2019 Coral Challenge Cup Quarter Finals Review

A break in Super League action for the quarter final stage of the 2019 Coral Challenge Cup which began on Thursday night with holders Catalans Dragons suffering a 51-8 loss to Hull FC at the KCOM Stadium. FC raced into a 12-0 lead inside eight minutes as Jake Connor and Bureta Faraimo crossed with Marc Sneyd converting both. Catalans replied superbly with a Lewis Tierney brace to cut the gap to 12-8 on 20 minutes.

The narrow lead remained into the interval with Sneyd adding a penalty goal for 14-8 before FC ran riot, Sika Manu crossing ahead of a Ratu Naulago brace which sandwiched an Albert Kelly try and Sneyd drop goal with Sneyd converting the lot for a 39-8 lead. The gloss on a huge win came as Jamie Shaul and Danny Houghton both crossed with Sneyd ending the evening with nine successes from the kicking tee in the 51-8 rout.

Friday night saw last year's losing finalists Warrington Wolves survive a fightback to claim a 28-22 win over Hull Kingston Rovers at Craven Park. A tight first half saw the Wolves hold a 12-0 lead into the interval thanks to a 12th minute try from Jake Mamo which Declan Patton converted before improving an effort in the final second of the half from Blake Austin.

Tries from Tom Lineham and Ben Murdoch-Masila saw Patton add a conversion to make it 22-0 before the Robins staged a fightback with a full length try from Ben Crooks followed by a Josh Drinkwater brace which saw Ryan Shaw convert twice to cut the gap to 22-16. Wire looked to have sealed the win with a Ben Currie try on 73 minutes with Patton kicking for 28-16 but a frantic finish saw Craig Hall go over with Shaw converting for 28-22. KR came achingly close to forcing Golden Point in the final second but the Wolves held on to confirm a spot in the last four.

Saturday afternoon saw St Helens move closer to a first final spot in a decade as they claimed a 48-10 win over Wakefield Trinity at the Totally Wicked Stadium. A rapid start from the hosts saw Lachlan Coote cross and convert for 6-0 inside three minutes before a superb debut try for Jack Croft saw Danny Brough convert to draw Trin level at 6 all on seven minutes. Coote edged Saints ahead with a penalty goal before two tries in three minutes from Tommy Makinson and Morgan Knowles saw Coote convert once before adding another penalty goal minutes later for a 20-6 lead. Regan Grace dived over on 33 minutes to give Saints a 26-6 lead that they held onto into the interval.

Tyler Randell crossed ten minutes after the restart to cut the gap to 26-10 before scores from Zeb Taia, Mark Percival, Jonny Lomax and Kevin Naiqama saw Coote add three conversions to confirm a 48-10 victory.

The round ended in style on Sunday with an all-Championship battle at Odsal which saw Halifax reach the last four for the first time since 1988 as they edged a 20-16 win over Bradford Bulls.The Bulls opened the scoring through Rowan Milnes for a 4-0 lead inside eight minutes with the lead extending to 8-0 at the interval after a penalty goal from Jordan Lilley.

Fax hit back with a self-converted try from Steve Tyrer who instantly added a penalty goal for an eight point try at 8-6. Bradford regained the lead with Jake Webster's try which Lilley improved for 12-8 but Fax went back in front on 65 minutes as Scott Grix went over and Tyrer converted for 14-12. Another swing cam just four minutes later as Matty Wildie crossed to give the Bulls a narrow 16-14 lead. The final swing in the tie came on 76 minutes as James Woodburn-Hall raced over for Fax with Tyrer kicking a fourth conversion of the afternoon to secure a 20-16 win.