SAINTS' Challenge Cup Final oppenents Castleford fielded a virtual reserve team at home to Salford - and were crushed 70-18.

Tigers boss Daryl Powell made next Saturday's final his priority as he rested 14 members of his likely Wembley line-up and handed debuts to five 18-year-olds.

But Powell has no regrets about his decision.

"We've a pretty big game on Saturday and there is no way I was going to put most of our players into a game six days beforehand, it doesn't make any sense," Powell said.

"This game should never have been on the Sunday before a big game.

"It was a big score but it was a means to get into the cup final healthy and I thought there were a lot of positives.

"We gave up two points up by doing it but five players got an opportunity they wouldn't otherwise have got and they learned a lot today.

"I thought the young players were great. They found it tough, which was pretty obvious."

The youthful Tigers were led by veteran prop Grant Millington, who marked his return from a two-month injury lay-off with the game's opening try as he boosted his chances of a first Wembley appearance.

"He was always going to be little bit rusty but he was good in the middle and he did some real smart things in the back row," said Powell.

St Helens Star:

Saints Dan Norman and Ben Davies, on loan at Salford, both scored tries in the one-sided encounter.