RADFORD UP FOR BATTLE WITH RHINOS
Hull FC 32 Castleford 24
LEE RADFORD welcomed his team’s Yorkshire derby semi-final pairing with Leeds after holders Hull kept their grip on the Challenge Cup.
And after upsetting Super League leaders Castleford, Radford believes that his side is peaking at exactly the right time.
Wigan, 20 times winners of the competition, will face Salford in the second semi-final, with both ties to be played on the weekend of July 29-30.
Castleford were strongly backed to stay on course for a possible treble.
But that dream is in tatters after Hull started and finished strongly in baking temperatures.
“I don’t think the media gave us any sort of chance,” said Radford (below) after FC’s second win over the Tigers in two months.
“When that draw came out, the amount of pumping up they have had in their tyres lit the fuses in our boys. “Daryl Powell has done a fantastic job at Cas, but knockout football is when you must be at your best.
“All pre-season we banged the drum of making sure we peaked at the right time. We sat top of the tree all last year and lost it at the end. It was a bitter pill to swallow and I would like to do it the opposite way round this time.”
The Rhinos won 52-24 when the teams met on Good Friday, and Radford admitted: “It’s seven games we have not beaten Leeds in now.
“It will be a challenging game, but it’s a Yorkshire derby and a fitting game to be involved in.”
Tries from Carlos Tuimavave and Fetuli Talanoa, plus the first of Jake Connor’s eight goals, put Hull 12-0 in front after five minutes.
The Tigers roared back through Ben Roberts and Zak Hardaker, and a brace of conversions from Luke Gale.
Two Connor penalties made it 16-12 early in the second half, before Roberts crossed again and Gale goaled to give Cas an 18-16 advantage.
But Hull scored the next 16 points with tries from Mahe Fonua and Jamie Shaul, plus four more Connor goals.
“When we got in front the way we tried to manage the game was crazy,” said Cas coach Powell. “I just thought that they beat us with their intent and they were too good for us.
“We have got to make sure we deal with this defeat well and make sure there is a fire burning in our belly.”