CHALLENGE CUP FINAL REACTION
STEPHEN IBBETSON pays tribute to this year’s Lance Todd Trophy winner
Niall Evalds races away from James Roby to score
AFTER a quarter of an hour of St Helens dominance, one play that lit the fuse for this epic Challenge Cup final.
Starting inside their own half of the field, Castleford Tigers needed something, anything, to shift the momentum. Paul McShane’s quick cut-out pass gave them a small opening and once Gareth O’Brien had shifted the ball on, it was in the hands of Niall Evalds.
First, the fullback showed intelligence, waiting for winger Regan Grace to commit himself before delivering for Peter Mata’utia to run into the space left behind. Then he showed his pace and eye for an opportunity, supporting on the inside ready for the perfectly-weighted kick that would allow him to run clear.
Cue bedlam among the Tigers’ supporters, and suddenly there was a battle that would result in one of the most spectacular, high-quality finals seen at the new Wembley.
That try is not the only reason why, for the first time in 16 years, the Lance Todd Trophy went to a player on the losing side in the Challenge Cup final, but it was Evalds who sparked the contest and was its brightest light.
He was the player always involved when Castleford were at their most threatening, joining the line with real intent. He was especially dangerous down the right-hand side that brought that try, linking very well with Mata’utia to trouble Grace and Mark Percival.
There were a number of breaks through the line as the match wore on, Evalds spotting the small gaps and the tired bodies to good effect to push the Tigers forward. Throw in an exemplary performance at the back, and there was no more he could have done for the cause.
Sadly for him, it was still not enough, and he was left with what is no doubt now a familiar feeling. It is the second year running that Evalds has been on the losing side in the Challenge Cup final, after losing out to Leeds Rhinos as part of the Salford Red Devils team last year.