The first Ladbrokes Challenge Cup semi-final saw the cup holders Hull FC up against the trophy winners in 2014 and 2015, the Leeds Rhinos. The Airlie Birds were slight favourites with the bookies for the game, in front of a sell out Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.

Rhinos coach Brian McDermott had rung the changes from the youthful side that lost heavily to Wigan Warriors last weekend in bringing back nine regular first teamers, but Hull were unchanged from the side that beat the Huddersfield Giants last time out.

Leeds won the meeting between the two sides at Headingley a fortnight ago by 10-7, and by 52-24 in mid-April in Hull. But this was Cup, it was Super League's second against third, and all expectations were of a cracker.

It was high quality and high speed from the first whistle. The Rhinos spurned an early opportunity to kick a penalty, and on seven minutes, FC had a try ruled out by the video referee, somewhat controversially.

The opening nineteen minutes had passed in an intense heartbeat before Ryan Hall collected a Joel Moon high kick on the full to ground just before he was dragged dead in goal by Mahe Fonua. Kallum Watkins had the Rhinos kicking duties and slotted over the extras.

Four minutes later and Hull got a second set of six from a high kick knock-on by Tom Briscoe. They used the ball well, and three tackles in Albert Kelly spotted a big gap to wrong step the Rhinos defenders to score under the sticks and give Marc Sneyd a simple conversion to level the scores.

On twenty-nine Founa knocked-on a high kick behind his own sticks. Fielding the drop out, the Rhinos used all their tackles before a Watkins cross-field kick to the corner was again fielded brilliantly by Hall and grounded just short of the dead ball line. Watkins converted from the touchline.

Six minutes later and Carlos Tuimavave took a Sneyd pass to push past three Leeds defenders for Hull’s second. Sneyd added the extras for 12-12.

A minute before the interval and the Airlie Birds hit the front for the first time when a Sneyd flat kick was collected by Kelly and offloaded to Chris Green to dive over. Sneyd added the extras for an 18-12 half-time scoreline.

After bombing an easy opportunity early in the second half, Hull got over on forty-five when a Sneyd high kick was knocked back by Fetuli Talanoa into the hands of Tuimavave to score his second of the afternoon. Sneyd was again accurate with the boot for a twelve point lead.

Briscoe, devoid of confidence after being bombarded all game, obstructed at the kick near his own line. Hull used four plays before setting up Marc Sneyd to slot over the drop goal for a thirteen point lead.

Just before the hour the Rhinos edged themselves back into the game when forty from the Hull line, on the last tackle, McGuire put in a pinpoint grubber kick which was collected by Watkins who danced through the Hull defence to score by the uprights. He added the extras himself to reduce the Leeds arrears to seven points.

Liam Watts grabbed the fifth Hull try on sixty-five to put his side further head when he took a delightful short pass from Kelly to go fifteen metres to score by the sticks. Sneyd kicked the two for a 31-18 lead.

Jamie Shaul sealed Hull’s ticket to Wembley on seventy one when he picked up a Rhinos kick on his own twenty before breaking the Leeds line and going eighty metres to score in the left corner. Sneyd again added the extras from the touchline.

Just three more minutes had passed when Scott Taylor was at first receiver to score a two metre try, pushing over three tired Rhinos defenders to ground by the post pad. Sneyd added the goal for 43-18.

Ashton Golding grabbed a late consolation for the Rhinos in the last minute which Jordan Lilley converted for a final score of 43-24.

Although Leeds matched Hull in the first half it was the Airlie Birds who dominated the second half with a brilliant attacking performance against a Rhinos side who didn't seem to have any answers. The Hull kicking game exploited a weakness on the Rhinos right wing and they reaped the rewards of sticking to their game plan. It was a high intensity game with few penalties and even fewer errors which was a credit to our great game.

Hull FC return to Wembley to defend their trophy.

FC: Shaul (T), Fonua, Griffin, Tuimavave (2T), Talanoa, Kelly (T), Sneyd (7G, DG), Watts (T), Houghton, Taylor (T), Manu, Minichiello, Ellis. Subs: Connor, Bowden, Green (T), Washbrook.

Rhinos: Golding (T), Briscoe, Watkins (T, 3G), Keinhorst, Hall (2T), Moon, McGuire, Cuthbertson, Parcell, Singleton, Ward, Ablett, Jones-Buchanan. Subs: Mullally, Ferres, Lilley (G), Garbutt.

Referee: Phil Bentham.

Half-Time: 18-12.

Full-Time: 43-18.

Attendance: 14,526.