Challenge Cup Quarterfinal Previews

This weekend Superleague takes a break for the quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup Competition. There are eight teams left in this knock out comeptition, and the quarterfinal match ups are: Huddersfield v Salford, Hull Kingston Rovers (NL1) v Warrington, Leeds v Harlequins, St Helens v Les Catalans.
- - - - -

HUDDERSFIELD GIANTS v SALFORD CITY REDS

Salford City Reds have not won at Huddersfield Giants since 2001 when they had a 32-24 Super League victory. The only Salford survivors from that match are Stuart Littler (2 tries), Andy Coley (1 try), Malcolm Alker (1 try) and Paul Highton. Since then Salford have lost on all five trips to Huddersfield, including 32-18 a few weeks ago. Alker and Highton also played when Salford won 22-14 at Huddersfield the last time the two teams met in the Challenge Cup, in 1999.

Last semi-final appearance:
Huddersfield v St. Helens Lost 6-46 At Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington ? 2004
Salford v Sheffield E. Lost 18-22 At Headingley, Leeds ? 1998

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings:
1898-99 (R4) Salford 8 Huddersfield 0
1899-00 (3) Salford 6 Huddersfield 5
1901-02 (4) Huddersfield 6 Salford 9
1914-15 (3) Huddersfield 33 Salford 0
1956-57 (2) Salford 2 Huddersfield 6
1958-59 (2) Salford 15 Huddersfield 2
1960-61 (2) Salford 13 Huddersfield 5
1969-70 (2) Huddersfield 0 Salford 0
Replay Salford 11 Huddersfield 5
1976-77 (1) Salford 25 Huddersfield 2
1977-78 (2) Huddersfield 13 Salford 3
1999 (5) Huddersfield 14 Salford 22

- - - - -

HULL KINGSTON ROVERS v WARRINGTON WOLVES

Hull Kingston Rovers are aiming to become only the second English lower division* club to reach the semi-finals of the Powergen Challenge Cup during the Super League era. Widnes are the only club to have done it, losing 24-14 to St. Helens in 1996, the first year of Super League. Before Super League, the last club from outside the top division to reach the semi-finals was Oldham in 1990 when they lost 10-6 to Warrington. Hull K.R. and Warrington have not met since 1993-94 when Rovers were last in the top division. Warrington won away 26-10 to complete a League double. Rovers had a 13-11 home victory the previous season. Their last appearance in the quarter finals was in 1998 when they lost 46-18 at London Broncos.
*French club Toulouse reached the semi-final last year and were beaten by Leeds Rhinos.

Last semi-final appearance:
Hull K.R.v Leeds Drew 24-24 Elland Road, Leeds ? 1986
Replay Won 17-0 Elland Road, Leeds ? 1986
Warrington v Wigan W. Lost 18-30 At Halton Stadium, Widnes ? 2004

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings:
1904-05 (F) Warrington 6 Hull K.R. 0 At Leeds
1911-12 (R2) Hull K.R. 3 Warrington 3
Replay Warrington 3 Hull K.R. 0
1912-13 (2) Warrington 13 Hull K.R. 6
1927-28 (2) Hull K.R. 0 Warrington 5
1931-32 (1) Warrington 4 Hull K.R. 2
1948-49 (1)* Warrington 17 Hull K.R. 7
Hull K.R. 5 Warrington 28
1949-50 (1)* Hull K.R. 2 Warrington 12
Warrington 24 Hull K.R. 4
1979-80 (3) Hull K.R. 23 Warrington 11
1988-89 (3) Hull K.R. 4 Warrington 30
* Two legs

- - - - -

LEEDS RHINOS v HARLEQUINS RL

Challenge Cup meetings between these two teams invariably inspire memories of the last final to be played at Wembley in 1999. Then Leeds cantered to a record final victory of 52-16. None of the players is still in either club?s first team squad. Harlequins had a 32-24 ?home? win last season in a match that was played in Perpigan, but their last win at Headingley was 18-6 in 2000. Leeds beat them 32-12 in last year?s quarter-final at Headingley.

Last semi-final appearance:
Leeds v Toulouse Won 56-18 At Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield ? 2005
Harlequins v Castleford Won 33-27 At Headingley, Leeds ? 1999

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings (Harlequins formerly London Broncos):
1998-99 (F) Leeds 52 London B. 16 At Wembley
2003 (R5) Leeds 21 London B. 12
2005 (6) Leeds 32 London B. 12

- - - - -

ST. HELENS v CATALANS DRAGONS

Although the clubs have not met in the Challenge Cup before, St. Helens had a 70-6 fourth round win at Union Trezeiste Catalan in 2003. The Saints also had a 34-20 win at Catalans Dragons earlier this season in the engage Super League. They are aiming for a sixth successive semi-final, having won the Cup twice and been beaten finalists once since 2001.

Last semi-final appearance:
St. Helens v Hull FC Lost 8-34 At Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield ? 2005
Catalans: None

No previous RL Challenge Cup meetings