2022 Challenge Cup Round Six

After two seasons without fans at this stage, the Challenge Cup welcomed crowds in Round six although sadly no game topped 6500.

Warriors Nil Red Devils 

Wigan Warriors eased into the quarter finals with a 20-0 victory over Salford Red Devils at the DW Stadium on Friday. The Warriors opened the scoring on 12 minutes as Liam Byrne crossed for a try which Zak Hardaker converted for 6-0 before improving an effort from Liam Marshall for 12-0 inside 15 minutes. Hardaker added a penalty goal on 25 minutes for a 14-0 lead that lasted into the interval. 

The second half proved to be a closer contest with just a single score coming on 52 minutes as John Bateman went over with Hardaker kicking for 20-0 which is how it ended. 

Saints Stroll Past Wounded Whitehaven

St Helens began their title defence with a comfortable 46-4 win over Whitehaven at the Lel Arena on Saturday afternoon. The hosts suffered two injury blows before going behind to a try from Joe Batchelor which Tommy Makinson converted for 6-0. Curtis Sironen crossed on the half hour mark with Makinson kicking for 12-0 before improving Kyle Amor's effort for an 18-0 lead into the interval.

Haven got off the mark with a Karl Dixon try within seven minutes of the restart before Saints resumed control with tries from Dan Norman and Lewis Dodd with Makinson converting twice for 30-4 into the hour mark. The victory was wrapped up with tries from Mark Percival, Joey Lussick, James Roby and two conversions from Makinson for a 46-4 final score. 

Dragons Deny Rovers

Catalans Dragons avoided a potential shock as they came from behind secure a 27-14 win over Featherstone Rovers at Stade Gilbert Brutus. The visitors raced into a 10-0 lead inside five minutes with tries from Brandon Pickersgill and Joe Leilua with Craig Hall converting the latter. Catalans got off the mark with a brace from Fouad Yaha which cut the gap to 10-8 into the interval. 

Fev had a brace of their own within two minutes of the restart as Leilua crossed for his second of the afternoon for 14-8. The hosts were soon level though as Sam Kasiano touched down and Sam Tomkins converted. The Dragons went ahead with a Tyrone May (Tomkins conv) effort before a Tom Davies try followed by Tomkins's conversion and drop goal sealed the 27-14 win. 

Robins Rise Despite Centurions Comeback

Hull Kingston Rovers advanced to the last eight with a narrow 24-18 win over Leigh Centurions at Sewell Group Craven Park. The visitors struck first as Ben Renyolds swept over a penalty goal for 2-0 before tries from Frankie Halton and Mikey Lewis coupled with conversions from Jordan Abdull and Will Dagger put the hosts in front at 12-2. The lead increased to 18-2 into the interval as Matt Parcell crossed for a try which Dagger converted.

Matt Storton went over to increase the lead on 51 minutes with Dagger converting for 24-2 and from there it became a comeback show from Leigh as Keenan Brand, Jacob Jones and Joe Mellor all crossed for tries which saw Krisnan Inu convert twice for 24-18 but their hopes were dashed by the final hooter second after the final conversion. 

Classy Cas Crush Rhinos 

Castleford Tigers eased into the quarter finals with a 40-16 win over Leeds Rhinos at Headingley in a fierce Yorkshire derby. Cas raced into a 16-0 lead inside the half hour after tries from Jake Trueman, Jake Mamo and Gareth O'Brien who also converted twice. Leeds were reduced to 12 with the sinbinning of Brad Dwyer and Cas used the advantage with Jordan Turner and George Lawler both crossing with O'Brien converting for a huge 28-0 lead into the interval.

Leeds began the second half revitalised with two quick scores from Rhyse Martin and Liam Sutcliffe with Martin converting once for 28-10. Greg Eden crossed for the Tigers to seal the win with O'Brien converting for 34-10 but Leeds continued to battle with a self converted second try from Martin cutting the gap to 34-16. The final say went to Cas with Eden crossing for his second try and O'Brien converting for a sixth time to seal the 40-16 victory. 

Hull FC Hammer Eagles Hopes

Hull FC advanced to the next round with a comfortable 58-12 success over Sheffield Eagles at the Millennium Stadium. The Black and Whites raced into a 12-0 lead as Jake Connor and Adam Swift crossed with Ben McNamara converting twice. Connor Wynne touched down for a brace either side of an effort from Andre Savelio and with McNamara converting, FC led 26-0 into the interval. 

The spree resumed with efforts from Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave and a second score from Connor coupled with McNamara converting the lot for a huge 44-0 lead. Sheffield got off the mark with two tries either side of the hour mark as Kris Welham and Tom Holmes crossed for tries which Holmes converted for 44-12. Hull resumed control with Mikeli Vulikikjapani and Jordan Lane touching down either side of an hat-trick try from Wynne and McNamara converting the latter for a 58-12 final score. 

Trinity Triumph Against Wolves

Deja vu for Warrington Wolves as they fell to a 16-12 defeat, the second home loss to Wakefield Trinity in the same week at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. The Wolves raced out of the blocks with Connor Wrench and Josh Thewlis both crossing for tries which Gareth Widdop converted for a 12-0 lad. Wakefield cut the gap to 12-6 into the interval though with a Lewis Murphy try which Mason Lino converted. 

The comeback continued in the second half with Reece Lyne and Corey Hall touching down and with a Lino conversion, Trinity had a 16-12 advantage which lasted until the end as they secured a place in the last eight. 

Huddersfield Hold Off Battling Barrow

Sunday afternoon saw the final tie of the round as Huddersfield Giants advanced after a tough 30-16 win over Barrow Raiders at Craven Park. The Giants opened up a 12-0 lead in side 20 minutes as Luke Yates and Ricky Leutele both crossed with Oliver Russell converting twice. Barrow cut the gap to 12-6 into the interval as Tee Ritson intercepted a pass and dashed clear to cross with Jarrod Sammut converting. 

Hudds regained their two score lead as Sebastine Ikahihifo crossed and Russell converted for 18-6 but Barrow hit back again with a second from Ritson for 18-10. The score exchange continued with Jack Ashworth touching down for 22-10 before Jarrad Stack crossed and Sammut converted for 24-16. Hudds wrapped up the win late on as Innes Senior latched on to a mistake to cross with Russell adding his fifth conversion for a 30-16 final score.