-loads, half breaks, it

:10:15. > :10:21.has opened up a lot. The players on blowing a bit which gives players

:10:22. > :10:35.like this guy, the opportunity, Brown, depict the tired ones.

:10:36. > :10:42.Whitley put down 30 yards away. We could be moving into golden points

:10:43. > :10:52.territory. 11 minutes of the match remaining. This is the time to take

:10:53. > :10:58.it now. Ten away, four gone, two tackles to go in this set. Brown

:10:59. > :11:04.down his left hand side. They missed that path again. Ah Van off the

:11:05. > :11:10.four. Not a field position for drop goal. Brown looking to thread it

:11:11. > :11:16.into the in-goal area. It needs dealing with and Ratchford has dealt

:11:17. > :11:23.with it but only as much as conceding again. He is not sure if

:11:24. > :11:28.rapture played at it. A very good kick because they were on the

:11:29. > :11:33.sidelines and he managed to grab the ball through. Had to go for it. He

:11:34. > :11:39.has a very good play but he went too far wide for the drop goal. If he

:11:40. > :11:45.had his foot on the floor on the other side of the line, that would

:11:46. > :11:51.have been a tap at the 20. He couldn't have left the ball to

:11:52. > :11:59.bounce. Here comes a wave of white from Widnes. Cahill driving it in,

:12:00. > :12:10.first time off Heremaia, stands and waits. All square, 18 apiece. Who

:12:11. > :12:15.breaks the game wide open from here? Dudson still going. He has made a

:12:16. > :12:22.case for man of the match tonight. Gary Spence wriggling in his seat,

:12:23. > :12:28.such as the tension. It is thrown wide. I questioned whether it went

:12:29. > :12:33.forward but certainly it went out of play. It needed composure, didn't

:12:34. > :12:42.have to rush it. They were in control of the game. Plenty of

:12:43. > :12:52.tackles left. I am with you there. Perhaps, wrong play selection. I

:12:53. > :12:58.think so. REFEREE: Waiting for the out call, guys. On the out call. You

:12:59. > :13:04.feel Warrington individually have got the far more dangerous players.

:13:05. > :13:10.Clark and Ratchford and Currie. They can do something from nothing from

:13:11. > :13:19.anywhere really. You just still favour them at the moment. Russell.

:13:20. > :13:37.This is Dwyer. Hill over the halfway line with four

:13:38. > :13:42.tackles gone, two to go. Clark again but he is going nowhere, he slips.

:13:43. > :13:52.Last tackle. Sandow. Putting it high. Forward comes Hanbury. He has

:13:53. > :13:56.claimed it then dropped it. It has not only gone forward but has been

:13:57. > :14:02.dropped on by Cahill in an offside position so now Warrington get a

:14:03. > :14:07.very kickable penalty. This might be the match-winning moment. They

:14:08. > :14:12.peppered the back play with high kicks, a great challenge by Kurt

:14:13. > :14:20.Gidley to make it a difficult catch for Hanley. -- Hanbury. Cahill is

:14:21. > :14:24.offside and it is not accidental. You have to compete for the ball in

:14:25. > :14:31.the air. That is what Gidley did there. You can question as much as

:14:32. > :14:38.you want, it is offside. I think Hanbury said, I was tackled in EF.

:14:39. > :14:42.He was not. He was competing for the ball and making it difficult for

:14:43. > :14:44.Hanbury and he picked up the ball in an offside position and

:14:45. > :14:50.unfortunately for Widnes, that is the correct decision. Did well. He

:14:51. > :14:56.pulled wide because Sandow came across and his chase was first class

:14:57. > :14:56.and he contested the ball and if you are up there contesting, things

:14:57. > :15:13.happen. Kurt Gidley, very much the man for

:15:14. > :15:19.the big occasion. Over 250 NRL appearances. 12 Australian caps. A

:15:20. > :15:24.former New South Wales captain. As occasions go, this is pretty big. If

:15:25. > :15:30.he puts this one over, Warrington might have one foot in the Challenge

:15:31. > :15:35.Cup semifinal and he has. Normally, eminently kickable from that

:15:36. > :15:38.position but under these conditions, maybe a little tougher. But

:15:39. > :15:53.nerveless from Gidley and Warrington lead 20-18. It is the correct

:15:54. > :15:56.decision as demonstrated by James Childs, there is still a good six

:15:57. > :16:03.minutes left and that is a pretty good kick. Well done, well held. Did

:16:04. > :16:11.well there. Once spilled ball can change the whole complexion again.

:16:12. > :16:15.One chance, and there is another chance in this game. Six minutes to

:16:16. > :16:19.go and that was nearly an opportunity. Six minutes to go so

:16:20. > :16:29.Widnes will at least get the ball back four times. Warrington want to

:16:30. > :16:38.get away from their end as quickly as possible. Here comes Hughes. It

:16:39. > :16:41.is interesting in this half, Warrington have really made those

:16:42. > :16:48.dummy half runs and it has altered the complexity of the game. It has.

:16:49. > :16:54.They have two runners on, Dwyer, Clark, they have all donated. They

:16:55. > :17:00.have got the yardage. Virtually caught up, the Widnes total. And

:17:01. > :17:02.they were way behind. They were, it certainly turned the game and that

:17:03. > :17:12.was a good kick from Gidley to manage the game. Warrington fans in

:17:13. > :17:17.fine voice at the moment, hoping to draw their side home from this

:17:18. > :17:28.position. The clock has been stopped. REFEREE: Make sure you set

:17:29. > :17:36.up properly. Out they come. This is where they tackle, for their cup

:17:37. > :17:41.lives. Making sure they make every tackle count. You front-load your

:17:42. > :17:48.energy to restrict yardage, you really do. A sturdy carry by Houston

:17:49. > :18:00.but nothing spectacular. Five minutes to play. Three tackles in

:18:01. > :18:07.this set. Leuluai spun down. Inside ball, Dudson pops it back up again,

:18:08. > :18:13.another off-load from the Welshman. Runciman with the step. Evans

:18:14. > :18:20.gathers him up, with the help of two others, gathers it in. Brown, 40

:18:21. > :18:25.metres out, gets a kick away, potential of offside for the

:18:26. > :18:37.chasers. They kept a hold in the end. Sandow looking for the penalty.

:18:38. > :18:44.Not given. This is where Widnes need to invest a bit of energy in their

:18:45. > :18:55.defensive line speed. It is very tough, this 70 odd minutes gone.

:18:56. > :18:59.Ryan Bailey. Exciting moments for young and old alike as Sandow gets

:19:00. > :19:04.the kick away downfield and again, a really efficient kick that winds the

:19:05. > :19:10.clock down a bit more and winds Widnes up a bit more. They will jog

:19:11. > :19:17.it to the scrum to try to the stock clocks. A clever kick from Sandow,

:19:18. > :19:23.just over the sideline, run the clock down and get their defensive

:19:24. > :19:32.line set. It has been a great cup match. By the way, you had the

:19:33. > :19:37.responsibility of picking man of the match so get your thinking caps on

:19:38. > :19:38.together. Come up with a decision soon is the message from down below!

:19:39. > :19:54.Plenty of candidates. There is. Patrick Ah Van, there might be a

:19:55. > :20:02.much winner yet. There might be a man of the match.

:20:03. > :20:09.They still have tackles in the bag, Widnes. Brown is brought back on the

:20:10. > :20:16.inside again. Joe Mellor gets it away. The tackle precipitous on

:20:17. > :20:19.Heremaia and now it comes back to Brown, dodging off that left foot,

:20:20. > :20:24.runs into a bruising shoulder but still gets it away. Hanbury sees

:20:25. > :20:29.some daylight between defenders but he closes quickly. Warrington have

:20:30. > :20:38.the ball back. A miracle ball. It goes to Clark. I think Clark was

:20:39. > :20:42.struggling to get back. He was so tired. All of a sudden, the ball is

:20:43. > :20:47.there for him. It is risky but he will take that one down, Clark.

:20:48. > :20:56.Moments like those age are coached by many years. And this is Hill.

:20:57. > :21:02.Both sides doing well to play the game above walking pace at the

:21:03. > :21:07.moment. Such has been the sapping, draining nature of this match. It

:21:08. > :21:13.has been very humid as well. A great game. The kick from Sandow should

:21:14. > :21:22.give Widnes possession back and this will almost certainly be their last

:21:23. > :21:28.set of the game. Just under two minutes to go. Tap restart on the

:21:29. > :21:32.20, it is all on this moment. The Warrington wingers are back, if they

:21:33. > :21:45.try to kick it into touch, the game yards. Tackle one is done. Tackle

:21:46. > :21:50.two, an Manuokafoa. Clark finds a wonderful tackle but somehow Widnes

:21:51. > :21:53.keep it alive. Jeremiah to the right-hand side and Joe Mellor steps

:21:54. > :22:03.away from the advancing Sandow. -- Heremaia. King making that tackle.

:22:04. > :22:09.Heremaia again. Houston at the halfway line. Four tackles gone, two

:22:10. > :22:15.to go. Two plays for Widnes to make something happen. I like with a kick

:22:16. > :22:19.over the top. Here go the chase. Warrington has it, Penny claims it

:22:20. > :22:25.safely and that should be the game if Warrington keep it safe. They

:22:26. > :22:30.will be very conservative and low risk and over the sideline. Man of

:22:31. > :22:37.the match, Jonathan Davies? Hanbury has brilliant. Been brilliant. But

:22:38. > :22:43.it has to be Kurt Gidley, brilliant performance. Well done to Kurt

:22:44. > :22:50.Gidley but he knows that match isn't quite one might yet. Less than 30

:22:51. > :22:57.seconds to go. This is tackle number five. -- he knows the match is quite

:22:58. > :23:02.won yet. It is taken by Thompson who runs it back. Ambitious ball back to

:23:03. > :23:09.the middle. Hanbury lifting it left and here comes Patrick Ah Van. Evans

:23:10. > :23:14.gets a hold and pulls him down. Will they have time to play the ball?

:23:15. > :23:20.Will they have time? Yes. This is the last play. Rand puts a kick

:23:21. > :23:27.through. Warrington gather it at the second attempt. Warrington have

:23:28. > :23:30.clung on and spend all their energy in doing it but they have climbed

:23:31. > :23:35.onto a famous derby victory against Widnes. They have booked a place

:23:36. > :23:41.also in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semifinal. What a fantastic game of

:23:42. > :23:47.rugby league that was. 30 for players out there and they have apps

:23:48. > :23:50.are lewdly given their all. The standard has been high. Despite

:23:51. > :23:55.difficult conditions. They does not deserve to be a loser but Warrington

:23:56. > :24:02.just shaded it with Gidley's late penalty. Brilliantly played by both

:24:03. > :24:08.sides. They just edged it a little more and Warrington deserved to win.

:24:09. > :24:12.Possession, they turned it around, brilliant play. Warrington into

:24:13. > :24:21.their fifth consecutive semifinal, beating Widnes 20-18.

:24:22. > :24:27.Congratulations, man of the match, it was tight. It was tough. It was

:24:28. > :24:32.what I was expecting after all I have heard of the Challenge Cup and

:24:33. > :24:38.it was a knockout competition. It was a two horse race and I thought

:24:39. > :24:43.we'd probably made too many and errors, too many penalties the

:24:44. > :24:50.second half of the first half. We scored Mike a try on the back of

:24:51. > :24:56.that. You looked cool as a cucumber when you took that kick. Everybody

:24:57. > :25:00.wants that opportunity but that is part of my job description I guess

:25:01. > :25:06.and it was good to get it over. Congratulations, let's bring in your

:25:07. > :25:12.coach, Tony Smith. How were the nerds at the end of that? They were

:25:13. > :25:17.going! We made hard work of it today. All credit to Widnes, they

:25:18. > :25:21.came and had a real crack at it and they played really well. We made a

:25:22. > :25:27.few too many errors in some areas and a few too many penalties but we

:25:28. > :25:32.had to soak it up and we did. Congratulations, you are into the

:25:33. > :25:36.semifinals. Goodness me, that was a brutal game of rugby league. You

:25:37. > :25:44.were biting your nails towards the end. A lot of desire, passion shown,

:25:45. > :25:49.fine margins of error is to separate both teams. A goalkick in the end.

:25:50. > :25:52.The try by Widnes was superb and I think both of these teams have

:25:53. > :25:57.exemplified what this competition is about. I think it is fitting that a

:25:58. > :26:01.kick separated both sides. That is what the difference was between

:26:02. > :26:08.them. Kurt Gidley's kicking was it I think. Warrington applied more

:26:09. > :26:12.pressure and were more accurate. The fact that a winning kick, penalty,

:26:13. > :26:16.came from an error as well because so many of the scores tonight came

:26:17. > :26:24.from errors. Tough task for Hanbury to catch that cleanly. That was

:26:25. > :26:30.ultimately a penalty but Idlib has been brought to add composure and

:26:31. > :26:38.calmness. Applying pressure to the full-back, he was. He forced the

:26:39. > :26:45.error in the end. They let Widnes down in the second half, giving

:26:46. > :26:50.penalties away. Widnes what on the wrong end of field position as a

:26:51. > :26:54.result and Warrington scored a try and spend enough time at the Widnes

:26:55. > :27:02.end to really punish them. That came to a string of a few penalties. What

:27:03. > :27:04.is interesting is just being here, Warrington and Widnes fans both

:27:05. > :27:10.stayed until after the final whistle to make sure their respective teams

:27:11. > :27:13.got standing ovations. It is what sport is about. They have clearly

:27:14. > :27:18.seen all their players have given their all. They were on their

:27:19. > :27:27.backsides out there and they couldn't have given any more. Their

:27:28. > :27:33.discipline aspect. The passion, sometimes you don't have time to

:27:34. > :27:36.have that thought process. I think the fans stay at the end because

:27:37. > :27:40.they have an affinity with commitment from the players. The

:27:41. > :27:47.commitment was outstanding from both sets and maybe just the experience,

:27:48. > :27:51.better game managed side won in the end? They managed the game well,

:27:52. > :27:57.Sandow did, both quality half-backs, fantastic. Thank you very much to

:27:58. > :28:02.all three of you. We have more Challenge Cup rugby tomorrow. The

:28:03. > :28:08.quarterfinal between Wigan and Castleford. That'll be on BBC Two,

:28:09. > :28:12.5:30pm kick-off. The semifinal draw as well and Warrington are in it.