Final drama as captain’s late drop goal seals victory
A drop goal five minutes from the end by Leeds captain Luke Gale secured a dramatic 17-16 victory over surprise Challenge Cup finalists Salford in surreal circumstances at a near-deserted Wembley.
The never-say-die Red Devils edged in front for the first time after 57 minutes but Rhinos winger Ash Handley scored to level the scores and Gale came up with the winning point.
So Leeds managed to deliver a 14th Challenge Cup triumph for stricken former player Rob Burrow and leave Salford still searching for their first Cup win since 1938.
Burrow was forced to turn down an invitation to attend as he continues his battle with motor neurone disease.
The outcome, though, was tough on Salford playmaker Kevin Brown, who has now experienced the heartache of defeat in four Challenge Cup finals.
The Rhinos went ahead when centre Konrad Hurrell produced a clever one-handed pass to send long-serving right winger Tom Briscoe, a five-try hero from 2015, over for his seventh cup final try.
Rhyse Martin’s conversion attempt went in off the far upright to make it 6-0 but the Red Devils drew level against the run of play on 18 minutes when former Leeds centre Kallum Watkins gathered Gale’s attacking kick and Evalds demonstrated quick thinking to get winger Rhys Williams sprinting 90 metres for a glorious try.
Inu’s conversion levelled the scores but Leeds created an overlap for Handley to score 10 minutes before half-time, when they led 12-6.
The Red Devils are nothing if not resilient and they hit back with two tries in six minutes to go in front.
Burly substitute Pauli Pauli took Tui Lolohea’s pass and proved unstoppable from 15 metres out for the first, and second rower James Greenwood grabbed the second.
Inu converted Greenwood’s try to make it 16-12 but it was level once more on 64 minutes when man of the match Myler worked Handley over for his second try.
Gale was wide with his first drop-goal attempt and, after Watkins almost created a second try for Williams, the former Castleford scrum-half found the target with five minutes left to secure victory.