Episode 24 Super League Show


Episode 24

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Transcript


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Hello there.

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The greatest show on earth is up and running in Rio and the final

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lap of the Rugby League season is underway.

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Week one of the Super Eights and Jamie Peacock and John

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Keir are standing by.

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This is how it works.

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The top eight after 23 rounds of the regular season have broken

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away and take their points and they play each other over

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the next two months.

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The top four then contest the play-offs and try to win the big

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one at Old Trafford.

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The bottom four face the top four from the Championship.

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It is a little bit more, complicated than that,

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but all will become clear over the next eight weeks.

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We will start tonight with Thursday's meeting

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of Warrington and St Helens.

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Saints have been resurgent and are looking to continue that form.

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Dave Woods was watching.

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Back towards the middle again.

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Taking it in.

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Ten metres out, scrambled forward.

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Short pass and McCarthy-Scarsbrook using all his will to

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get over and score.

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Midway through this first half.

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Clark.

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A fine atmosphere around the place.

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Dropped down.

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But Clark out from dummy half, Daryl Clark, sniping his way over.

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Warrington should be back level again

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in a moment.

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Hold.

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Roby.

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Stepping back on the inside, but no way through.

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Roby collects again.

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Moore is going to bustle forward and a good off-load and Turner goes

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left and gets the pass away and Percieval to Swift who has got

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the pace to take on Evans.

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Lomax backing up, what a wonderful St Helens try that was.

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From start to finish, brilliant from Jonny Lomax.

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Wriggling away, Ratchford.

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Warrington are working their way down field at the moment.

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It is a drop by Toby King.

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Zero tackle.

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Percival is trying to get on with it but McCarthy-Scarsbrook

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is getting involved.

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McCarthy-Scarsbrook very much involved here.

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McCarthy-Scarsbrook comes in and then Hughes is

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grabbing him in the face.

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Oh dear!

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It does not look good from Jack Hughes.

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You kept hold of him.

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That has caused a problem.

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It is a penalty.

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I will speak to him in a moment.

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That might come back to haunt Jack Hughes.

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It does not look nice.

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Roby.

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Taking them down the middle again here.

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Walmsley will be held up ten metres away.

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St Helens are sensing something, it will be a penalty.

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St Helens will take their two.

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Lazy push in the end.

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A chance for Percival to open up this St Helen 's lead

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to a two score lead here.

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Put that one over, 14-6, a little bit of a cushion that

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St Helens can enjoy.

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Dummy, Westerman.

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Dragged down.

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By Joe Greenwood.

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Slow play of the ball, penalty.

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Referee deciding he was not getting off quick enough.

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Solid support from the stands and the St Helen 's coaching staff

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because they know their side are under pressure.

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He will take it in.

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Here is Clark.

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Back it goes, the short pass and Hughes is the man who is over.

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It is Jack Hughes.

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Warrington dragging themselves back into the contest again.

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Hughes is the man to do the business.

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Roby short to his right.

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St Helens nibbling up the yards.

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Roby again.

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They are coming in waves once more.

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McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

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Turner kept hold and drags himself over.

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Sheer determination.

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Really powerful individual effort.

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Stretching his muscles beyond endurance

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but he has scored.

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Keeping it alive.

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Hill.

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Eventually put down.

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The Warrington coach watching to see if his side can get in again.

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Atkins.

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What a splendid individual effort, eight minutes left to play,

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Atkins with a wonderful solo try and Warrington are back

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within touching distance.

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Warrington.

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Looking right.

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Here it comes.

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Quick hands.

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Evans might just have won it.

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With what could be the last play of the game.

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He says try.

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Foot in touch and grounded.

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Look at this.

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That right foot just brushes the line.

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Just brushes the line.

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In the act of scoring, it will be no try.

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St Helens surely now are going to hang on to win a cliffhanger.

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It is just about keeping the ball safe.

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Played out by a Warrington player as it went through.

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Warrington will not get it back.

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That will be that.

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St Helen 's momentum might just be unstoppable.

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The way they are playing at the moment.

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Really fine margins.

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Fabulous finish.

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Another victory for St Helens.

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Dave Woods said that there were fine margins with that great tackle

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by Percival on Rhys Evans that clinched the game and that

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commitment to defence typified St Helens at this moment in time.

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They are buying into the basic principles, executing them well

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and any team that has come away with the win at Wigan and Warrington

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in the last six, they are in pretty good form.

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They are a danger to anyone.

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Half a dozen victories on the spin, seven in a row and they go

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to Warrington, they love it, why does that happen?

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It gives them confidence.

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They have the muscle memory, they have won the game there before.

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It is not the reason why Saints won.

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They are doing the non-negotiable.

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They are running hard tackling hard and kicking and chasing well.

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They are in very good form and one of the most dangerous sides.

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Great to see Jonny Lomax back fit and playing good Rugby League.

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We have missed him.

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He is a heck of a talent.

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It is great to see him.

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13 months out.

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I love this clip of St Helens.

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It is instinctive.

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There is an off-load.

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They play at the space.

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On the outside.

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There is Jonny Lomax staying on the inside as any

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good fullback should.

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This is a high-quality Rugby League side.

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It is off-the-cuff stuff, all about support and speed

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and it is exciting for anyone to watch.

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Tony Smith did not like the turnaround,

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does he have a point?

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When you are in a big game, it takes a bit out of you,

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it is a five-day turnaround and as a player you should be

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able to deal with that.

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You would like a seven-day turnaround but as a player,

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when I had a five-day turnaround, I thought it was great.

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There were four Challenge Cup semifinalists in that top eight

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who had a rest and I do not think a game would have been

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beyond the realms of possibility to have them playing

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on the Thursday.

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Saints striding, Wigan are wobbling, the Warriors were in reverse

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towards the end of the regular season and were looking to avoid

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a fourth successive defeat.

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They were playing Wakefield and Matt Newsome saw this.

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Wigan poised through Sam Powell.

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Williams steps back towards the centre

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and crosses for Wigan.

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Powell targets.

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He brushes away, free, touches it down.

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Smith.

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At the back it goes to Williams, again down the left-hand side.

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That is a lovely little flick back and Josh

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Charnley finishes it off.

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Powell.

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Atkins in the middle with Smith.

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Atkins to the left-hand side, Williams through the hands,

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Tomkins steps his way and touches down.

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It has been all Wigan but this is a rare glimpse for Wakefield.

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Miller shuffles the ball away.

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Joe Arundel!

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He will slide across.

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Bateman.

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Taking on the line himself here.

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At sixes and sevens and he has strolled through.

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John Bateman for Wigan.

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Driving forward.

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Wakefield struggling to contain them and he has got a ball away.

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Streaming into space, dummies the pass, manages to pass

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to Sam Tomkins and the mood is still alive.

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Tautai.

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Straight forward to Williams.

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He will stride through.

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Right on the left-hand side.

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Sio.

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To Miller.

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It has been picked there.

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Dom Manfredi is the poacher and he will get away from Miller

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and he will continue to chase but Dom Manfredi has got the pace

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to strive through and slide under the sticks.

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Dummy half, to Williams, again this left-hand side.

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Come back to the middle and he will go himself

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here and Max hit the post.

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John Bateman has carved his way through, he has got

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Dan Sarginson in support.

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He feeds it to him and Wigan are flying.

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Having made the top eight, Wakefield might have

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fancied their chances but they are being

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stranded by Wigan.

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John Bateman is streaming through, Sam Tomkins back on the inside.

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Scored his 150th Wigan try.

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Quite an effort.

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Wigan are well and good.

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Sarginson.

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It has been intercepted by Craig Hall and it is

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a simple trip to the line.

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Rare moment of joy for Wakefield.

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They have a big scrum.

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A really sloppy pass.

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Acted on by Bateman.

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Has he got the pace and composure?

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Hall again is chasing.

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Picked up by Bateman.

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Support all around, he will find Matty Smith and Smith

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will ice the cake for Wigan.

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They needed that Jamie, great way to return to winning ways.

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It was not far off in the semifinal against Hull.

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They really contributed.

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A lot of fuss at that game was created.

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Wakefield had 60 odd points on them earlier in the season.

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John Bateman coming back, you saw how influential he was.

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Great feet as well.

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You are off back to Wakefield next year, is that this year done

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for them now?

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I think it is difficult for them to pick themselves up.

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If you're asking asked to have objectives, the top eight

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and Challenge Cup would have seen a dream season but the fact

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is they have achieved that already.

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I believe what they have got to do now is start looking towards next

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season and building for next season and you do that by performing well

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and building on your systems and structures and honestly

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they will be looking out for the defensive aspect

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because they have conceded 60 odd points and that is something that

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needs addressing and could be cracked in a very competitive

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situation for the rest of the season.

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Sounds like you have started that job already!

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Catalan and Widnes started the super eight against each other

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which is how they ended the regular season.

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Jodie Broughton got the Dragons on the board on this one.

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This was a terrific score.

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It was, yeah.

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I think this was a terrific game, to tell you the truth.

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We see them attacking there.

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The Catalan line.

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And this boy gets the ball, and he can catch.

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He can turn the light off and he's in bed before

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it's dark, I tell you!

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He's that fast.

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They almost close him down and it's a tremendous finish, it really is.

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The line just came in time.

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He literally fell over the line.

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He did.

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Another couple of metres.

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A heck of an effort.

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And obviously they built further from that and again,

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there's a little error there, on the spot to ground the ball

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for that four points.

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And I thought Catalan, as St Helens, they based a lot of this game

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on their defence and they looked really good as well with that.

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That was Whitley just touching down.

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We had a teenager scoring a hat-trick.

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In Yaha.

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He's a big fellow, isn't he?

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He's a big fellow, he's a strong fellow, he's a fast fellow.

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And he can knock people about as well when he's got

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the ball in hand.

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But they really did attack the Widnes right hand side.

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Because they hadn't many changes.

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Mellows defending on the wing sometimes,

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then Thompson at other times.

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And they really targeted that.

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And Yaha was the main beneficiary.

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Catalan another team getting back to winning ways.

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Yeah, I think the break will have done good.

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They will have gone back and looked at what wins rugby games.

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And come out and played that way.

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For me as well, with Widnes suffering those injuries,

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I'd like to see a bit of a rule change that if you lose a player

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from the game through injury, you can have five substitutes.

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And bring these players in.

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I think Denis Betts spoke about Catalan just targeting

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the side where they suffer those injuries.

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And that will take away that problem.

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He did say he was proud of how his side played under

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the circumstances, did Denis Betts.

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Well, Hull FC are one of two teams still in with a chance

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of the trouble.

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They made it to the Challenge Cup final, remember, last week.

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And are hoping to take another step towards the league leaders shield

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when they played Castleford on Friday.

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Commentary here from Dave Woods.

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Rangi Chase at dummy half.

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Good early pressure here that Castleford have.

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Moors eventually wrestled to the ground.

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Milner up at dummy half.

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Gale spinning it wide.

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Solomona's pass quickly blocked by those scrambling defenders.

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He has got a good off-load away.

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Minikin.

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Minikin reaches out the arm and scores.

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Great start for Castleford.

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Only three minutes played.

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So Dorn will play and Castleford come again.

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Another wave of attack.

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Rangi Chase.

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Crooks.

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Scooping it up.

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Hampshire stepping back on the inside.

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And through some rather soft Hull defending.

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Three defenders there, but Hampshire with the finish.

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And Castleford are making quite a statement here.

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Shane, connecting it there, it is the sixth tackle.

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Still the last, the referee says.

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So they go to Hampshire, whose way is quickly blocked.

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McShane off-loads.

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Hampshire spinning it.

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Gale going left.

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This is a chance for Minikin again.

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This time he flicks it backwards and Gale is over!

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For a third Castleford try.

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Well, who saw this coming?

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Minikin doing ever so well here to keep this alive.

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The little flick away and Gale's alert to that.

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To dart over.

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And the coach enjoyed the moment.

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McShane.

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Chase offering it inside to Savelio.

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Savelio with a bustle and a barge.

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Eventually down he goes, but he wants to scramble up and play

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this ball quickly.

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There's a Hull player left on the floor.

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Gale puts it back.

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Dorn with a dummy!

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Sliding over.

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He might be in his final year, but he's still

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a class act, Luke Dorn.

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Gale.

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Castleford just prodding and probing

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here at the moment.

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Moors.

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Always a handful.

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The coach has spotted something, McShane goes to the right-hand side.

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The dummy is shown by Chase.

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Who then off-loads wonderfully well.

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Out of the tackle.

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For Hampshire to finish for his second try of the night.

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The penalty has Hull within touching distance.

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"Hull faithful" is echoing around the stadium.

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They've not had much to cheer so far tonight.

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Over an hour played, Castleford very much

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in the driving seat.

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But here come Hull and finally, Michaels, not to be

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denied this time.

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With Hull's first try.

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More urgency in these last few minutes than there has

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been throughout the game so far from Hull.

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And look at this from Prichard.

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Always a potentially damaging runner.

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Houghton flicking it away.

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Just trying to force their way over at the moment.

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Houghton again.

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And Washbrook has picked a path!

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And Danny Washbrook is over.

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So back to back Hull tries has given them a glimmer of hope.

0:20:440:20:54

That's a good ball away and Yeamen is away.

0:20:540:20:56

Down the left-hand side.

0:20:560:21:00

Gathered in by Hampshire, not quite the pace on that occasion.

0:21:000:21:05

But it has given Hull a very good position to work from here.

0:21:050:21:10

You think it is probably too much to do with not enough time to play,

0:21:100:21:16

but they might give themselves hope if they can scramble a try.

0:21:160:21:19

And here's Pritchard doing his best, and the finish by Jamie Shaul.

0:21:190:21:23

It is three tries in succession, four minutes left to play.

0:21:230:21:28

They have to score twice more, though.

0:21:280:21:30

And it is probably too much.

0:21:300:21:35

The clock is counting down now and Castleford exactly

0:21:350:21:37

where they want to be.

0:21:370:21:39

And very close to getting the final try of the night as well.

0:21:390:21:43

Milner!

0:21:430:21:45

Adam Milner will get the final try of the night.

0:21:450:21:49

Or will he?

0:21:490:21:52

The referee is asking a question here.

0:21:520:21:54

He thinks try.

0:21:540:21:57

Having a look at the play of the ball.

0:21:570:22:00

He has waggled his leg vaguely in the right direction.

0:22:000:22:02

And that counts.

0:22:020:22:03

And Milner's pick-up was clean.

0:22:030:22:07

So it is going to be a try for Castleford.

0:22:070:22:09

And what a performance for them, so-called, nothing to play

0:22:090:22:13

for at this stage of the season, but they have put in a mighty

0:22:130:22:16

performance tonight.

0:22:160:22:21

Castleford have won twice at Hull this season.

0:22:210:22:23

Star man yet again Luke Dorn.

0:22:230:22:26

Since he has announced he is retiring, he has been

0:22:260:22:28

absolutely brilliant.

0:22:280:22:34

Yes, he's an outstanding player.

0:22:340:22:35

I think he found his spiritual home, actually, at Castleford.

0:22:350:22:38

It suits Luke Dorn, how Daryl Powell has set his team.

0:22:380:22:41

And he is obviously a very gifted player.

0:22:410:22:42

He loves sweeping round the back, loads of pace, passing as well.

0:22:420:22:45

He's got footwork.

0:22:450:22:49

So if he gets that opportunity and gets

0:22:490:22:51

one-on-one against a player, especially close to the line,

0:22:510:22:53

he's going to come up trumps.

0:22:530:22:55

And he's done that a number of times in his career.

0:22:550:22:57

And he can still play at this level, but it's family reasons mainly that

0:22:570:23:01

he's going home.

0:23:010:23:02

He still got it.

0:23:020:23:03

There's no doubt about that.

0:23:030:23:04

And he will be sadly missed.

0:23:040:23:05

I'm sure that is one of Daryl Powell's main recruitment

0:23:050:23:08

targets, is to find another full-back similar to Luke Dorn.

0:23:080:23:10

Both Challenge Cup finalists lost this weekend, JP.

0:23:100:23:12

Is that another example of how tough it is, how gruelling it is at this

0:23:120:23:16

stage of the season, to keep going at that level

0:23:160:23:18

on so many different fronts?

0:23:180:23:19

Yes, I think it's new challenges for Hull.

0:23:190:23:21

I think Hull are a benchmark side now for people in

0:23:210:23:24

Super League in 2016.

0:23:240:23:25

So when you are the benchmark side, I reckon coaches plot to beat you,

0:23:250:23:29

they want to come up with a game plan to beat you.

0:23:290:23:32

And the players who play against you will rise up every week,

0:23:320:23:35

they want to play better against a side who are in

0:23:350:23:37

the Challenge Cup final and who are top of the table.

0:23:370:23:40

That's something they're going to have to deal

0:23:400:23:42

with for the rest of the year.

0:23:420:23:44

It is three of the four semifinalists actually

0:23:440:23:45

who lost at the weekend.

0:23:450:23:47

That is the top eight all wrapped up.

0:23:470:23:49

So let's take a look at how they stand in the First

0:23:490:23:51

Utility Super League table.

0:23:510:23:52

The Challenge Cup finalists both lost, Wigan now sit

0:23:520:23:55

between Hull and Warrington.

0:23:550:23:56

Saint Helens are just four points off the top.

0:23:560:24:00

Widnes and Wakefield at ten adrift off the play-off spots with just 12

0:24:000:24:03

left to play for.

0:24:030:24:07

Well so to the qualifiers, these are the eight teams fighting

0:24:070:24:10

for Super League status over the next couple of months.

0:24:100:24:13

Leeds and Huddersfield among them of course.

0:24:130:24:16

Salford and Hull KR survived this system last year,

0:24:160:24:19

Leigh, London and Featherstone and Batley are the teams

0:24:190:24:22

looking to gain promotion from the championship.

0:24:220:24:27

First up then we get the inside story on just

0:24:270:24:30

what happened when these two met at the Lightstream Stadium.

0:24:300:24:32

Hull Kingston Rovers against Batley of course.

0:24:320:24:34

John, your Bulldogs were first on the board.

0:24:340:24:38

Yeah, they started really well.

0:24:380:24:40

Alistair Leak is a smart player.

0:24:400:24:43

He knows it's a chink in the defence and over he went.

0:24:430:24:46

But I was really impressed with Hull Kingston Rovers.

0:24:460:24:50

How they approached the game, I think the Oldham Challenge Cup

0:24:500:24:52

defeat certainly didn't do us any favours this game,

0:24:520:24:57

because Albert Kelly came with his A game.

0:24:570:24:59

Ken Sio came with his A game.

0:24:590:25:02

Blair and Lunt.

0:25:020:25:04

When you've got players like that who already performing

0:25:040:25:06

well, the others follow.

0:25:060:25:08

And we met a Hull Kingston Rovers team who played really well.

0:25:080:25:11

The first of three there for Thomas Minns.

0:25:110:25:13

Was it a Rovers side that had learned from their defeat

0:25:130:25:16

in the cup to Oldham?

0:25:160:25:19

I think John is doing himself a bit of disservice there.

0:25:190:25:21

We respected Batley because they are a good side.

0:25:210:25:24

I think the slip up against Oldham made us extra cautious

0:25:240:25:26

about what we were doing.

0:25:260:25:28

But respecting what Batley could do.

0:25:280:25:30

You don't finish where you finished in the table without being

0:25:300:25:32

a good team against other full-time players.

0:25:320:25:34

We had to give them the respect they deserved.

0:25:340:25:37

You were picking holes, Jamie, in their defence.

0:25:370:25:40

He is a great player, Ken Sio.

0:25:400:25:46

He picked a few holes in Super League sides this year,

0:25:460:25:49

never mind teams coming up from the championship.

0:25:490:25:50

We scored some great long-range tries just recently.

0:25:500:25:52

We are a threat with the ball and the team is looking a lot better

0:25:520:25:56

than it has done for a while.

0:25:560:25:58

I think Ken Sio is as good a winner as there is in Super League.

0:25:580:26:01

Our kicking strategy was to kick basically anywhere but to him.

0:26:010:26:04

But obviously Hull Kingston Rovers's strategy was to get it to him

0:26:040:26:07

as soon as possible!

0:26:070:26:08

So, you know, it worked very effectively.

0:26:080:26:10

But there are some good players coming through at

0:26:100:26:13

Hull Kingston Rovers, with young Green on the edge

0:26:130:26:15

and obviously Albert Kelly is a stellar player.

0:26:150:26:17

The confidence grew.

0:26:170:26:20

But I was pretty pleased with our lads' effort and application.

0:26:200:26:27

And we will be a better team at Batley at round

0:26:270:26:30

seven then we are now.

0:26:300:26:31

Because this is a step up in intensity.

0:26:310:26:33

It's a step up in quality.

0:26:330:26:34

The players enjoyed playing at this stadium and I think it will be

0:26:340:26:37

really fascinating the next six games for everybody.

0:26:370:26:39

Hull KR, Jamie, won all seven of their games at this

0:26:390:26:42

level last year.

0:26:420:26:43

This is a great start.

0:26:430:26:45

Yes, you want to get off to a good start in the qualifiers.

0:26:450:26:48

We managed to do that.

0:26:480:26:49

We managed to score some points and put in a performance as well

0:26:490:26:52

against a spirited side who played right to the death.

0:26:520:26:55

Right to the 80th minute.

0:26:550:26:56

But the key for us now is we've got Leeds coming up.

0:26:560:26:59

We've got some big games coming up.

0:26:590:27:00

It is now to perform against them.

0:27:000:27:02

Is it hard, John, watching this back?

0:27:020:27:04

In a way, yes.

0:27:040:27:05

I mean, I already watched it this morning and clipped it.

0:27:050:27:07

So yeah, I've tortured myself already before re-watching this.

0:27:070:27:11

No, you've just got to look, learn, and try to improve.

0:27:110:27:14

And that is what we will try to do.

0:27:140:27:17

We will reconvene, review this game, and then we will build for this

0:27:170:27:20

coming Sunday against London.

0:27:200:27:21

I'm sure you will do that.

0:27:210:27:23

The top two in the championship met on Saturday.

0:27:230:27:26

Leigh finished head and shoulders ready above their opponents, London.

0:27:260:27:28

And everyone else actually in that division.

0:27:280:27:31

But it is back to zero for both of them.

0:27:310:27:33

And everyone else in the qualifying.

0:27:330:27:34

Sharon has the details.

0:27:340:27:37

It took a while for the first try to come in this game,

0:27:370:27:40

with only an exchange of penalties for the first 20 minutes.

0:27:400:27:43

But it was Leigh that breached the London defence first.

0:27:430:27:45

With Matty Dawson on the end of slick passing.

0:27:450:27:48

But it wasn't long before it was all square again

0:27:480:27:51

as Ben Hellewell first-handed off Mitch Brown and found a way

0:27:510:27:54

through to score for London.

0:27:540:27:55

It didn't seem like Leigh wanted to make things easy for themselves,

0:27:550:27:58

though, as just after the half-hour mark they went down to 12 men.

0:27:580:28:01

A high tackle on Rhys Williams by Cory Paterson meant referee

0:28:010:28:04

Ben Thaler had no hesitation showing him a yellow card.

0:28:040:28:11

But it was still the home side that finished the half stronger,

0:28:110:28:14

with Martin Ridyard and Gregg McNally combining to send Brown in.

0:28:140:28:18

Ridyard converted to give Leigh a 14-8 half-time lead.

0:28:180:28:22

An early second-half penalty extended Leigh's advantage and that

0:28:220:28:24

stretched further when Maitua crashed in.

0:28:240:28:27

And when Mitch Brown scored his second on his debut just

0:28:270:28:31

after the hour mark, Ridyard converted and Leigh were 20

0:28:310:28:33

points ahead and looking in control.

0:28:330:28:40

It took Leigh four games to get a win in the qualifiers last year,

0:28:400:28:44

and after good work from Dane Weston led to the ball being shipped

0:28:440:28:47

left for Matty Dawson to score the second,

0:28:470:28:49

it looked in no doubt it

0:28:490:28:50

wouldn't take as long as that this season.

0:28:500:28:52

But London hadn't read that part of the script.

0:28:520:28:54

And with less than ten minutes to go, they started a comeback

0:28:540:28:57

with a try from Pewhairangi.

0:28:570:28:58

Jamie Soward provided the past to put him in at the corner.

0:28:580:29:01

But as he scored, a fight broke out in back play between Jamie Soward

0:29:010:29:05

and Leigh's Greg Worthington.

0:29:050:29:06

Jamie Soward appeared to feel he'd been taken out late in the build-up.

0:29:060:29:09

The fight resulted in a red card for Jamie Soward

0:29:090:29:11

and then Worthington.

0:29:110:29:12

Both sides down to 12 men for the rest of the game.

0:29:120:29:16

This served to galvanise London more than you could have anticipated.

0:29:160:29:20

A brilliant display of handling and support play that started

0:29:200:29:26

in their own half saw them keep the ball alive down the right

0:29:260:29:30

and end with Pewhairangi scoring his second try.

0:29:300:29:31

He converted it and the gap closed to 16 points.

0:29:310:29:34

Two minutes later, it closed even further.

0:29:340:29:36

More of the style of play that had been prompted after going down to 12

0:29:360:29:39

men kept the ball alive, allowing London to pressure

0:29:390:29:41

the Leigh try line.

0:29:410:29:42

It eventually led to a try for Andy Akers.

0:29:420:29:50

Three minutes to go, Leigh's lead was reduced to ten.

0:29:500:29:52

London still refused to give up.

0:29:520:29:53

Jack Bussey regathered his own kick and broke clear from his own half.

0:29:530:29:57

Daniel Harrison was in support and another successful conversion

0:29:570:29:59

brought them to within four.

0:29:590:30:00

But with seconds left on the clock, Leigh hung on to take the win,

0:30:000:30:03

despite what was possibly the craziest five minutes

0:30:030:30:05

of this year's season.

0:30:050:30:07

Sharon mentioned there, Jamie, some of the stats from the end

0:30:070:30:10

of last season for Leigh, who never really got going.

0:30:100:30:13

And a lot of people fancied them to gain promotion.

0:30:130:30:16

When we talk about lessons learned, they must have

0:30:160:30:18

learned lessons from that?

0:30:180:30:21

Well, we've yet to see that.

0:30:210:30:22

They've beaten London, but that's a side they've

0:30:220:30:24

beaten all year.

0:30:240:30:25

They've not played a Super League opposition yet.

0:30:250:30:27

And I think the key for Leigh is, last year they couldn't

0:30:270:30:30

handle the pressure.

0:30:300:30:32

Now they've signed big again at the back end of the year and the

0:30:320:30:35

pressures on them to deliver again.

0:30:350:30:37

Whether their players and their coaching staff can cope

0:30:370:30:39

with the pressure put on them, and the expectation from the crowd

0:30:390:30:42

and within the club to get back into Super League.

0:30:420:30:44

Well they do have at least the experience of 12 months ago.

0:30:440:30:47

We will hear by the way a lot more about the London Broncos when head

0:30:470:30:51

coach Andrew Henderson joins us next week.

0:30:510:30:52

He likes a chat, does Hendo.

0:30:520:30:54

Huddersfield, well they were still looking for their first

0:30:540:30:56

win under Rick Stone and they were at Salford on Sunday.

0:30:560:30:59

And it was a great start, this, to the qualifiers for the home side,

0:30:590:31:02

Jamie.

0:31:020:31:03

Yes, Salford are good side, I think if it wasn't

0:31:030:31:05

for the points taken away, there'd be up around six.

0:31:050:31:08

And they started the game very well.

0:31:080:31:09

Some poor defence from Huddersfield and a great try on the outside

0:31:090:31:12

from Mason Caton-Brown.

0:31:120:31:13

He had a great afternoon.

0:31:130:31:15

Yes, he is back in form again, I think he scored a hat-trick

0:31:150:31:18

the week before and he's in again scoring tries this week.

0:31:180:31:20

And that is what all wingers like to do,

0:31:200:31:22

John, don't they!

0:31:220:31:24

They do, yeah!

0:31:240:31:25

Without doing the hard work, yeah!

0:31:250:31:26

But I think, you know, a lot of these tries have come

0:31:260:31:29

from within ten metres of the Huddersfield goal-line.

0:31:290:31:32

So that is just one area that Rick Stone will be

0:31:320:31:35

looking to correct.

0:31:350:31:37

There is a barge over try there for Huddersfield

0:31:370:31:39

for their points.

0:31:390:31:41

But Salford will feel really happy with this, because...

0:31:410:31:44

Well that was Mason and then Roberts, sorry,

0:31:440:31:46

John, for Huddersfield.

0:31:460:31:48

Now I want you to take a close look at this incident.

0:31:480:31:51

This is Danny Brough.

0:31:510:31:54

Yes, well Danny Brough is a competitor.

0:31:540:31:56

And in he goes.

0:31:560:31:57

Yes, that looks a little naughty, does that.

0:31:570:32:01

And obviously Tomkins did react and, you know, you'd think

0:32:010:32:03

quite rightly, from that.

0:32:030:32:07

But I see the referee has got that under control.

0:32:070:32:09

There we see it again.

0:32:090:32:10

It is a grade C charge from the Rugby Football League.

0:32:100:32:16

So Brough will be sitting out two or three matches.

0:32:160:32:18

Well, it looks that way.

0:32:180:32:20

He's got to be proven guilty, but that's what the disciplinary

0:32:200:32:22

process is, I'm sure he'll be represented by the head

0:32:220:32:25

coach and himself.

0:32:250:32:26

But it didn't look the best incident that

0:32:260:32:28

we've seen, did it?

0:32:280:32:29

On the TV there.

0:32:290:32:32

Work to do for Huddersfield, great win though for Salford.

0:32:320:32:34

Yes, they will be very pleased with that.

0:32:340:32:36

They've got a tough opening.

0:32:360:32:38

They've played the Giants, they've got Leigh next and they've

0:32:380:32:40

got ourselves the first three games.

0:32:400:32:41

So they wanted to get off to a winning start.

0:32:410:32:44

They managed to do it.

0:32:440:32:45

Nicely done.

0:32:450:32:46

Finally, let's go to Post Office Road in Featherstone.

0:32:460:32:48

They call it the Big Fella stadium these days.

0:32:480:32:51

And in terms of Super League history, Featherstone come much

0:32:510:32:53

bigger than their visitors on Saturday.

0:32:530:32:54

Leeds Rhinos.

0:32:540:32:55

Commentary from Matt Newsome.

0:32:550:32:56

Leeds in a promising position here.

0:32:590:33:02

Brett Ferres across to the right hand side.

0:33:020:33:04

Turned onto his back by Taulapapa.

0:33:040:33:08

Enthusiasm in this Featherstone side early on as they come

0:33:080:33:10

to this right edge.

0:33:100:33:12

And it's Sutcliffe who gets his way through,

0:33:120:33:14

touches it onto Watkins.

0:33:140:33:16

Via Maguire.

0:33:160:33:18

And Leeds hit the front.

0:33:180:33:20

Joe Cobb awards the try.

0:33:200:33:26

Segeyaro is having a good game so far already.

0:33:260:33:30

Watkins, into space.

0:33:300:33:31

Back on the inside to Liam Sutcliffe.

0:33:310:33:36

Leeds showing Super League quality.

0:33:360:33:42

Segeyaro seemingly involved at every opportunity here.

0:33:420:33:46

Brett Ferres with the loose off load.

0:33:460:33:47

Picked up by Taulapapa.

0:33:470:33:48

Has he got the pace?

0:33:480:33:50

Feeds it off to Cooper, into space now, the hooker.

0:33:500:33:52

Across to this left-hand side, and he has tried to push that on.

0:33:520:33:55

It's a race between Thackeray and Briscoe.

0:33:550:33:57

And Thackeray gets there first!

0:33:570:33:58

Have the championship side got a try on the board?

0:33:580:34:02

Joe Cobb is going to the video referee.

0:34:020:34:06

The pass comes back.

0:34:060:34:11

Taulapapa is fine.

0:34:150:34:17

Gathered that cleanly.

0:34:170:34:19

It is here where it all counts.

0:34:190:34:21

Hacked on by Thackeray, so it's all about the finish.

0:34:210:34:23

Clean as a whistle.

0:34:250:34:27

And Featherstone are on the board!

0:34:280:34:31

A famous try for Anthony Thackeray.

0:34:310:34:34

And some happy flat-cappers.

0:34:340:34:36

Segeyaro.

0:34:380:34:39

To Jones-Buchanan.

0:34:390:34:42

Trying to bend the backs of this Featherstone site.

0:34:420:34:43

He gets it away back to Segeyaro.

0:34:440:34:47

Ball over the top to Ablett.

0:34:470:34:49

Good hands onto Joel Moon.

0:34:490:34:50

Moon has got support.

0:34:500:34:51

He will go it alone!

0:34:510:34:53

What a finish by Joel Moon!

0:34:530:34:54

Just brushed the Featherstone defenders away.

0:34:540:34:59

And Leeds are enjoying this one.

0:34:590:35:01

Jamie Jones-Buchanan ripped through the middle,

0:35:060:35:08

gets it away to Segeyaro.

0:35:080:35:10

He flicks it off in turn.

0:35:100:35:11

And that's a high tackle from Brett Delaney.

0:35:110:35:16

Slick play from Leeds, they're really finding

0:35:170:35:19

their groove at the moment.

0:35:190:35:20

And there is the claw around the chops.

0:35:200:35:23

So Brian McDermott watches on.

0:35:250:35:26

Sutcliffe to make the scores 18-6, on the cusp of the hooter.

0:35:260:35:31

It's been a fine first half.

0:35:310:35:34

Featherstone well in it.

0:35:370:35:38

But Leeds ahead at the break.

0:35:380:35:41

Segeyaro.

0:35:440:35:45

To Burrow.

0:35:450:35:46

Trying to slash through this line, and that's a really smart move,

0:35:460:35:49

back to the right-hand side.

0:35:490:35:50

And Liam Sutcliffe will come back inside and find Watkins.

0:35:500:35:56

Second try of the game for him.

0:35:560:35:59

And the England centre is really finding his form.

0:35:590:36:07

Leeds have a commanding lead.

0:36:070:36:11

As the ball from Maguire, sent high into the sky,

0:36:110:36:13

an awkward bounce.

0:36:130:36:16

Tom Briscoe flicks the ball away to Watkins.

0:36:170:36:20

Back on the inside he goes, to Achurch.

0:36:200:36:23

Leeds Rhinos stretch further in front.

0:36:240:36:30

I don't know whether it's the heat, whether the conditioning,

0:36:330:36:36

it's starting to tell here.

0:36:360:36:37

It's a Featherstone line-up, but Carl Ablett finds a way through!

0:36:370:36:39

Not even an hour gone and Leeds are well in control.

0:36:410:36:46

Have Featherstone got an answer to this seemingly

0:36:500:36:52

unstoppable Leeds onslaught?

0:36:520:36:55

Watkins gets away to the right-hand side.

0:36:550:36:58

They keep running down that channel.

0:36:580:37:00

And they've got Briscoe in.

0:37:000:37:01

Lovely flick past.

0:37:010:37:02

And Briscoe will saunter through.

0:37:020:37:05

And Leeds Rhinos hit 40 points.

0:37:050:37:08

It's been ruthless, it's been classy.

0:37:100:37:15

A little jeopardy for Leeds at the moment here, as they worked

0:37:150:37:18

it out on the left-hand side.

0:37:180:37:25

Back on the inside to Sutcliffe!

0:37:250:37:26

All too easy, all too easy for the Super League side.

0:37:260:37:36

There is only Stevie Ward who isn't available for Leeds at the moment.

0:37:390:37:42

All those injury problems earlier in the season.

0:37:420:37:44

Here comes Joel Moon, they call him Crazy Legs,

0:37:440:37:47

he lived up to it there!

0:37:470:37:47

Leeds Rhinos are putting their foot on the throat.

0:37:500:37:56

Some tired bodies out there.

0:37:580:38:01

Limping in navy this afternoon.

0:38:010:38:02

Segeyaro goes to the right-hand side, that's a hat-trick.

0:38:030:38:06

But Watkins, right back in form.

0:38:080:38:11

Leeds deep in their own territory.

0:38:170:38:19

They still manage to find a way through as Watkins races away.

0:38:190:38:24

He won't be caught, like a thoroughbred.

0:38:240:38:27

This is his fourth try of the game and caps it for Leeds.

0:38:270:38:31

Not even Super League's best could have lived with them today,

0:38:320:38:35

it's ominous for the rest of the qualifiers.

0:38:350:38:38

Leeds, Jamie, have got their swagger back.

0:38:400:38:43

They always do at this time of the season, albeit this

0:38:430:38:45

time they've left it a little bit too late.

0:38:450:38:48

But they could do some damage if they'd have

0:38:480:38:50

scraped into that eight, the way they are playing.

0:38:500:38:52

Yet, they've been playing very well recently.

0:38:520:38:54

I think before they got into the qualifiers,

0:38:540:38:56

they beat Hull, top of the table.

0:38:560:38:57

And they beat Wigan as well.

0:38:570:38:59

And I think the players look confident.

0:38:590:39:00

And they're injury free as well.

0:39:000:39:02

They've had a horrendous run of injuries this year.

0:39:020:39:05

Yes, you just sense that they might be all right.

0:39:050:39:08

But a word on Featherstone, John.

0:39:080:39:10

Almost 7000.

0:39:100:39:13

It was tremendous, a great atmosphere, and I thought

0:39:130:39:15

Featherstone did a pretty good job of that first half especially.

0:39:150:39:18

And two of those first three tries for Leeds came off the back

0:39:180:39:21

of Featherstone losing possession.

0:39:210:39:24

Just as we will learn after the Hull KR experience, I'm certain

0:39:240:39:27

Featherstone will learn as well after their Leeds experience.

0:39:270:39:29

And improve for the coming weeks.

0:39:290:39:30

Do you think they'll have to briefly pick themselves up?

0:39:300:39:33

No, I don't, not at all.

0:39:330:39:34

If you look at that Leeds team, that's some team.

0:39:340:39:36

And if you look at two, three, four and five,

0:39:360:39:39

they would get into any Super League team, believe you me.

0:39:390:39:41

Gentleman, I've had a great time, thank you very much for having me.

0:39:410:39:45

And that's it for this week.

0:39:450:39:46

You can join us at the same time next week.

0:39:460:39:48

Until then, goodbye.

0:39:480:39:50

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