Video: Love RL discuss controversial “try or no try” moment in Challenge Cup final
James Roby of St Helens scores in the final at Wembley
Try or no try? Editors James Gordon and Drew Darbyshire discuss James Roby’s controversial try in the Challenge Cup final.
St Helens turned around a 12-6 deficit at half-time to win 26-12 against Castleford to clinch the Challenge Cup for the first time in 13 years at Wembley on Saturday.
It was a classic cup final with plenty of passion and pride on show, amid some controversy too.
The Tigers led at the break, but Saints drew level two minutes after the second half restart.
Mark Percival was the first to reach a high kick into the corner from Lachlan Coote and, after the ball bounced very close to the touchline, Regan Grace passed it back inside to captain James Roby who then went over.
Video referee Chris Kendall agreed with Liam Moore’s on-field decision that it was a legitimate try, with Super League champions Saints then going on to win the game.
On the try, Love RL deputy editor Drew Darbyshire said: “First thing is first, I think it was a try. I think the video referee was correct to award James Roby with his first try of the season and what an important try it was.
“I didn’t see anything wrong with Mark Percival’s knock back to Regan Grace, I thought it was still in the field of play when the ball bounced back. I didn’t see anything wrong with it. Ultimately, it was the correct decision.”
Editor James Gordon replied: “With where the ball bounced, that was fine, with the Percival knock, that was fine, I could see why people question mark it but the main thing was with the Grace knock back because it split opinion, with people saying he was in touch and other saying he wasn’t.
“The best way that I could describe to the naked eye was that he looked out. He put his foot on the touchline and then he jumped and knocked the ball in play. Technically he was in play. I thought it was a try, I thought it was the right decision was made.”
Meanwhile in the 1895 Cup final, Featherstone ran-out 41-34 winners against York at Wembley.
