Challenge Cup round-up and draw
Warrington’s reward for a thumping victory over Huddersfield at the weekend is a quarter final date against Bradford.
Tony Smith’s men looked in ominous form as they ran in 12 tries against the Giants in a repeat of last season’s final, with Chris Bridge scoring five tries. It was a superb performance from the Wolves which will certainly have made their rivals, both in the cup and in Super League, sit up and take notice.
Bradford had a similarly easy passage in to the last eight, scoring ten tries in a 58-16 win over Championship side Leigh. Chris Nero, Paul Sykes, Chris Menzies and Brett Kearney gave the Bulls a 24-12 half time lead, and Nero completed his hat-trick as the home side cut loose after the break.
Wigan face a mouthwatering trip to Leeds after they cruised past old rivals Widnes at the Stobart Stadium. Sam Tomkins was the star of the show with a hat-trick of tries as the Warriors ran in 64-10 winners, with Karl Pryce also bagging a treble.
Championship 1 side Blackpool kept within touching distance of Super League champions Leeds with a gallant first half effort, but the Rhinos eventually proved too good for Martin Crompton’s men, who saw their 11-game winning run ended. Brent Webb scored five tries as Leeds ran in 12 in total to win 70-22.
In the game of the round, Crusaders completed a remarkable comeback from 30-6 down at home to Catalans only to lose out in the dying seconds to a Thomas Bosc drop goal. The Dragons, despite their league struggles, powered their way to a commanding advantage shortly after the interval, but led by eccentric half back Jarrod Sammut, Crusaders somehow clawed themselves back in to the match. Bosc and Sammut then exchanged field goal misses, before Bosc hit one sweetly with barely half a minute left on the clock.
Catalans will have to wait to find out their quarter final performances after the sensational news merely hours before kick off that Halifax’s fifth round tie with Batley had been postponed, pending an RFL inquiry. Halifax fielded prop Michael Ostick in the fourth round after he had previously turned out for Rochdale in round three, and they could face expulsion from the competition.
Barrow were handed a plump tie away at St Helens following their 42-24 win over Hunslet. Saints won 30-10 at Harlequins, and will host the Championship champions at Knowsley Road in the quarter finals, which take place on May 29/30.
Quarter final draw:
Bradford v Warrington
Halifax/Batley v Catalans
Leeds v Wigan
St Helens v Barrow