Challenge Cup Final 2014 - match report

Kevin Sinfield lifts the Challenge Cup trophy 

The Leeds Rhinos ended 15 years of Challenge Cup heartache after defeating West Yorkshire rivals Castleford Tigers 23 – 10 at Wembley.

Brian McDermott’s men, who have lost six Challenge Cup Finals over the last decade, finally got their hands on the elusive cup to complete the jigsaw for the ‘golden era’ of Rhinos.

Lance Todd Trophy Winner, Ryan Hall, scored a try in either half to claim the Man of the Match award, whilst Danny McGuire slotted over a drop goal with four minutes to go to make certain of the victory.

Tom Briscoe, who picked up a losers’ medal last year with Hull FC, opened the scoring after four minutes. The Tigers hit back when Daryl Clark went over.

McGuire, who was two votes behind Hall in the Lance Todd Trophy voting, went over on 18 minutes, and Hall grabbed his first try seven minutes later.

Daryl Powell’s side got the best possible start to the second 40 when Oliver Holmes romped away. But, Hall’s second and McGuire’s one-pointer proved to be sufficient for a first Challenge Cup triumph since 1999.

An Andy Lynch knock on gifted the Rhinos possession in Tigers territory, and a sweeping move to the right was finished off by Briscoe. Kevin Sinfield’s touchline conversion made it 6 – 0.

Castleford, who were aiming for a first Challenge Cup win since 1986, struck back when Clark collected Marc Sneyd’s grubber ahead of Zak Hardaker. Sneyd’s missed conversion left Castleford trailing by two.

The Rhinos looked in control despite the Tigers hitting back, and they found more points as Rob Burrow hoisted a kick up towards Luke Dorn in the sun, and McGuire picked the pockets of the Australian.

The Blue and Ambers were on top, and Hardaker powered through the Tigers defence to set up the position for the next Rhinos try. Hall drove back his opposite number Kirk Dixon to slam the ball down.

Being 16 – 4 down going into the second half, the Tigers had to be the first to score. It took only five minutes for them to find their response, Michael Shenton released Holmes who went over for a converted try, reducing the deficit to six points.

Sinfield tamed the Tigers by dribbling the ball into touch on a few occasions to keep their opponents penned inside their own half. The patience was rewarded when Hall doubled his try tally for the afternoon, proving to be unstoppable once again, beating off attention from three attempted tacklers to crash over.

Sinfield’s extras pinned off both posts to roll over the crossbar, to stretch the lead to 12 points. The win was sealed when McGuire, who cracked three ribs previously, fired over a drop goal to cram a Challenge Cup into their overflowing trophy cabinet.

Hunslet Warriors vs East Leeds - match report

Gary McClelland shrugging off an East Leeds defender

Hunslet Warriors earned the city’s bragging rights after defeating East Leeds 24 – 16 at The Oval.

Victory for the south Leeds side brought their five match winless streak to a halt, and claimed their third home win of the season.

The hosts were 16 – 10 down at the break, but, second half tries from Caldon Bravo and Gary McClelland, who slotted over a penalty goal with six minutes to play, kept East Leeds scoreless in the second 40 and ensured the two points.

However, the visitors opened up the scoring inside the first ten minutes when Declan Tomlinson used his strength to slam the ball down in the right corner.

East Leeds had the majority of the possession in the first half, and converted the possession with more points. Nathan Conroy attacked the line, and managed to offload the ball to David Nurse who went over beneath the uprights.

Midway through the first 40, the Warriors got themselves on the board when Luke Day crashed over, with McClelland’s extras making it 10 – 6.

The scores were tied up swiftly after, as Hunslet applied pressure on their opponents to force a mistake. East Leeds offloaded the ball into the hands of the waiting Warriors defence, the ball was fed to Dave Norton who surged to the line.

Just before the referee’s whistle to bring up the interval, Joey Walkin barged his way over from close range.

East Leeds continued their search for more points in the opening exchanges of the second half, but failed to add to their try tally.

But, after soaking up plenty of pressure, the Warriors brought the game back level again. A break down the right was backed up well by McClelland who sent Bravo romping away unopposed.

McClelland’s assist was rewarded on the hour mark. Jim Baker’s inside ball to the full-back, got him one on one with his opposite number, and McClelland stepped away from Tom Sheldrake to cross for his ninth try of the campaign.

Skipper, Bravo, who proved to be unstoppable for his try, nearly sealed a win for his side. However, his break and pass resulted in the Warriors turning over possession.

The Warriors waited patiently for another opportunity to secure the much-needed two points, and six minutes from time, they got it.

East Leeds were caught offside, and the Warriors coaching staff took no hesitation in opting to take the two. McClelland capped off a terrific performance by converting the penalty goal to clinch the points.  

Halifax vs North Wales Crusaders - match report

Halifax leapfrogged Featherstone Rovers to climb into second spot after narrowly defeating North Wales Crusaders 20 – 17.

Gareth Potts scored the match winning try five minutes from time to continue Fax’s impressive unbeaten record, and to heat up the race even more for second place. Potts also pulled off a try saving tackle towards the end of the first half.

The visitors went into the dressing rooms 16 – 6 down, Steve Tyrer grabbing the try to keep his side within ten points.

Callum Casey, Luke Ambler, and Potts crossed in the second half which was enough to snare the two points from the Welsh outfit.

Fax lost winger, Tommy Saxton for ten minutes, after he took out a Crusaders man off the ball.

It was the hosts who got the scoreboard rolling inside the first minute, Halifax’s kick off landing out of play, which gifted North Wales some good field position. Greg Wilde crossed down the right side.

The Crusaders continued to make Fax work hard defensively, and had plenty of ball inside the opening ten minutes. Christian Roets used his strength to get the ball down, Tommy Johnson with the conversion.

Fax managed to deny the Crusaders from increasing their try tally, and went on to reduce the deficit to four points when Tyrer snaked his arm out to plant the ball down.

The hosts managed to find themselves in good territory again from another Fax error. Former Halifax player, Karl Ashall, burrowed over from close range to make it 16 – 6.

The Crusaders could have easily landed a killer blow just before the interval had it not been for a superb tackle from Potts in the left corner.

The opening 15 minutes of the second 40 saw unforced errors from both sides, and on 55 minutes, Fax got themselves, again, six points behind when Callum Casey touched down.

With an hour gone on the clock, the scores were tied up, Ben Johnston skirted across the pitch to send free-scoring Luke Ambler in under the posts. Tyrer added the extras from in-front.

Just when it looked like Karl Harrison’s side were getting a stranglehold of the game, Tommy Saxton was sin binned for taking a man out off the ball. Johnson elected to go for the two, but failed to land the kick between the posts.

Crusaders half-back, Jamie Dallimore, showed Johnson how to convert a kicking opportunity, when his drop goal sailed over to give the home side a slender one point lead.

However, Daillmore’s one pointer wasn’t to be the match winner. The Crusaders spilled the ball, Casey using the advantage of the free play rule by dribbling a kick through, and Potts pounced on the ball to seal the points and to set up a thriller at The Shay next weekend.   

Halifax vs Dewsbury - match report

Halifax made it eight games undefeated and hotted up the race for second spot after defeating Dewsbury Rams 36 – 24 at The Shay.

Karl Harrison’s men scored three tries in either half to mount more pressure on Featherstone Rovers in second place.

Steve Tyrer converted all six of Fax’s tries, the second week running he’s achieved 100% accuracy with the boot.

Ryan Fieldhouse, who missed the last two weeks through injury, returned to the side, and notched up his 14^th try of the campaign in the second half.

The visitors, who had won their last two games, dominated the early proceedings and opened the scoring after five minutes. Former Fax man, Anthony Thackeray sent Shane Grady over. Tom Hemingway added the extras.

The hosts did well to soak the pressure up, and made best use of some possession. The Rams were penalised for offside on their own line, and Luke Ambler took a quick tap to barge over for his 10^th try of the season.

Ten minutes before the half-time hooter, they doubled their lead. Ben Johnston used some fancy footwork to go over beneath the uprights.

The Blue and Whites opened up a bit of breathing space when Ross Divorty side stepped his way over six minutes later.

Just like last week, Fax grabbed a try inside a minute of play in the second 40. Adam Robinson’s break laid the platform for Danny Cowling to get over in the right corner.

Glen Morrison’s side went back-to-back to get within six points of their opponents. Tommy Gallagher crashed over from close range, and Grady sealed his brace when Thackeray put him through a gap. With Hemingway off the field, Kieran Hyde took over the kicking duties, and slotted over both conversions.

Fax invited the Rams into their half for their last two tries, and when they were inside the visitor’s half, they made best use of the position. Fieldhouse pounced on Scott Murrell’s banana kick to add to his impressive try tally for the season.

The home side continued to apply some pressure, and forced Dewsbury into conceded two goal-line drop outs. The pressure eventually told, Fieldhouse’s cut-out pass to Gareth Potts sent the winger sliding over.

Despite bundling Dale Morton into touch with 12 minutes left, Fax couldn’t deny Ryan Wright a consolation score, as he charged down Johnston’s kick to race away.