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Wakefield 18-20 Castleford (aet, 18-18 after 80 mins)

Wakefield (8) 18
Tries: Morrison, Lee Goals: Veivers 5
Castleford (6) 20
Tries: Ferres, Chase, Orr Goals: Dixon 4

Castleford winger Kirk Dixon

Highlights - Wakefield 18-20 Castleford (aet)

Castleford winger Kirk Dixon landed a 'golden point' penalty winner to beat local rivals Wakefield in a dramatic Challenge Cup finale at Belle Vue.

Dixon kicked a late penalty to take the tightest, tensest of fifth round ties into extra time at 18-18.

Then, 10 minutes into sudden-death extra time, right on half-time, home winger Dale Morton was penalised.

And Dixon again stepped up to the mark, nervelessly landing a touchline kick to steer Cas into the quarter-finals.

It was only the fourth Challenge Cup clash between the two local rivals in the 114-year history of the competition - and Wakefield had won two of the previous three.

But Castleford's only win, in the 1969 semi-final, came en route to an eventual 11-6 Wembley victory over Salford.

And they are now just two wins away from a first visit to the rebuilt Wembley, their last trip to the Twin Towers having been in whjen they lost 28-12 to Wigan in 1992.

Cas drew first blood on six minutes when Brett Ferres pounced to dive over from close range against his former club, Dixon adding the extras with the first of his four kicks.

Castleford winger Kirk Dixon

Cas snatch win with golden-point kick

But Trinity were level within 10 minutes when skipper Glenn Morrison crossed, Josh Veivers converting.

Youngster Veivers, called into the side when regular full-back Matt Blaymire pulled out with a dead, then kicked a penalty on 31 minutes for an 8-6 half-time lead before adding another four minutes after the break.

And, when Tommy Lee cashed in on Rangi Chase's fumble to dive over on 48 minutes, Veivers' boot made it 16-6.

But, within eight minutes, Cas were back on level terms again.

Chase made up for his own error by squeezing in under the posts.

And, although Dixon improved that one, the goal-kicking winger was then adjudged to have missed when Danny Orr went over just four minutes later.

It looked a crucial call at the time - and Wakefield thought they had won it when Morton went in at the right corner, only to stick a foot in touch.

But, with 10 minutes left, Cas prop Nick Fozzard lost his head to concede a needless penalty - and Veivers landed his fifth kick of the afternoon.

Kear proud of Wakefield despite defeat

Even then, Joe Arundel was denied a match-winning Cas try only by the outstretched arm of home winger Greg Johnson, who deflected it away.

But, with just three minutes left, and against the wind, Dixon held his nerve to stick an equalising penalty between the sticks.

Dixon disputed the decision to disallow the conversion, which appeared to go over the right upright. But that set up sudden-death extra-time.

Castleford chose to play with the wind behind them after captain Danny Orr won the toss.

And, with two tired teams desperate not to lose a classic contest, a succession of pitiful drop goal attempts failed.

But, just as the extra time half-time hooter was about to sound, Morton was adjudged to have unfairly wrestled the ball, Dixon was summoned - and the Cas kicker remained the coolest man in the stadium.

Wakefield coach John Kear, who has won the Cup with Sheffield Eagles and Hull, had no complaints about the decisive penalty and was typically gracious in defeat.

POST-MATCH REACTION

Wakefield coach John Kear:

"Congratulations to Kirk Dixon. I thought he showed great composure to kick it from there. He's the hero and good on him.

"It was a cruel way to lose it but I think the game has ignited this year's Challenge Cup.

"It was a great game of rugby league and the drama and excitement at the end was great.

"It shows how much the Challenge Cup means to the players, the fans, the coaches, everybody."

Castleford coach Terry Matterson:

"I thought the one before went over and Kirk Dixon thought so as well.

"I'm really pleased for Kirk. A year and a half ago he had a blood clot in his calf and he had six months out of the game.

"He's worked so hard on his goalkicking and that's the culmination of it. And I knew he was going to kick that last one.

"If it had gone into the next 10 minutes, it would have been a bit of a worry. We were going up against that tough breeze and it was hard to get out of that area."

TEAMS

Wakefield: Veivers; G Johnson, Murphy, Griffin, Morton; Hyde, Lee; Korkidas, Rinaldi, P Johnson, Morrison, Henderson, Howarth.

Replacements: Mariano, King, Amor, Wildie.

Castleford: Mathers; Dixon, Isa, Arundel, Owen; Chase, Orr; Fozzard, Hudson, Emmitt, Holmes, Ferres, Snitch.

Replacements: Massey, Thompson, Widders, Clark.

Attendance: 6,604.

Referee: Richard Silverwood (Dewsbury).



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