Carnegie Challenge Cup round-up

Challenge Cup champions St Helens made good their passage to the fifth round with a relatively easy 78-14 win over Co-Operative National League One Batley Bulldogs at Knowsley Road on Friday night.

It is 110 years almost to the day that the two sides first met in the cup, contesting the very first “Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup” final at Headingley, Batley running out 10-3 winners on that occasion.

The home side ran in 14 tries against lower league opposition, two apiece from Paul Wellens, Francis Meli, Lee Gilmour and Maurie Fa’asavalu.

James Graham, Paul Clough, Kieron Cunningham, Matt Gidley, Ade Gardner and Jon Wilkin were Saints’ other try scorers, while youngster Ste Tyrer kicked 11 goals.

Batley, who trailed 58-10 at the half-time interval, responded through Kris Lythe, Tim Spears and Jason Mossot, Ian Gordon kicking a solitary goal, but never looked like getting close to St Helens.

Also on Friday night, Bradford Bulls were made to fight all the way by Castleford Tigers but claimed a 24-16 win over the NL1 after a Tigers fight back was killed off by a David Solomona try late in the piece.

Leeds Rhinos put Workington Town to the sword at Headingley Carnegie Stadium in what was the side’s first game since Tony Smith was announced as the new Great Britain coach.

The appointment did not interfere with a professional performance from Smith’s men, particularly Scott Donald who touched down for four tries, and Rob Burrow who grabbed a hat trick.

Salford City Reds had no problems against Gateshead Thunder at The Willows, Luke Robinson scoring four tries as the Reds clamed a 64-4 win over the north-east side to put themselves into the next round.
 
Warrington Wolves proved too strong for Hull Kingston Rovers for the second time in as many weeks on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 38-10 victory with Brent Grose and Vinnie Anderson claiming a brace of tries each.

Harlequins travelled to the south of France to play Pia,securing a 64-8 victory over the French side thanks to a second-half hat trick from Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and two tries apiece from Andy Smith and Paul Sykes.

Catalans Dragons outplayed Featherstone Rovers in Perpignan, posting a 72-12 win over the NL2 club, Adam Mogg and Cyril Gossard grabbing two tries each, and Thomas Bosc scoring a try and 11 goals.

On Sunday, Wigan Warriors had to work hard to overcome a spirited Widnes Vikings side, only pulling away from the NL1 side with a late flurry tries from Pat Richards (2), Trent Barrett and Darryl Goulding.

National League One Rochdale Hornets faced a tough test from National League Two Celtic Crusaders at Spotland, having to comeback from 16-8 down at the break to claim a narrow 20-16 win over the Welshmen.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats ran in 11 tries at Belle Vue, two from Ian Henderson, to defeat London Skolars 52-4, in what was a very creditable performance from the north London-based club.

A Craig Hall hat trick helped Hull FC to a one-sided 78-0 win over Hunslet Hawks at the KC Stadium, while a Steve Snitch hat trick did the same for Huddersfield Giants as they defeated York City Knights 74-4 at the Galpharm Stadium.

A try and eight goals from Carl Rudd along with a brace from Richard Fletcher contributed to Whitehaven’s 36-8 win over Halifax at the Recreation Ground, while in another all-NL1 tie Sheffield Eagles defeated Dewsbury Rams 46-28.

Keighley Cougars lead 8-0 at half time against Oldham at Cougar Park, but two tries apiece from Kris Smith and Gareth Langley as well as a try and three goals from Paul Ashton gave Oldham a 26-16 win.

Barrow Raiders faced little difficulty against Swinton Lions, a brace of tries from Nixon and a 19-point haul from Holt helping the visitors to a 47-14 win over their Nl2 rivals.

The draw for the Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth round takes place some time between 6.30pm and 7.00pm on Tuesday evening on BBC1 local news.