Quarter-Final: Hull v Castleford

:00:40. > :00:50.Let me tell you a story about the Tigers, the kings of the Jungle.

:00:51. > :00:58.Ruling the Wyles of Super League. Devouring all in their path. They

:00:59. > :01:04.stalk and prole. COMMENTATOR: Castleford are so easy on the eye.

:01:05. > :01:11.And dazzle and growl. Castleford unstoppable. Crafty. Castleford have

:01:12. > :01:17.fire in their nostrils. Agile. Beckham score from anywhere.

:01:18. > :01:22.Magnificent. In a class of their own. Castleford, that tells you

:01:23. > :01:27.their story. -- able to score from anywhere. Today their travel east to

:01:28. > :01:34.a kingdom by the sea where something spectacular lies in wait, Hull FC,

:01:35. > :01:43.awash with strength and graft. Great tackle, nailed him. And no shortage

:01:44. > :01:48.of craft. Styled by Albert Kelly. Those who dare walk these shores to

:01:49. > :01:56.ferocious photo. Do you think he felt that? I thing he did. The

:01:57. > :02:03.cup-holders. In the most prophetic of circumstances. Determined to hold

:02:04. > :02:08.onto their throne. Black and White all over! Hull FC versus the

:02:09. > :02:15.Castleford Tigers. How will our story end?

:02:16. > :02:21.A suitably highbrow opening to welcome you to the City of Culture

:02:22. > :02:25.on a beautifully sunny day at the KCOM Stadium for a mouthwatering

:02:26. > :02:30.Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarterfinal between the holders Hull FC Super

:02:31. > :02:34.League runaway leaders Castleford. The Tigers have been imperious form

:02:35. > :02:38.this season but depending on which holed turn up they could be in for a

:02:39. > :02:43.stern test in the sunshine this afternoon and there is not a cloud

:02:44. > :02:50.in the sky here. It really is a warm afternoon. I am delighted to say we

:02:51. > :02:54.are joined by the St Helens captain Jon Wilkin, from the other side of

:02:55. > :02:59.Hull, Hull KR's rugby manager Jamie Peacock, and fresh from his

:03:00. > :03:02.comeback, Wigan's Sam Tomkins. Let's look back on Sam Bosma game

:03:03. > :03:05.yesterday against the Warrington Wolves with the help of Stefan

:03:06. > :03:11.Ratchford from the Wolves wearing the player microphone.

:03:12. > :03:19.COMMENTATOR: Here is Powell, O'Loughlin, quick hands, he has

:03:20. > :03:22.Burgess to his left. He looks to take the pass and has done to

:03:23. > :03:32.perfection and Wigan have first blood. Short side, don't even let

:03:33. > :03:38.him think about coming to you. COMMENTATOR: Back to Sutton,

:03:39. > :03:46.off-load, Tompkins goes left, here is Williams, out to Burgess, and

:03:47. > :03:51.Burgess! Be patient. Tackle six next, it comes back, the kick to ask

:03:52. > :03:58.a question or two and what a take by Ryan Atkins. Great take! George King

:03:59. > :04:04.come down on the ground, only touching distance away. Atkins into

:04:05. > :04:15.the in-goal area and he has his second. Good work, Sausage.

:04:16. > :04:17.Williams again. Leuluai and back to Tompkins and Gelling, it looked

:04:18. > :04:25.forward but Marshall is allowed to carry on. Atkins can't keep hold of

:04:26. > :04:36.them and somehow the Marshall does get try number eight. Twists and

:04:37. > :04:42.turns in this game. The flat pass. Sevelio is over. Come on!

:04:43. > :04:50.Sam Tomkins and Bateman insider Kerber defenders and suddenly it

:04:51. > :04:56.opens up, and as easy as that, John Bateman. Three times we have said

:04:57. > :05:00.completion of the points. Simple instruction, boys.

:05:01. > :05:06.Sam Tomkins is going for the drop goal. That is one point that might

:05:07. > :05:16.just take it out of Warrington's reach. Gidley, little dummy shown,

:05:17. > :05:22.Gidley! There is the class., on, ten minutes, we need you.

:05:23. > :05:27.It is going to be settled in the last two minutes. It is out of play,

:05:28. > :05:31.it is a penalty back on the halfway line. This gives Warrington a chance

:05:32. > :05:37.to kick for goal and potentially win the game.

:05:38. > :05:51.He has hit it well, he has hit it long enough, has he got it? No, no,

:05:52. > :05:57.it has gone wide. Last play of the game. Declan Patton's drop-kick,

:05:58. > :06:00.he's put it wide. He's put it wide right on the hooter. That was the

:06:01. > :06:07.point that could have kept their season alive. What a cup tie, what a

:06:08. > :06:12.finish. Good match, Sammy, nice to see you. And what a game we had,

:06:13. > :06:17.these are the results we have had so far, Salford, Leeds and Wigan

:06:18. > :06:21.through to the semifinals. Today it is Hull FC against Castleford. Sam,

:06:22. > :06:27.after ten months or so out how are you feeling after that not? A bit

:06:28. > :06:31.sunburnt and the body is very sore as well but it's a feeling I've been

:06:32. > :06:33.wanting for a while. You were shaking your head watching some of

:06:34. > :06:38.those highlights, particularly when the restart went out. There is one

:06:39. > :06:42.thing that Joe Burgess did not need to do and that was kick it out on

:06:43. > :06:48.the full. We can joke about it now but it was certainly not funny when

:06:49. > :06:52.he put it out but luckily Stefan's went wide just afterwards. It was an

:06:53. > :06:56.incredible blasphemers, what was it like for you guys? It was a tough 80

:06:57. > :07:00.minutes, Warrington never stop coming at you and I felt like we

:07:01. > :07:03.kept getting in front and then we would kick ourselves, or give

:07:04. > :07:07.penalties, the silly errors which kept letting them back into it, so

:07:08. > :07:12.by the last five minutes both teams were pretty much out on their feet

:07:13. > :07:16.and it could have gone either way, only in the last second, that drop

:07:17. > :07:19.goal, Declan Patton is a great kicker, and he would have kicked

:07:20. > :07:24.nine out of ten of those. Your own drop goal, was that a planned move,

:07:25. > :07:28.or something off-the-cuff? I were supposed to pass it to Thomas

:07:29. > :07:32.Leuluai but he is behind me and I got a dodgy pass and thought there

:07:33. > :07:37.was not pressure on me so I stuck my foot through it and was only five

:07:38. > :07:41.metres away. Have you been practising those? No, I've not

:07:42. > :07:44.kicked a ball for nine months, it's not something I've been doing in

:07:45. > :07:48.rehab training so I was pretty surprised when I hit it like that.

:07:49. > :07:55.Good to see you playing rugby as you should be. What we expected a? It is

:07:56. > :07:59.a beautiful day. I'm just about staging an evaporation here, I'm

:08:00. > :08:02.going to disappear very shortly. It is beautiful weather, fantastic

:08:03. > :08:06.conditions, two form sides, Castleford with the ball challenge

:08:07. > :08:09.teams more than anyone else. Hull have a huge and powerful team but

:08:10. > :08:12.that can be their weakness today in these conditions, if they don't

:08:13. > :08:16.control the ball and Castleford move it a lot it will be tricky for them

:08:17. > :08:20.to win the energy battle. And exciting game and I look forward to

:08:21. > :08:23.seeing Castleford move the ball around today. We laugh about the

:08:24. > :08:27.conditions but there is no air in this stadium. It is cranked up even

:08:28. > :08:31.from yesterday and it's going to be very difficult for the sides. John

:08:32. > :08:40.has got it right, completion of your sets and completion and not giving

:08:41. > :08:42.away panel -- penalties is the key. Hull have power play but they have

:08:43. > :08:46.three players they give away more errors than anyone else in the

:08:47. > :08:53.league so they have to watch that. If we look a little bit warmer in

:08:54. > :08:57.the studio, for give us, it is very warm and the lights are warning us

:08:58. > :09:00.up. This is the Super League table, Castleford having a fantastic

:09:01. > :09:05.season, six points clear at the top, Hull going up-and-down but have hit

:09:06. > :09:08.form of late. They are in fourth position. One of the key factors for

:09:09. > :09:10.the Tigers's superb season so far has been the spectacular form of

:09:11. > :09:19.Greg Eden. Playing some quite exciting rugby

:09:20. > :09:30.and to be on the end of it is pretty special. Gale, she and Commander

:09:31. > :09:33.Shaq, they have set me up quite a lot. When you are on the end of this

:09:34. > :09:38.sometimes it is simple to score tries, that's one of those moments.

:09:39. > :09:46.He's a great finisher. The kind of personal we have in this team is

:09:47. > :09:53.superior, we have everything we need, Jesse and Junior, they are two

:09:54. > :09:57.fast brothers, it makes it easier, this is the best team Cas have had

:09:58. > :10:03.for a long time, since before my time, when they were good back in

:10:04. > :10:07.the 70s. Minikin, romping to victory now. As winners and centres we are

:10:08. > :10:12.practising finishing off in training. Since the new rules came

:10:13. > :10:18.in about the flag and that you can touch it it's all about instinct and

:10:19. > :10:22.getting some airtime really. Step by Eden, has he touched it down? The

:10:23. > :10:27.defender is coming across so I have kind of got to shimmy, or deceive

:10:28. > :10:32.him as to where I will go, so maybe put a step on him, jump as high as

:10:33. > :10:37.you can, a bit more acrobatic if you can touch the flag, so make sure you

:10:38. > :10:38.are in field, try and get the ball down in the try line touching no

:10:39. > :10:51.white line. Denny Solomona left at the start of

:10:52. > :10:55.the season and there has been lots of speculation over me taking his

:10:56. > :10:59.position and whether I will get more tries and break the record. If that

:11:00. > :11:04.happens, so be it, I am happy to be a part of it and keep playing like

:11:05. > :11:07.we are. My first year was at Huddersfield and I wasn't expecting

:11:08. > :11:11.to play any games and I ended up playing all of them, I had two years

:11:12. > :11:18.at Hull KR that was mixed, some good games and some bad games and a bit

:11:19. > :11:22.of hype from the media. I thought it was time for me to have a break and

:11:23. > :11:25.get over to Australia which I enjoyed my two years there. They

:11:26. > :11:30.were probably the best two years of my life. Greg Eden has the pace, his

:11:31. > :11:33.got past one, streaking down the right-hand side, the former

:11:34. > :11:39.Huddersfield and Hull KR man will go over for a debut try. Something that

:11:40. > :11:43.I'd always wanted to do, play in a World Club Challenge and when I got

:11:44. > :11:48.called up I was ecstatic and so were my family back home. Great time for

:11:49. > :11:53.me. I think this will be one of the biggest games of the year. Two form

:11:54. > :11:58.teams and Hull are playing well. I am not very well liked over there.

:11:59. > :12:03.We will see how it goes. They have some good fans, they like to back

:12:04. > :12:04.their own team but so have we at Cas and we travelled well so it will be

:12:05. > :12:15.a good atmosphere. STUDIO: Jon, take us through the

:12:16. > :12:16.Castleford team. At full-back, Zak Hardaker, Greta Bull player, Greg

:12:17. > :12:25.Eden, the try scoring machine. Really experienced centre

:12:26. > :12:28.partnership, Jake Webster and Michael Shenton, in the form of his

:12:29. > :12:33.life. These two will pull the strings for Castleford today, Luke

:12:34. > :12:37.Gale and Ben Roberts, Ray kicking game and support play. Really

:12:38. > :12:42.important for the team is Andy Lynch, fastly experience, when he

:12:43. > :12:47.plays the ball quickly to watch out for Paul McShane running. -- vastly

:12:48. > :12:53.experienced. In the back row Adam Milner to tidy up and do the dirty

:12:54. > :12:57.stuff. On the bench, hugely important, Grant Millington, watch

:12:58. > :13:00.out for in moving the ball for Castleford, and Alex Foster. The

:13:01. > :13:07.final bench spots, Kevin Larroyer and Larne Patrick coming into the

:13:08. > :13:09.team. Sam, when Denny Solomona left as mentioned by Greg, they wondered

:13:10. > :13:14.where the tries might come from and he is outstripping Denny. Benny had

:13:15. > :13:19.scored 22 in Super League at this point and Greg is already on 30.

:13:20. > :13:22.What is it about him? He is just a great athlete and very quick,

:13:23. > :13:26.playing on the left side for Castleford you will get a lot of

:13:27. > :13:30.opportunities, lots of the play goes that way, Luke Gale and Shenton's

:13:31. > :13:37.hams have probably delivered him half of those tries. He is also a

:13:38. > :13:41.finisher. -- hands. Sometimes you think you have defended a bloke like

:13:42. > :13:44.him and got right in the corner and he jumps in the air and gets the

:13:45. > :13:49.ball down. That is something you can't really teach. Take us through

:13:50. > :13:53.the left edge, because it's not just Greg Eden, there is a lot of work

:13:54. > :13:56.that goes into getting those opportunities. The middle are

:13:57. > :13:59.important but it's all about position, great attacking players in

:14:00. > :14:03.Gale and Hardaker and Eden but look at the line that Shenton runs,

:14:04. > :14:07.perfect to create space out wide to give the ball to Eden. When we are

:14:08. > :14:12.watching these clips look at the quality of catching and passing from

:14:13. > :14:17.the side, again, the forwards involved, mowers and Millington,

:14:18. > :14:20.allowing Hardaker to have space out wide, the timing of the run and

:14:21. > :14:29.quality of passing is better than any other site -- Moores. Gay Lance

:14:30. > :14:39.Hart acre are linking up well and when you hear them talk about the

:14:40. > :14:43.players they are running -- Gale and Hardaker. Execution is crucial. And

:14:44. > :14:47.in here again you can see Zac is an outstanding attacking player. He

:14:48. > :14:51.plays within a great disciplined and structured side but he has this

:14:52. > :14:56.individual ability to score tries out of absolutely nothing, the same

:14:57. > :14:59.as Greg Eden and Shenton and Luke Gale and that is why they are so

:15:00. > :15:05.important, they have that individual prowess within a very structured and

:15:06. > :15:09.disciplined and clever system. One player out for Castleford is Junior

:15:10. > :15:13.Moors, how big a mess could he be? He is big, he brings lots of

:15:14. > :15:16.variation to what Castleford do, he is big and powerful and changes

:15:17. > :15:18.direction and gets Castleford moving forward but they have Millington on

:15:19. > :15:25.the bench who is equally good at that job as well. There is lots of

:15:26. > :15:28.support for Castleford in the middle of the field and they like to move

:15:29. > :15:31.the ball through the field so watch out for them touching the ball

:15:32. > :15:33.today. He is a big miss for them because Castleford playing well and

:15:34. > :15:36.having these players going forward, you talked earlier about having to

:15:37. > :15:40.negate Castleford's go forward and Junior Moors is a big part of that.

:15:41. > :15:46.All of the slick players they put on on the left edge, they are always

:15:47. > :15:49.coming off the back of the wings on the edge, very often they have four

:15:50. > :15:52.or five defenders sucked in to tackle one bloke. When you are

:15:53. > :15:55.trying to defend what is already a slick attack but you are missing a

:15:56. > :15:59.bloke because he's been left on the floor by somebody else from the

:16:00. > :16:05.Castleford side it is tough. How are Castleford going to play today? Who

:16:06. > :16:10.is their game plan. They have lived up to their

:16:11. > :16:13.reputation this year, Cas. One thing we should keep an eye on is the

:16:14. > :16:17.left-hand attacking unit, one of their go to plays, some of the best

:16:18. > :16:23.players in the competition, look at this man stretching out down here,

:16:24. > :16:27.Greg Eden, over the course of 2017 he has scored 34 tries, gets on the

:16:28. > :16:30.back of the left-hand unit and near the try line, extremely dynamic and

:16:31. > :16:34.knows how to put the ball over the line, not only that but creating

:16:35. > :16:41.opportunities in space as well. Alongside him here is Shenton, out

:16:42. > :16:46.and out England player Sene-Lefao, another player doing a lot of great

:16:47. > :16:50.things on the edge and also having Zak Hardaker in the back of the

:16:51. > :16:55.field, just getting into the back line. The man that will make it work

:16:56. > :17:00.is this man here, Luke Gale, England international half-backs. Can I grab

:17:01. > :17:03.a quick word? How preparations gone? It has been a really good week,

:17:04. > :17:08.tough conditions and I think the team handle these better so we will

:17:09. > :17:13.win today. It will be about ball retention at not giving up the pill?

:17:14. > :17:16.Exactly, you've got to keep hold of the ball in this weather and

:17:17. > :17:24.hopefully it comes. All the very best. Let's hear from the two

:17:25. > :17:27.coaches, Lee Radford and Daryl Powell. They've been talking to

:17:28. > :17:30.Damian Johnson. Challenge Cup holders, playing at

:17:31. > :17:36.home but most people happy down as underdogs, does that suit you? Is it

:17:37. > :17:40.fair? We will take that, knockout football, Castleford are top of the

:17:41. > :17:43.table at the moment and rightly so, they have been very consistent this

:17:44. > :17:46.year but on our day we would like to think we are a match for anybody,

:17:47. > :17:50.particularly at home. It is no different today. You are top of the

:17:51. > :17:55.league, Castleford are in a good place at the moment, I sense. Yes,

:17:56. > :17:59.absolutely, this is a completely different competition, though, isn't

:18:00. > :18:03.it? We are at the home of the holders of the Challenge Cup so they

:18:04. > :18:06.will be very confident and for us it's about doing ourselves justice

:18:07. > :18:10.and performing to the standards that we know we can. You got players

:18:11. > :18:14.back, Danny Houghton specifically. How important is that given how he

:18:15. > :18:19.seems to is at the tempo for you? He is huge for what we do. Obviously

:18:20. > :18:24.just left out of the England squad as well to the lad who is playing

:18:25. > :18:28.opposite today so that will be another intriguing battle and one

:18:29. > :18:31.I'm looking forward to watching. It is knockout football, they have lots

:18:32. > :18:34.of experience from last year and for us it is putting down a marker and

:18:35. > :18:37.showing that whether we go to whatever competition we are going to

:18:38. > :18:40.be challengers in every department and that's the challenge for us

:18:41. > :18:45.today. Castleford are bang in form but they

:18:46. > :18:48.do face formidable opponents today in Hull who, of course, lifted the

:18:49. > :18:52.Challenge Cup last year at Wembley and in doing so ended one of rugby

:18:53. > :19:03.league's injuring who dos. # Let's take it right back to where

:19:04. > :19:14.we used to go # And never look back

:19:15. > :19:24.# We only look forward # Our hearts broken from the start

:19:25. > :19:26.# With the feeling # Only to be told by the writing on

:19:27. > :19:36.the wall # COMMENTATOR: That kick from Sneyd

:19:37. > :19:45.has turned it all around. Up it goes and taken and it is scored, what a

:19:46. > :19:52.turnaround! Sneyd puts it up in the air, the big leap, that he comes and

:19:53. > :20:00.it's in, Jamie Shaul underneath the sticks. They have found themselves

:20:01. > :20:05.in a winning position. He has lost it on the line! History is made in

:20:06. > :20:28.the most dramatic of circumstances! The back 34 Hull, Steve Michaels,

:20:29. > :20:37.the tricky Jamie Shaul and power and pace of Fetuli Talanoa on the wing.

:20:38. > :20:42.The powerhouse Mahe Fonua and Carlos Tuimavave. This is the man we need

:20:43. > :20:46.to talk about, Albert Kelly, without doubt, they go to play in Super

:20:47. > :20:51.League in creating opportunities and tries, look out for him today. In

:20:52. > :20:58.the front row Josh Bowden, workforce Danny Houghton and Liam Watts.

:20:59. > :21:04.Vastly experienced back row, Danny Washbrook, Sika Manu and the

:21:05. > :21:12.energetic Mark Minichiello. On the bench, Brad Fash, Scott Taylor,

:21:13. > :21:16.England international. Jordan Thompson and Jansin Turgut finished

:21:17. > :21:20.the bench for Hull. So, what is their game plan, back down to

:21:21. > :21:24.Robbie. If there is any team in the competition that can match classic

:21:25. > :21:29.Cas with unpredictable idiots got to be these guys, Hull FC. One of the

:21:30. > :21:32.players I want you to keep an eye on is their full-back, Jamie Shaul,

:21:33. > :21:36.absolutely brilliant in broken play, when he is carrying the ball back he

:21:37. > :21:39.moves at speed, not the biggest bloke in the world, so he is loath

:21:40. > :21:44.to the ground and has brilliant footwork. Another player, probably

:21:45. > :21:47.the man who is the most unpredictable player in the Super

:21:48. > :21:51.League is this guy, Albert Kelly, just giving away a kick at this

:21:52. > :21:56.point, having a stretch. I want to grab a quick word with you, Albert.

:21:57. > :21:59.You enjoyed the cup final couple of years ago with Hull KR. How

:22:00. > :22:05.important is it for you to get this year? It's very important. That

:22:06. > :22:10.atmosphere, that build-up down in Wembley was, you know, spectacular,

:22:11. > :22:15.and I want to feel it again. All the very best for today. Keep your eye

:22:16. > :22:20.on him, brilliantly unpredictable player, anything can happen, watch

:22:21. > :22:25.him during this game. The atmosphere is building nicely here. You talked

:22:26. > :22:29.about Albert Kelly and Robbie has picked him out, why is he so key to

:22:30. > :22:37.Hull? It's the unpredictable stuff he brings, he is thirsty to score

:22:38. > :22:42.tries and we have a clip here that exposes what he is about, travelling

:22:43. > :22:46.across field, picks up runners, his instincts are to support the break

:22:47. > :22:50.and score a try. Here we can see that he is doing things other

:22:51. > :22:54.players are not doing, he is first to the loose ball all the time and

:22:55. > :22:58.hacks it ahead and score is a great try. He's doing this once or twice

:22:59. > :23:02.every game which is incredible. We can see her strength here and that

:23:03. > :23:07.is an asset to his game. He is strong but in an unusual way and

:23:08. > :23:11.balanced, this try against you was incredible, Sam. He is deceptively

:23:12. > :23:16.strong but you can see here that he runs three or four players off with

:23:17. > :23:21.ease and what he has got is he is just a competitor. When he gets near

:23:22. > :23:26.the line his want to get over it is huge. He's not going to be as heavy

:23:27. > :23:30.or strong as some blokes he beats irregularly. I think he is a player

:23:31. > :23:34.that if you give him the ball he will create something. This is what

:23:35. > :23:37.Lee Radford will want to see today, VC Albert Kelly racing through on a

:23:38. > :23:41.long-distance break it means Hull have got the right side of this.

:23:42. > :23:45.They need him to have a big day and there is expectation and pressure on

:23:46. > :23:50.his shoulders to deliver. Has he changed the way Hull play? I think

:23:51. > :23:54.so, he's given them an element of unpredictability, beforehand they

:23:55. > :23:57.were very structured and you knew what to expect. I think him and

:23:58. > :24:02.Sneyd, even though he's not playing, the culmination they they have got

:24:03. > :24:07.the perfect balance, Sneyd guide you around the field and kicks well and

:24:08. > :24:12.then Albert Kelly can just pick up the ball and get a loose pass and

:24:13. > :24:15.make something of it. He is very tough to defend. You basically can't

:24:16. > :24:20.prep for someone who is as unpredictable as him. You are part

:24:21. > :24:25.of the Leeds team that famously kept losing the Challenge Cup and finally

:24:26. > :24:29.won the Challenge Cup. How much more desperate were you to hang onto it

:24:30. > :24:33.the next season? You are desperate but it's one of the best days of

:24:34. > :24:36.your life winning the Challenge Cup, especially if you're club has not

:24:37. > :24:40.done it for a while. The players will be thinking about the weekend,

:24:41. > :24:43.the game and time afterwards and all of that will be in the back of their

:24:44. > :24:46.mind and giving them emotional fortitude going into this. They will

:24:47. > :24:50.want to win the game, the added edge, they want to get back to

:24:51. > :24:53.Wembley and have one of the greatest games of their lives. And for

:24:54. > :24:59.Castleford as welcome as things stand, they will have some big games

:25:00. > :25:02.at the end of the season. This is almost the dress rehearsal, they can

:25:03. > :25:05.come through this we start looking at them winning Grand Finals.

:25:06. > :25:09.Castleford are in a great position, top of the Super League, Challenge

:25:10. > :25:13.Cup quarterfinals, but ultimately no trophies have been won yet, the big

:25:14. > :25:17.games for Castleford are to come and the biggest game of their season is

:25:18. > :25:21.today, that's the biggest game for Castleford. Forget what has happened

:25:22. > :25:24.before, and in the huddle they will talk about sticking to the processes

:25:25. > :25:27.that have worked and Michael Shenton will be hammering home in this

:25:28. > :25:30.huddle about the processes that have worked for them and getting into the

:25:31. > :25:34.shape they like playing with, being consistent for the guy next to you

:25:35. > :25:39.on the field. Luke Gale is crucial today has well, his ability to

:25:40. > :25:43.manage the game for Castleford. Hull FC have got the power game and the

:25:44. > :25:47.Challenge Cup suits the power game, it's that type of rugby, different

:25:48. > :25:53.to Super League so the key for them is how they manage the game. It will

:25:54. > :25:56.be exciting to see how it goes. What Hull have got on their side is most

:25:57. > :25:59.of the players in this team played in the final last year. To win big

:26:00. > :26:06.games you need players involved in them before. Leeds finished fifth at

:26:07. > :26:09.the end of the season but getting to Grand Finals because they know how

:26:10. > :26:13.to win big games. No one in the Castleford team has got that so that

:26:14. > :26:16.is a test coming up against a Hull Sauber have recently lifted the

:26:17. > :26:20.trophy. It is a terrific atmosphere in here. I can't wait for this one,

:26:21. > :26:24.this is the one when it came out in the draw that I thought could be a

:26:25. > :26:28.cracker, Wigan and Warrington delivered yesterday and this could

:26:29. > :26:33.be even better today. Just a few days ago Hull FC's legendary coach

:26:34. > :26:38.passed away at the age of 80. Today the club has invited along some of

:26:39. > :26:42.the players who played for him during the club's most successful

:26:43. > :26:47.period in the late 70s and 80s and those players form a guard of honour

:26:48. > :26:51.for today's teams. We hand you over to our comedy team of Brian Noble,

:26:52. > :26:57.Jonathan Davies and Dave Woods. COMMENTATOR: Emotional start to the

:26:58. > :27:01.day, some of those names down there, Garry Schofield, Lee Brooks, Keith

:27:02. > :27:06.Trimble, Tony Dukes, Sammy Lloyd, the great Johnny Whiteley is down

:27:07. > :27:09.there as well. Shone Padraig Amond Barry Edwards, Stan Pickering, I

:27:10. > :27:15.hope we haven't left any out because they provide us with a truly great

:27:16. > :27:22.guard of honour in memory of the truly great Arthur Bunting. Having a

:27:23. > :27:31.moment of reflection on his life in just a few moments. Danny Houghton

:27:32. > :27:35.is standing there waiting to lead the home team out and on the other

:27:36. > :27:39.side Michael Shenton. Such terrific experience contained in both of

:27:40. > :27:43.those players, recent and long history in the game of rugby league.

:27:44. > :27:45.Here we go. Listen to the noise as they come out. It's a really good

:27:46. > :28:16.atmosphere. Here is the proud son of Arthur

:28:17. > :28:22.Bunting, Paul bunting, bringing on the ball and grandchildren Fiona,

:28:23. > :28:31.Gemma and Bethany helping out as well. Are so of course guided his

:28:32. > :28:37.team to the trophy that has just been passed in 1982. -- Arthur. So

:28:38. > :28:41.many trophies lifted by his great side, one of the great architects of

:28:42. > :28:46.the game, Arthur Bunting, a real thinker and man manager Lee Brooks

:28:47. > :28:49.was telling us a while ago. He was a man who took his holidays in America

:28:50. > :28:54.so he could go and see what they were doing in the NFL. We are going

:28:55. > :28:59.to have a moment's silence in his memory now, but also in memory of

:29:00. > :29:05.the victims in the recent London fire as well.

:29:06. > :29:12.The match ball was brought onto the field by Arthur's son Paul as well

:29:13. > :29:15.as his grand daughters. the minute's silence would begin on

:29:16. > :31:05.the referee's whistle. APPLAUSE

:31:06. > :31:17.Wonderfully observed. An extra sadness from the city of

:31:18. > :31:23.Hull with the news that Dick Gemmell has also passed away. Made his debut

:31:24. > :31:28.in 1961. Great Britain international and tour manager, 1979 and 1984,

:31:29. > :31:43.Brian Noble, when you were his skipper. This is the way they were

:31:44. > :31:50.lining up today. Hull, many of them featuring at Wembley last August.

:31:51. > :32:01.Taylor returning after missing last week's Super League game. Castleford

:32:02. > :32:05.have been the perfect combination of glitter and grunt. They see powerful

:32:06. > :32:10.centre Jake Webster returning to the line-up today. On the bench, Larne

:32:11. > :32:23.Patrick, getting his first outing of the season. The referee today is Phi

:32:24. > :32:31.and the video referee is James Child. Boy, are we looking forward

:32:32. > :32:36.to this. Greg Eden, 33 tries, he cannot stop scoring. Five hat tricks

:32:37. > :32:42.in the last six games. Plenty of Pedigree writ large across this cup

:32:43. > :32:51.tie. Castleford the team of the season so far, but nobody has won

:32:52. > :33:02.any silverware yet and Hull daunting opposition. We have a contrast in

:33:03. > :33:06.style, north to south, Power personified in the Hull team, with

:33:07. > :33:11.Kelly, the sprinkling of magic. A team that likes to throw the ball

:33:12. > :33:21.around and play both types of football. Attracted all the plaudits

:33:22. > :33:27.and rightly so. This is the test for Castleford, the business end of the

:33:28. > :33:32.season. This is where they have to produce the performances. Top level,

:33:33. > :33:40.they have been a brilliant side to watch. As Jamie said in the studio,

:33:41. > :33:44.the contrasting style, X Factor players. Brilliant conditions. A

:33:45. > :33:57.fascinating encounter. Really looking forward to it. Eden will

:33:58. > :34:04.have a dabble out at dummy half. Glorious sunshine. We will try not

:34:05. > :34:09.to over labour the point it is very, very warm, and it will be very

:34:10. > :34:14.difficult for these sides in exhausting conditions. It is a

:34:15. > :34:19.factor. We will not over labour the point but it does affect the players

:34:20. > :34:21.and looking after the ball, as they said at the top of the show, will be

:34:22. > :34:51.vital. Talanoa, another of those huge three

:34:52. > :34:56.quarters that Hull possess. That tackle, everybody remembers that

:34:57. > :35:09.tackle from last year. He is a handful, Sika Manu. That was a sixth

:35:10. > :35:20.tackle. I think Hull miscounted. Minichiello confuse. Wanting to

:35:21. > :35:31.carry on the play, they got back -- got excited. Discipline will be

:35:32. > :35:38.important as we saw yesterday. Safety conscious early doors in cup

:35:39. > :35:49.matches. Andy Lynch took that last, making his 500th Super League

:35:50. > :35:54.appearance last week. A penalty. The Oracle has spoken. Give penalty

:35:55. > :36:01.away, feel position away, Hull under pressure. Controlling your emotion.

:36:02. > :36:08.He has got in the first time and he knows Shenton is a form centre, grab

:36:09. > :36:09.hold of him, trying to drag him over the touchline. Position set for

:36:10. > :36:27.Castleford. Gale throwing it backwards and it

:36:28. > :36:32.was intercepted and Hull have a chance to go the distance. Tuimavave

:36:33. > :36:41.will accept the gift. What about that? It was a gift. It was a gift.

:36:42. > :36:46.Hull, from being on the back foot, suddenly find themselves on the

:36:47. > :36:55.front foot with two of our seagoing 80 yards to score. Talking about

:36:56. > :36:57.picking pockets. Castleford have the numbers. Piling down the right-hand

:36:58. > :37:04.side and the ball was going the other way, such a good steel. He had

:37:05. > :37:15.to take a chance because I think he was outnumbered. A 12 point. They

:37:16. > :37:20.offload and he reads it well. Two players to pick and he picks the

:37:21. > :37:31.right one, goes for the intercept. Great intercept. The ball maybe

:37:32. > :37:39.should have gone behind the player. Zak Hardaker, if he gets it, he is

:37:40. > :37:47.in, or, the winger is in but a great intercept. Well read, Tuimavave.

:37:48. > :37:55.After the penalty comes a try. He had to do that. I do not know who

:37:56. > :37:59.was on the inside of him. Connor with the conversion attempt and he

:38:00. > :38:03.has kicked it. Marc Sneyd got involved because of injury but can

:38:04. > :38:12.Minichiello has been kicking well in his absence. Think somebody slipped

:38:13. > :38:17.on the inside. I am not sure he had much chance. Confronted by numbers.

:38:18. > :38:23.Took the chance, Tuimavave, and it came up trumps. Creating so many

:38:24. > :38:33.opportunities and overlaps and they did it with a wrong pass and a great

:38:34. > :38:35.read. Hull listed massively. -- listed

:38:36. > :39:06.Penalty again. They were not making great yards. They wanted a simple

:39:07. > :39:12.set, clear their lines, and now they have been given the old helping

:39:13. > :39:17.hand. The one thing you did not want to do with Hull is allow them to

:39:18. > :39:33.play in the 20 metre area. They have huge ball-carriers. A lot of talent.

:39:34. > :39:38.Tuimavave, Minichiello. I think we have Scott Taylor as a starter but

:39:39. > :39:47.it is Josh Bowden starting, wearing 22. Danny Washbrook had a man of the

:39:48. > :40:00.match performance against Salford last week, as a hooker. Now Connor.

:40:01. > :40:04.Way over. Talanoa. Hull have a second. We thought it would be

:40:05. > :40:09.Castleford who might have ripped their opponents apart, but that

:40:10. > :40:16.might be coming from the other side here. We have to look at this again.

:40:17. > :40:19.The referee thinking it is a try, but he wants a second opinion, so

:40:20. > :40:32.let's hear from the video referee, James Cammack child. We are taking

:40:33. > :40:37.obstruction to begin with. Hull in possession. We are OK up to now. Got

:40:38. > :40:43.this one are coming through. Stops short of the line, that is OK, Ron

:40:44. > :40:46.Matchroom. Pass out to the ants, receives the ball.

:40:47. > :40:56.Look at the grounding. -- out to the wind.

:40:57. > :41:19.Still in possession. That is a try. Try confirmed. Second try. What a

:41:20. > :41:24.fast start by Hull. One person I did not mention was Talanoa in the list

:41:25. > :41:28.of barnstorming individuals and he had a one-on-one opportunity at the

:41:29. > :41:34.end of this play and it was a mismatch at this point. He kept his

:41:35. > :41:46.legs pumping and said, you ain't going to stop me. Watch this.

:41:47. > :41:53.Creating numbers. Talanoa, one on one, 212. Webster cannot get there.

:41:54. > :41:59.You have to keep them away from the try line. They are such a powerful

:42:00. > :42:08.side. Connor with the second conversion attempt. What a kick. The

:42:09. > :42:14.Cas players were just standing in there in-goal area. I do not think

:42:15. > :42:20.they have been in this position. If they do not get the interception, I

:42:21. > :42:24.think they score. They have to keep possession, keep discipline. It is a

:42:25. > :42:31.real test for the high-flyers of this year's Super League. Do not get

:42:32. > :42:36.spooked. That is the danger. Plenty of time. Only three defeats for

:42:37. > :42:51.Castleford this year and one of those was Hull. You only need two

:42:52. > :42:59.defeats in a season, dominating. That would be a heck of a season. I

:43:00. > :43:06.am going to Jiffy's School of positivity! Bowden, looking to make

:43:07. > :43:19.a break. Castleford being forced onto the

:43:20. > :43:33.back foot again. Hull have wind in their sales. Great kick. It is high.

:43:34. > :43:45.Just about able to hold his possession in the field of play.

:43:46. > :43:51.Pushed back again. How good are Hull looking in these early stages? With

:43:52. > :44:04.ball in hand, all without. Listen to the crowd.

:44:05. > :44:19.They are kicking from inside the 20. That is a fair kick. I think they

:44:20. > :44:28.needed to find a sideline. The wind in Hull's sales. Only made about 18

:44:29. > :44:35.metres. Luke Gale found feel position. They can walk to the scrum

:44:36. > :44:36.and establish themselves some position with what they do in

:44:37. > :44:48.defence. A great start by Hull, but two

:44:49. > :44:54.mistakes, one is a intercept, the other is a missed tackle.

:44:55. > :45:02.Keep your shape. You know you will create opportunities. You have done

:45:03. > :45:05.it all season. Hull knew they had to start hard and fast and get the

:45:06. > :45:17.crowd behind them, which they have done. The big fella. He has had it

:45:18. > :45:31.stolen. Milne are guilty of the steel. -- Milner guilty of the

:45:32. > :45:34.steal. They cleared well after being under the pump and now they have

:45:35. > :45:43.given away a penalty and are under the pump again. Liam Watts charging

:45:44. > :45:54.forward. He has played well this year. Starting well again.

:45:55. > :46:02.Danny Washbrook is one of the longest serving players at Hull.

:46:03. > :46:13.Kelly across the line again. A couple of dummies and puts the ball

:46:14. > :46:22.back. Connor. Held up. Tuimavave and inside for Minichiello, who has a

:46:23. > :46:32.bit of footwork. One tackle to go. The prop to Kelly. Lost it in the

:46:33. > :46:39.air. The referee said steady on. It was a knock-on. Kelly made the call

:46:40. > :46:44.to go for it. I would like to watch it again. Creating the numbers and

:46:45. > :46:51.Kelly went for it. Kelly thinks he can get there. One of the features

:46:52. > :46:56.of Castleford this year, they have not given in, doing tremendous

:46:57. > :47:01.things on their own goal-line as well as at the other end. Scrambled

:47:02. > :47:09.well enough to dislodge the ball from Kelly's hands. Kelly has had a

:47:10. > :47:12.good start, organising everything. He is a danger. You cannot leave him

:47:13. > :47:28.alone because he will do that. The semifinal draw follows this

:47:29. > :47:34.game. There is a red button forum from 5pm, as well. And the usual

:47:35. > :47:57.hashtag for social media. Hull looking to inflict more pain on

:47:58. > :48:05.the Castleford defenders, who will want to squeeze here. Resist the go

:48:06. > :48:17.forward. Kept alive. Castleford having to work hard.

:48:18. > :48:26.A couple of tackles left and about 40 metres away. Danny Washbrook

:48:27. > :48:38.running into trouble. A good set again by Hull. Good yardage. Dixit

:48:39. > :48:42.into the hands of Eden who switches inside for Hardaker who pushes away

:48:43. > :48:53.three defenders but cannot get rid of the ball. Too many numbers. I

:48:54. > :48:56.think he felt there was a pair of these in his back by Liam Watts. --

:48:57. > :49:09.pair of knees. One thing is sure, they will hold

:49:10. > :49:15.their nerve. They have shown when they have been behind, they will

:49:16. > :49:23.find their way out, bringing the off the bench and they will have their

:49:24. > :49:30.say in this game. Roberts asking the question of Jamie Shaul. The tackle

:49:31. > :49:33.timed well enough by Webster. Perfectly timed. Just a little bit

:49:34. > :49:53.too far, that kick. If you put up big kicks, you have to

:49:54. > :50:01.put them in the far right-hand corner where the sun will be in his

:50:02. > :50:11.eyes, not in the shaded part. Houghton. Finding touch. Wonderful.

:50:12. > :50:17.If you are Lee Radford and asking Hull for a start in the game, you do

:50:18. > :50:20.not want more than this. They look energetic in defence and dangerous

:50:21. > :50:25.carrying the ball out of dummy half with their big people and Cas having

:50:26. > :50:30.to use their wherewithal to stay in the tussle but they will hold their

:50:31. > :50:42.nerve. I can only reinforce to viewers they will have a say in this

:50:43. > :50:45.game. 61% territory, Hull. A good kicking game, starving Castleford of

:50:46. > :51:00.those opportunities. A brilliant start for Hull.

:51:01. > :51:11.That is what Castleford have to do, to take juice out of the Hull tank.

:51:12. > :51:17.They have high octane burners, the tank empties quickly. Yes, big lads.

:51:18. > :51:22.You have to move them about. They have not yet had an opportunity,

:51:23. > :51:35.Castleford. Millington involved again with a little bit of a step.

:51:36. > :51:46.A bit of a test but superbly taken by Michaels. You have to try to

:51:47. > :51:51.compete, get your hand in the way, get your hand in the eye line of the

:51:52. > :52:08.ball. Anything. He will catch them all day. There is some rugged

:52:09. > :52:15.running. In trying to deal with him, they gave away the penalty. When you

:52:16. > :52:20.are taking the ball out from your own 20 metres, they are big boys.

:52:21. > :52:28.They will get tired. But now they have a chance to take a breath and

:52:29. > :52:33.then they are on the attack again. Scott Taylor on the field. Extra

:52:34. > :52:55.energy, muscle and dimension. Houghton, letting the big fellas

:52:56. > :52:59.have a go. Someone pointed out to me that Castleford do that when a

:53:00. > :53:06.player is on the line, they drag him back into the in-goal area,

:53:07. > :53:14.confident they will hold him up. A number of teams employed that

:53:15. > :53:23.tactic. Kelly. Knocked on by Jamie Shaul. Kelly is asking for a another

:53:24. > :53:38.set of six. He thought there was a knock-on. He thinks he has a hand on

:53:39. > :53:43.it. I can see why the Hull players are thinking he might have done. The

:53:44. > :53:53.referee turned around and said he missed it, get on with the game. He

:53:54. > :54:00.said, respectfully, Danny, do me a favour and shut up!

:54:01. > :54:13.Jake Webster, fresh from a week off. Millington. He lost it. He was

:54:14. > :54:20.trying to off-load. Minichiello is their for Hull and Castleford under

:54:21. > :54:21.pressure again. Hull are turning the screw tighter and tighter in these

:54:22. > :54:42.opening 20 minutes. Danny Washbrook. Very close. They

:54:43. > :54:51.hurt to be careful. -- they had to be careful. You do not give a dog a

:54:52. > :54:56.bone and Millington did. There is a risk with that. You have to defend

:54:57. > :55:02.your own line if you want to play in that part of the field. All season,

:55:03. > :55:08.to be fair to Cas, they have defended their line.

:55:09. > :55:21.That was a great hit. I think it was Jake Webster.

:55:22. > :55:29.As a Cas player, you say, we have been on the ropes, momentum will

:55:30. > :55:31.change, hang on in there, and then we will have a chance to attack

:55:32. > :55:44.again. Possession is 71%, 65% territory in

:55:45. > :56:02.Hull's favour. Total control by Hull. The stress

:56:03. > :56:12.levels rise. It is where you get the possession.

:56:13. > :56:17.Five away from the halfway line and taken forward again by Nathan

:56:18. > :56:36.Massey. It is popped away. For once this

:56:37. > :56:44.season, Michael Shenton's hands let him down. Albert Kelly flew in. He

:56:45. > :56:53.had to. Shenton tried to skip and catch and pass at the same time. You

:56:54. > :57:00.see how good Cas are, they will have to are just depth in attack. If they

:57:01. > :57:06.realise they are flying out, the interceptors, Kelly blasting out of

:57:07. > :57:09.the line, you have to judge depth on the previous ball carrier and if

:57:10. > :57:16.they are committing, you have a simple give and take. Players are

:57:17. > :57:21.not just taking water, they are pouring it over their heads, it is

:57:22. > :57:32.such a hot day. Daryl Powell looking on, concerned at this stage. They

:57:33. > :57:39.have now settled. Kelly gets over and it is 18, it becomes more

:57:40. > :57:45.stressful. The semifinal draw is after the game, remember. And the

:57:46. > :58:01.red button forum at 5pm. And another reminder of the hashtag.

:58:02. > :58:15.Plenty of ambition, Hull. Forward by Taylor, who lost it. Now, Hardaker.

:58:16. > :58:28.Pushing away defenders and creating a gap.

:58:29. > :58:37.This is the second time in Hull's half.

:58:38. > :58:53.They have an opportunity. Larne Patrick, his first appearance of the

:58:54. > :58:56.season today. Gale, the dummy. That was a flash of brilliance from

:58:57. > :59:02.Gayle, who saw the defender coming up quickly. Just held, made the

:59:03. > :59:09.pass, but it did not quite connect. I think he catches the ball. Got it,

:59:10. > :59:13.got it, and drops it. It was a brilliant take from behind. Eden.

:59:14. > :00:10.Look at the cover. The covering. Jordan Thompson, a former Cas lad.

:00:11. > :00:12.There are a lot of players who are born in one place and play at the

:00:13. > :00:22.other. Puts it high. Take an easily by Zak

:00:23. > :00:54.Hardaker. Outside Taylor. Roberts. He is a dangerous player.

:00:55. > :01:04.Accelerates effortlessly. It is going to be a penalty. That will be

:01:05. > :01:05.a big lift for Castleford. Starting their next set inside their

:01:06. > :01:18.opponent's half. That is handy for Cas, incursion

:01:19. > :01:30.into Hull's territory, not quite near the line yet. They will work

:01:31. > :01:34.for the opportunity again. Massey will take it in. No secrets about

:01:35. > :01:45.what he will do, just hard and determined. Millington. Fed back to

:01:46. > :01:56.the England international against Samoa a couple of weeks ago.

:01:57. > :02:03.Millington ranging close attend me ten metres out. Five gone, here

:02:04. > :02:08.comes the last play, what can Castleford do? McShane picks it up,

:02:09. > :02:17.indecision, Hull hand, another set of six. Roberts. Glenn Roberts has

:02:18. > :02:23.chiselled a path through that mountain of Hull defenders. He is

:02:24. > :02:28.over to score. How often do you see a bouncing ball, the referee calls

:02:29. > :02:35.back to one and the Hull defence just switch off? There is no

:02:36. > :02:40.communication at all whatsoever. The only thing you could hear was the

:02:41. > :02:45.referee going, "Back to one." He picks his spot we could see the gap

:02:46. > :02:52.from here, he was just strolling through it. We had a precursor, Hull

:02:53. > :03:00.almost got their hands on this, pulls it back to six, I don't know

:03:01. > :03:04.who is aware but I was thinking danger, he's too quick to leave

:03:05. > :03:08.alone that near the line. The man who gets his hands to it, he

:03:09. > :03:12.switches off, looking at the referee, he is walking and all of a

:03:13. > :03:23.sudden he reacts to slowly, the gap is too big, simple finish, Cas are

:03:24. > :03:32.back. Their fans are beginning to believe now. It is Luke Gale to

:03:33. > :03:43.complete what should be a fairly simple job here, a conversion right

:03:44. > :03:47.in front of the sticks. Just look, a step and a stroke of the ball which

:03:48. > :03:58.brings two points with it and it is 12-6. It's the first time they have

:03:59. > :04:01.been down there. Really dangerous time for these defenders, the Hull

:04:02. > :04:07.FC lads, Castleford have brilliant masters of making sure they put the

:04:08. > :04:13.needle in and pour the pressure back on the defenders. The wheel has

:04:14. > :04:21.turned back in Castleford's way, the masters are putting the pressure on.

:04:22. > :04:28.A walk in the park for Robbie. 11 minutes of the half remaining. 12-6.

:04:29. > :04:34.And it's out on the full and it will be a penalty for Castleford back on

:04:35. > :04:40.the halfway line. The wheel is turning, Robbie said, it has turned

:04:41. > :04:44.a bit more. We saw that yesterday and I just thought conditions

:04:45. > :04:49.hotter, the ball travels further and they have just whacked it over out

:04:50. > :04:57.of play. Picking up on what Robbie has said as well, don't give a dog a

:04:58. > :05:01.bone, giving this team field position now. This is a big set for

:05:02. > :05:11.Hull, the first time they've been under the cosh. Alex Foster, the

:05:12. > :05:15.young forward. 23, not that young, but youngish. Taken in by Larne

:05:16. > :05:24.Patrick. Two Interchange players setting a platform. Where will

:05:25. > :05:28.Castleford go from this position? Hardaker submerged by two in Black

:05:29. > :05:37.and White. They numbered off well then, Hull. Minikin. Millington. You

:05:38. > :05:40.could see his intentions trying to keep the ball alive but the

:05:41. > :05:55.defenders were aware of that pinning it to his chest, now it comes to

:05:56. > :06:01.Gale, back towards the middle, send -- Sene-Lefao. Hull had him checked

:06:02. > :06:05.that time, Gale with their wonderful corkscrew kick and some Hardaker

:06:06. > :06:11.will touch it down. The craft and position of that kick from Gale

:06:12. > :06:19.cannot be overstated. Great try. That's brilliant, brilliant skill.

:06:20. > :06:22.To go against the grain and dribble the kick back the other way,

:06:23. > :06:26.Hardaker clearly knows he is going to do it, skill of the highest

:06:27. > :06:31.order. Great communication between this guy and Zak Hardaker because if

:06:32. > :06:34.you watching he comes from the other side of the ruck, he runs against

:06:35. > :06:39.the grain and people switch off on the inside. That is a lovely grubber

:06:40. > :06:44.kick. Because they are going away from the defenders they switch off

:06:45. > :06:52.on the inside. Brilliant kick, great communication. Brilliant football,

:06:53. > :07:00.that is. Straight across, straight across to congratulate the man that

:07:01. > :07:05.put that into play for him. Blink of an eye it will be all square again.

:07:06. > :07:10.Got to be careful with this team, the fact they kicked the ball out on

:07:11. > :07:13.the full will infuriate the Hull team, to give Castleford the easy

:07:14. > :07:21.opportunity because of the field position. That big energy and start

:07:22. > :07:24.the Hull players put in, how much are they feeling that and how

:07:25. > :07:30.deflated are they psychologically? Hal beaten are they as a team? As a

:07:31. > :07:34.coach I don't know but as a player you regroup, settle it down, keep

:07:35. > :07:39.your bliss plinth and complete the sets, don't give Cas as much

:07:40. > :07:52.possession as they have had over the last ten minutes. Here goes the

:07:53. > :07:55.kick, successful, 12-12. It is not so much what Cas have done, it's

:07:56. > :08:00.what Hull have done to themselves, the penalty area and the ball out on

:08:01. > :08:04.the full, they invited Cas into that part of the field because they were

:08:05. > :08:07.controlling the game and playing high-energy. Somebody mentioned the

:08:08. > :08:12.Demons yesterday, I think it was Sam Tomkins in his post-match interview.

:08:13. > :08:15.Of course the Demons come in but they just got to get back to the

:08:16. > :08:28.process they started well with, Hull. 32 minutes and we are back

:08:29. > :08:36.where we started from. 12-12. Sene-Lefao. First man to take it in,

:08:37. > :08:48.Foster concedes territory and possession, it is a lot more even as

:08:49. > :08:56.is the scoreline. McMeeken. McShane. Running left and taken in again.

:08:57. > :09:04.Loves to wrestle on the ground. 40 yards out, the kick from Gale but

:09:05. > :09:08.well marshalled by Jamie Shaul. No further than the 20 metre mark where

:09:09. > :09:16.he is met well by the advancing Castleford defenders. I think

:09:17. > :09:28.they've got to get Jamie Shaul into the game, such a dangerous runner.

:09:29. > :09:33.Hull's go forward resisted at the moment by Castleford's tenacity in

:09:34. > :09:37.defence but this man could put that right, looking for a big carry and

:09:38. > :09:42.he has got them up to the halfway line, wanting to get up and play as

:09:43. > :09:45.quickly as they can. Hatton goes left. Hull can check out their

:09:46. > :09:54.opponents in their own half here. It is with Connor. It should be with

:09:55. > :09:57.Minikin but he only gets his fingertips to the ball and it

:09:58. > :10:03.bounces out of play under the sticks and they will have to take the drop

:10:04. > :10:06.out. That is a fairly good set by Hull. Composed of finished the set,

:10:07. > :10:13.bit of good kicking, put pressure on one of the wingers. Now they have a

:10:14. > :10:21.repeat set. I think the coaching staff will be watching some tapes at

:10:22. > :10:24.Hull and they will put it on Minikin's head this afternoon. We

:10:25. > :10:31.have seen the ball go into that corner a couple of times, to

:10:32. > :10:38.Castleford's defensive right side. We have not got the ball. We have

:10:39. > :10:41.got a ball now. Slows things down a little, everybody can catch their

:10:42. > :10:46.breath before Zak Hardaker puts that drop-kick as far downfield as he can

:10:47. > :10:57.possibly boot it but springing up is Connor handed on to Brad Fash who

:10:58. > :11:00.brings it back. Haltern, write to Watts, Watts back on his knees

:11:01. > :11:10.quickly but in trying to keep the momentum going concedes a penalty.

:11:11. > :11:14.For the viewers, he got his ankle tugged when he went to play-the-ball

:11:15. > :11:21.quickly. Great chance to put the ball into the 20 metre area. It is

:11:22. > :11:30.difficult to stop with the ball carriers. Watts clearly wins the

:11:31. > :11:36.right to play-the-ball quickly. Just trying to see who is grabbing onto

:11:37. > :11:41.his legs. It was faster. Yes, it was, clear penalty for me. For our

:11:42. > :11:44.viewers at home who are not clear on the rules, if an offensive player

:11:45. > :11:50.gets through and looks like he can stand up and be the defenders he has

:11:51. > :11:55.got to be allowed to do that. This was a decision, it seemed to be a

:11:56. > :12:01.decision of the Captain Danny Houghton to kick for the goal, he

:12:02. > :12:10.put an arm around him and said we are going for gold. No discussion on

:12:11. > :12:14.the field. ,. I get it a little bit. Castleford have scored two tries on

:12:15. > :12:17.the bounce, they have been going against the grain, they have had a

:12:18. > :12:22.decent set, they get a result, goal-line drop out, hopefully they

:12:23. > :12:26.will go into the half with a 2-point lead or more and less Castleford

:12:27. > :12:28.respond in the next four minutes and they get to talk about the little

:12:29. > :12:38.things to put right in the second half. It has been a great first

:12:39. > :12:46.half. Hull started on fire. Now Cas have come back. So, Hull in

:12:47. > :12:53.possession, inside their own half and needing a lot of hard work.

:12:54. > :12:58.Lovely pick-up by Danny Houghton. He took advantage and off he dashed and

:12:59. > :13:06.stole an extra 12 yards or so. Who is going to stop him? It will take a

:13:07. > :13:16.couple of them. Slow him down and then bring him down. Thompson. Free

:13:17. > :13:25.play, I think. Anyway, here is Shenton. It was the free play so

:13:26. > :13:32.they start the set from here. Hull back under a little bit of pressure.

:13:33. > :13:40.Jesse Sene-Lefao taking it in. Now McShane. Down the right-hand side

:13:41. > :13:48.Larroyer, the Frenchman. He will play it now. That was a simple drop.

:13:49. > :13:55.Simple drop from Luke Gale, not sure what was going on. He was having a

:13:56. > :14:03.look at what was on at the play-the-ball. Castleford always go

:14:04. > :14:09.for the sticks, don't they? Always they go midfield, look at the

:14:10. > :14:19.options, go either side, where they are short of defence on either side,

:14:20. > :14:24.always midfield and then go through. Just a reminder that there is plenty

:14:25. > :14:33.of the game has finished, the semifinal draw follows this much and

:14:34. > :14:45.the red button forum is on at 5pm, #BBC

:14:46. > :14:51.-- #BBCRL. Hull back inside and Minichiello has dropped it, he will

:14:52. > :15:03.claim there was an arm that helped it out. I think that was a good hit.

:15:04. > :15:11.REFEREE: If it was intentional, I didn't think it was. He was out

:15:12. > :15:16.cold. Two minutes of a fascinating half still to play. Really strong

:15:17. > :15:21.rugby. In the last couple of minutes Hull did their job kicking at the

:15:22. > :15:31.sticks and completing a couple of sets and getting field position

:15:32. > :15:35.established, giving tempter -- Cas a chance. Castleford already in their

:15:36. > :15:43.stride now as they venture closer to that Hull line. Larroyer up. Now it

:15:44. > :15:54.comes to foster. Energetically taking it in again. McShane. Going

:15:55. > :16:01.right. Roberts. Webster. Again, strong -ish carry from him. McShane.

:16:02. > :16:05.Look how close they are, ten metres away, not that much more.

:16:06. > :16:10.Millington. The pass is poor. Hardaker has to be careful in

:16:11. > :16:13.picking it up. Not much on for him but he passes it to Roberts who can

:16:14. > :16:24.make things happen. Webster drops the ball backwards and Hull get the

:16:25. > :16:28.ball back. Not quite as clinical as they would like, Castleford. A few

:16:29. > :16:36.walking bodies around for both teams at the moment. That is the juice

:16:37. > :16:48.war. Play the clock down now. He does that well there. Bit of a

:16:49. > :16:57.handful. Into the last 20 seconds of this half. Time for one more play

:16:58. > :17:01.here. It is going to be Kelly who puts it high and Hardaker has a look

:17:02. > :17:06.at what is coming his way. Kelly coming his way, Hardaker gets up and

:17:07. > :17:14.Kelly catches it and will take the tackle 20 from his own line and that

:17:15. > :17:18.will end the half. Slight advantage Hull 14-12. On the run of play I

:17:19. > :17:23.think Hull deserve to be in front, they've dominated the first 20, 25

:17:24. > :17:29.minutes and scored two good tries and maybe just deserve to be in

:17:30. > :17:32.front. Let's hero from those who have taken part. Danny Houghton is

:17:33. > :17:35.down here blowing hard, it's been a hard first off, what was your

:17:36. > :17:39.verdict. It was a tale of two halves, we

:17:40. > :17:43.started well, lost a bit of possession early in that spell and

:17:44. > :17:50.Cas found a way back which we expected but we responded well so we

:17:51. > :17:55.are happy. Michael Shenton, the Cas skipper is with us. What do you have

:17:56. > :18:00.to do in the second half to get in front? Start a lot better, we have

:18:01. > :18:03.fought hard, tough conditions, the ball is greasy, tidy up the game and

:18:04. > :18:08.keep completing sets and put them under pressure. Thanks.

:18:09. > :18:17.What a breath is half that was, what did you make of it? Hull had the

:18:18. > :18:21.best of it frustratingly for them they are not further in front. Hull

:18:22. > :18:25.started the game with intensity and knocked Castleford of their game.

:18:26. > :18:28.Cas have been poor, we spoke about their execution, and it has been

:18:29. > :18:32.dreadful at times and they will look to address that in the second half,

:18:33. > :18:37.no doubt. How tough other conditions, we saw the two players

:18:38. > :18:42.there saying the ball is greasy, could you see that happening? Luke

:18:43. > :18:47.Gale dropped the ball, you never see that, Ben Roberts over this side had

:18:48. > :18:51.won earlier on. It is greasy but not surprising, the teams know the

:18:52. > :18:56.conditions, Hull are dealing with it better than Cas. Jamie, has this

:18:57. > :19:03.first half surprised you was not no, Darryl talked about how Hull came

:19:04. > :19:05.out and did the power game and went out to 12 points and Castleford have

:19:06. > :19:09.shown resilience to get themselves back into the game. The left edge

:19:10. > :19:12.has been way off, we gave them plaudits before the game and they

:19:13. > :19:16.have let us down and they need to aim up in the second half. What a

:19:17. > :19:21.start from Hull, incredibly blistering start from them. They hit

:19:22. > :19:25.back with the defence and the first try came out of a defensive action.

:19:26. > :19:34.Castleford stripped Hull phone numbers. You need to come in and

:19:35. > :19:37.make an aggressive tackle or an intercept, the intercept the riskier

:19:38. > :19:40.of the options but when you see one of your team-mates running down the

:19:41. > :19:48.field and scoring a try like that you don't doubt him. This showed

:19:49. > :19:55.Castleford's shape, Roberts at the back car Conor slips, that is a four

:19:56. > :20:02.on two, training drill, you expect Castleford to complete that but to

:20:03. > :20:07.Mvovo has different ideas. -- Tuimavave. You expect the tri-. It

:20:08. > :20:12.sort of set the tone whereas this was slightly different. This is more

:20:13. > :20:15.of the kind of play we see every week in Super League. Is just got to

:20:16. > :20:24.make the tackle, that is what he is there to do. Minikin has known all

:20:25. > :20:29.week he would be up against Talanoa. That is what he needs to do, deliver

:20:30. > :20:33.in Challenge Cups. He will be disappointed thinking of that. You

:20:34. > :20:36.need to win those tackles to win big games, trust your players to come up

:20:37. > :20:40.with the big tackles. Through the middle they have cancelled each

:20:41. > :20:45.other out. The game will hinge on moments like that, missed tackles

:20:46. > :20:52.and block this in how attentive you are to do your job. We have seen

:20:53. > :20:59.Fonua do a lot of running on the other side. Gayle's kicks have been

:21:00. > :21:06.putting Hull in a corner and standing from standing starts. They

:21:07. > :21:10.have outside backs that can get them on the front foot again. The first

:21:11. > :21:12.20 minutes Hull were really dominant although they started lots of sets

:21:13. > :21:20.inside their own ten. They have lots of players who can come in. Fonua is

:21:21. > :21:24.the main one for that, every time he carries the ball it takes several

:21:25. > :21:29.blokes to stop him. Defence for Hull, you picked out early on, to

:21:30. > :21:32.say it was fast and keen was an understatement. They offer queues in

:21:33. > :21:36.terms of their mentality approaching again. I saw this from Hull, the

:21:37. > :21:41.kick chase, ten out of ten kick chase, the kick was on the money and

:21:42. > :21:43.chase aggressive and in the defensive set they didn't give

:21:44. > :21:47.Castleford an opportunity to get into shape and move the ball. They

:21:48. > :21:51.were aggressive, worked together and I thought that showed a real

:21:52. > :21:55.commitment to this game from Hull. If you want to start a game ten

:21:56. > :21:59.minutes in this is how you want to be playing. Perfect the way they

:22:00. > :22:02.played the game but this is why Hull will be slightly disappointed going

:22:03. > :22:05.in only two points up because they have invested a lot of energy and

:22:06. > :22:10.work incredibly dominant for long periods of time without coming away

:22:11. > :22:15.with the points. The more the Hull can do this to Cas and Luke Gale

:22:16. > :22:18.kicking on the 20 the better. This is a fantastic kick from Gale. This

:22:19. > :22:22.is why he's developed into one of the best half-backs in the country,

:22:23. > :22:25.he knew his team needed time to breathe, they had just been nailed

:22:26. > :22:30.in defence, gives them a chance to regroup and recover and get

:22:31. > :22:33.themselves ready for the next set of six. Castleford dug in to work their

:22:34. > :22:37.way back into the game. They did but the try came from nothing and

:22:38. > :22:44.massively against the run of play. The ball was knocked back by Sika

:22:45. > :22:47.Manu and at that point Hull relaxed. Castleford looked like they had no

:22:48. > :22:52.energy after 20 minutes, this shape we saw before the game and they had

:22:53. > :22:56.none of it and the try comes from nothing and Hull switched off. Don't

:22:57. > :23:00.be surprised to see more tries like this in the second half, instinctive

:23:01. > :23:03.tries from players difficult to tackle against forwards who are

:23:04. > :23:06.absolutely shattered in the middle. That is how this game will go

:23:07. > :23:11.forward in the second half. That is the best of Ben Roberts, tight

:23:12. > :23:15.footwork in tight spaces but after that conceding the try, kicking the

:23:16. > :23:18.ball dead, and giving Castleford possession again. That's dangerous

:23:19. > :23:22.in these conditions to give Castleford the ball a lot. That

:23:23. > :23:26.penalty gave them the energy and when Hull were on their own line,

:23:27. > :23:32.this was an error from Shaul, sending a man on the left-hand side

:23:33. > :23:37.late, the defender had to jump in and they kicked the ball behind him.

:23:38. > :23:41.He should have sent Brad Fash when he came back to the short side, he

:23:42. > :23:45.would have been in position to collect this. What position would

:23:46. > :23:49.you take up, Sam? You want to make sure that between the ruck and

:23:50. > :23:53.sideline, there was about 22 metres, you need four defenders, you can't

:23:54. > :23:57.have three defenders, he sent three, realised late, Luke Gale went down

:23:58. > :24:02.the short side with Zak Hardaker, Shaul saw it late and had to jump in

:24:03. > :24:10.the line. Great kick, fantastic piece of skill and like you said

:24:11. > :24:13.about Gale, a grey half-backs will pick the right place at the right

:24:14. > :24:15.time and he's done that two or three times this half alone. On the

:24:16. > :24:18.left-hand side the skills have been off but they got it right on the

:24:19. > :24:21.right-hand side this time so let's see what happens. There is plenty

:24:22. > :24:26.more sport to come on the BBC. It's a great time of year, isn't it?

:24:27. > :24:31.Highlights from the rowing at Poznan which follows us and you can catch

:24:32. > :24:35.up with the action from the ICC Champions Trophy between India and

:24:36. > :24:40.Pakistan tonight at 11:15pm, and given the weather it is time for the

:24:41. > :24:48.tennis, Queens begins tomorrow from 1pm on BBC Two. Before the game and

:24:49. > :24:53.kick-off Hull FC paid tribute to the legendary coach Arthur Bunting who

:24:54. > :25:10.took them to their most successful period in the club's history.

:25:11. > :25:12.Arthur Bunting spent 19 years as a player and then coach at Hull

:25:13. > :25:17.Kingston Rovers. It was at neighbours Hull FC where he won all

:25:18. > :25:17.of the game's major honours and let the Black and Whites to the most

:25:18. > :25:21.successful period in their history winning the Challenge Cup in 82 and

:25:22. > :25:31.league title in 83. He will be sorely missed.

:25:32. > :25:37.Wonderful memories of the great Arthur Bunting and we have a man,

:25:38. > :25:40.Lee crooks, who played for Hull FC and has special memories of Arthur

:25:41. > :25:48.because he signed you as a youngster. -- Lee Crooks. Just after

:25:49. > :25:52.my 16th birthday I got a phone call from my amateur coach saying after

:25:53. > :25:58.wanted to have a chat with me, so we went down and spoke to him. I always

:25:59. > :26:02.thought that I was a good player but I never thought I was good enough to

:26:03. > :26:08.be a professional player. So it came as a big shock. Obviously we had a

:26:09. > :26:14.good chat and I signed the papers and that was it. I think the rest is

:26:15. > :26:20.history really. How good a coach and man manager was he? He was a very,

:26:21. > :26:24.very good coach and an even better man manager. He was like a second

:26:25. > :26:28.father figure to me as a kid. He knew how to put his arm around you

:26:29. > :26:33.when you wanted console in, when you needed it, that also knew when to

:26:34. > :26:38.kick you up the backside when you needed it as well. From a coaching

:26:39. > :26:41.point of view he was very innovative, he went away and found

:26:42. > :26:46.new ideas for training techniques. One of the things we were very good

:26:47. > :26:50.at was we were very professional and we were very fit. I think that as

:26:51. > :26:55.well as the calibre of players we had is why we were so successful.

:26:56. > :26:59.While I have you here I must ask you about today and the game and it has

:27:00. > :27:04.swung both ways. How do you read it? Very close at the moment, Hull got

:27:05. > :27:07.off to a flying start, Castleford have been allowed to get back into

:27:08. > :27:12.the game. I think the weather has played a bit in that, some very

:27:13. > :27:15.fatigued players out there. It's going to be a very close game. The

:27:16. > :27:20.team that controls the ball the most in this half will be the team that

:27:21. > :27:27.goes on to win. Great to see you, Lee, back to you, Tanya.

:27:28. > :27:30.You grew up in Hull and you knew Arthur Bunting well. He was my

:27:31. > :27:33.next-door neighbour from my childhood and to those caring

:27:34. > :27:37.characteristics into his profession after rugby because he ran an old

:27:38. > :27:44.people's home next to my mum and dad's and used to drink pints of

:27:45. > :27:48.bitter with Phil Wilkin in the pub. We saw Darrell pointing at his head,

:27:49. > :27:51.telling them to use it more, as he? The big forwards will start the

:27:52. > :27:55.second half, as they wanted to the first, they were not very good the

:27:56. > :27:59.first 20 minutes and that let Hull get a real grip on the game. If they

:28:00. > :28:02.do that again second-half everyone will be more tired than they were in

:28:03. > :28:07.the first and that would lead Hull to a win but I cannot see Cas coming

:28:08. > :28:16.out and doing that again, they will talk about completions and getting a

:28:17. > :28:19.foothold in the game before doing anything with the ball. Lots of

:28:20. > :28:21.questions have been asked about Castleford and whether they are the

:28:22. > :28:24.real deal, the second half will give them a chance to show that if they

:28:25. > :28:26.come and execute properly down the left edge, the attacking skills they

:28:27. > :28:29.have shown all year, they could win. Back to Hull, the backfire carrying

:28:30. > :28:33.the ball, when they run hard and direct with the ball it will give

:28:34. > :28:38.them a chance of winning. It will depend on that, Castleford need to

:28:39. > :28:40.emphasis stomach put an emphasis on stopping the start of sets with

:28:41. > :28:44.those blokes in because without those Hull will not get off their

:28:45. > :28:52.own end. Castleford's main job is stopping Fonua and Talanoa who are

:28:53. > :28:56.so threatening when they have the ball. For Castleford it is a clean

:28:57. > :29:01.slate at half-time and they will come out in the second half and we

:29:02. > :29:06.will likely see Cas execute and the Cas we have known for the four-year.

:29:07. > :29:10.As JP said it is a pivotal moment for Cas because there has been a lot

:29:11. > :29:12.of talk about them and this will test their credentials. Hull are

:29:13. > :29:17.playing in the faces of Castleford and not giving them the rim to do

:29:18. > :29:21.what we're used to them doing and it is a template for other teams. Hull

:29:22. > :29:25.want to win, it is their trophy at the moment and they want to progress

:29:26. > :29:29.to the semifinals. He is such a factor in big games, motion is

:29:30. > :29:33.important. It comes down is to a couple of things, desire, who are

:29:34. > :29:36.the players who can carry the team through for the next 40 minutes? And

:29:37. > :29:42.which players have the most instinct? Spot a tired play and take

:29:43. > :29:45.advantage. If we look at the Hull side you would think Albert Kelly

:29:46. > :29:47.would be involved and in the Castleford side Roberts and Gale, I

:29:48. > :29:54.expect them to feature strongly in the second half. I know that JP is

:29:55. > :29:57.really tight on mental strength. In this kind of heat in this type of

:29:58. > :30:01.game will it almost come down to the team that believes and can get

:30:02. > :30:04.through the fatigue? It will be tough and painful for both sides but

:30:05. > :30:10.the question I have, I suppose, is how much Hull's start took out of

:30:11. > :30:13.Castleford, how much energy will Castleford have in the back end of

:30:14. > :30:16.the game? There will be two very tired sides but it's in the balance

:30:17. > :30:21.and Hull will be frustrated they didn't pull out a bigger lead than

:30:22. > :30:25.they have done. Going out in the last second 40 minutes and down by

:30:26. > :30:30.two points, Castleford are used to being up by 20 points in most weeks

:30:31. > :30:35.in recent times. This is the biggest game of the year for them. The first

:30:36. > :30:39.real important game for them to come from behind and win. The players are

:30:40. > :30:42.starting to make their way out onto the pitch, we will have the

:30:43. > :30:47.semifinal draw at the conclusion of this game, and remember we have the

:30:48. > :30:51.red button for as well. If the game overruns we will have the draw on

:30:52. > :30:55.their and BBC sport website, you will not miss it, stick with us.

:30:56. > :30:56.Bakhtiar commentary team of Brian Noble, Jonathan Davies and Dave

:30:57. > :31:05.Woods. COMMENTATOR: So here they come, both

:31:06. > :31:09.sides ready for what should be a terrific second-half here, all to be

:31:10. > :31:13.settled in the next 40 minutes, or beyond of course, we have to keep

:31:14. > :31:19.reminding you it could go to golden point extra time if it was all

:31:20. > :31:23.square at the end of the 80. Love the debate at half-time, some great

:31:24. > :31:26.points, who is got energy, who can look after the ball, what has

:31:27. > :31:35.happened to the left side of Castleford. I was intrigued, I loved

:31:36. > :31:38.it. They brought it down to basics at the end, a bit of desire and

:31:39. > :31:45.attitude there, and who has the instinct? Don't scramble your

:31:46. > :31:54.brains, onwards and upwards for both teams. The referee just making sure

:31:55. > :31:57.all is right with the world before that first shrill blast of the

:31:58. > :32:02.whistle, and here we go, settle back, should be a really good next

:32:03. > :32:09.40 minutes here, we have already seen some tries of quality from both

:32:10. > :32:12.sides, haven't we? Out at dummy half, thrown into the hands of

:32:13. > :32:18.Sene-Lefao, who has that first skipping run forward of this second

:32:19. > :32:26.period. McShane taking it forward again, Larroyer moving it up to that

:32:27. > :32:36.40 metre mark. Now they go a little bit right, McMeeken out there. Now

:32:37. > :32:41.it comes back with Foster. That is a good carry but they are up to the

:32:42. > :32:47.fifth now, on the sixth Castleford looking for a good finish. Roberts

:32:48. > :32:53.puts it higher. I think it is too close to the full-back. It is. Good

:32:54. > :33:03.set, good shape, a whole lot better but nothing kick for me. Four times

:33:04. > :33:08.challenge cup winners both these clubs, Hull beholders having won it

:33:09. > :33:14.last year at Wembley. 1986, the last time Castleford won this great

:33:15. > :33:21.prize. The oldest rugby league competition in the world. Washbrook.

:33:22. > :33:26.Kelly. Once another set of six because he felt there was a

:33:27. > :33:31.Castleford hand there. He wants to play on. Minichiello struggling

:33:32. > :33:43.through. And it's going to be a penalty. Interesting to know, will

:33:44. > :33:48.they take the point here? I still think, as they said in the studio,

:33:49. > :33:52.those big ball-carriers are causing problems. We are in the two -- when

:33:53. > :33:58.they are in the 20 metre area what a great chance to come away with four

:33:59. > :34:06.or six points. Perhaps they are over, four points clear. Looking to

:34:07. > :34:17.edged their way to victory here, two by two. The early birds going in two

:34:18. > :34:23.by two. Mark Sneed has not been missed in this department today

:34:24. > :34:33.because Jake Connor has been 100%. Short run-up, big cake, big end

:34:34. > :34:38.result, four out of four. 16-12, Hull FC lead Castleford. On the back

:34:39. > :34:42.of the contrast the boys painted, the picture they paint at half-time,

:34:43. > :34:49.Cas needed structure, move the ball around, then we saw, Fonua carrying

:34:50. > :34:53.the ball so well followed by Tuimavave. The ball-carriers rocking

:34:54. > :35:01.up as individuals and smack around the and it is a penalty. Restart and

:35:02. > :35:10.Hull with Castleford fans behind their backs in the second half. Able

:35:11. > :35:14.to bring it out again. Castleford is desperate to keep them down for as

:35:15. > :35:19.long as possible, two tackles gone already, moving towards the 20 metre

:35:20. > :35:33.mark. Thompson at the Gallup taking them on.

:35:34. > :35:39.Eventually Houghton picks up from the feed of Kelly, goes left, what's

:35:40. > :35:48.pops it up further left, Connor with a pass. Tuimavave can't get past web

:35:49. > :35:50.stuff. Good reading, good tackle from Webster because when you back

:35:51. > :35:57.yourself to stop the players he did you have to come up with the tackle.

:35:58. > :36:00.So Hardaker picks up here, and immediately gives it to Greg Eden

:36:01. > :36:05.the try scoring machine who can't find a way forward, so what about

:36:06. > :36:09.Greg Minikin? He is pulled down. I like the way the back three works

:36:10. > :36:15.together, that's what they should be doing, trying to get as many yards

:36:16. > :36:19.as they can. News of the two dressing rooms at half-time from

:36:20. > :36:26.Damien Johnson. I had a word with the coaching staff from both sides.

:36:27. > :36:29.Castle Mac -- Castleford's coach said they need to get hold of the

:36:30. > :36:34.ball and sent the players out the message, let's get the job done. Lee

:36:35. > :36:40.Radford Palazzi said discipline is key, they need to get a forward

:36:41. > :36:44.position and take points when they can. A robust challenge that has

:36:45. > :36:49.heard Millington and Castleford fancy their chances down the middle

:36:50. > :36:53.but Gale has closed down. Helped on by Mcshane, here comes Roberts with

:36:54. > :36:58.a left footed kick high in the air, chasing it as well, but again, Shaul

:36:59. > :37:03.comfortable underneath that and can get no further than ten from his

:37:04. > :37:10.own. Again, and nothing kick. He has lost the ball, hasn't a? Gone, I

:37:11. > :37:17.think. What is the referee deciding here? Yes, he has lost it. A little

:37:18. > :37:24.moment that could mean an awful lot of the game. Johnson was telling us

:37:25. > :37:37.about the errors. There is a blooper. Let's have a look. Hold of

:37:38. > :37:43.his arm, he lost it. So the Castleford fans finding their boys.

:37:44. > :37:56.The Hull fans likewise because this is a very important set of six

:37:57. > :38:02.coming up now. Here it comes. Hull's defence just about hanging on for

:38:03. > :38:10.the time being. Mcshane in at dummy half. Barged forward by Larroyer.

:38:11. > :38:15.Mcshane again. A big chance from the Cas fans behind the sticks. Here is

:38:16. > :38:20.Gale, Hardaker joins in, Shenton works it back towards the middle,

:38:21. > :38:26.being tracked but gets a pass away, Roberts with a big left foot step

:38:27. > :38:30.but left Liam Watts grasping at thin air. Castleford are back level with

:38:31. > :38:37.a kick that could give them the lead for the very first time in the game.

:38:38. > :38:49.He is so dangerous, isn't he? He is just so quick. Runs at the big men,

:38:50. > :38:54.acceleration from a standing start. Two tries out of nothing. Defended

:38:55. > :38:59.very well from the start, watching Zak Hardaker, going off very well,

:39:00. > :39:04.then they start pushing up slowly. There he is, three players go

:39:05. > :39:08.across, and once you get space like that, that is a brilliant finish

:39:09. > :39:12.again. Shenton looking for the one person who doesn't work hard enough

:39:13. > :39:15.on the inside or keep his hips square and body square and Roberts

:39:16. > :39:19.gets it against the grain, Minichiello going one way, what's

:39:20. > :39:26.the other, and he has been too good today, he has surged with footwork,

:39:27. > :39:30.he can see the space. Once Shenton went across the field I thought,

:39:31. > :39:38.danger, Ben Roberts chasing Shenton across the field. He is too good for

:39:39. > :39:45.me. Too good! You could see Minichiello pointing out, pointing

:39:46. > :39:49.out, inside defenders. Cas fans are on their feet applauding that moment

:39:50. > :40:03.and hoping they can applaud another one here because if Gayle puts it

:40:04. > :40:08.over, Castleford have the lead. Has he got it? Yes, he has! It was a

:40:09. > :40:13.whirlwind that came out in the opening six minutes when they

:40:14. > :40:19.trailed 12-0 but they have calm the storm and now it is their turn.

:40:20. > :40:25.Castleford lead 18-16. Brilliant step. We all mention the left-hand

:40:26. > :40:30.side of the Cas attack then talked about Albert Kennedy. We forgot

:40:31. > :40:39.about Ben Roberts, didn't we? This is what he can do. This is what

:40:40. > :40:47.great players do. But just like the season, so this game. Nothing is one

:40:48. > :40:52.yet. Roberts at dummy half shifts it to the right-hand side. They have to

:40:53. > :40:58.focus now because it might be just wanting them to complete the set,

:40:59. > :41:03.but they will have a go. If they see numbers Castleford go why does they

:41:04. > :41:07.have all season. Mcshane to dummy half again, great gig by McMeeken on

:41:08. > :41:13.the right-hand side, bullying their way back inside the opponents

:41:14. > :41:22.territory again here, Cas. Larroyer held up by three. Last plated, here

:41:23. > :41:27.-- last play to come here. Gale's kick, pressure on him, maybe more

:41:28. > :41:33.depth than we would have wanted, a lot more. They look better shape,

:41:34. > :41:37.more vigorous, and clearly the try there was against the grain but the

:41:38. > :41:42.three kicks have been nothing kicks for me. And me. I don't think Daryl

:41:43. > :41:49.Powell will be happy with the kicking. It is dummy jeopardy now

:41:50. > :41:57.because it is seven tackles as well. Here is Minichiello. That is only

:41:58. > :42:00.the second tackle, and already Hull have found themselves back in the

:42:01. > :42:09.half they want to be. Here is Tuimavave. Houghton snapping it up

:42:10. > :42:14.and offering it to Watts, Kelly slipping underneath the challenge of

:42:15. > :42:23.Gale. Exclamations all around. Part of the game. Now it is Fonua, trying

:42:24. > :42:28.to fend them off and keep the ball moving but he can't so he has to

:42:29. > :42:34.play it, and here comes the six again, Kelly 20 metres out looking

:42:35. > :42:39.to measure both. Too far again. That will be another one on the 20 so two

:42:40. > :42:44.poor kicks, one either rent. A fine line between excellence and not,

:42:45. > :42:54.isn't it? He was tapping in the wrong place, there was a lying there

:42:55. > :43:02.in the middle. -- a line. Luke Gale, a real swaggering stride to him as

:43:03. > :43:08.he walks around the field. Here is Alex Foster, ex-Leeds and London,

:43:09. > :43:11.came to Castleford for a trial in February, they liked what they saw

:43:12. > :43:16.so they signed him on. Millington doesn't like what he has just seen.

:43:17. > :43:20.Clean knock-on from the veteran prop. When you tire you lose

:43:21. > :43:34.concentration. A simple tape or Millington, such a good ballplayer.

:43:35. > :43:41.-- take for Millington. Bemused. I am with Darryl! It is just a

:43:42. > :43:46.straight drop. One more semifinal draw after this match hopefully on

:43:47. > :43:58.this channel, but if the match overruns on the Red Button. It is

:43:59. > :44:03.Tuimavave. Hull are back on the front foot again and helped out by

:44:04. > :44:08.another penalty. Can they kicked this and make it all square again or

:44:09. > :44:16.do they run it on? Going for two. They're not going to change their

:44:17. > :44:19.tactic now, are they? Every time you get a chance to keep the scoreboard

:44:20. > :44:34.rolling Lee Radford will do that. Take your points. Castleford fans

:44:35. > :44:38.having a non-ironic jeer at their Hull friends because Hull were doing

:44:39. > :44:46.the Icelandic chance Castleford were doing earlier -- having an ironic

:44:47. > :44:57.jeer. So, a chance here for Jake Connor. To put this between the

:44:58. > :45:07.sticks. And bring us back to a level scoreline again. You can hear the

:45:08. > :45:15.crowd. Old faithful rings out as corner kicks successfully, five out

:45:16. > :45:19.of five for him, 18-18, and still 28 minutes to go. We are still no

:45:20. > :45:24.closer to knowing who is going to win this game. A fabulous

:45:25. > :45:30.atmosphere, hats off to both sets of supporters. It is a privilege, this

:45:31. > :45:36.is what is great about rugby league, you can't Hull, very passionate.

:45:37. > :45:40.25,000 Castleford fans here who are just as passionate, making for a

:45:41. > :45:43.great game. Hardaker with the restart hit it long but not too long

:45:44. > :45:49.and Hull will settle themselves to bring it back here and try and

:45:50. > :45:58.impose themselves again on this advancing Castleford defence.

:45:59. > :46:05.Another big effort here from Tallulah. Pushed back, though. Had

:46:06. > :46:11.his measure on that occasion. Now it is Thompson, Thompson trying to

:46:12. > :46:17.squeeze through. They manage again to hang on. Now it comes to this

:46:18. > :46:23.right-hand side, want a Mac will get up and play, Houghton, Kelly.

:46:24. > :46:27.Grabbing along the line, trying to create space on the outside or maybe

:46:28. > :46:33.up for himself but neither occurs and he has held down again, second

:46:34. > :46:40.effort in the tackle. Have a guess. They are going to go for goal,

:46:41. > :46:46.surely. They are going for gold. And this could edged ahead again.

:46:47. > :46:50.Sticking to his principles and that is the danger of Kerry, gets in the

:46:51. > :46:55.outside shoulder of Sene-Lefao, deserves to play the ball quickly,

:46:56. > :47:03.he was looking for a couple of ball-carriers to hit through the

:47:04. > :47:13.line there. Cannot leave him alone. When they get on the front foot they

:47:14. > :47:19.are not going to stop, Hull. So, Jake Connor for the sixth time on

:47:20. > :47:24.this sunny Sunday afternoon, settles himself for a big kick. This one to

:47:25. > :47:30.give his side the lead. Short with the run up once more but he has put

:47:31. > :47:37.it wide this time! A wave of apology. It stays locked at 18-18,

:47:38. > :47:39.drop out on the 20 metres, so at least Hull will console themselves

:47:40. > :48:02.that all things being equal they should get the ball back here.

:48:03. > :48:24.Back it comes with Watts. Good effort from both attack and defence

:48:25. > :48:29.on a hot and draining day. It feels like a cup final occasion, doesn't

:48:30. > :48:35.it? The sun is out, beaming down, and so much at stake here, but it is

:48:36. > :48:42.only the quarter. This is Washbrook. Fonua. Kelly on his inside but Fonua

:48:43. > :48:49.will try to wreak little damage himself here. Houghton. Moseying up

:48:50. > :48:55.to dummy half. Thompson. What's backing up to Connor, Connor to

:48:56. > :48:58.Shaul, quick cards for -- hands from him, Tuimavave unbalanced as he

:48:59. > :49:05.tries to take it forward, so the last play, Connor again puts it

:49:06. > :49:14.high. Good take up there and Minikin now has a chance to bring it back

:49:15. > :49:16.with a sting as well. His strategy is to target Minikin particularly on

:49:17. > :49:23.that right wing, Connor going against the grain. Penalty on the

:49:24. > :49:37.recovery, Minikin got away from the kick chase. Good block by Webster.

:49:38. > :49:44.Protected his winger, clean catch. So time now for the Castleford wave

:49:45. > :49:52.to move inside the Hull half. This way and that.

:49:53. > :50:03.Decent carry in has laid a platform here, four tackles to go. Mcshane,

:50:04. > :50:09.left to foster, Foster's of showed, Mcshane, picked up and rescued for

:50:10. > :50:14.Hull again. No need for that. Kelly gets on with the big prize in his

:50:15. > :50:20.hands, possession back for his side. It is a prize. You want as much ball

:50:21. > :50:29.as you want in these conditions in relation to field position and Cas

:50:30. > :50:34.have got theirs with a penalty. Momentum again with Hull, they need

:50:35. > :50:42.to try to get some points on the board. Here comes Taylor. Carrying a

:50:43. > :50:46.couple with him, and extra yard or two. Houghton looks around to see

:50:47. > :50:51.what is available for him when he picks up from dummy half. Dropped

:50:52. > :50:56.into the pack. Bowden, oh! Almost over but still keeps the ball,

:50:57. > :51:01.flowing away, Washbrook on the right cut thin, desperate car for the

:51:02. > :51:07.defending. A scramble and an off-load, play on! Shaul, tackle not

:51:08. > :51:12.completed, Shaul with the kick, play on, the referee says, then knocked

:51:13. > :51:19.on by Fonua. That was an opportunity. I thought he kicked

:51:20. > :51:25.it... He said accidental offside against Cas. I'm not sure if that

:51:26. > :51:30.was the right thing to do there. That is very unlucky. Mcshane gets

:51:31. > :51:38.his foot to it, touches Shenton. This is good pressure from Hull.

:51:39. > :51:41.This is the area where you feel they are very, very dangerous. Not as

:51:42. > :51:48.creative as Castleford but the power is certainly there. So head and feet

:51:49. > :51:56.for Hull in mighty fine position here.

:51:57. > :52:04.Kelly with the feed. Out it comes from Houghton, spend away to Connor,

:52:05. > :52:11.two Minichiello, Minichiello against the tide defence. Penalty. They will

:52:12. > :52:17.kick another two from here once the referee has calmed things down.

:52:18. > :52:20.Castleford might just have gifted Hull believed. It is a good position

:52:21. > :52:25.there with their ball-carriers, a good opportunity to just put the

:52:26. > :52:30.Castleford defence under pressure with their big ball-carriers. They

:52:31. > :52:35.are not going to do it. If they are going to score tries, this is the

:52:36. > :52:38.area they will score in. I agree and I also feel if Castleford get in the

:52:39. > :52:43.other half they will score another try in this game so either Hull have

:52:44. > :52:47.to back themselves to get over the line in the situation or try to do

:52:48. > :52:52.with their defence, but I don't think in a game like this against

:52:53. > :52:59.team like this it is that safer strategies. You want to be in front,

:53:00. > :53:05.it is a cup game, but when you are in that position with the

:53:06. > :53:09.ball-carriers they have got, defenders need to hold the attack

:53:10. > :53:15.out from that Hull various. Two points not to be sniffed at whatever

:53:16. > :53:25.the context, as over it goes, and 20-18 the margin, with Hull, with

:53:26. > :53:30.still 20 minutes left to play. Absolutely. Whilst it is our

:53:31. > :53:33.opinions of what you should and shouldn't do the pressure is on that

:53:34. > :53:47.guy and if they win by two points, they will be going, ha-ha ha-ha!

:53:48. > :53:54.Hardaker with the restart. Oh! LAUGHTER Nervous moment there. May

:53:55. > :54:08.have been dropped, good heavens! But it wasn't. Houghton at dummy half.

:54:09. > :54:17.Houghton at the feet of Talanoa. Outside backs having their say in

:54:18. > :54:20.the early stages of this set. They have helped their side towards the

:54:21. > :54:27.halfway line. Now the big fellas have a go and try to blast a bigger

:54:28. > :54:35.route down. There will be a kick here. Kelly. Mcshane got it away,

:54:36. > :54:44.even underneath it, and catches it safely enough. A lessening

:54:45. > :54:49.reputation of not being safe, but that side of his game has improved a

:54:50. > :54:55.lot in the last season. I agree with that. Had a reputation at one point

:54:56. > :55:00.of not being able to mend those things over. Scoring five had tricks

:55:01. > :55:06.in six games, confidence is another factor. -- five hat-trick. Shenton.

:55:07. > :55:15.Rays of the eyebrow thereby Jonathan Davies. Here is Webster. Where do

:55:16. > :55:23.they go here? To Gale. Good defence. Not much yardage. That is just a

:55:24. > :55:34.high kick. Easy for Shaul, and there he stays. Well, again, the purpose

:55:35. > :55:37.is clear, field position, get the team from a standing start and don't

:55:38. > :55:42.give Shaul a running opportunity, I get that. The kick chase teen gets

:55:43. > :55:46.down there but it is a clean catch. Look at all the Hull players, they

:55:47. > :55:51.are all around the ball, that ball is going nowhere, look at them, you

:55:52. > :55:56.could throw a blanket over them. One thing in mind as Brian said, get

:55:57. > :56:03.down there, look at them. Houghton, Kelly, Shenton with the tackle. We

:56:04. > :56:08.are at that last play of the set again, where something might happen.

:56:09. > :56:21.Houghton with a little chip. Not sure what he was aiming for. Again,

:56:22. > :56:26.terrific set from Hull. One of the best end to sets, we have seen. We

:56:27. > :56:31.have seen a couple of scruffy end to sets. Webster. We promise not to

:56:32. > :56:36.Labour the point but how much is the heat playing a part in this, how

:56:37. > :56:40.they are feeling at the moment and how that impacts decision-making? It

:56:41. > :56:45.is just their minds at the moment. As Brian said, they will not risk

:56:46. > :56:51.anything. They can get down there and take the points when they come.

:56:52. > :56:57.Massey's Drive, and here comes the six again, kick from Gale, high, and

:56:58. > :57:03.again the full-back is favourite for it and hits the ground and Hull

:57:04. > :57:07.start from there. Shaul is a really dangerous ball-carrier, he is quick,

:57:08. > :57:12.a little space and he is gone. The tactic I feel from Castleford is to

:57:13. > :57:16.put the ball eye, let him hear the footsteps as the kick chase teen

:57:17. > :57:19.gets down there and hope he makes an error. Not kicking with a view to

:57:20. > :57:37.getting the ball back for Shaul. Talanoa on tackle three. Sika Manu

:57:38. > :57:45.back on the field. Taylor. A kick from inside their own half at the

:57:46. > :57:49.end of this set. Connor Steeples it. Minikin underneath it. Almost giving

:57:50. > :57:54.a little extra hug there. I don't know why he left the ground there,

:57:55. > :57:58.makes it difficult for himself, he is nowhere near him, just plant your

:57:59. > :58:02.feet, catch the ball, turn your shoulder, if you do a drop in it

:58:03. > :58:12.goes backwards. Things you are taught in school! It is Gale.

:58:13. > :58:16.Shenton. Maybe thinking about... He never seemed to have control of that

:58:17. > :58:21.as he went into the tackle and Hull come away with it, and Michaels,

:58:22. > :58:27.Lynch, desperately hanging on, dumping it to the ground, Castleford

:58:28. > :58:30.going forward, going backwards again now and Hull sensing another

:58:31. > :58:35.opportunities. Big mistake from Shenton. They are right on the 20

:58:36. > :58:43.metre line, plenty of tackles left. Sika Manu. Fresh from the

:58:44. > :58:49.interchange bench. He has that kind of quality. Making himself a handful

:58:50. > :58:54.for the Castleford offenders. Kelly weaves inside the oncoming Shenton,

:58:55. > :59:01.but two more there to meet him. Great tackle. Washbrook delivering

:59:02. > :59:06.back to Houghton. On to Connor. Another little step back towards the

:59:07. > :59:14.middle of the park here, Minichiello looking for a gap, get the pass away

:59:15. > :59:20.and it will be a huge effort, Mahe Fonua over the line, taking Hull

:59:21. > :59:27.inches closer to a place in the semifinals. It is going to take some

:59:28. > :59:32.character forecaster comeback from here. Minichiello again, such a

:59:33. > :59:38.dangerous runner, ploughing across the field, creating the overlap. As

:59:39. > :59:43.we have said, you know, so close to the try line. He had a difficult

:59:44. > :59:49.side -- they are a difficult side to stop. Someone complaining about the

:59:50. > :59:54.decision earlier when they lost the ball. Here it is. For me he didn't

:59:55. > :59:58.have control of the ball, drops it, that is play on, Michael makes

:59:59. > :00:01.distance and they are in the right part of the field but watch them

:00:02. > :00:06.come against the grain, left foot, left foot, left foot, who is going

:00:07. > :00:11.to stop them? Then Mane Fonua with a one-on-one in the second, -- Centre,

:00:12. > :00:24.you won't stop him. This is a big cake. This is to take Hull two

:00:25. > :00:33.scores away. Toogood there, Manu comes on and makes an impact again.

:00:34. > :00:38.But front, Watts, Taylor. When we were debating about kick for two or

:00:39. > :00:42.not, this was the part of the equation we perhaps ignored. If Hull

:00:43. > :00:44.score another try and kick a goal they are then two scores ahead and

:00:45. > :00:54.psychologically huge. But he has to kick it. That's the

:00:55. > :01:05.other part of the equation, and it's a tough one. But here he comes. It

:01:06. > :01:09.has gone over. That is huge, 26-18, Castleford have to score twice. We

:01:10. > :01:12.know they are capable, we know they can do but their champagne cork has

:01:13. > :01:20.not been allowed to pop out of the bottle so far today. Well done, Lee

:01:21. > :01:28.Radford, because his strategy is right. Those questioning his

:01:29. > :01:35.strategy were wrong. Two scores ahead, Castleford can score twice

:01:36. > :01:43.but he has backed his team again. There is still time in the game. 13

:01:44. > :01:47.minutes left is plenty of time for Castleford two score two tries. They

:01:48. > :01:53.have controlled the ball very well, Hull. Their intent is clear. Watch

:01:54. > :01:56.them now, running from dummy half runs, get the big runners, good

:01:57. > :02:03.yardage, and then good field position, defend well.

:02:04. > :02:14.Simple, not pretty, very effective. Kelly goes left again, Connor into

:02:15. > :02:21.the line, gets the arms free, racing away, Shaul. All kinds of collisions

:02:22. > :02:26.going on around, carries on with the stepping and gets the pass away and

:02:27. > :02:34.Jamie Shaul scores the try, back-to-back tries for Hull FC.

:02:35. > :02:39.Back-to-back semifinals for Hull FC is looking very likely now.

:02:40. > :02:45.Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, simple football, look after the

:02:46. > :02:53.football, the coach said. They got numbers, Kelly on one side, Connor

:02:54. > :02:56.trying to pick up, you think Castleford have scrambled and

:02:57. > :03:02.covered the plate but watch this, excellent rugby league try.

:03:03. > :03:09.Brilliant try, lovely ball, Connor breaks, they all get up and support.

:03:10. > :03:13.Jamie Shaul, now it is Tuimavave, doesn't panic and throw a stupid

:03:14. > :03:25.pass, he waits and gets in a lovely off-load. Lovely finish. Easy

:03:26. > :03:27.finish. Again, nothing fancy, just one up, Kelly adds a bit of speed

:03:28. > :03:45.and pace to it, and lovely off-load. The Hull faithful loving that

:03:46. > :03:50.moment. Lee Radford, Daryl Powell, coaches in different camps and in

:03:51. > :04:01.very different mental states at the moment. This is another big kick.

:04:02. > :04:03.Takes it away again, doesn't it. Yes, if this goes over it becomes a

:04:04. > :04:27.three score game. His kicking has been exceptional

:04:28. > :04:33.today so far, Connor, just the one mess, that's all. And it remains at

:04:34. > :04:39.that ratio. Eight successes from nine attempts, 32-18, 14 points the

:04:40. > :04:47.difference, Castleford have to score three times in the last ten minutes

:04:48. > :04:50.to keep their cup dream alive. The holders are more than holding on.

:04:51. > :04:59.They are beginning to run away with it just a little.

:05:00. > :05:03.Short kick-off, the order of the day, trying to get the ball back.

:05:04. > :05:16.Michaels collects it. They won't change anything now,

:05:17. > :05:25.exactly the same. Bowden. Starve them of possession. Haltern. Manu.

:05:26. > :05:46.-- Houghton. Taylor. Tackle five. Hull looking

:05:47. > :05:52.for a strong finish here. The kick. Connor finds the ball back, he's

:05:53. > :06:05.gone for a drop goal but he has put its wide. That was a brilliant

:06:06. > :06:14.strike. He was facing the wrong way when he decided to do that. Not

:06:15. > :06:17.far-off. Good kick. Castleford Tigers Mac fightback has to start

:06:18. > :06:27.here with nine and a half minutes to go. Three scores required. They are

:06:28. > :06:30.capable. If anyone this season is capable of getting that kind of

:06:31. > :06:42.scoring sequence together. It is this team. What have they got? We

:06:43. > :06:46.know what they have got. This is it now. Hull have got too much juice

:06:47. > :06:54.defensively, could be wrong here but it is a big ask of Cas, nine

:06:55. > :07:05.minutes, scores. Very capable. To his left-hand side, Nathan Massey

:07:06. > :07:07.will take it on a stride or two, Hull defending. Gale. Millington. A

:07:08. > :07:15.couple of dummies thrown by Robertson. And then it goes inside

:07:16. > :07:24.and Minikin is over. Here comes the storm. Here it comes. That is a

:07:25. > :07:30.brilliant try, I have to say. Greg Minikin, the try scorer,

:07:31. > :07:38.Castleford's response. Brilliant, just watch. One side of the ruck to

:07:39. > :07:44.the other, playing out the back, great play from Hardaker and Eden.

:07:45. > :07:48.Great finish. It is a miscommunication on the left-hand

:07:49. > :07:53.side of the Hull defence. Great step from Minikin, he comes in really

:07:54. > :08:01.close, really close drop-off. Luke Gale has got to kick the goals as

:08:02. > :08:07.well. He is taking his time. The drop of the hips before he kicks

:08:08. > :08:13.that ball and it has gone over. So, here we go, 32-24. You know what

:08:14. > :08:26.they are going to do now. They are going to throw everything at Hull.

:08:27. > :08:29.Two scores required. Once the touch judges have hit the corner flag. We

:08:30. > :08:34.are watching Minikin going over again. The referee has stopped the

:08:35. > :08:40.clock, Hull slope back to the restart. He stopped the clock

:08:41. > :08:48.because the touch judges weren't in place. Connor kicks it downfield,

:08:49. > :09:01.Hull's defence must be smart because we know how smart Castleford's

:09:02. > :09:06.attack can be. Larroyer. Muscling up down the middle in the shape of

:09:07. > :09:11.Massey. Here is Gale. Yesterday it was a sensational finish to a cup

:09:12. > :09:17.quarterfinal, today's could be similar. Remember on the red button

:09:18. > :09:24.forum, the draw as soon as we finish, and the red button at 5pm as

:09:25. > :09:29.well. Idem find some space, inside for Hardaker, Hardaker is dragged

:09:30. > :09:35.down, desperate defending from Hull. There are still three tackles in

:09:36. > :09:41.this set. Gale. Roberts. All the way out to Webster. Webster cuts back.

:09:42. > :09:47.McMeeken suddenly finds himself surrounded by men in Black and White

:09:48. > :09:53.and there is only one play to go. Gale steadies himself, the kick

:09:54. > :09:57.across to Eden. Eden up with Michaels there to meet him, Shenton

:09:58. > :10:01.pops it back on the inside and Eden has it and he's tries to pop it over

:10:02. > :10:12.the line and the ball has bounced clear. The referee has a decision to

:10:13. > :10:17.make. They are checking here. Desperate play by Cas and desperate

:10:18. > :10:23.defence. You are right. Is that going to be a penalty? Yes, he

:10:24. > :10:26.tackled him in the air. Can the referee make that decision because

:10:27. > :10:47.he's been asked about the restart, hasn't he? It has

:10:48. > :10:58.come off Fonua. It is technically a tackle in the air but there is

:10:59. > :11:02.nothing in it. Does Fonua get his hand onto it? He's just lost that.

:11:03. > :11:07.Just to reiterate they are not looking at the tackle in the air, it

:11:08. > :11:15.is all about the restart and the decision has been taken that it is a

:11:16. > :11:26.tap on the 20. Scrum for Hull. Irrespective, the main thing for

:11:27. > :11:32.Hull is to get the ball up. Five minutes to go, Hull leading by eight

:11:33. > :11:42.points. Castleford needing a try and a goal and another try. Hull just

:11:43. > :11:47.needing to hang on. Danny Houghton. We saw them do it last year against

:11:48. > :11:56.Warrington in the final. Big squeeze late on and Hull hung on. Can they

:11:57. > :12:03.rediscover that muscle memory? Houghton. Bowden taking it big down

:12:04. > :12:15.the middle here, carrying the ball in. Time ticking away, less than

:12:16. > :12:22.five to go. Here is Sika Manu. So, the last play in this set, they

:12:23. > :12:28.would dearly love a repeat set, Kelly kicks it in straight into the

:12:29. > :12:34.hands of Eden. Less than ten from their own line, Cas. Cas will have

:12:35. > :12:39.to get behind the ball and be more expansive than they are. Eden again

:12:40. > :12:45.looking for some of his magic, trying to get away through. Hull

:12:46. > :12:49.have been very effective today, especially the two wingers and

:12:50. > :12:55.centres and forwards, and offensively as well. Millington.

:12:56. > :13:01.Here is Gale, Shenton steps back towards the middle again looking for

:13:02. > :13:12.tired defenders. Finding only the turf on tackle five. He kicks it as

:13:13. > :13:16.high as he can, Gale. Too far. Shaul has it, catches it on his shoulder,

:13:17. > :13:25.he is able and capable of bringing it back here. Here is a damaging run

:13:26. > :13:35.out of dummy half. Good effort by Talanoa.

:13:36. > :13:44.Hull have big ball-carriers. Here is Fonua. Jonathan Davies has been

:13:45. > :13:52.involved in their selection of the man of the match today. Now Bowden,

:13:53. > :13:57.trying to squeeze through the gap again. Castleford Tigers and trying

:13:58. > :14:02.to hold up this set and get the ball back. Houghton hits it and it hit

:14:03. > :14:11.one of his own men and it is a handover 22 metres out. Who wants to

:14:12. > :14:17.take the initiative? With decided for all the work he has done

:14:18. > :14:25.carrying the ball, our Ladbrokes Challenge Cup man of the match is

:14:26. > :14:31.Fonua, the winger. Congratulations to him. He scored that big try in

:14:32. > :14:36.the second half. Castleford, though, still looking to keep their cup

:14:37. > :14:46.hopes alive. Here is Shenton. Hardaker. Milner. Manu has got him.

:14:47. > :14:53.At Milner is somehow able to smuggle that ball away backwards. McMeeken.

:14:54. > :14:59.Down the right-hand side. Hull's defenders in his face. Remember, Cas

:15:00. > :15:06.must score twice. They need to score in this set. Two minutes to go.

:15:07. > :15:10.Millington back to Gale, Gale timing it, put it out to Eden, sets off on

:15:11. > :15:16.his run and gathers the ball in behind and loses it to Michaels. The

:15:17. > :15:24.body language from Castleford and that of Hull tells its story. I

:15:25. > :15:27.think this game has just been won. The work of Albert Kelly, brilliant

:15:28. > :15:33.in defence today, every time Eden has been set free he has come across

:15:34. > :15:38.to either force him into touch, or force him inside. Castleford do ask

:15:39. > :15:43.you questions offensively, we've seen that in the last ten minutes

:15:44. > :15:46.but with 12 minutes to go they had too much energy, that cyber defence

:15:47. > :15:51.takes energy because they ask a lot of questions and they have a lot in

:15:52. > :15:55.their tank and have come up with a few scramble plays, when Cas may

:15:56. > :15:56.have got the extra break, we saw Eden make the break when Kelly came

:15:57. > :16:06.across, you are quite right. What a day to remember Arthur

:16:07. > :16:15.Bunting as well from Hull's point of view. It's a great game, contrasting

:16:16. > :16:21.styles. They've just got to see it out, the team in black-and-white.

:16:22. > :16:26.Simply not time now for Castleford to rescue the situation. It will be

:16:27. > :16:29.all eyes on Super League now for Cas, six points clear at the top,

:16:30. > :16:32.they will want to make sure they carry that on. The Challenge Cup

:16:33. > :16:51.dream has slipped away. Tuimavave. It is a bit messy here.

:16:52. > :16:57.This might bring us to the end of the game. The referee has stop the

:16:58. > :17:00.clock with 19 seconds to go. REFEREE: Listen, just play-the-ball,

:17:01. > :17:16.tackle three. Tackle three, Carlos. Leeds, Wigan and Hull will be in the

:17:17. > :17:27.draw for the semifinal which is coming up very soon. Fonua might

:17:28. > :17:32.just be the man who ends the game with the ball in his hands. It's not

:17:33. > :17:36.quite in his hands because he has knocked it on but it hardly matters,

:17:37. > :17:43.Fonua kicks the ball into the crowd in celebration. What a fantastic win

:17:44. > :17:46.that has been for Hull FC. For the second time this season they have

:17:47. > :17:51.beaten Castleford, once in the league and once in the cup. They

:17:52. > :17:55.thoroughly deserved today's win, they managed the clock and the game

:17:56. > :17:59.certainly in the second half, the physical prowess they showed in the

:18:00. > :18:03.first 20 minutes of the first half, fully deserved. They closed them

:18:04. > :18:07.down, didn't allow them any space, defensively they were very good,

:18:08. > :18:12.they didn't allow the many opportunities. Great game of rugby

:18:13. > :18:15.league but Hull deserved winners. Let's hear from the man of the

:18:16. > :18:20.match, if memory serves is Fonua, and he is with Damian Johnson.

:18:21. > :18:25.Congratulations, you are holding the fears and you have to do it the hard

:18:26. > :18:29.way today. We knew Cas would come down guns blazing, top of the table

:18:30. > :18:33.in Super League and we didn't expect anything less. Was your try the

:18:34. > :18:37.gamebreaker towards the end? We know that Cas would fight all the way to

:18:38. > :18:41.the end, although that try was scored with 12 minutes to go we knew

:18:42. > :18:46.they would keep coming until the 80th minute. Seen that before, dummy

:18:47. > :18:50.between your legs? Little black magic, Fijian touch. How hard was it

:18:51. > :18:54.today, the conditions are sapping out there. It felt like 30 plus,

:18:55. > :18:59.heart conditions to play in and great effort to all 34 players today

:19:00. > :19:04.who took the field and everyone gave 110%. It was really good.

:19:05. > :19:07.Congratulations, Ladbrokes man of the match. Danny Houghton, the

:19:08. > :19:10.skipper is with us, you were blowing hard at half-time and had tipped off

:19:11. > :19:19.that one out. We knew we would have to play for 80 minutes against the

:19:20. > :19:22.team. We dug deep and we deserved the win. At one point it looked like

:19:23. > :19:25.you would have to win the game through kicks. This is knockout

:19:26. > :19:29.rugby and if that's what it takes that is what we are prepared to do.

:19:30. > :19:33.They got on the front foot in the second done at first half and we

:19:34. > :19:37.talked about it in half-time and made sure we got on the front foot.

:19:38. > :19:40.Fair play to our backfield today which was great today. Was this a

:19:41. > :19:45.demonstration of how much you want to hold onto the trophy? The

:19:46. > :19:48.memories we got from the weekend last year is something we will hold

:19:49. > :19:52.onto forever and if we can do that again it takes a special team so

:19:53. > :19:57.that is our goal. Well done, Danny. Jake Connor is with us as well.

:19:58. > :20:02.Relatively new to the side, how was it for you? Great feeling to get the

:20:03. > :20:05.win, I don't think I've played in a quirky game, the boys are out on

:20:06. > :20:08.their feet, we had to dig deep, Castleford are top of the league for

:20:09. > :20:11.a reason and we gave everything to get the win and the effort was

:20:12. > :20:18.outstanding and we got there in the end. You might not have been here

:20:19. > :20:23.but full marks night being out? Yes, hopefully, taking over his kicking

:20:24. > :20:27.duties is tough but I did my best and kicking those points ends up

:20:28. > :20:30.getting you in so I'm glad to get the win. You will be glued to the

:20:31. > :20:35.draw in a few minutes time? Definitely. We have probably beaten

:20:36. > :20:38.the best team in the league so I don't think it matters who we get if

:20:39. > :20:45.we play like that, we can go all the way. Thank you for joining us. Lee

:20:46. > :20:49.Radford joins us. Lee, today was one of those days where you really had

:20:50. > :20:55.to grind out the victory against a really good team. Yes, sure. I got

:20:56. > :20:59.sweaty watching it and we had three gingers out there as well so to get

:21:00. > :21:02.the result was a minor miracle. Castleford threw everything at you,

:21:03. > :21:09.did you think they would come back? It is cup football, very similar in

:21:10. > :21:12.the last five or ten minutes was done to how we played them last

:21:13. > :21:17.time. They are dangerous and we go from touchline to touchline, nobody

:21:18. > :21:20.jumped out of the box and everybody stayed shoulder to shoulder and

:21:21. > :21:24.scrambled for one another. A word about the crowd because this is a

:21:25. > :21:28.special place when they get behind you. Phenomenal and credited

:21:29. > :21:31.Castleford, I think half the village is here with them and everybody who

:21:32. > :21:36.has turned out with a Black and White shirt in the city, three

:21:37. > :21:39.really good sides in the draw, the draw is after today, I believe. It

:21:40. > :21:44.will be a tough semifinal but one that we look forward to. Thank you,

:21:45. > :21:48.Lee. It was a fantastic atmosphere here

:21:49. > :21:55.afternoon De Michael on. How much of a feather in the cap is that in the

:21:56. > :21:59.way his team approached this? They got the points in the right way when

:22:00. > :22:03.Castleford were ill disciplined. Normally that has been the

:22:04. > :22:08.difference. They won by eight points, four penalties they kicked

:22:09. > :22:13.over. Hull played fantastic, they played the conditions and put their

:22:14. > :22:18.game plan into action and Castleford will be disappointed. A proper fit

:22:19. > :22:22.performance from Hull, patient, kicked their penalties and got the

:22:23. > :22:26.gap for the tries. They simplified everything in the second half, they

:22:27. > :22:30.didn't play a lot of rugby in this first off but they worked out

:22:31. > :22:33.quickly that the indirect and punching through Castleford with the

:22:34. > :22:38.outside backs would work, they ran out of dummy half and punched holes

:22:39. > :22:40.through Castleford's middle and it sapped Castleford's energy and it

:22:41. > :22:45.made them look effective with the ball but I'm certain that was the

:22:46. > :22:50.way Hull carried the ball. JP mentioned it but it might come down

:22:51. > :22:54.to some piece of opportunist play. This is Minichiello just exploring

:22:55. > :22:57.the tired defenders, running towards them, Fonua with the cheeky dummy

:22:58. > :23:01.through his legs and it is too strong. You cannot stop him through

:23:02. > :23:12.there. Cheeky throughout the game for the head and shoulders above. We

:23:13. > :23:14.were saying the set before that Castleford looked tired and they

:23:15. > :23:18.didn't seem to get their energy back. Hull made a break and look how

:23:19. > :23:21.many players they have flooding through, two or three people they

:23:22. > :23:26.can pass to, Castleford doing their best but they are shattered. That is

:23:27. > :23:30.energy when you are making breaks and you have people supporting and

:23:31. > :23:34.around the ball, Danny Houghton brings that energy to Hull all day

:23:35. > :23:38.and Hull invested some energy at the start and reaped the rewards at the

:23:39. > :23:43.end by being far superior in terms of their energy levels over Cas.

:23:44. > :23:47.There was a period in the second half when Hull kept taking the

:23:48. > :23:52.penalties, made Castleford sprint 50 metres and that was the part midway

:23:53. > :23:56.through the second half that won them the game. Let's get the

:23:57. > :24:00.semifinal draw for the Challenge Cup, handing over to Dave Woods.

:24:01. > :24:03.Here we go, the semifinal draw for the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup and we

:24:04. > :24:10.have a lot of very happy Hull fans here. And wondering who their side

:24:11. > :24:12.will face in those semifinals. We have a couple of special guests to

:24:13. > :24:27.make the draw. 2005, Danny Brough was a Hull winner

:24:28. > :24:31.when he kicked the winning two points in Cardiff to make sure Hull

:24:32. > :24:38.beat Leeds these days he plays with Huddersfield, of course. Gentlemen,

:24:39. > :24:43.get the ball is in the bowl, Salford number one, Leeds number two, Wigan

:24:44. > :24:46.number three, and Hull number four. Danny Ward draw the first team,

:24:47. > :24:57.Barry will draw the second team and here we go. -- Danny will draw.

:24:58. > :25:05.Number four. Number four is Hull. And they are up against in that

:25:06. > :25:08.semifinal. Number two. Leeds, it is a Yorkshire affair, Hull against

:25:09. > :25:16.Leeds, they are loving that. Number three. Number three is Wigan.

:25:17. > :25:22.Inevitably, just one ball to come out. Number one. It is Salford, east

:25:23. > :25:29.of the Pennines against West of the Pennines match. Those games will be

:25:30. > :25:34.played on the 29th and 30th of June. Thank you. Sam, you have Salford,

:25:35. > :25:38.what do you make of it? Whoever we got it would be a tough game, the

:25:39. > :25:43.other three teams in the draw are in the top four in Super League so we

:25:44. > :25:47.know we are up against it. We have played Salford and beaten before so

:25:48. > :25:51.no reason we cannot do it again. Have a surprise you how well they

:25:52. > :25:56.have gone the season? I wouldn't say they surprise me, they have lots of

:25:57. > :26:03.talented players. Obviously with Lomu being there, it has taken time

:26:04. > :26:12.for Salford to get consistent form and they have got it at the moment.

:26:13. > :26:15.-- Logan. I would like to have avoided Salford to have a chance to

:26:16. > :26:19.play Logan at Wembley but that was not to be. Whoever we would have

:26:20. > :26:23.played it would have been tough. Banned from talking to him in the

:26:24. > :26:28.run-up? Yes, I will not speak to him again! Hull FC against Leeds, a big

:26:29. > :26:42.cheer went up for that one, that is a big one. They are both big games.

:26:43. > :26:46.Wigan against Warrington Hull versus Castleford, they have shown the

:26:47. > :26:51.highest levels of rugby league. How big an opportunity is this to put

:26:52. > :26:54.Salford on the map? The club needs an extended period of success to get

:26:55. > :27:00.that sort of business going and get the attendances. They have a new

:27:01. > :27:03.stadium and a big target audience in Manchester. I think some success

:27:04. > :27:07.would really help that club tick along because they've had some

:27:08. > :27:11.investment. The money has been put in, the club has been developing and

:27:12. > :27:14.have been investing in place and it's starting to bear fruit and they

:27:15. > :27:19.could get to the big games this year but that being said Wigan are in the

:27:20. > :27:28.way and it will an epic game. You want to jump in? That's what Salford

:27:29. > :27:32.need. They have a great stadium but they don't have enough fans going to

:27:33. > :27:35.watch. Every fan will tell you they want to see a winning team and

:27:36. > :27:42.because Salford have not won for a long time, if they were to win,

:27:43. > :27:45.hopefully not a Challenge Cup this year, that would bring in a new

:27:46. > :27:53.group of fans. You look like you want to say something, Jamie. They

:27:54. > :27:56.don't have excuses, they have a successful team, get behind your

:27:57. > :28:00.team and make sure Salford are a success, the players and coaches are

:28:01. > :28:06.doing it, get some more fans behind them now. You have been involved in

:28:07. > :28:10.a lot of Hull FC- Leeds games, what are they like? Huge games, two big

:28:11. > :28:17.sides, two previous winners playing each other so itchy BA cracker. --

:28:18. > :28:23.so it should be a cracker. Is it unfair to ask who will be in the

:28:24. > :28:27.final? Wigan. Well done, we will all go ahead friends! Thank you for

:28:28. > :28:28.joining us. Join us on the red button but the holders are through

:28:29. > :29:06.to the semifinal. The BAFTA award-winning comedian

:29:07. > :29:11.returns, some of his finest

:29:12. > :29:16.and funniest moments.