St Helens come from behind to beat Castleford at Wembley and win the Challenge Cup for the first time in 13 years.

Image source, PA Media

That just about does us for our coverage of the 2021 Challenge Cup final.

And what a final it was. One of the most memorable for quite some time as St Helens reign victorious for the first time in 13 years against a valiant Castleford side.

Can they go on to win the double and retain their Super League title later this year?

We're in for an exciting tail end of the season, that's for certain.

For now though, thank you very much for joining us.

If you've missed today's action, let's catch you up.

St Helens won the Challenge Cup for the first time since 2008 as they overturned a six-point half-time deficit to beat Castleford.

After Theo Fages' early try, Cas came back through sensational tries from Niall Evalds and Jake Trueman.

But James Roby, Tommy Makinson and Kyle Amor all crossed for Saints to give them their 13th Challenge Cup final win.

St Helens' Jack Welsby told BBC Sport:

"This means everything to us. To get over the line, we're ecstatic.

"With the heat in here, it's like a coliseum. I'm just over the moon. I'm just ecstatic to have my family over here."

Jon Wilkin
Former England international on BBC One

St Helens have been by far the most dominant team in Super League for some time but for the players, the longer you don't win it [the Challenge Cup], the longer it becomes a talking point before it.

That's gone now and Saints can move forward from this.

They can be hugely proud of the effort they put into the second half which got them the result they deserved.

Cas played an incredible part in what was an awesome final, but Saints will be ecstatic.

These are the moments as a player that you remember and cherish - that moment when you're exhausted and you get the chance to celebrate with your team-mates.

Mike: Two great games of Rugby League! You can never write off the Saints!

Castleford's Peter Mata'utia told BBC Sport:

"It's a tough pill to swallow. I wanted to win this game for the boys who have played the platform for us.

"To top it off, just seeing my brother as well, just a lot of emotions.

"My first year at Cas, my son was diagnosed with a tumour. This club was there for me. I want to do everything to try and give something back."

Brian Noble
Ex-Great Britain coach on BBC One

The St Helens try at the start of the the second half knocked Castleford's juice, their energy levels.

If Saints don't score the try, Cas are in the game for longer, which gives you the appetite to stay in the fight for longer.

But St Helens were outstanding in the second half in executing what they had to do to get to the right end of the field.

Jamie Peacock
Former England captain on BBC One

I thought for the first 40 minutes Castleford were a big part of that game and they should be proud of what they achieved.

But I thought in the second half St Helens were outstanding.

Lance Todd trophy winner and Castleford full-back Niall Evalds told BBC Sport:

"First half we were good, we were calm. Second half, credit to Saints, we weren't good enough.

"The conditions were tough for everyone. They just had too much for us in the second half. They were the better side. Credit to them.

"It's all a bit raw. It's another final I've lost. I'm heartbroken, we all are.

"We want to come here again. We want to do it for all the people in our town."

Castleford boss Daryl Powell told BBC Sport:

"The try after half-time was a bit of a killer for us.

"I'm proud of the boys. I think the start to both halves really hurt us. We've just got to get ourselves out of this and look ahead.

"We came here and believed we could do it. We fell short but not as much as the scoreboard shows. We created opportunities but we weren't quite clinical enough.

"It's tough to take. It hurts physically when you lose games like these. In the week I'll feel that. Right now I just want to go back in with the boys and talk through this."

Image source, PA Media

St Helens collect their medals and James Roby takes the trophy and carries it to his team-mates.

Saints are Challenge Cup winners for the first time since 2008.

Comedian and St Helens fan Johnny Vegas watches on with his arms aloft. What a day.

St Helens head coach Kristian Woolf told BBC Sport:

"It's a great atmosphere. They've provided the noise.

"It's not a pretty win, but we did everything we needed to do in a final.

"We started really well, but then we conceded and went into a bit of a panic.

"[On James Roby} He's outstanding. To be doing what he's doing at his age. He certainly doesn't look like slowing down at any stage.

"This is something I've always wanted to be a part of. It's outstanding to be [here]."

St Helens captain James Roby told BBC Sport:

"It's been a long time coming. A number of years since we last won.

"It was a really tough game, especially with the heat. Fair play to the boys, we got the job done.

"We started the better but then the momentum swung. Half-time probably came at a good time for us.

"I don't know if I'll ever be back here again. It's very special for me to be captain of this team and shortly lift the trophy.

"There's definitely more to come from us. We've got the trophy and hopefully we can keep building."

Andrew Henderson
Warrington Wolves assistant coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

What Daryl Powell has done at Castleford is remarkable. He has turned them from a bottom-of-the-table side that always challenges for a play-off place.

He will hand over the mantle to Lee Radford.

It would have been a lovely narrative for Castleford to win today but St Helens had a bit more in the tank.

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

An exceptional game of rugby league.

St Helens slowly but surely grinded Castleford down.

Em: I honestly think that’s one of the best played games I’ve ever seen

Griff: Fabulous game! Great occasion!! Congrats to Saints

Andrew Henderson
Warrington Wolves assistant coach on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, PA Media

Both teams contibuted to a great final, but Saints edged it and deserved it.

The past year or so has been difficult for us all and especially the sport of rugby league.

But with Covid-19 seemingly calling off game by game, week by week, and the uncertainty surrounding this year's Rugby League World Cup (albeit with this week's confirmation that the tournament will go ahead) it's heartening to see a game like this in a final.

What a feast of sporting action. Sensational stuff from both teams and just what the sport needs righ tnow.