Summary

  • Result: Castleford 10-16 Leeds - Rhinos retain their trophy

  • Castleford tries: Marshall, Renouf

  • Leeds tries: Goldthorp, Beevers, Hill

  1. Postpublished at 53 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Lacey Owen knocks on for Cas under sheer pressure from the three Leeds defenders that bundled her over. The Rhinos set from inside the 20 is as calm and measured as we've seen in this entire 50 minutes.

    But in the end, it's too much so. Almost as if they miscounted. Aimiee Staveley tries to barge through five orange shirts and the ball is turned over.

    Maybe Adam Cuthbertson wants completed sets to tire out the Tigers defence?

  2. Wigan sign Parramatta's Frenchpublished at 12:21 British Summer Time 27 July 2019
    Breaking

    Versatile back signs two-and-a-half-year deal

    Bevan FrenchImage source, Getty Images

    Some breaking news to bring you from Super League - champions Wigan have signed versatile Parramatta back Bevan French.

    The 23-year-old Australian will link up with the Warriors next week and has signed a contract until the end of the 2021 season.

    "Bevan is an entertainer, a natural footballer who I have admired for some time," said Wigan coach Adrian Lam. "He will get people up from their seat and add even more attacking threat and flair to our game."

  3. Postpublished at 48 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Leeds half-back Courtney Hill kicks high to the corner and Hollie Dodd makes a bit of a mess of it, knocking on for Cas to give Leeds a fresh set. But with the try line looming, Hanna Butcher knocks on and Cas survive.

    A really, really poor error. You can see the frustration on Butcher's face as her Rhinos team-mates pat her on the back.

  4. Postpublished at 44 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Tara Stanley took a rare poor kick from Leeds half-back Courtney Hill superbly well, and on the run the Cas full-back made around 25 metres before she was tackled.

    Nothing comes of it for Tigers as in the end they finish with a kick that goes dead, but it means Leeds start from deep.

  5. Kick-offpublished at 41 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Action back under way as Leeds kick deep and Cas complete the first set before returning the favour.

  6. Still to come...published at 12:08 British Summer Time 27 July 2019

    HT: Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Remember, this is the first match of a triple-header in Bolton.

    Later, we've got the two men's Challenge Cup semi-finals - Warrington v Hull (14:00 BST) and St Helens v Halifax (16:30 BST).

    First, there's a Women's Challenge Cup final to be won...

    University of Bolton StadiumImage source, Rex Features
  7. Choppers, whistles and bowling yorkers - the stories behind the starspublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 27 July 2019

    HT: Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Find out more about some of the players on show in today's Challenge Cup final here.

  8. A birthday to rememberpublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 27 July 2019

    HT: Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    How did you celebrate your 16th birthday?

    Some buy their first lottery ticket. Others ride a moped on the road for the first time, while some even sign up for the army.

    Not Hollie Dodd. After turning 16 yesterday, she's making her Castleford Tigers debut - and in the Challenge Cup final, no less.

    Read more about her story here.

  9. All square at the intervalpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 27 July 2019

    HT: Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Jodie Cunningham
    St Helens and England full-back

    10-10 is the right scoreline. It reflects the game. Both have shown moments of brilliance, moments of naivety and a bit of nerves.

    Castleford end the half more positively but Leeds will be glad they didn't concede late in the half.

    A lot of people doubted Leeds - I personally thought Cas could run away with it - but Leeds have impressed me with their defensive effort.

  10. Half-timepublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 27 July 2019

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Caitlin Beevers scores for LeedsImage source, Rex Features

    That has been a fantastic half of rugby.

    To be level at 10-10 is a pretty fair reflection too, no side deserves to be behind on that showing. It's been 90 mph stuff from the get-go, which will be difficult to replicate after the break you'd think.

    Cas had more clear-cut chances in that period. Will they be made to pay?

  11. Postpublished at 39 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    What, a, tackle.

    Caitlin Beevers stops Sammy Watts in her tracks about a metre from the line when the Cas forward was running at full pace. I would not have wanted to be in the way there. It looked like a certain try.

    Amazing defence to keep things level.

  12. Postpublished at 35 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    That was a real chance for Cas to get themselves back in front. Leeds were at sixes and sevens in defence, chasing around to close the gaps.

    But Castleford's Claire Garner throws her pass to ground as the space was opening up and the Rhinos get away with it.

    Half-time closing in.

  13. Postpublished at 32 mins

    Castleford 10-10 Leeds

    Milly McEvoy
    BBC Sport at University of Bolton Stadium

    Castleford's fans have been the noisiest so far, with their mascot JT whipping up a packed section of supporters behind the Leeds try line.

    He ran to celebrate with the team after Rhiannon Marshall went over for the opening try.

    It must have been tiring as JT, unsurprisingly in a giant tiger outfit, has been having regular sit downs when action goes up the other end.

    He stayed slumped in his chair when Leeds scored.

  14. try

    TRY: Castleford 10-10 Leedspublished at 31 mins

    Tamzin Renouf, goal Tara Stanley

    We have a real game on our hands.

    Cas hit straight back as Leeds knock the ball on from the kick return to surrender field position and are punished for it. The Super League leaders make the most of the error and Tamzin Renouf barges under the posts.

    No-one was stopping her there. That was pure determination.

    Tara Stanley adds the two. We're all square.

  15. try

    TRY: Castleford 4-10 Leedspublished at 27 mins

    Caitlin Beevers

    All of the momentum is with Leeds now. Hollie Dodd took the high bomb well, but was dragged into touch.

    From the scrum, Cas work it wide to Caitlin Beevers who shows superb pace and bursts round the outside to smash into the flag and sneak over in the corner.

    Real speed from the 17-year-old. Courtney Hill is inches away from adding the extras.

    Media caption,

    Beevers bursts round the outside to score a try

  16. Postpublished at 26 mins

    Castleford 4-6 Leeds

    Hollie DoddImage source, PA Media

    Hollie Dodd, a back-row forward by trade, is playing on the wing on Cas debut today and the 16-year-old is being tested time after time by the high ball.

    Moments after she was found out and it gave Leeds their first try she stands up and is counted, outjumping her opponent.

  17. Leeds respond quicklypublished at 23 mins

    Castleford 4-6 Leeds

    Courtney Hill's kicking game is fantastic. If she's got time on the ball, she'll put it exactly where she wants to put it. She's definitely the go-to player.

  18. try

    TRY: Castleford 4-6 Leedspublished at 22 mins

    Fran Goldthorp, goal Courtney Hill

    We've seen about 300 high kicks so far, one was bound to land eventually. This one from Leeds half-back Courtney Hill was absolutely perfect as she picks out Fran Goldthorp on the left wing.

    Goldthorp out jumps Cas teenager Hollie Dodd and touches down for an instant reply.

    Hill then makes no mistake from the tee and Leeds are ahead, against the run of play probably.

  19. Castleford score first trypublished at 19 mins

    Castleford 4-0 Leeds

    Jodie Cunningham
    St Helens and England full-back

    She's got such great hands for a forward and then the pace to follow. A fantastic try and possibly not the last from her today.

  20. try

    TRY: Castleford 4-0 Leedspublished at 18 mins

    Rhiannion Marshall

    The answer is Leeds.

    A bulldozing run from Rhiannion Marshall breaks this game open. As individual a try as you'll ever see, the England forward picks the ball up for Cas just beyond the halfway line and batters her way through four or five tackles and eventually crosses in the right corner.

    There were players hanging off her like ragdolls.

    What a way to remind Rhinos that you used to play for them.

    Media caption,

    Marshal scores try with a 'crushing run' to put Castleford Tigers ahead