Schofield plays down head-butt accusation

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Garry Schofield, the captain of Leeds, was last night accused of head- butting an opponent during his side's 46-22 Regal Trophy second-round defeat of Salford at Headingley.

The Salford coach, Andy Gregory, claimed that Schofield, his former Leeds and Great Britain team-mate, had head-butted the scrum-half, Mark Lee. Schofield was spoken to by the referee, Stuart Cummings, but went on to score two tries and create one for Alan Tait, the full-back, as Leeds finished easy winners.

Gregory said: "It will be very interesting to see the video about the lad who scored two tries in the second half and set the other one up. I was stood five yards away and it was a definite head-butt. The game was virtually over by half-time. We got back into the game and the lad who I didn't think should have been on the field has killed us off good and proper.

"There's a fellow who plays for Everton who is spending three months in jail for head-butting."

Schofield hit back at the head-butting accusation, saying: "I don't think I did at all. There's talk of a citing, but if it comes to that, I think it's getting a bit ridiculous. I wasn't put on report or anything."

Although Salford were unable to pull off a shock, Carlisle, of the Second Division, took full advantage of playing at home as they knocked the 1994 winners, Castleford, out of the Trophy with an inspired second-half performance.

Castleford looked in control as they led 18-10 at the break, but the man of the match, Willie Richardson, helped level the scores at 18-18 with two goals after Stuart Rhodes had crossed for a try. With eight minutes left the scrum-half, Mike Kavanagh, grabbed glory for the Cumbrian side with a drop goal.

It was not long ago that the London Broncos were being humbled by the top clubs in the Cup, but they proved that they have reached the big time by beating lowly Highfield 82-0 at Barnet.