Powergen
Challenge Cup Q.F. review

The Powergen Challenge Cup Quarter Final got underway on Saturday afternoon when St Helens romped to victory over the Catalans Dragons. A hat-trick from Ade Gardner and two tries from prop Paul Anderson were amongst the scorers for the hosts 10 tries. Stacey Jones did score early on to give the Dragons a shock 6-4 lead, but the Saints? power and pace shone through to end the French clubs hopes in this year?s competition.

St Helens 56 (Gardner 3, P Anderson 2, Pryce, Long, Wilkin, Lyon, V Anderson tries; Lyon 8 goals) def. Catalans Dragons 10 (Murphy, Jones tries; Frayssinous goal). Att: 8,319.

In Sunday?s early kick off Hull Kingston Rovers wrote themselves into Challenge Cup history after producing a stunning shock win to bundle out the in-form engage Super League Warrington Wolves. The National League One leaders took the lead with winger Byron Ford who bagged himself a hat trick in Rovers eight tries. The Robins deserved their victory built around self belief and team effort that made a mockery of the supposed gulf between Super League and the National League. In high-tempo first half Rovers went in to the sheds 24-22 ahead after a breathless opening period, which saw the lead change hands four times.

However, after the break the Robins upped the ante, and despite a Wolves fightback held on valiantly for a superb victory which takes them to their first Challenge Cup semi-final since 1986.

Hull K.R. 40 (Ford 3, Morton, Cockayne, Barker, J Goddard, Aizue tries; Morton 4 goals) def. Warrington Wolves 36 (Swann 2, Fa'afili 2, M Gleeson, Sullivan, Reardon tries; Bridge 4 goals). Att: 7,012.

Elsewhere Huddersfield thrashed Salford City Reds to reach the semi-finals for the second time in three years.

Robbie Paul created Huddersfield's opening try for second rower Chris Nero and then scored a solo try just before halftime. Huddersfield, who last won the Cup in 1953, ran in eight tries against a desperately disappointing Salford side who have lost six of their last eight League and Cup matches.

Huddersfield Giants 44 (Paul 2, March 2, Nero 2, Drew, Aspinwall tries; De Vere 6 goals) def. Salford City Reds 14 (Hodgson 2, Moule tries; Hodgson goal). Att: 4,200.

Leeds Rhinos made it to their 12th semi final in the last 14 years with a hard earned victory over the Harlequins RL at Headingley.

The Rhinos, without head coach Tony Smith who is in hospital recovering from acute gastroenteritis, took a 12-0 lead at the break with tries from Danny Williams and Willie Poching but a resolute Quins hit back to cut the lead to just 2 points with tries from Luke Dorn and youngster Michael Worrincy.

Leeds then introduced substitute Ali Lauitiiti, who?s timely intervention turned the game on its head, which resulted in the Rhinos producing a devastating spell of four tries in eight minutes to more or less to wrap the game up.

Harlequins did score two late consolation tries but Rhino?s teenage winger Williams had the last laugh has he completed his first ever hat trick in first grade football.

Leeds Rhinos 36 (Williams 3, Donald 2, Poching, McGuire tries; Sinfield 4 goals) def. Harlequins R.L. 18 (Dorn, Smith, Weisner, Worrincy tries; Purdham goal). Att: 5,332.