2019 Coral Challenge Cup Fifth Round Review

The Coral Challenge Cup fifth round began with a shock on Thursday night as Championship side Halifax RLFC upset London Broncos with a 24-16 win at the MBi Shay.

Fax stunned their visitors with a 16th minute opener from Ed Barber try which Steve Tyrer converted for 6-0. They were pegged back by Mark Ioane's try which Morgan Smith improved for 6 all. Ben Kaye restored the lead as he crossed on 37 minutes, Tyrer kicking the hosts into a 12-6 half-time advantage.

London replied through Jacob Odgen seven minutes after the restart, Smith kicking for 12 all before Reece Chapman-Smith and Quentin Laulu-Togagae crossed either side of the hour mark with Tyrer converting both for a 24-12 lead. London gave themselves hope with Ogden's second try on 70 minutes but were unable to cut the gap further as Fax held on for a famous win.

Hull Kingston Rovers survived a scare from Championship side Leigh Centurions as they came from behind to win 14-10. Leigh raced into a 10-0 lead inside 22 minutes as Jonny Pownall and ex-Robins man Joe Cator crossed for tries with Martyn Ridyard converting just the latter. KR hit back just before the interval as Jimmy Keinhorst went over for 10-4.

The Centurions looked to be on their way to a causing an upset still leading 10-4 into the final ten minutes but a late fightback from the hosts saw them turn the tie around, Ryan Shaw and Craig Hall crossing in a two-minute period with Shaw converting his on try to confirm a 14-10 success.

Leeds Rhinos eased into the next round with a 78-6 humbling of League One side Workington Town on Friday evening. The Rhinos flew out of the blocks with Luke Briscoe, Ashton Golding, Harry Newman and Wellington Albert all crossing inside 12 minutes with Liam Sutcliffe converting the lot for a 24-0 lead. Newman completed his hat-trick with two tries either side of the half hour which Sutcliffe improved for 36-0 before Town got off the mark with a score from Caine Barnes with Carl Forber converting for 36-6.

Leeds went into the interval past the 40 point mark as Richie Myler crossed in the final seconds with Sutcliffe kicking for 42-6. The second half saw Myler take just three minutes to score his second try before completing his hat-trick two minutes after a Brett Ferres try, Sutcliffe reaching ten successes with the boot for 60-6. Harry Newman completed a quadruple on 65 minutes before a Matt Parcell and last-gasp second score from Golding saw Sutcliffe defy logic with a 'perfect 13' successes with the boot for 78-6.

Salford Red Devils dispatched Championship side Rochdale Hornets in a similar vain as they cruised to a 76-6 win. Early tries from Greg Burke, Niall Evalds and Gil Dudson were converted by Ed Chamberlain who crossed for a try of his own minutes later for a 22-0 lead. Logan Tomkins and a second Evalds score saw Chamberlain kick twice for 34-0 before the Hornets ended the spree on 31 minutes with a Sean Ainscough try and Dan Abram conversion made it 34-6. Salford went into the interval with the 40 point mark breached as Jake Bibby crossed and Chamberlain converted for 42-6. (6 conv)

Salford resumed control with a second Bibby try and hat-trick score for Evalds, Krisnan Inu converting both after taking over the kicking duties from the injured Chamberlain for 54-6. Evalds reached a quadruple before George Griffin and Robert Lui touched down followed by a self-converted effort from Inu as he kicked his sixth success to wrap up the 70 point win.

Saturday evening saw an all-Championship battle with Widnes VIkings claiming a 44-12 over York City Knights. The Knights struck first with a self-converted Brad Hey score inside three minutes with Widnes instantly levelling through Samuel Freeman's try which Jack Owens converted for 6 all. Freeman crossed for his second score on the half hour with Owens' conversion making it 12-6. Owens added another conversion before the interval as he improved Keenan Brand's try for 18-6 at the break.

Freeman completed his hat-trick nine minutes after the restart before York cut the gap to 22-12 on 53 minutes as Jordan Baldwinson touched down with Lewis Heckford converting. Widnes took control from there with Freeman completing a quadruple ahead of efforts from Joe Lyons and Ryan Ince with Owens converting the latter ahead of scoring a self-converted try to wrap up the win at 44-12.

Sunday afternoon saw sole amateur side Thatto Heath Crusaders put up a fight as they lost 36-10 to Championship side Dewsbury Rams. The Rams struck first with a third minute try from Andre Gabriel for 4-0 but the hosts soon levelled with a Matty Norton try for 4 all. Dewsbury regained the lead with Rob Worrincy's try which Liam Finn converted for 10-4. Thatto hit back again through Mike Stark's score which say Bobby Goulding converting for 10 all into the interval. The visitors took control after the restart as Lucas Walshaw, Samy Kibula and Adam Ryder all crossed with Finn converting the lot for 28-10. A spot in the last 16 was wrapped up by two late scores as Tom Garratt and Robbie Ward touched down for 36-10.

League One side Doncaster RLFC stunned Championship side Batley Bulldogs as they claimed a 16-12 win. A tight first half saw a single score as Connor Bower crossed on 37 minutes with Jordie Hedges kicking for a 6-0 lead.

Michael Ward's try after the restart saw David Scott convert to level at 6 all before Wayne Reittie put the Bulldogs ahead, Scott converting for a 12-6 lead. Doncaster battled back with Menzie Yere's score before a Sam Doherty try saw Hedges convert to confirm the 16-12 victory.

The round came to an end with a Golden Point win as Bradford Bulls edged a 27-26 win over rivals Featherstone Rovers. Rovers struck inside three minutes as Jack Broadbent crossed, Watson Boas converting for a 6-0 lead that became 8-0 with a enalty goal on 11 minutes. Bradford hit back with Ethan Ryan's try and Elliot Minchella's conversion for 8-6 before Minchella levelled with a penalty goal.

Fev led 14-8 into the interval via a late Josh Hardcastle try and Boas conversion before two tires in three minutes after the hour from James Harrison and Jack Render saw Boas add a conversion for 26-8. Bradford's fighting spirit saw them cur the gap through Dalton Grant (Minchella conv) to 26-14 before an epic coeback saw Jordan Lilley and David Foggin-Johnston touch don in the final three minutes, Minchella converted both to force extra time at 26-26. The Bulls' comeback was richly rewarded as Lilley swept over a drop goal to seal a 27-26 success.