WRAP: 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Finals

AJ Lucantonio and Justin Davies wrap up the weekend's Challenge Cup Semi Finals which saw Hull KR and Warrington win through to Wembley.

RELATED: See the full list of 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Draw and Results.

Rovers ruthless as McNamara sees red over Kendall's performance

Hull KR are the first team through to the Challenge Cup final after a 36-12 verdict over the Catalans Dragons in a result where Dragons coach Steve McNamara slammed referee Chris Kendall's performance.

Rovers got off to a hot start after Luke Keary's general play kick sailed out on the full. Mikey Lewis was able to put a grubber kick in behind which wasn't defused by the Catalans fullback and James Batchelor recovered for the first of his quick fire double. The second of his double was more contentious when Lewis stopped in the run thinking there was an obstruction, the ball was knocked out by a Catalans defender and Batchelor simultaneously grounded it with a Dragons defender to score and McNamara's men where shell-shocked after 12 minutes.

Despite a poor run with the officiating, the Dragons managed to take the lead with two quick tries in succession involving their Australian pivot who's been in the headlines this week. The first came before the 20 minutes when Keary found Reimis Smith who got on the outside of Peta Hiku to score.

The second try was a rough watch with Ben Thaler taking an excruciating amount of time to review  Keary's claims of a try, after it was given to a chorus of boos, Catalans led 12-10. The lead didn't last long as Jai Whitbread continued his great run of form with a great pass to Lewis to give Rovers a half-time advantage.

After a tight opening 40, the second half was an excruciating watch for a Dragons fan as Rovers ran riot. A penalty for an untidy ruck gave Lewis a gift two points to open up a converted try gap but there was no way anyone was stopping Rovers. At the 53 minute mark, Jack Broadbent went through some poor defence to slice the game open. Rovers finished with a flurry with further tries to Joe Burgess and Broadbent (rounding out his double) to give the Hull based side a 24-point hiding.

Post game, McNamara was seething at the performance of the man in the middle. "We got it back to 12-10 but we spent too much energy. We didn't work hard enough at certain times ourselves, but as you can tell I'm pissed off not to receive a penalty at all apart from them kicking out on the full" McNamara said.

He further added his concerns about the "neutral venue" status of Challenge Cup semi-finals. "I was concerned (about it pre-match) because in Hull KR's home games this year (they have had) 42 penalties given and 16 conceded, and only three six agains all year. This was not supposed to be a home game, although it felt like it and it was always going to feel like it." - AJ Lucantonio

Hull KR 36 Catalans Dragons 12
Venue: LNER Community Stadium, York

Date: Sat, 10th May.   Kickoff: 2:30 PM.   Halftime: Hull KR 16-12.   Penalties: Hull KR 3-1.   Referee: Chris Kendall.   Crowd: 8,402.

Hull KR: Broadbent, Davies, Hiku, Batchelor, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Whitbread, Minchella (C). Int: Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown, Leyland.
Catalans: Aispuro-Bichet, Makinson, Laguerre, Smith, Cotric; Keary, Fages; Pangai Junior, Da Costa, Bousquet (C), Sims, Whitehead, Partington. Int: Satae, Navarrete, Sironen, Séguier.

Hull Kingston Rovers (36)
Tries: James Batchelor 2, Jack Broadbent 2, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis
Goals: Mikey Lewis 6/7

Catalans Dragons (12)
Tries: Luke Keary, Reimis Smith
Goals: Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet 2/2

Wire off to Wembley over Leigh

Warrington Wolves beat Leigh Leopards  21-14 in the second Challenge Cup semi-final at Totally Wicked Stadium.

The Wolves shook off conceding within 60 seconds to book their place against Hull KR in the Challenge Cup final for the first time since 1905.

Leigh shocked the Wolves within the opening minute. Edwin Ipape reacted first to a deflected kick and found the line.

The Leopards almost struck again from a kick. Darnell McIntosh rose highest but the Wolves defenders got underneath him.

Warrington gave the ball air and levelled the game. They swung it right for Josh Thewlis whose pass inside ended up with Rodrick Tai to dive over for 6-4.

The Wolves were full of bite after the four-pointer. Paul Vaughan steamed onto a pass and slammed it down under the sticks.

They continued to have success from kicks. A high kick caught the Leopards defenders offside and it allowed Marc Sneyd to boot them ahead 14-4.

Matt Dufty sliced through the Leopards line and spied the line before he was corralled. Next tackle, Stefan Ratchford bulleted a kick wide but Ipape was there to pick up for Leigh to keep them in the game.

A frantic first half deserved an entertaining end. Leigh tried to keep it alive then Josh Thewlis scooped it up to put Warrington in position.

They settled the ball down and Sneyd showed off his experience to pot a field goal and give the Wolves an eleven point lead at the break.

Leopards needed some strike after the break and went close through Ipape. A backline movement put David Armstrong into space then he found the hooker who was taken then a barge over on last was also subdued.

Second time was a charm for the Leopards. They snuck down the short side and Tesi Niu was lurking to stride to the line.

Warrington made the bizarre decision to challenge the four-pointer and were duly smacked down and Leigh were back within seven.

The Leopards were pinged for an escort, they also tried for a fanciful challenge which was rejected quickly.

Wolves tapped it and got their reward late in the set. Dufty shoveled it out for Toby King to dive over in the left corner.

Leigh weren't going to die wondering. They went short from the kick-off then Niu slashed through for his second four-pointer to bring it back to 21-14.

Warrington saw out the game well including some brave catches from Man of the Match Dufty to earn their way to Wembley on June 7th. - Justin Davies

Warrington Wolves 21 Leigh Leopards 14
Venue: Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens

Date: Sun, 11th May.   Kickoff: 4:15 PM.   Halftime: Warrington 15-4.   Penalties: Warrington 7-4.   Referee: Liam Moore.   Crowd: 11,722.

Warrington: Dufty, Thewlis, King, Tai, Ashton; Ratchford (C), Sneyd; Yates, Powell, Vaughan, Holroyd, Fitzgibbon, Currie. Int: Harrison, Philbin, Crowther, Lindop.
Leigh: Armstrong, McIntosh, Niu, Hanley, Charnley; O'Brien, Lam; Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Neill, Hughes, Liu. Int: Davis, McNamara, Hodgson, Ofahengaue.

Warrington Wolves (21)
Tries: Paul Vaughan, Toby King, Rodrick Tai
Goals: Marc Sneyd 4/4
Field Goals: Marc Sneyd

Leigh Leopards (14)
Tries: Tesi Niu 2, Edwin Ipape
Goals: Gareth O'Brien 1/3