Giants facing a tricky cup clash
HUDDERSFIELD Giants face the difficult task of a trip to Catalans in the Challenge Cup, who reached the last eight with a 40-4 win at Halifax on Sunday.
The draw was made on Monday evening and has thrown up some fascinating clashes.
Hull KR have been given the chance to avenge last year’s Wembley heartache after being drawn against holders Leigh.
The repeat of last year’s epic final, which Leigh won 17-16 after a golden-point drop-goal from Lachlan Lam, will take place at Craven Park, home of the in-form Robins, on the weekend of April 13 and 14.
Rovers cruised into the quarterfinals with a 40-0 thrashing of Salford on Friday night, while the Leopards were forced to work harder for a 26-14 win over Championship side Featherstone.
World champions Wigan, who survived a scare against another Championship side, Sheffield, on Friday night, will travel to Wheldon Road to face Castleford, who are still seeking their first win in this season’s Betfred Super League.
St Helens take on top-flight rivals Warrington at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Meanwhile, Castleford head coach Craig Lingard hopes his side’s battling Challenge Cup win over Batley can prove a turning point in their bid to turn their desperate Betfred Super League start around.
Lingard’s men defied the infamous slope and swirling conditions at the Fox’s Biscuit Stadium as they came on strong in the second half to reach the last eight with a 28-14 win over the Championship side.
It proved a happy return for former Batley hero Lingard, who immediately turned his attention to tomorrow’s top-flight clash with Leeds, when the Tigers will hunt for their first league points of the season.
Lingard said: “It’s good to get that first win. Habits are hard to break and a losing habit is something you don’t want to get into, so to get out of it is a good feeling and we’ve got to take that into the Leeds game on Thursday.
“We were not expecting to come here and score 40 or 50 points. It’s pleasing to get that monkey off our backs that we haven’t won a game all season and we want to use it as a bit of a springboard.”
Late tries from Paul McShane, Jacob Miller and Innes Senior settled the tie and Lingard added: “I was really disappointed with the tries we conceded but it’s better to be frustrated after a win than a loss.”