Leeds captain Luke Gale's drop-goal five minutes from time saw the Rhinos edge Salford 17-16 in a dramatic Challenge Cup final at an eerily quiet Wembley on Saturday. In a match played behind closed doors because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Leeds did just enough to leave Salford still looking for their first Challenge Cup title since 1938. Victory was a fine way for 14-times Cup winners Leeds to honour former player Rob Burrow, with their guest of honour unable to travel to London because of the effects of motor neurone disease. Leeds opened the scoring through wing Tom Briscoe's converted try. But Salford hit back with a stunning length of the field effort as Niall Evalds set up wing Rhys Williams for a 90-metre try. Leeds substitute James Donaldson had a try disallowed but created the overlap to send wing Ash Handley in for the first of his two tries, with Leeds 12-6 up at the break. Salford, however, scored two tries in six minutes to go ahead through Pauli Pauli and James Greenwood, the latter a converted score. Salford led 16-12 but the scores were level in the 64th minute when Handley was sent in for his second try before Gale, having missed with his first drop-goal effort, kicked the clinching point. jdg/dj