What do St Helens have in response? The champions are staring a third defeat in six Super League games in the face.

They only lost four games in all competitions in the whole of last season.

John Kear
Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Radio 5 Live

What a fantastic try that was. The sheer commitment from Castleford with every player in the perfect pin-point position.

Every pass in that move was on point.

That was absolute quality rugby league from the guys in amber and black.

So far that Castleford defence is holding firm. Saints are probing, but they can't find a way through.

A high tackle by Danny Richardson on Tommy Makinson gifts St Helens a penalty.

This is a fierce examination of the Cas defence.

Widnes Vikings have knocked out fellow Championship opposition with a 32-16 win over Swinton Lions at the DCBL Stadium, in front of a crowd of 1,527.

Super League Hull KR will join Widnes in the sixth round after surviving a scare to edge past Leigh Centurions in a close game, 22-19, thanks to Kane Linnett, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, William Dagger and Nick Rawsthorne's tries.

Theo Fages tries to dummy his way to the line on the last tackle but the Castleford defence reads it and stops the Saints playmaker in his tracks.

But as the Cas forwards try to power up the middle, Mike McMeeken knocks on and gifts St Helens a scrum inside the Tigers half.

Even a man down, this is a chance.

John Kear
Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Radio 5 Live

There's certainly an element of urgency among this St Helens team.

I think they've had a fair old roasting at half-time in the changing room. With ball-in-hand, they're certainly looking for more offloads.

Castleford scent blood with St Helens down to 12 again, but in fairness to the visitors they've looked strong in defence so far this half.

And even with a man down, the champions are enjoying more territory than they did before the break.

Third-tier Newcastle Thunder have reached the sixth round of the Challenge Cup with a 38-30 win over second-tier Dewsbury Rams, after a cracking tie.

But Thunder's fellow League One side Rochdale Hornets are out - they've been hammered 70-12 away at York City Knights.

John Kear
Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's whether it's careless, reckless or deliberate to decide if that was a red card.

They must have deemed that careless as in real time to me that looked set to be a red card.

But fair play to Danny Richardson, he didn't milk that.

As soon as he'd been treated by the physio, he was straight back up again and it was good professional respect.

St Helens spent 10 minutes in the first half with 12 men, and now they're going to spend 10 minutes in the second half with 12 too.

Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook goes in late and high on Danny Richardson and is shown a yellow card. He's off to the sin-bin.

Championship side Dewsbury Rams have battled back to level at 30-30 away to League One Newcastle Thunder. The final moments of that very entertaining Challenge Cup tie can be watched live on the BBC iPlayer and at the top of this page.

Meanwhile, Leigh Centurions have edged in to a slender 19-18 lead away at Super League Hull KR, while Widnes Vikings are 22-16 up on Swinton Lions and York City Knights have put on 60 points as they cruise past Rochdale Hornets.

On the last tackle, Regan Grace cuts inside and dabs a kick through but Jordan Rankin gets there to touch down behind his own line just before Theo Fages gets there.

Tigers will have a goal-line drop-out underneath the sticks and Saints will get the ball back.

St Helens are back up to 13 at the start of the second half, with Matty Lees available again.

They have good field position but can they make it count?

John Kear
Wales & Bradford Bulls coach on BBC Radio 5 Live

Saints will first be looking to get that man back out the sin-bin to make it 13 v 13 and then they must prevent further scores from Cas in the next five-10 minutes.

They've had some numbering-off issues in that first half and need to address it.

Image source, PA Media

The teams are back out and Castleford get us back under way.

Will that late Tommy Makinson try have lifted St Helens' spirits?

While we're at half-time at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, here are a a few pieces of content from around the BBC website that are well worth reading about the current coronavirus outbreak and how you can keep yourselves safe.

• EASY STEPS: How to keep safe
• A SIMPLE GUIDE: What are the symptoms?
• GETTING READY: What is the UK's 'delay' phase?
• TRAVEL PLANS: What are your rights?
• IN-DEPTH: Coronavirus pandemic

Image source, swpix.com

There may have only been two completed Super League fixtures so far this round, but there's been no shortage of incident or talking point.

On Thursday, Hull's heave home defeat by Warrington saw head coach Lee Radford sacked moments after full-time.

Meanwhile, Salford Red Devils sprung an upset on Wigan on Friday to end a run of four straight defeats and end the Warriors impressive run of form.

As mentioned, Leeds' scheduled trip to Perpignan to face Catalans was postponed on Friday morning by circumstances linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

Thursday:

Hull FC 4-38 Warrington

Friday:

Salford 18-14 Wigan

Saturday:

Catalans P-P Leeds

League One side Newcastle Thunder have opened up an eight-point advantage over Championship opponents Dewsbury Rams in the Challenge Cup.

The hosts now lead 26-18 and you can watch the remaining quarter of that match live at the top of this page.

Elsewhere, Super League Hull KR are still 18-12 up at home to Leigh Centurions.