Ladbrokes Challenge Cup: Oldham produce a giant-killing at Hull KR
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It may have been plain sailing for most of Super League’s biggest names in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup, but 2015 finalists Hull KR faced an Oldham Roughyeds side in inspired form.
The second-tier Roughyeds pulled off a famous victory in East Yorkshire, with the visitors clocking up a 24-6 half-time lead and seeing the game out comfortably.
Their biggest hero on a day when everyone impressed for the Oldham outfit, was Lewis Palfrey. He kicked six goals to lead the underdogs to a stunning 36-22 triumph.
Widnes, though, had no such trouble against League 1 side Rochdale Hornets. The Greater Manchester club have won all four of their league fixtures thus far, but were no match for Dennis Betts’ ruthless Vikings.
Chris Bridge and Kevin Brown notched up three tries apiece as the Super League side romped to a 62-6 victory.
And fellow League 1 side Hunslet Hawks were comfortably defeated by a strong Salford team, though the Hawks certainly weren’t overawed by their illustrious visitors, scoring a respectable 14 points during the contest.
Toulouse were the only League 1 side to progress, sneaking past Championship leaders Leigh Centurions with a surprise 10-8 victory, while Batley Bulldogs responded to a half-time deficit with a thunderous comeback to dispatch of Featherstone Rovers by 28-10.
National Conference minnows Lock Lane have done brilliantly to reach the last sixteen of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup but came up against a Halifax side who certainly weren’t taking it easy. Ed Barber grabbed four tries for the hosts in a rather one-sided 80-4 win.
Elsewhere, Wakefield’s 44-10 triumph over Sheffield Eagles sees Chris Chester’s side in the hat, as they bid to lift this trophy for the first time since 1963.
Dewsbury Rams, meanwhile, scored 20 second-half points to ease past York City Knights.
Incoming Wigan Warriors have won this competition a record 19 times and are 3/1 favourites to lift it again. Widnes, who impressed in this round, are 20/1, with Wakefield and Salford both 33s.
For those highly optimistic souls hoping the Oldham Roughyeds cup dream can go on and on…you can back them to win the tournament at 1000/1.
This famous competition is intriguingly poised ahead of the Sixth-Round draw, which takes place on Thursday April 21 at 8:30am, and we’ll have all the reaction on Twitter and Ladbrokes News.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
