Semi-Final: Wigan v Hull FC Rugby League: Challenge Cup

Hello and welcome to Doncaster for the first of this weekend's

Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semifinals. Hull FC against Wigan Warriors. Both

clubs with plenty of history in this great competition, and if tonight is

anything like the final of 1985 we are in for a treat. This is rugby

league at its very best. He has 80 11 situation. He is in. -- a two on

one situation. Sidestep. That was a superb try. He has got the strength,

he's got the speed. That was a tremendously well worked try. He can

make it himself if he goes. He is disgruntled about that tackle! He

has got the ball, he has got away! And he is in. Is he in? Yes, he is!

Is this going to be a grandstand finish? That is a tremendous try.

There is the hooter. What a game, this has been an incredible match,

28-24. Here we go, here we go, here we go!

Well, if tonight's game is anything like that we are in for a cracker,

hopefully the songs will be a bit better, though. Hull finished the

regular Super League season top of the pile, they have won the

Challenge Cup three times but never at Wembley so they will look to get

there this year and put it right. Wigan have lifted the trophy a

record 19 times which is why they are slight favourites tonight

despite losing their last two games. Whatever happens, though, it's going

to be tight. Well, the drizzle is starting to fall here at the

Keepmoat Stadium but hopefully it won't dampen the atmosphere. Both

sets of fans already here and in good voice and we expect there to be

slightly more fans of Hull FC van Wigan this evening. -- than Wigan.

With me three men with plenty of Challenge Cup experience, Hull KR

director of rugby Jamie Peacock, Saint Helens' Joe Wilkin, and Brian

Noble. I'm not going anywhere. We want you to stay with us all the

way. That was your Joe, I will give you full credit. Are you looking

forward to this? Yes, can't wait, full stretch Hull side against Wigan

side coming off the back of two defeats but they are very athletic

and they should be a classic. You can hear the noise already, the Hull

fans warming up, they are not the favourites for this, Wigan are. When

you look at form and the table, this could surprise people? You would

take Hull any day of the week, when you look at the experience in their

ranks, and it is hard for this baby Wigan team that I've been looking

out, all of those fresh faces, 11th youngsters in their ranks, it is

surprisingly our favourites and I think Hull, you should take that

with a pinch of salt. Teams change over the course of the season and

you will have a different results at different times but he'll have you

found hardest to play against? They are both challenging and they bring

something different which is why tonight is interesting, Hull bring

their power and experience, they have highlighted the experience, in

that area and they have recruited well. Wigan bring strength and

tenacity, different styles and different sides. Will it make a

difference, it may feel like a home game for Hull? They have great

support tonight and that could play a part and this will be a fantastic

game in prospect. Take a look at the Super League table, Hull finished

top before we split into the super eight and middle age. Did Wigan ease

off? They lost their last two, knowing they would be in the top

four or is that not fair? They were playing Saints in the Derby and that

is almost as important as the semifinal. They would have liked to

finish top and be coming into this off the back of a win but losing a

derby gives you extra motivation to nail the semifinal. Hull FC top of

the table after 23 games, one of the main reasons for that, Gareth Ellis,

who is in the form of his life. Gareth, it's been quite a season,

does it feel like this season is Hull's time, when perhaps there were

previously cranks? What we are achieving this year and what we have

done so far, where I thought we would be three or four years ago,

even before a ball was kicked there was the sense that with the

recruitment that we put in place and the players that have been here a

while, there are improvements and stepping up to the plate, there was

always potential for something special and we have certainly given

ourselves an opportunity to do that this year. Gareth Ellis, back row.

You have a lot of fun, just watching you train, it is like a big bunch of

mates playing rugby. Rugby league is a very working-class sport played by

working-class people and that is a good thing, even at 305I'm still

sort of working alongside 18 and 19-year-olds. -- even at 35, I'm

still. You have to go home to your kids and be sensible. It is a great

environment to be working in. You are the old man staying home when

the youngsters are going out for a drink. I can't handle it any more,

it is certainly different, you appreciate the game much more. I

know that the end is not far away so to be able to play with a smile on

my face is important. When you have time to think, with your feet up and

your slippers and pipe, do you think, this could be my last big

opportunity to win something? Without a doubt, these opportunities

don't come very often. For all I have played I have not actually won

much, so we are now fighting for every piece of silverware and this

is certainly an opportunity I would not like to miss. Have you allowed

yourself to contemplate an afternoon at Wembley or even walking up the

steps to pick up the trophy? I think about it all the time to be honest!

I have imagined it in my head and it's something that I really want to

do. I lost two Challenge Cup 's, want to Hull and want to Wigan with

Hull, so it is something I would like to be able to do. Like I said,

these opportunities don't come often and this could be the one.

George Riley putting the questions to Gareth Ellis and Ellis will be

wearing the player microphones so we are grateful to him for doing that

and we will hear some interesting noises over the course of the 80

minutes, I would have bought. You were both nodding along to the

interview, particularly Jamie in relation to the older you get the

more you try to take enjoyment out of it? That's right, you can see the

twinkle in his eyes, he is an outstanding person and a player, but

your desire to win and succeed when you get to the final couple of years

of your career is massive because you realise what a fantastic job you

have had and this could be it, the door is closing and you want to make

the most of it and get to finals and win. Make no mistake, he is the

fulcrum of the team, the life and soul, I have seen them play several

times and he is an outstanding leader, they are different when he

plays. He is one of the best players they have had for a long time. Do

you take extra responsibility as an older player? Yes, you have been out

there in the wars and he knows how to play well, and he is one of those

players, there are not many about that inspire everyone around them

and make everyone play better because of the standards he expects.

Take us through the Hull team including Gareth Ellis. Well, it's a

really exciting back three, the leading Super League try scorer at

the back with Steven Michaels and the giant Talanoa.

Tuimavave has been given the stand-off jumper. Alongside the king

of picking Marc Sneyd. And it's an all British firebrand front row.

Hull born and bred Scott Taylor, recently returning from Wigan. All

international back row, world-class back row, Sika Manu, the captain of

Samoa. Gareth Ellis is a long-time international. Speed and power

coming off the bench or the Hull team with Jordan Thompson and Chris

Green. -- for the whole Local boy, Danny Washbrook, the

utility player. They are going through quite a vigorous part of the

warm up behind me which is amusing because Jon Wilkin is having to keep

up with them and try not to get clattered. Thanks for that, I was

nearly taken out several times. Hull highlighted that they needed

experience, and a couple of years ago they made the decision to sign

Gareth Ellis. So much experience, world-class back rower and he forms

an integral part of the team and their culture and their desire to

win. We also have big men alongside, Frank Pritchard, a powerful man

coming off the bench, that is experienced that they have brought

in, 600 games of experience. Especially important is Danny

Houghton, feeding in balls here. Can we grab a quick word? A big season

for Hull so far? It is a lot of hard work what these boys are doing in

the middle. Hopefully that will get us over the line. All the best, have

a great night. Let's focus a bit more on Danny Houghton. How he

marshals them around the field. He is an outstanding player, he

captains the side and he is in and around the middle, so dynamic, he

has added to his game this year. Because of the size of the pack he

has always been able to do this but he is doing it more. He sees a hole

and it becomes a big hole. They will scrape around the ruck. He has added

kicking to his game, that is great vision. Playing great football, he

puts Fonua through this hole. Desperate defence. That is again

great football from Danny Houghton. He is the fulcrum, the heartbeat of

the team. And he is prepared to back up and support his players as well.

Any decent number nine will do that, running the middle track. You have

to anticipate the brakes. Scott Taylor has been a monster all year,

making these breaks. That was a superb finish. They have been

exceptional this year and he has been a great tackle, and we saw with

his dummy and his backing up, he has an all-round game at the moment.

Hull have added attack to their game, their defensive game has been

a bit longer although you suffered against it as Hull KR. They have

been a good side for these past two seasons. It's going to be really

important because it is greasy tonight, you need to have a good

kick chase. They stopped him dead. This is the most important. It

changes the momentum of the game by driving a player into touch. They

complete the tackle and flip the game on its head. They just have to

communicate, they have it on a string, they know who they have the

potential to pass to out the back and Kirk Yeaman makes a great play,

he understands the play and he gets one-on-one, he knows the defender is

his, and that can only happen with the kind of communication they have

here. It is not fluke, that is ours and ours on the training ground.

That was their focus last season and they have brought that habit into

this year, look at the way they are committed together, nobody pushing

up, that is great commitment. They are outnumbered but look at their

attitude. We spoke about leadership and that comes through the integral

characters in your team, always doing the right thing, and they have

a number of guys, Minichiello is an unsung hero. Always doing the right

things defensively. Communication is key, talking to the players beside

you. They have that right across the line and they talk really well. On

the communication, how many voices do you need in a lot of those plays?

Is it just about talking to the men either side? Ideally you want

everyone to be talking, but a couple next to each other, that becomes

habit, you know that if this guy is there, that guy is here, you can

defend this now. The Smalltalk is fascinating, Smalltalk is our good

defenders, and without knowing they have a lot of small talk is in the

game and it makes for great defensive side. -- small talkers. A

lot of bookmakers are predicting a Wigan- Warrington final, you must be

enjoying that chat! Forshaw, yes, we have no input to any of that. The

only thing we can influence is the game and we have gone about it

really well this week. We want to see it coming to fruition. We want

to put in a good performance today because we are playing a decent

Wigan side. You are coming into the semifinal on the back of two losses,

are you concerned about your form? We weren't at our best last week

against Leeds but the defence was quite good. It was just a few

individual errors. We know we have a good chance. Injured against

Salford, how close was heated missing out? He passed all of the

fitness tests yesterday, and with the magnitude of the game, a little

bit extra, the last thing we want is leaving the field early. He is good

to go and so is everyone else and we are looking forward to this, it is

that time of year when you get over your injuries slightly quicker than

normal, that's for sure. You made a big thing about being underdogs, is

that a bit of Mourinho mind games? I wish it was but I have seven players

missing, I only have 18 players in the squad, so if that is not a sign

we are under the pump I don't know what is. We will be fighting like

hell to make sure we get this win and hopefully get the prize at the

end. A big City club, underachievers some people say, what has changed

this season? I do think anyone thing has changed, we did not have a heap

of areas where we were deficient, we went about improving and I think we

have done that and today it has been successful. This could have been the

final? It would have been great, it would, but Hull are a fantastic club

and their supporters are great and we will be looking to challenge them

tonight. Shaun Wane mentions he has lots of players missing but here are

the ones that he does have. They certainly have enough in attack with

Sam Tomkins at the back, and youngster Lewis Tierney and Dominic

Manfredi built like a back row. NRL bound Dan Sarginson partners local

boy Oliver Gildart. Last year's starting internationals for England,

Williams and Smith with a huge job on their hands tonight. Local boys,

the giant Ryan Sutton and local Sam Powell partnering the Welshman

Flower. Being bland Captain Sean O'Loughlin and England international

John Bateman. -- the England captain. A giant bench with Lee

Mossop and six foot five Joe Bretherton sitting down at the

start. Coming off the bench there is even more size with Dominic Crosby

and Taulima Tautai Samoa. Robbie Hunter Paul will take us through the

game plan. Thank you very much. The great thing about Wigan in the

Challenge Cup is that it goes hand-in-hand with success, these

guys bring a culture of winning. There is no one better to express

that than this man here. Sean O'Loughlin. You will see them set up

in the middle of the park and they will split the field in two,

O'Loughlin will take the left-hand side and he will carry that ball

strongly, and you have to deal with him. One of my favourite players in

the Super League right now, Bateman. He is not the biggest forward in

rugby league but he has dense muscle and he's extremely explosive and he

is definitely one-to-one chat. Obviously when they split the field

into, you're looking at that man, Sam Tomkins, he has his knee

strapped at the moment but keep an eye on him because when he goes with

the ball that is generally where he will go, and the man that is tasked

with living it together is this man. I will see if I can get a word with

him. Matty Smith. Let's see if we can just get in to have a word. I

don't want to get in between him and that tackle! Can I have a quick

word? How other preparations this weekend? This is the semifinal, the

winner goes to Wembley and the boys are pumped and ready to go. Best of

luck. Thanks for talking to us. Let's focus on the players that are

missing, there are a variety of reasons, but two that are missing,

Jon Wilkin, do they only have themselves to blame? Disciplinary

problems, so they should not be playing. Banned for two games for

touching the rest when he shouldn't have. You are not allowed to touch

the officials. It is innocuous but the minute he does it he knows there

will be a judicial problem. And this one was eight physical thing in the

heat of the Derby, these things happen. -- a physical thing. And

they punch on my mate Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook. He does not

even flinch! Is he the pick of the players? I think so. Charnley is a

very safe pair of hands and Wigan will need that, they will need to

complete high today if they are to win. Let's see how influential he

will be. He is hugely influential and he has to be the man to make a

line break. He has the speed. I can't reinforce enough for the

viewers how strong he is in the hits, when his legs are pumping he

is like a front row in his mentality, he takes people on and he

is gone. Very, very strong, and he is hard to stop. He is a superb

player. As we see here, there two sides to being a half-backs, running

and introducing other people. If his weakness was anywhere it is his

passing game. You highlight his running threat and you think you can

deal with the passing game but this shows his development. His

development as a player and his kicking has developed which we don't

see here, it makes him more of a running threat. He played for

England last year and he did not look out of place against the Kiwis.

I always prefer half-backs who will take the ball to the wine and take

on the big men in the middle. One of my favourite players to watch. What

do you make of Wigan coming into this and why have they stumbled

against Leeds and Saints who inflicted defeats on them? The Derby

can go either way. But it was a heavy defeat. Yes, but they have

eight players out and it's easy to ignore that but you can't, Farrell

is out and Tomkins is out who is an experienced player. They have a lot

of their own product out there. They dominate with the systems they play

and they have the responsibility of experience. When we spoke about Hull

and their experience, do we think about Wigan as having experienced

because of their name but when you delve a bit deeper they do have a

lot of young players. They have a developed an experienced culture

which produces competitive athletes, there is no doubt, Wigan are

fantastic. The reason they have been less effective in the last couple of

weeks is that they met sides who wanted to be physical against them

and they made a lot more errors than usual. Let's talk about one of their

home-grown players, Sam Tomkins did the double with Wigan in 2013 in the

Grand Final of the Challenge Cup and then he went down under to the NRL

where he suffered a serious injury and he's now back to fitness and he

has been talking to Dave will This is a good run from Sam Tomkins.

Wigan's number one. Sam Tomkins, mercurial genius! Sam Tomkins! He

has done it. We want that trophy back. First of all, how nice is it

to be home again? I'm really enjoying being back at Wigan. Two

years away was long enough and I've come back to a great club and people

dream of having their debut for Wigan Warriors and I've been lucky

enough to have two. How much of a struggle has the injury being? It

has been frustrating, when I signed to come back I never thought it

would take so long to come back. I'm -- I snapped a ligament in my knee

against Parramatta. I was not given the best medical advice when I was

there and as soon as I got back, I was taken to the scans and it was

apparent I needed to have an operation. Taking time out to have a

seven-month operation in the off-season. The birth of your little

boy, Rex, has taken your mind off it. Yes, that was a life changer. He

came along at the end of December when I was on crutches and I was

trying to carry this newborn baby while I was on crutches in the

hospital, and it was a hectic time but it was brilliant. It is the best

thing that has ever happened to me by far. As he had a ball in his hand

yet? Yes, in the garden the other day, he is trying to walk a bit now.

He hasn't picked it up yet, just kicking it, so he might be a

footballer. Tomkins shakes off the attempted tackle. They deserve their

place in the semifinal. What about this Wigan team? The one you left

was a more concrete team but they have not won anything since you have

been away? To have two years without any silverware is not great, winning

the double in 2013. As a squad we are hungry and very young as well.

We have people like George Williams, Oliver Gildart, Tierney, Sutton,

they are young kids. They are really pushing. The boys have been involved

in two Grand Finals and come away with nothing in the past two years.

They have been starved of silverware. We need it back.

Jamie Peacock is maybe not the Sam Tomkins that went, and came back, do

you think he will take time to recover even when he is fit?

Certainly, a difficult knee injury can take three or four months before

you can be fully back, but there are other issues. Sam is at his best

when he is prepared to get his body in situations where he will come off

second best physically. The defence in the leagues have adapted to his

game and he needs to add a few more skills to his bow. As a young fella

he was competitive and when he went to the NRL he had that element of

risk in his game and recklessness if you like, to take on the line and do

things no one else did and he was always a threat. Has that been

tarnished by the way he is playing now? Maybe you lose that element of

risk when you get older but also when you have had a serious injury

it will be in the back of your mind? His athletic ability got him a long

way, when you have been dependent upon that you have to develop other

sides because ageing athletes will lose that ability and he has had a

bad injury and it will take him some time. He is self-aware and smart

enough to be able to do that. To say, I need to get better in certain

areas if I want to keep my career as stellar as it has been. Talking

about the game as a whole, before we go to the commentary team, you

whispered that this would be a bruising encounter but for me most

of them are! This will be on the next level. Wigan have four props on

the bench and I think this will be physically carnage for the first 20

minutes and I can't wait! I absolutely agree. Wigan, St Helens

gave it to Wigan in the Derby in the middle, so I think Shaun Wane will

have them pumped up to the max, and that is why the bench looks like

that. But this is a massive team. It is built to be a stronger. Physical

carnage and a stronger the game, that is on the way over the next 80

minutes, the first Challenge Cup semifinal of the weekend here on the

BBC, Wigan against Hull. Ryan Noble is on his way to join the commentary

team, John Kear and Dave Woods. COMMENTATOR: Two of the game's

heavyweights physically and metaphorically and there is a great

noise inside the Keepmoat Stadium as well. Plenty of history shared by

these two but it's all about the here and now. Keeping your nerve on

the second biggest stage. In order to reach the most glamorous occasion

of them all, the Challenge Cup final, just over a month away. Hull

fans are here in huge numbers, Wigan fans less so. I think the travel

across here has proved mightily difficult for a lot of them. Those

who are here will be making 20 of noise will stop or at least they

hope so. -- will be making plenty of noise. Sam Tomkins making his first

Challenge Cup semifinal for a couple of years and Sean O'Loughlin is

looking for yet another Challenge Cup vinyl appearance -- final

appearance. And what about this mixture of local talent, imported

pedigree, really have packed a punch this year in Super League. They and

Wigan and Warrington tomorrow, still potential treble winners this year.

This is the way they are lining up. Wigan first of all, the new signing

and the winger Josh Charnley, both suspended. Tout

That is a terrific pack of forwards. Plenty to come off the pitch as well

nonetheless of which Frank Pritchard, who is up for nothing, is

known as Cranky Frank. Lee Radford, born and bred, a proud

coach in his home club. Thaler, the referee today taking

charge. They peer through the South

Yorkshire skies and with a little imagination you can just about see a

glimpse of the Wembley sunshine. This will be a torrid 80 minutes to

negotiate before these two sides can book their place in a Ladbrokes

Challenge Cup final. What do we expect here? We expect

Hull FC, outstanding physically w the guys in the middle taking them

forward. They have clever half-backs behind them. I expect a heck of a

contest from the Warriors as well. They will be equally as determined.

That man who has kicked the ball has had an outstanding season with

kicking the ball. This team will not be afraid of being in this Wigan

team where they are now and keeping them here. This cherry and white

team will have a huge crack. We expect face-to-face brutality.

We have seen some confident touches by Hull in that opening set. What

about Wigan here? They move deep inside their own half. We saw a

great kick as well from Sneyd. This is tackled for and they have got out

of their own 20 metres the Warriors. Hull doing their work defensively.

Trying to extra kat his side from deep territory, with the Welsh

National, back to Matty Smith, who is behind the 40-metre line.

Here comes Michaels to return. A lot of this game, Dave, and for our

viewers watching it will be about the back three and the full-back...

Just on that angle. A terrific break from Tuimavave. This is a great

start by Hull. They are looking confident at the early stages.

Towards Fonua. In dummy half. It is taken here by Manu. Ellis trying to

urge himself through that Wigan defence.

Houghton goes right. Here comes Fonua. The Hull

supporters are in terrific voice at the moment, as well they might B

Sneyd will hang one up. The long arms of his will collect it safely

and Wigan have it back again. What a magnificent catch from Sarginson.

Carried on by this Hull FC side. This is 110 miles per hour.

Just like Lee Road ford, a very proud and son... : Wigan born and

bred. Wigan get a penalty. The rules of

rugby league still apply to this game. You will not want to give away

too many penalties when you are in the ascendancy physically.

It with us a real let up for the Wigan Warriors.

Two of the best packs in the game at the moment.

I love it when the referee shouts, "Movement." The last thing you want

to do when you have been belted that hard is move.

John Bateman came in. He's a fine young athlete as well. Out it comes

towards Willie Isa. A couple of tackles to go. Thompson

with a lovely kick here. Shaul has to do some work. A

terrific kick from Joel Tomkins. It has put Hull under pressure. All

started with that penalty which gifted some field position. They

asked questions during the set. A greasy surface thanked just allowed

them to shepherd Shaul, for a repeat set. Clever play from the Warriors.

A great kick from Tomkins. So here comes the drop and all

things being equal, Wigan should have possession back again. It is a

little fiddly from Tiernan-Locke's point of view. -- Tierney's point of

view. Sutton... Sutton is very much up

front today. I think the coach sees a victory in and around the middle

there. He has four big front rowers on the bench. Everybody can go for

broke in every stint they've got. He needs to manage his interchange very

well. It is Smith who puts it back to Tiernan-Locke. And Wilson keeps

ahold of it. This kick is over couped. Too many pre-match Weetabixs

there. A little bit rushed because of the

quality of his catch. Because Tomkins is great in field position

and pressure, that has just let Hull off the hook, exactly as the penalty

did earlier to the Wigan Warriors. You can feel the pressure. Each kick

matters so much. They both have Wembley tradition. One wanted, one

not wanted. Wigan 19 times Challenge Cup winners, which is a record.

And Hull have had their moments in the sunshine. Three times winners.

The last of those under the man on my right-hand side, that was in

2005. In Cardiff. Hull fans are throwing things at the telly. Never

at Wembley. Will this be the year they rewrite that in history? We

shall see. Sneyd... That measured left foot into the corner and again

that is just a very inteljept kick. This is going to be so important,

the end of sets for both teams. We have seen great exacts with --

examples with Tomkins. Pops the ball into the corner and just challenges

Wigan. If you are going to score, fellas, you have 90 metres to do it.

Something for our fewers is the Hull team are littered with Southsea

islanders, Samoans and they burn a lot of energy quickly when they make

breaks. That will allow them to keep their powerful prowess.

Powell standing in that forwards position at the back of that pack.

Tomkins... Not too much going on to his right-hand side, so he takes it

in himself. It is wrestled, under control by those two Hull defenders.

Bateman - some internal disciplinary reasons. That ball is lost and the

referee says, knocked on. So, Hull get a victory here, a small victory.

Well, they are staring each other down, aren't they. They are saying

you bring it out from your own line. Are you going to make the error?

Sarginson came one the error and that has given Hull a good field

position. The first time Hull is starting a set inside the Wigan

half. He was as tough as old boots, Lee

Radford. Both coaches fit that profile when they were playing.

You wouldn't want to cross either of them, really.

Watts is held up. Cannot get the ball away. He and Taylor have had

outstanding seasons in the front row for Hull this year. His initials, MF

are on his front teeth, solid gold on his front teeth.

The Hull players are under pressure. I think it is ten metres of poor

tackles there. Tremendous defence. Houghton striding over Jonathan

Tiernan-Locke to pick the ball and Sneyd offers it back in the middle

again. A little flick away. Has kept it alive. So Jamie Shaul whose fleet

of foot given half a chance and tantalise that Wigan defence. Solid

work by Flower. Here comes the sixth tackle. They are unaring it.

You would be happy with that, Brian, just turning the ball eight metres

from the opposition line. You had a look at them putting the ball

through the hands. I think Wigan will take a lot of confidence about

how they pressured the Hull attack there as well.

A couple of attackers here gone by Wigan. They look to bring it clear

again. It is Gareth Ellis who has the

player Michael, tonight. It is interesting to hear what he has to

say during the game at full time here today and no doubt an extended

version tomorrow during our coverage of the second semi-final. Warrington

against Wakefield. A good kick. Only ten metres from their own line.

An excellent kick from Matty Smith. Drills it to the corner. And

interestingly, both teams walk to the scrum there, filling the, the

lungs will be burning at this point in time. This is when the emotion,

the adrenaline which has carried you through the first ten minutes starts

to drain away a little bit. The first rendition of Old Faithful

we have heard tonight. A great following, isn't there, from Hull

FC. This competition in particular, they are in line for the treble.

As we said earlier, as are Wigan and Warrington, as it stands. If you ask

most Hull fans, if you could only win one, I think every man, woman

and child would say, a Wembley victory, please. That is a penalty.

A cute cookie this Houghton. He's been able to exploit his attacking

prowess. Any time anyone half in position he picks out. Slow to

retreat. Somebody not straight, so, thank you, Sir, we'll have a

penalty. We have to applaud Fonua for the urgency on the floor to play

that ball quickly. Here is Ellis, sticking his head where it hurts and

trying to push another yard or two forward.

Houghton, in at dummy half again. It is Watts who gets it away. It is

Minichiello on that left-hand side. Got a fair step on him as well,

hasn't he, Minichiello, enthe mood grabs him. A tough customer to deal

with. Wait, wait.

30 yards away. Sneyd. Taylor... Straightening things up.

An honest endeavour. Matched equally by the defence of Wigan. Sneyd again

now. It is into the line to Tuimavave. A tackle coming up. 12

and half minutes played. Lifted high.

Up go the jumps and the leaps. It comes down to Shaul. Shaul will put

the kick towards that goal area. Bateman has it. Can he get there?

No, he can't. Great effort. The drop out underneath the sticks.

Tremendous player, Houghton. The position he plays him and the

energy, and he makes that kick there, it is a decent kick, but it

is Houghton's effort there, in the chase, that pens Bateman in the

in-goal area. That effort has turned Hull FC another six tackles. Bateman

stuck his fist into his face. He had to go there. Been, he went. Shaul

should have made the tackle, didn't make the tackle. I'll help you out.

I'll make it for you. When that tackle happened, they looked at each

other, the coaches, with the expression of two coaches who have

seen something very good on a rugby field.

Here winding himself up comes Scott Taylor.

Another thing, I think Tiernan-Locke is the preferred kick option.

Danny Houghton in again. A tireless role that any dummy half

has to play. You have to be there, or most I will be there.

Wigan will get a much welcome head and feet at the scrum here. I think

that is a fair call. I think he got away with one, maybe five minutes

ago he got away with one. Timing, just not right. Tuimavave clearly

passes the ball forward. An interesting choice there. How

much of a quandary would Radford have been in that standoff position.

Leon Pryce doesn't seem to be favoured at the moment, but loads of

experience and the young player has fitted in.

How much of a quand dri is that? Every coach for every team

selection, you want to make sure you get it right and you mull things

over in your mind before you make that choice. They are very confident

in Tuimavave. They feel he's the stand-off half for the future.

That is Isa, who is put down as they move it right and Sarginson.

He's on his way at the end of the season, goes to the NRL.

A penalty here for Wigan. It will take them with a kick inside their

opponent's half. I think that was a lazy penalty.

Again for our viewers, back end of the set, you think they will kick,

his arm slips off the ball. To be fair, I think he's trying to wrap

the ball up. Maybe a bit of a tough call. It is as well, there is an

element of 15 minutes gone now. There is just that element of

fatigue that's creeping into some of these big fellas. Sort of their sort

of techniques. There's Smith. Tiernan-Locke...

-- O' Loughlin. Spinning forward.

Powell... Wilson. Left footstep. Taken in by Gareth Ellis. All the

guys emphasised how goodwill will was running, but not when you have

Gareth Ellis opposite you. Don't run at him.

Flower goes down ten metres. Powell picks up. Here comes Wilson again,

who is up to the line and reaches. Has he got that down? The try is

given. Well, full marks to George Williams. Stopped by Ellis, the play

before and then the very next play, he finds a way through to score the

opening try of the semi-final. A brilliant try from George Williams.

Tip to the commentary team, if I run when I want to run, I'll get over

the line. Is he going to pass? Is he going to run? That is the threat.

Ellis doesn't get there and grab him by the legs because of his hip

strength. Well played, George Williams. Threatens to pass every

good half-back, be an ability and run with the ball. He's done both

there. How does he play? It is a massive credit. The last time he

played the ball he got wall lopped. Did that win him one i ot the? No.

Next time, the ball in two hands, the doubt of the pass and over he

goes. -- iota.

No. Next time the ball in two hands and the doubt of the pass and over

he goes. Matty Smith with a chance to add to

the two here. One of the many in this Wigan side who played in

Wembley finals. He won a trophy in 2013, didn't he, Matty Smith?

Against Hull. Well, this could prove crucial. The goal kicking. He's got

a fantastic kick rate and Smith needs to nail these. It is one of

those betweens here. Just that awkward angle.

Matty Smith would back himself to kick this most times.

Aiming at the far post. Curls it in. It is superbly struck and Wigan lead

here by six points to nil. I am impressed with what the Wigan

Warriors have done. Carrying the ball to the line. The quick run

didn't allow the Hull defensive line to come in. All of a sudden they had

the cards in George William's hands. He played them sensibly.

He had Fonua guessing he might be passing. He had to hang out on

Ellis. As you say, John, really smart play from the half.

From dummy half goes Powell. Penalty again.

Well, there's been a fair old storm that Wigan have weathered.

And it looks like they have come through the other side and they are

just getting a few penalties now and building that pressure. Obviously

they have turned the score board. Isa. Isa slamming it in. 40 yards to

go for Wigan. 40 yards to defend for Hull. Five tackles remaining. Here

comes Flower. He's dropped it. Dropped it cold, the referee says.

This is an advantage play. He'll play on from here. Six tackles

start from here. A big tackle. Wigan have it back.

Bateman on that right-hand side. Well... It is greasy out there and

they are whacking into each other with some intensity. Jamie Shaul got

splattered by Ben Flower in the middle. He dropped the ball. In

advantage to Wigan, so they come back after the free play.

There's Flower there. Lost the ball. It was backwards. It was the knockon

and this one, wall lop, it is Flower trying to make up, atone for his

error. My word, he did. He's won possession back for his team.

It is very greasy out there, just for our viewers. It looks quite nice

for a game of football, but the ground is extremely greasy. This is

Matty Smith. And red in defence by Yeaman. He

came flying out. Might have lost a bit of pace. In his mellowing years,

shall we say? He has not lost his ability to read those defensive

moments. Two tackles gone here. Wigan encroaching. It is a risky

pass. Tomkins will collect. Wigan in possession and moving it. Bateman...

Takes the tackle. He's a strong man is Bateman. 20 away. Sarginson.

Searching down that right-hand side. Manu... Pushing them off and away

they go. Last tack until the set.

Smith. The chasers are after it. But taken on the ground. Taken on the

ground by Liam Watts. That was a terrific diving catch. There are

some black jumpers out there blowing. Their energy system is low

because of the system they have jumped into. They are comfortable.

We have Hull rattled here. Hull just looking to survive this

set and get themselves downfield, I am sure.

Manu... Taken on again, a stride or two by Green.

On the field from the interchange bench. A sixth tackle coming up.

Sneyd looks for distance, but it is straight down the throat of Joel

Tomkins. Now Tierney. Let's hear from the

touchline. Robbie, what are you thinking? I have just got to admire

everything about Wigan at this point in time. They went straight into

attack. They got to the back end, they got a kick away and Hull FC,

turned the ball over to Hull FC. They went straight into defence.

They players are barred up. Right in the middle. Right out of the blocks

really, really quickly. Coma what is fantastic is they force Hull FC with

all the strike power they have from the 30 metre line. It is impressive

everything that Wigan is doing at the moment. What Robbie was saying t

fact that Ryan Sutton was trying to run with his shirt pulled over his

eyes. He couldn't see what he was doing there. It is the BFG. He

doesn't know where he's going. He's going in the right direction,

anyway. Go that way. Uses sound bites.

And then he dropped it after all that.

I am not sure he's looking at that again with any humour.

18 minutes of the first half remaining. 6-0 Wigan lead. Hull in

possession. You can see the territory of possession so far.

Wigan have been dominating that. It is even Stephens, really. Hull

will need 50% of possession, I believe, to win this game. Ellis to

Sneyd. Here come the run of Minichiello, who steps away from a

couple of defenders. He takes some stopping, but he is stopped.

Sneyd again. Puts the left foot double kick

through. Taken very, very well. That was tremendous and a kick on the

third tackle as well. Oh, Sarginson has dropped it.

Well, he is shouting at his team-mates, he might want to look

around because Hull are attacking. Sure.

A push by Manu. What a gift this is for Hull FC in terms of possession

and position. Taylor... ... Stoutly driving it

forward. Danny Houghton, stands and waits and now collects and goes to

his right. The door remains firmly shut.

Houghton... Skipping it left. Sneyd again.

It is another Hull penalty. They are occupying time on this

Wigan line. This is a real test for the

Warriors. A repeat set defending your own line.

It is normally a penalty try tlarks is what we are told. Can Hull

deliver on that? Shaul is not sure which way he's

going. He decides to take his man on.

Wigan's defence looks well organised at the moment against this Hull

threatening with their big people and, I can not help thinking that

Sneyd may be the answer here with one of his kicks.

Danny Houghton is going to have to be patient here.

What is he doing? Chris Green has got up... I think he's... He's taken

a knock to the head here, I think. Let me sort this out, guys.

I don't think he knows what is it. This is the hit. It is this one

there. As he's going down he's fallen into

the arm of Flower. I think that was accidental. No intent at all in

that. Did he think that the referee had

given a penalty then? Or was he nonplussed? I think he was

nonplussed. He has given a penalty. There is a way to win a penalty. It

took the replay to get it. Assume you have been given a penalty and

the referee might give it to you. Oh, that is a penalty, Sir. What

for? Look at the screen. Take it, two points.

They are going for goal. On the head as he is going down.

They have reviewed it. It is an interesting decision, isn't

it, by Hull FC Here's the penalty and there is

contact with the head. There is. So that is the penalty. It is

interesting taking the two - it is a give me two points and it will get

the score board ticking at long last for Hull FC. That indicates that the

black and whites think it will be a very, very, very close game.

I was tempted to say that they should get it rolling and get two

here. Right, boys, we need to get our system going because Wigan are

looking more comfortable than we do. Not quite as exaggerated as it

sometimes is. The roar of the Hull fans which they have adopted this

year as he keeps banging them over. Hull finally have their share of the

party with two points. Interesting because there was a sustained period

of pressure from Hull FC. There might be a glimmer in the Wigan

ranks thinking, these guys can't break us down. That kick bounces a

little awkwardly. He takes it in comfortably enough. The way back is

led by Scott Taylor. Here comes Chris Green. Taylor will want this,

being a former Wigan player. Getting a Wembley foothold for Hull would be

much sweeter, but of course he would say that. He is a Hull lad.

Minichiello has done really well to get that ball away. Manu will ride

the big chest beat from O'Loughlin. Fonua is still going. They take some

stopping, don't they? 40 yards further downfield and Wigan thought

they should have gone. Minichiello down the left-hand side and he steps

back in again. One tackle in the set to go. Hull are 20 metres away.

Sneyd again with a familiar routine. The high kick. Fonua knocks it back

and it is still the sixth tackle. Michaels runs it back to the middle.

Sneyd thinks about kicking and eventually does, that is a delicate

kick and that is really good and Tomkins has to be at his best to

knock it away. Well played by Marc Sneyd, that was dead, but it gets to

this man, and it is tracked down by Matty Smith and he thinks, I will

stick this on my toe. Clean ball and Tomkins bats it out. Does he? I'm

pretty sure, that is the word to describe that celebration from the

Hull fans. That was a heck of a celebration. Kicking it with such

great weight when you are running at great speed, that is a good skill.

There is a discussion going on because I think Sam Tomkins is

trying to persuade the referee that it was Sneyd's touch that put it

behind but they are not going to the video refs. He does have the option

but Ben Thaler is convinced that his naked eye was accurate enough. Here

comes Taylor. Six or seven minutes, these past six

or seven minutes have really been Hull's, haven't they? They have

cranked it up and really asked questions. The Cherry and Whites

have stood up to it. I agree with that. Shaul comes back, charging in.

Brought down by Sarginson. Steps away. Taylor. Ellis comes in on the

angle and the step and gets over the top of Tomkins and his arm is long

enough to reach of the line, or is it? Because the referee is putting

the square in the air. No try. That is short. Let's hear from the video

referee. We are at tackle three. We are

checking the grounding. First of all we have to make sure he keeps hold

of the ball and secondly that he hits the line. The live decision is

no try. That looks short. There is green in between that but I can't

quite see. Let's look at it from the side, that might be closer. As slow

as we can, please. He is still in possession. Still in possession and

he still has hold of the ball as it comes down. That looks like it is

short. Keep it rolling, please. He moves it forward but I can't prove

it is on the line. Keep it going. He brings the ball back now. Yes, one

more. It looks short so far. He definitely has possession. That

looks short. Can you take that one back and can I have that one slowly?

Frame by frame. He initially does not ground the ball, it is short,

and he is allowed to move the ball as long as it stays in his hand. It

is definitely short there. I can't definitely see this on the line.

This is the one I will need. If you can pause that, it is about three

frames before where it touches the line. I'm not convinced he has

definitely touched it and the live decision is no try. I have do have

sufficient evidence to prove it has touched the line. OK. Right, that

looks short. That looks short. If that's all we've got, I'm going to

go no try. I cannot prove that it has actually touched the line. It

will be tackle 4. Well, millimetres. We keep throwing up some difficult

video decisions! I thought we were at Wimbledon, then. It came off the

boot of one of the defenders. No try but it is still Hull in possession,

there was no double movement, so they still have an attacking

opportunity. Sneyd with a short pass, forward pass. The referee has

already blown. They won't have a free play. A bit of a damp finish.

After a lot of excitement. Great break by Ellis. The referee was bang

on. That was miles forward. Kirk Yeaman, there. You were talking

about the effect of the injury. It has not affected his defensive work,

tremendous defence, Gareth Ellis coming at you fulltilt, five metres

from the line, you need to be brave and technically effective to make

the tackle. Buying on. He nails it. Absolutely nailed it. Sarginson. He

was put down 15 from his own line as Wigan begin the tough task of

getting as far downfield as they can. Having survived a real spell of

pressure. Having only survived by the width of a fingernail. I wonder

what Leon Pryce, who is not playing today, is thinking about this. Leon,

you felt that it was a try? Yes, a lookalike a try from where I was but

eventually it looked as though it did touch the line but if they have

their doubts it has gone against us. How do you break down this

formidable defence? It is about patience and field position. It is

going to be tough. Wigan are a good team. There's a surprise. They

needed that penalty, there. They got back the late. Talanoa thought it

was going... Off he goes. He takes them all by surprise and gets

another penalty for a high tackle. The small things change big games.

That was like a double result, like he played his joker. He will be very

disappointed with his Wigan side, Shaun Wane. They switched off and

turned their back on Porton. -- Haughton. He got a penalty on the

back of that. They will be starting 35 or 40 metres away from the Wigan

line. That is the territory. It has gone some distance Hull's way. It

certainly has. You have two Pat Wigan on the back for their

defensive efforts. They have been strong defensively, Wigan. It will

be a kick play or one of those enterprising little plays, they will

have to be really good to get over the line here, Hull. Haughton goes

out from dummy half and here comes Frank Prichard. He loses it forward

according to the referee. That is a marginal decision that can sometimes

go with you or against you. You know, that is the Wigan player

Mossop, and when he touches that, they have to do better than that. It

was good contact, though, good shoulder contact, just under the

ball. A couple of times they have forced it out with that technique.

It is greasy and when you are carrying the ball and you hit

underneath you are going to get your rewards. Lovely shoulder contact and

it was a knock-on. It came out of his hands and went forward and hit

him on the head before coming back. Sarginson.

They start five yards inside the Hull half, leading as they do 6-2

with eight minutes of the half remaining. It remains tight, but

it's worth reminding you that it's a golden point extra time if it is all

square after 80 minutes. Tomkins is stepping, tantalising,

weaving, Mossop, ducking and dodging. Good hit by the Hull

defence again. This is Matty Smith, talking to him on his inside. That

is a good tackle by Prichard. Bateman goes out at dummy half.

Mossop. That is five and here come the rest. Wigan underneath the Hull

sticks. Williams throws a lovely pass and it is finished. That is a

forward pass! The pass from Williams deserved better but it was the last

pass the Tierney that was forward. Wigan have done them, somebody got

it wrong in the Hull defence, they got up in numbers. It was Williams

changing pace again. It was this one inside. He has missed it by a mile.

They got lucky, there, Hull. What a great last tackle by Williams. We

spoke about his running game in the build-up, and the indication was

that he has improved his passing game. That smacked around the melon

that Gareth Ellis gave him earlier... Minichiello. Shaking off

those defenders. Haughton is going across and looking

for a way past Thomson. There they come again. There is more space here

for Michaels. Shaul on his inside. This is Shaul. A very good tackle.

Hull have got momentum and they have to use it. He puts in a kick but I'm

not sure what that was and his team-mates didn't know what it was.

I will give another rap to Sam Tomkins defensively. He got that

tackle around the legs and got back for the kick, that is how much work

he was doing and it is those little things that will win you semifinals.

Busby is another who is a recent arrival from the interchange bench.

Dominic Busby. Busby again. Crosby! Crosby, sorry, I always confuse

that. I know someone called Dominic Busby! I do apologise. I was going

down the list and I was confused! I thought they had signed another

player. Apologies to Dominic Crosby! CHUCKLES

Moving it forward. Here is Tuimavave. Doing well again. Four

and a half minutes of the half remaining.

Manu is told to play the ball where he was. He has beaten a couple of

yards forward. Prichard gets the pass away. Here comes the six as

Hatton throws it left and Sneyd spirals it high in the air. Tomkins

takes it. That was a great catch. He is having a great game. Defensively

playing outstandingly well. Good work by the Hull defence. They

turned the screw. A bit of naivete by the youngster, there. The tackle

was won, get it out of your own half, you don't go around the

outside and give them an opportunity to roll you into touch. Stay on the

island. It's a greasy floor. We highlighted this in the pre-match

build-up about what they are trying to do. Getting you near the

sideline, this Hull team. Except for Hull FC, because they have had a

fair amount of possession and territory, and a big set for Wigan

because if they can keep Hull FC without a try that will be a big

feather in their cap. The Wigan party there, sitting just in front

of Shaun Wane. Chris Rennard Lynn is the famous for the 2002 rattling ski

final. There he is. Here is Thompson. Ten

metres away from that Wigan line. It's Sneyd. Going through the hands,

Minichiello is testing them again. Held up, very, very close. Dropping

its back on the inside. Wigan are working very hard again.

This is Haughton. Sneyd pokes it through. It is cleared away.

Absolutely fantastic defence once again from the Wigan Warriors. They

are being tested but they are working so hard, and the pressure

they are putting on Hull FC is tremendous. That's how confident

they are in their defensive structure and system and desire,

tapping the ball out and saying, you have got another set but you had to

break down this tremendous defence. You may have just seen Brian Noble

walking behind Lavender for the half-time analysis.

I'm sure that Shaun Wane would not have noticed. Matty Smith's

drop-kick clearance. Here is Thompson. Good drop out as well.

Plenty of distance and a good chase. He has dropped that. Towards the

touch judge on the near side, Tony Martin, one of the most experienced

touch judges in the game. Just confirming what the referee was

already thinking. Stone cold, there. Trying to play the ball, you have to

be ever so careful in conditions like this, you might have to just

take that extra bit of time to make sure that you bring the ball back

into play legally. Jordan Thompson didn't. I am certain he will look

after the ball for this set. It is a reflection of the level of fatigue

for both sides, they packed the scrum, neither side could stop the

clock but neither side have wanted to. They just want to carry on Mike

this until half-time. This has been a proper semifinal, it really has.

The quality of play has been exceptional, the quality of defence

has been absolutely brilliant. It's a true competition. They have

brought the best out of each other. Trying to rip a hole in the Hull

defence. Smith has got Tomkins out there who has forced a pasta. It

goes to ground and this is danger because it is picked up by Hull.

There were men in the way. It could go the distance. There is a chance

here. There is only 15 seconds left to play. This will be the last play

of the half, you would fancy. Thompson third is it forward again.

Can he get to his feet to release this ball? The hooter sounds and the

referee has a lot and say s play ends now. Williams was the only try

scorer but what a try. Smith with the goal. Sneyd with the goal and

Ellis having one ruled out. Johnson is on the sidelines with Sean

O'Loughlin. The Wigan captain, are you happy with that performance?

Ever so tight. A similar performance from both sides. A few errors and

turned over the ball in good field positions. Frustrated not to be

further ahead? Given the chance for Tierney that was disallowed. Yes, we

keep getting the ball in those kinds of positions and we feel as though

we will get more chances. Kirk Yeaman is with me, what do you have

to do to get back in the game? Slow the ball down a bit. It is moving a

bit fast that the minute. We need to give ourselves a chance. Wigan were

tough to break down? Both of us have been pretty solid. We will see how

it works out in the second half. Thank you. Let's take a look at some

of the facts from the match in the first half. Hull have had more

possession and territory. Wigan have made a dozen more tackles

than their counterparts on the other side. When Kirk Yeaman says, the

defence has been pretty solid, is he underplaying what both defences have

done in the first half? They have not been outstanding, particularly

Wigan, they coughed up a lot of cheap ball and Hull were

consistently attacking. They kept turning up for each other. Normally

when Hull dominate possession, it could be 24-0 to Hull. But look at

the stats, this is the thing about statistical analysis in sport, Hull

have dominated every Fassett, every number, they have dominated. They

have had a lot of possession and all these things but Wigan have had

doggy determination to defend their line. We will talk about the chances

no doubt but Wigan has been a standout in this game. And it has

been for a number of years. Paralysis by analysis sometimes.

Wigan were a bit more controlled, a bit less frantic. They have not

quite executed. These guys will tell you, you have do take your

opportunities, I'm talking about the early miss. You have to capitalise

on those. Wigan and Sam Tomkins particularly have been superb in

regrouping and finding themselves way down there. When the weather is

like this be easiest way to break down the team is to run the ball. I

think Hull if they have been guilty of anything is trying to play around

Wigan, playing with the ball a bit too much. It has been a great half.

Wigan are still be only ones to cross the white line. The advantage

for them is they got field position from the high tackle first of all.

It is one of those nights where discipline is important, giving away

a penalty now in the Challenge Cup, that is a kick downfield, and what

impressed me was George Williams took the ball and Gareth Ellis

dominated him. I have been hit with one of those tackles and they hurt,

trust me! He comes back at him even though he is a small guy. You can

tell he wants the ball because all of the players get around him like

they want. He has one thing in his mind, to run. It takes advantage of

Hull being passive, they don't get far enough away from the try line.

This is where he is dangerous. Absolutely. The first responsibility

as a half-backs is to be a threat with the ball because it puts doubt

in the mind. Tuimavave doesn't know if he is going to run. Generally

when you are defending you don't expect a half-backs to be tackled

twice. He had his teeth rattled on the first one as well. If you are

the defender opposite, you think, he is coming once or twice but he's

definitely not going to come back but that's exactly what he did. It

was a really talented piece of play. As you know, it's not my job to

praise you, but you actually prove job point at the start about his

speed and strength. In my most patronising voice, well done to you

all! Let's take a look at a couple of missed opportunities. Starting

with Gareth Ellis. This is a great ball by Scott Taylor, outstanding

this year because of his physical prowess but look at the ball skills.

Plenty of options. You expect him to do this. You expect Gareth to score.

He will be upset that it's not a score. It's a great tackle by

Tomkins. This is a big play. This should be a try. Sam gets his body

in the way. You expect him to reach out and score but it's just short.

They are fantastic at defending Merrin line, this is when they loved

vulnerable. They got it a bit wrong. You think that Gareth Ellis does not

have a grip on the ball and he wants to reach out. Look at his face,

devastated. He got up and played the ball, thinking, we will get on with

this. I remember another big forward doing a sidestep and getting over

from there. Do you remember that? Clearly! Tierney with a no try? What

can we say? Forward pass, I don't know what we say. Williams has done

brilliantly, getting the ball into his hands. It's a forward pass. We

spoke about the threat from Williams as a runner, he has run and run. The

sign of a great half-backs is understanding when you have done a

job on the defence and the defence are expecting him to run. Fonua has

gone and Williams, this young kid has gone, and to deal with that he

has been aggressive but Williams, I think it's an amazing sign for a

young half-backs, he threw the ball with a perfect pass and it's

forward, but the decision is impressive. It is the magnitude of

the game, this is not a run-of-the-mill Super League game.

It is a semifinal where he has stepped up and scored a try and

created one. It should have been one. He makes an important point

about taking your opportunities at this level, there won't be many

more. Maybe towards the back end if it breaks up and it can do, but I

think it will be really tight. We saw Gareth Ellis who will be kicking

himself badly, but then the poor execution, Gildart, and Fonua jumps

out the line. They have done that, Williams has done that before. He's

got the ball into hands. Brilliant play. How much do you praise the

Wigan defence and how much do you say that Hull haven't taken their

chances? It's a fine line? Hull have had good field position but have not

taken advantage. Having said that Wigan have defended well. Hull have

come out with some errors and looked ineffective barring the try stop

Hull are breaking tackles but as soon as they do there is another red

shirt there and that is their desire, you can't relation that in

the stats, the grit and desire and determination to win. The Hull

kicking game has been great. Marc Sneyd has been fantastic. They need

to make sure that some of these plays stick in the Wigan end, when

you get position it is so important to get to the end of your sets to

tire out the opposition. Really take the gas out of them and then

Williams and Kayal aren't as effective when they have the ball,

you are letting them off the hook by dropping it. This can be a stressful

game for the viewers because you like to tell your players there is

no prize, the professional, but be professional, it is a sport, if you

can stay at the right end of the field for longer periods and build

pressure somebody will crack. This may be ridiculous but do the

conditions add to the stress? It feels closed in and it feels dank

and there is a bit of rain and you are pushing yourselves to the limit,

does that add to it? Certainly the weather does because it makes the

ball greasy and you know there is a chance that there can be an error

just through force of contact. If it's a dry night Gareth Ellis will

score. The end. He can grip that and get it down. The weather is really

influential in the modern game. You have to adapt your kicking and your

mental approach changes completely when it is wet. It is a bit dank and

damp to night but a week today the sporting action could be taking

place in slightly different conditions.

Rio, 2016. The Olympic Games start 5th August across the BBC.

At the start, I thought it was the safari park where Brian has been

working in. Right the Challenge Cup continues

tomorrow afternoon. The second semi-final - Warrington against

Wakefield. It will get under way on BBC One at 2pm.

Right, we are going to hear from a couple of legends now. One who

played for Hull and one who played for Wigan.

Well, he has made one good tackle. A superb tackle. Beautiful

interpassing here. And he's over. Scholfield, what a

try from one end to another. Can he get the bounce? Oh, he can't.

He will go the whole length of the pitch. The bounce of the ball once

again prove sog difficult and he scores at the other end.

I am joined pitchside now. Chris from, a Wigan perspective, are they

good value? We have to go in at half time relatively happy to keep a side

like Hull tryless. There have been efforts down the end to stop them

scoring. I would have liked to have got two tries ahead, but we didn't.

Overall we have to be pleased with how we've gone so far. The pattern

has worked a treat? It will not win us this game. It is a typical

semi-final - it is tense. Who is in at the end? It is a classic

semi-final. We have said this is one for the purists, I guess. An ex-Hull

player - I am sure you are rooting for them. Are you connerned about

the errors in their play? We have is seen a better class from George

Williams. Unlucky with that forward pass. It is the creativeness which

may be lacking. The forwards are doing OK. They are rippling the

forwards. It is just we need more from Tuimavave. What do you think

Radford will say to the players? Let's build more pressure, but it is

that creativeness. Wigan, what they have got defensively, they are very,

very solid. They need to come up with better in attack. Thank you for

joining us. Thank you a lot. Thank you to the three of them - right

Gareth Ellis has been wearing the player mic for us today. This is how

the first half sounded through him. GARETH ELLIS: Go on!

Go on. Great work. Don't lose the impression. Be smart,

boys. Look on... Forward... Are you close to the line? I should

have gone off to the right. Move, Wigan...

We will have a longer version of that and included in tomorrow's

coverage when we bring you Warrington-Wakefield at 2pm. What do

Hull need to do in the second half? They need to be better and have good

composure. Keep running hard and keep kicking in. Can you keep this

intensity up? I think you can. These are two fantastic defensive sides.

Hull to maintain composure. Patience is a big word for Hull for me

tonight. They can break Wigan down. They look ferocious. Patience can be

hard in a Cup semi time, can't it? Absolutely. You have to have pace. I

think Hull need to have one of their bigger players and manifesto that

break, either a Manu or a Pritchard, or Tuimavave. Even Danny might mean

the difference. That is what they are relying on. Wigan look organised

and that have the bit between their teeth, don't they? Now you have to

make your way to the commentary book. He is back to join the

commentary team. THE COMMENTATOR: Hull fairly bounced

out. They were ready and waiting for a minute or so before Wigan, not

saunterred, but looked more relaxed as they came out. Determination from

the Black and Whites. Assuredness from those in Cherry and Whites. The

body language that seemed to be suggested, as we get under way in

this second half. Just four points in it. Wigan, six. Hull, two. Flood

lit rugby league on BBC Two. Back Back To The Future - and it is a

cracking cup tie. It is an outstanding semi-final. The outcome,

the prize at the end of it really is showing in the determination drive

of the player. -- players. Use more inside play, because in these greasy

conditions, you can sometimes wrong-foot players that easier. So I

thought Wilson had to play more through was the way forward rather

than trying to go around, especially in these conditions. And that was

Dom Crosby who made that... Apologized again to the family.

Somebody has tweeted me a cartoon of Busby. It is Crosby, not Busby.

Hull have the ball for the first time in this second period.

Tuimavave down that right-hand side. Houghton. Here is Pritchard... Can

you hear what the coaches have had to say at half time. Let's see this

from Hull. The first set with ball in hand. Pritchard puts it back.

Sneyd, looking for the corner. Tomkins connects it close to his own

line. Runs it back. There is support out there. He'll take the tackle 50

metres away. Damian Johnson, what has been said at half time? The Hull

coach has said that patience is the key. He told his players they had

good ball in the first half. They executed well in their own half but

have to be more clinical. As for the Wigan coach, where we've got the

ball, we have to keep up the pressure. Hull will come at us in

the second half. We showed good defence in the first half. We must

keep it up in the second. Respect the ball and respect what Hull will

throw at us. In the second half they are

attacking their own end, if you like. That is where their supporters

are amassed. Wigan are attacking their end. Are the coaches before

the games, they were telling us our fans can cheer us home. Does it make

a difference? You have to cross the goal line at the far end. It is lift

you generally, no doubt about that. I don't think it matters which way

you will play. You will play one half one way and one half the other.

No snapshot going out there. Thanks fellas.

Bateman is down. Ten metres away and gets a penalty because too much

messing on from Watts. It is a tough kausmt I would like to see it

myself. He's going for two, Matty Smith. That is sensible, take it

again. A bit of a flap. Yes. Liam Watts. If he's done it for the flap,

I agree. And then straddling him. It is again, it is ill disciplined. In

a vital area of the field and at a vital time. Straight after half

time. Minimal flop and a straddle - it is not often you hear those words

in the same sentence. That is a novel, isn't it?

Smith should have this nailed. This to take the lead to six points,

a try and a goal. He has rather flashy boots. Wigan

lead 8-2. So the first blow. Minimal blow of this second half goes

Wigan's way. They lead by 8-2. They will be very happy with that

will Wigan. Four minutes into the half, they have stretched it to the

full six points. It is all start again.

Sneyd's kick. Hull's defence. Sarginson looking

left. They have kept Manfridi quiet. He's

been out of the game in all honesty. I don't know whether it is strategy

or not. Williams. Trying to slice past. Just

pause briefly to see what Williams was going to do with the ball there.

Preferred option for a kicker, they feel he's less of a threat than

Manfradi. What he hasn't got testimony kins

has got. The kick doesn't travel far. Hull back in possession and not

unreasonable position. 12 yards from the halfway line. A chance to build

Prescotture here. -- pressure here. He has got good feet for a big man.

It is so difficult to line him up for a good defensive shot. Because

of that footwork and that urgency to bring the ball back into play, he's

won a penalty. This will be a really important set, ba us the kick from

Sneyd will go into the corner. It is a great start.

Looking to square things up with a try and a goal here, Hull. But

they've been in a similar position so often before. And failed to get

over the line. What changes here, if anything?

Sneyd's quick hands. There are four Wigan defenders coming across. So he

takes the tackle. There's a Hull player injured. I

think it is Sneyd who is down injured at the moment. This is

Watts... He gets way with it. Manu with a hand on thaend the

charge. Houghton still being treated.

With the offload, Shaul skips away, gets away from Crosby. The pass for

Ellis. A great offload. Pritchard with a risky pass.

Manu gets it away. Look at this, look at that!

Into the corner. They gamble. They twist it and they have it.

Right in the corner, Steve Michaels. Hull FC with some thrilling hands.

What a fantastic try and it all came about with that penalty, the

Minichiello one and that part of the field position and they did what was

suggested, played through. They wept back on the inside, inside ball.

With lots of support and that is what got them.

There's Minichiello, working so hard to bring the ball back in. Wins the

penalty. Thnd Anne off it goes. The offload.

It is a bit of broken play. It is a little bit of an inside ball and

there's been an overchase. They switched off a little on the inside

of Wigan. That is when they almost get through. It is still needed

finishing and so by Michaels in the corner. Great hands from Hull.

Speculative. Shaul has nowhere to go. He runs across the line. Dumps

off to Ellis. To Tautai.

Michaels is in the corner. A great try.

Hull fans are finding their voice. Steve Michaels is having a party.

He'll be having two if he scores another. That was a great try,

wasn't it? And I think that is an indication. I think this half will

be a little bit loser, because the element of fatigue will start to

kick in. You would have to think that the

athletic prowess in the Tuimavave and the Minichiello and the Ellises

may just prove the balance. I have been mightily impressed. Wigan,

their system, with all the kids in there, really bringing the fruit

home. So Marc Sneyd. Whose kick in the

first half took his tally to 400 points. This, his 53rd game. A

kick... My word: He rattles that home.

Even most of us try that kicking style, we end up in on faces. He

gets it in. Intense pressure. A semi time final. What a lovely -- a

semi-final. What a lovely try. In greasy conditions, to nail that try.

There's the celebration. At last we've done it. At least we've broken

the defence down and Sneyd come pounds that by making aen

six-pointer from the touchline. Eight points a piece. A timely

reminder. Extra time, if necessary. But there are 31 big minutes before

that happens. The last semi-final here, Leeds and castle ford was a

golden point extra time. Kevin Sinfield with a penalty late

on. Was that 2013? 2012? It was a good semi and this is as well.

Going, it passes and here comes Shaul. Shaul darts into that pocket

that opened up ahead of him. It closed, snapped shut just as quick.

Hull have the mood here. A bounce by Sika Manu. Look at them,

all over his back. They only just pull him down... Eventually.

Back it comes again to Sneyd. Sneyd now. Shaul, with a kick through.

Testimony kins has missed it. Shaul has it touched down. There are about

8,000 in black and white behind the goal line who say, try Try." The

referee, on the field, says "No try." Let's hear from the video are.

Can we just check the offside. Yes, it is from a kick. So, I have got

that clip. Thank you. OK, yeah. So, Shaul is going to kick and in front

of him, that appears to be Ellis. OK, run that through on that angle

just to see. I think, I just want to check that

again, if I can. Manu is in front of the ball. I want to see what Manu

does. He's ahead of the ball because of the break in play. Just that

replay again, please. I can see what Manu does, who is ahead of the ball.

Ellis stays outside the ten. OK, so Ellis is in front of the

ball, as is Manu. I think that is Manu. Play it on from here, nice and

slow, please. OK, so that is - now what happens

here, Manu could be ten metres from Sneyd. The decision was onside. So,

can I see it from behind the six? Have you got anything from behind,

just to see the width? Manu, he's not interfering. I was OK

with the onside. Can I look at the knock-on by testimony kins first? --

Tomkins first? If it is a knock-on to it, it would be a free play.

OK, so Tomkins, a knock-on by him. We are on free play. What happens

from Shaul? One from behind the sticks was a good angle, to be

honest. So, OK... So... Shaul, I think it is just a collision. That's

play on. Shaul now has the ball. Then he loses it. It is two knock

ones. No try. First knock-on by Tomkins. Hull, head and feet.

So no try. But Hull will get the ball back.

Head and ball for Hull. No try, but they have the second best outside in

that they get another set of six to rattle this Wigan line again. It

looks like they have upped a gear in the last five minutes. They are

asking some real questions when they go back against the grain of the

Wigan defence which is pressure from the inside. You just feel there may

be another score. On the immediate horizon for the

black and whites. It has done Wigan a favour, because they have a chance

to get some oxygen back into their lungs here. It is not always the

case. Sometimes you relax, you think we didn't concede the try and they

come up with the play and they are ready physically, but mentally they

are not ready. Let's see if Hull can come up with it, then. There may be

a short side play here. It will be on YouTube by the end of the night,

won't it? Six from here. Having a go.

An increasingly common pattern, Hull captured but not stopped. Here is

another big fella, Watts. He is again striding up. The Wigan

defenders are having to work twice as hard to stop the Hull players

from moving forward. Sneyd puts it back. Shaul. Yeaman... Couldn't

quite roll around the defender. Sneyd again.

Pritchard with a soft hand. They are going across the line. Looking for

an angle. Fonua... Williams on the last

occasion. Pritchard again. Battering forward. Wow, we are asking some

questions here, Hull. All been answered.

How much fuel have Wigan got left in attack? Manu gets the ball away.

Will they go down with possession? Sneyd again. Now he puts the kick to

the corner. And it is scored. He's dropped it and Wigan's problems have

just doubled. It is given. He says try on the field. But we need

another video referee here. So we are checking onside.

So, we are checking to see the winger. We need to check from the

kick. If we can pause it on the foot and look to see if anybody is in

front of the kick. Sneyd has the ball. Kicks the BA

everybody in the shot looks to be onside. We cannot see beyond that.

Have we got anything that shows... What about from behind the post?

Does that show any other... ? Does anything show... The winger.

Everybody else looks onside. We cannot see the winger, the live

decision is a triesmt he's not in shot there.

And that's, are they the only two angles we've got? OK. I have nothing

that disproves it. Can I check the grounding now. That is just the end

of the process. Right, he's onside off that. The

decision is he's onside. We need to check the grounding, please.

It is off this Wigan man. Picked up. Try.

The flow of the game is changing. It is all going black and white at

the moment. We have to say it has been about the

pressure and the ball-carrying and the prowess. Too much pressure for

Wigan. Sneyd came up, you would expect

Manfridi to come up with every day of the week. It is Talanoa... This

by Manfriedi and that is all about the stress and pressure that Hull

have put on Wigan. I think he liked that concentration.

19 times out of 20. In the most important game of his

life. That would have cheered the kid up.

Here is Sneyd. 12-8 at the moment.

Starts it left. Drifts it in. The chant of "Sneyd" goes up again. It

is Fetuli Talanoa t man whose coach calls a front row winger. The big

fella has touched down. Well if there is one way this Hull

team will get over the line tonight it will be with all these

supporters. There are loads of people in this stadium. They have

got about, oh, I have to say about two this thirds of the stadium.

I think Robin may have been distracted there by the company he

was keeping. Old faithful, rattles out again. Well the, the point is

about Manfridi, they can cope with the big play after. Let's see if

they can do that. At the minute, Hull FC are dominanting proceedings.

You wonder how much energy that first half took out of the Wigan

Warriors. Such a great defensive effort. I think it is more about

what the coach Radford said to his troops. They look more energised.

Watts, the big man. I think Wigan need to, have a bit of patience. Get

themselves into the rhythm and they have got plenty in the tank left.

They are young and athletic. It may be stressful now they have gone

behind. Wigan, they need a big play, Dave, I

tell you, the Warriors, just to turn this Hull FC tie.

Smith... Here is Bateman... Five gone. Here comes the last.

Williams... Threatens to... Well he threatened to kick it. Everyone had

run past him and the ball goes to ground. It is a handover. That is a

big defensive play from Hull. Williams has took them on there and

boom... Hooch, that would have hurt him address well. He is a tough kid.

-- as well. He is a tough kid. Has not come off. I don't know if it is

the right decision there. It would have been better to put it into the

air to Talanoa. Still 25 minutes left in this game.

It is a long, long, long way from being over.

It is Hull in the ascendancy at the moment.

Carries like that from Taylor t ball carrying, taking a little bit of

juice out of this Wigan team. Yeaman...

Yeaman, 22 years of age. Three Challenge Cup finals, with Hull FC.

16 16th season here, Kirk Yeaman. There's the kick from Sneyd again.

Tomkins underneath this. Sarginson... Got a strapped nose at

the moment. Some tired Wigan bodies, you know,

out there. You can tell it is taking them some time to regroup and get

behind the ball after the kick. Williams going left.

Gildart going nowhere. A penalty. A penalty for Hull to give away. It is

a cheap one as well. In the ascendancy and a leg up for

Wigan. Hull are in the ascendancy, but it

is only a try and a goal, and it all changes here. I am thinking golden

point here. You are thinking of the overtime. Oh, we have a bad injury

here. We have a bad injury because instantly the reaction on the

field... Concern from the coach, Lee Radford.

His head is in the wrong place there, Fonua.

It is good to see how the medics are out there so quickly w the prompt

attention. I am certain this will be a head

injury assessment. No doubt about that. He got his head

in the wrong side for the tackle. And it seemed to knock the kid out.

In my era, growing up, it was about getting on with it but this is

brilliant, the medical attention that they get nowadays. They have 15

minutes to assess them. Here is Williams, try number one that gave

Wigan the lead. That was a tremendous off-load. He keeps the

ball alive and it ends up with Michael 's Crossing in the corner,

that is a strong drop. Talanoa took advantage.

Concern here for the Tongan, Mahe Fonua. He was new to the side this

year having arrived from Melbourne in the off-season. He has pulled his

weight, hasn't he? He has been very good. You can see, technically his

head should have been on the other side. And you can see, with his

arms. He looked as though he had been knocked out before he hit the

ground. There is some movement, there, which is always reassuring

but they will take no arrests, they will give him all of the necessary

medical care and attention. Less serious is the injury to Dan

Sarginson. A fashion piece that Jon Wilkin have. There was a fashion

piece about that guy, the elephant man. What is going on? He has a

badly broken nose and it's a nastier one according to the doctor, he has

manipulated it to allow him to breathe more easily. But he's a hard

man and he wants to stay out there. Look at that. I said about the

medical practice, he has broken his nose and there is blood everywhere,

but they just want to get on with it. What do you think? They are

great athletes. Their psyche is tremendous and sometimes you have to

protect them from themselves and that is one of the reasons for the

15 minute concussion assessment, they remove the player from the

field and the doctor has 50 minutes to check that there is no problem

and if that is the case he can go back out there. -- has 15 minutes.

And if not he is kept off the field for the rest of the game. We

heard... A quick reminder of what is happening tomorrow, Warrington

against Wakefield. The other semifinal in the Challenge Cup

semifinal series. The final is on August 29. What about this fella?

Billy Boston, one of the great wingers of all time in the 1950s and

60s for Wigan. He was a tough one as well. He was a great player. In the

Hall of Fame, and in the Welsh Hall of Fame after dinner last year. He

was one of the first two to be inducted. Josh Charnley. Not playing

tonight because of suspension. The Doncaster team would like to

have an atmosphere here every week. How good would that be?

Let's have a look at those tackles. Danny Haughton, as you can see.

Before tonight began he had pulled off 1017 tackles and he was the

leading tackler by a distance but Sam Powell has done well tonight.

They have had a lot of work to do because possession has been in their

favour, Hull. Territory has been in their favour. They have had to work

so hard defensively to keep in the game. Do you think this break takes

the sting out of what Hull are doing? It could do. That is a moment

he will not want to be reminded of Ulster that has given them the lead.

That gentleman is very happy indeed, and the crowd behind are impressed.

By the way, I know we get a lot of viewers across this country but

around the world as well, and a big shout out to the Chicago Stock

Yarders. Apparently they are watching on the Fox Soccer Network.

You are playing in English rugby league next year? Yes, a massive

expansion for the game in North America and everyone is very

enthusiastic, 3000 season tickets sold already to watch the great

game. There are 13 teams in North America at the moment and we should

embrace that. We are on our way, you are going to see the greatest game

of all, played in the right way and it absolutely has legs. Are you

joining him next year? No. We are doing a six-week trip around North

America to trial the overspill is from the athletes that don't make

the professional grade over there as part of a telly show, we will take a

couple of buses to Detroit and Chicago and Boston and Ottawa and

Montreal and we are going to get some contracts out at the end of it,

so we are really excited about that and the talent that we might

unearth. Hopefully someone like that man on the screen can get us there.

One or two signings already. One Super League chairman told me he

wanted to sign a certain player from Toronto. You have serious

intentions? Absolutely. The board of directors and the CEO... As we see

him being carried from the fields to generous applause, they are serious

about spreading the gospel of rugby league. Interesting as well, the

Wigan fans there, joining in with the Hull FC fans and applauding the

efforts of Fonua. He has been very, very good today. It will be

interesting, as you rightly say, it has been a long hold-up and rightly

so, but how will the teams react? Just a reminder that before the

break Hull were in the ascendancy, looking on top, leading as they

still do by 14-8, and there is now the thumbs up from Mahe Fonua to say

that he's OK. They are looking after me. I will be OK. He might not be

coming back tonight. Wigan with four tackles still to go in this

particular set. Joe Bretherton, the youngster on the field, the

20-year-old. He is a very yeast -- he has become very recently

involved. Looking to wrap things up. O'Loughlin kicks it into the in-goal

area. Tierney was chasing it. Frustration, so close. It was so

near, that one. Good play by Tomkins, you can understand the

decision from O'Loughlin but he just does not execute the skill well

enough. It gives Hull a free 20 metres, I would be tempted to play

out the last couple of plays. I would agree with you, they have had

so little territory, Wigan, they need to camp on the Hull line to

build some pressure. Instead of absorbing it. A very, very decent

carry. Ellis, a couple of tackles to go. 20

minutes still to play. Going on a little bit. That was the fifth

tackle. And they have given away a penalty. Danny Haughton immediately

tells the referee, we are going to go over two here because these

points might be enough to win us the game. Danny Houghton there, and

Sneyd has been picking the ball up with his eyes closed. In a game like

this it gives them two scores, they have had an injury break. It's the

carry, tremendous again by Tuimavave. He forces Flower to

illegally try to slow down the game, and as Dave Woods pointed out,

tackle five. My word. That is a heartbreaker. Marc Sneyd settling

the ball on the tee. Averaging over four points per game since is

signing from Castleford a couple of years ago. Played in the final for

Castleford in 2014, part of the side that made US Open our eyes and be

dazzled by classic Castleford. Everything was going right for him

tonight but nothing went right for him that day. Certainly settled into

the Hull team this year. Real fans favourite. He will be elevated in

that favouritism if he gets this and he does. The flags are up. Four out

of four, 100 ascent kicking tonight. Dick 's team goes to eight, Wigan

have the scored twice and in a low scoring semifinal that will not be

easy. The possession that Hull have dominated will ensure they have

plenty of energy to defend their own line should they be called upon to

do that. If Wigan snatch this, I tell you, it will be one of the

greatest fight backs of all time. Hull bring it forward without Mahe