Rugby League

The Challenge Cup final will be an all-Yorkshire affair in 2014, after Leeds Rhinos and Castleford Tigers booked their respective places at London's Wembley Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.

The final will mark Castleford’s first appearance on the biggest rugby league stage of them all since 1992, while Leeds have become runners-up specialists since they last lifted the trophy in 1999.

Here, we take a look at how both sides reached the showpiece event, to be held at Wembley on August 23, with Castleford disposing of Widnes Vikings, and the Rhinos eliminating Warrington Wolves in the semi-finals.

Widnes Vikings 6-28 Castleford Tigers

The Tigers breezed through their semi-final at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday, putting a below-par Widnes side to the sword with a superb performance.

In an electric atmosphere, Castleford sprung out of the traps in fine fashion, needing just four minutes to get a try on the scoreboard.

Though Widnes were the side applying the pressure early on, a superb break from Daryl Clark set Liam Finn away, and the Irishman did the rest—dotting down between the posts, as Castelford’s Twitter feed revealed:

Marc Sneyd converted to make it 6-0, but that was just the beginning of the Tigers’ party, with Clark crossing the line just a few minutes later.

In the driving rain at Leigh, Castleford then further extended their advantage just before half-time, with Kirk Dixon going over in the corner.

Brilliant work from Luke Dorn and Frankie Mariano released Dixon, who just about had enough to score, 14-0.

That’s how it stayed until half-time, and while Widnes came out in the second half looking a little stronger, they never looked like they were catching the Tigers.

Jamie Ellis and Jake Webster put the result beyond doubt with a try apiece, the latter of which got Castleford fans dreaming of Wembley:

Jack Owens did get Widnes on the scoresheet with a consolation try, but the day deservedly belonged to the Tigers, who were in complete control from the off.

Following the match, Clark and coach Daryl Powell revealed their jubilation to the club’s official Twitter feed, with both looking forward to the showdown with Leeds at Wembley:

It’s bound to be a historic occasion in two weeks’ time, with both sides looking to put their rotten Challenge Cup luck behind them.

However, if Castleford perform as they did against Widnes, then the trophy may well be heading back to Wheldon Road.

Leeds Rhinos 24-16 Warrington Wolves

Leeds Rhinos booked their place in the Challenge Cup final on Saturday, disposing of the Warrington Wolves 24-16 in a thrilling semi-final at Merseyside's Langtree Park.

Their date with destiny at Wembley now awaits, meeting Castleford Tigers on August 23 for the chance to lift the famous trophy.

They thoroughly deserve to be there, too, having put together an impressive performance against a formidable Warrington side, with Ryan Hall stealing the show.

Hall was at the centre of everything exciting for Leeds going forward, and it was hardly surprising to see the Englishman help himself to a couple of tries in the first half.

Though the 26-year-old looked within touch, he brilliantly negotiated his way to the line—dotting down to give Leeds the early advantage that their rugby deserved.

It was a stunning finish from Hall, who reaped the praise of Newcastle Falcons’ Lee Smith on Twitter:

Hall wasn’t done there, though, and scored another try moments before the interval to put the Rhinos in a healthy position heading into the second half, 14-0 up.

However, whatever Warrington manager Tony Smith said at half-time had an immediate effect, with Chris Bridge crossing the line in the 44th minute to add the spice back into the tie.

The Wolves then piled on the pressure with the game stakes finally appearing to become apparent, but Leeds dealt a hammer blow to their final chances with 67 on the clock.

After Rob Burrow broke away at pace, Joel Moon got himself into a perfect position alongside him and just about had enough to evade Wolves’ challenges to dot down.

That rather left Warrington without a will or a way back into the match, and tries from Stefan Ratchford and Ben Westwood either side of a Tom Briscoe score were more in consolation than anything else.

Though a tight scoreline in the end, Leeds never looked like faltering their lead after half-time. And if they continue such form in the final, then the trophy could be heading back to Headingley.

The Rhinos haven’t won the Challenge Cup since 1999, but they’ll be hoping to shake off such psychological damage when they take to Wembley. Based on Saturday’s performance, they’re ready to be champions once again.

St Helens remain top of the Super League table despite Wigan's 45-4 Thursday thrashing of Salford, which moved the Warriors back into second spot.

Saints have the opportunity to put themselves four points clear of old rivals Wigan if they can beat Hull FC on Friday, but Leeds are also just two points back and face lowly Bradford in Round 23.

Elsewhere, fourth-placed Castleford face a theoretically easy task against already-relegated London Broncos, while Warrington take on Catalan Dragons in a fine matchup.

Let's take a look at the current standings and updated fixtures with most of Round 23 still left to play.

Position	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
1	St Helens	22	17	0	5	703	460	34
2	Wigan Warriors	23	16	0	7	765	365	32
3	Leeds Rhinos	22	15	2	5	598	303	32
4	Castleford Tigers	22	14	2	6	676	449	30
5	Warrington Wolves	22	14	0	8	636	421	28
6	Huddersfield Giants	22	13	2	7	642	526	28
7	Catalan Dragons	22	11	1	10	581	583	23
8	Widnes Vikings	22	10	1	11	507	629	21
9	Hull KR	22	9	2	11	547	545	20
10	Wakefield Wildcats	22	9	1	12	441	600	19
11	Salford Red Devils	23	8	1	14	474	599	17
12	Hull FC	22	7	2	13	526	483	16
13	Bradford Bulls	22	5	0	17	382	842	4
14	London Broncos	22	0	0	22	314	987	0

Date	Time	Fixture
July 31	8 p.m. BST	Wigan Warriors 45-4 Salford Red Devils
Aug. 1	8 p.m. BST	Hull FC vs. St Helens
Aug. 1	8 p.m. BST	Leeds Rhinos vs. Bradford Bulls
Aug. 1	9 p.m. BST	Catalan Dragons vs. Warrington Wolves
Aug. 3	3 p.m. BST	Wakefield Wildcats vs. Huddersfield Giants
Aug. 3	3 p.m. BST	Widnes Vikings vs. Hull KR
Aug. 3	3.30 p.m. BST	Castleford Tigers vs. London Broncos

Salford Play-Off Hopes Slim

Defending Super League champions Wigan did Salford absolutely no favours as they pummelled the Red Devils on Thursday, Anthony Gelling scoring a hat-trick in the process.

Salford remain four points from a play-off spot with four games remaining, and all the other potential contenders have a game in hand, including eighth-placed Widnes.

Sitting in 11th position, they will likely have to win all of their remaining games, although three of those four are against play-off rivals Widnes and Wakefield as well as London Broncos.

However, they face a tough task to reach the play-offs, and if results don't go their way this weekend, Salford's season could effectively be over.

Wigan coach Shaun Wane was mighty impressed with the way his side responded after last week's shock loss to relegated Bradford, per Sky Sports:

I'm really proud. It's been a real tough week, probably our toughest and most honest since I've been head coach and they responded well. It was a very satisfying win. We wanted to stand up and be aggressive and we were. We were pretty ruthless.

Wigan will hope to finish the season well and are still very much in with a shout of topping the table ahead of the play-offs, but they must also make sure they get a top-four finish.

Saints' Injury Worries

Table-toppers St Helens have a whole host of injury concerns ahead of Friday's clash with Hull FC as they look to finish the season strongly and maintain top position.

Australian scrum-half Luke Walsh is set for a lengthy layoff after a broken leg suffered in last week's win over Widnes, a huge blow per the Guardian's Andy Wilson:

Half-back Lance Hohaia, full-back Jonny Lomax and loose forward Jon Wilkin are also out for some time, leaving Saints short of men for the crucial closing stages of the regular season and potentially into the play-offs.

St Helens coach Nathan Brown is philosophical about the injury concerns, suggesting there is very little to be done about them, and he has set plans in place for the Hull game with Jordan Turner and Gary Wheeler set to fill in the half-back positions, per Sky Sports:

At the moment that would appear to be our best, most stable, option. They both played there last week. Gary has played a number of games earlier in the year in that position and Jordan has filled in a couple of times this year and done a great job. He's also played there a number of times for Hull.

Hull FC are unlikely to pose Saints much of a threat having endured something of a barren run in terms of victories of late, their last win coming in early June.

However, a late-August meeting with Leeds Rhinos could prove more of a challenge. The two sides are likely to be challenging for top spot with only two regular-season games remaining.  

Warning: Graphic image below.

Two fans of NRL team Penrith Panthers sustained painful injuries participating in the half-time entertainment. 

One suffered a dislocated shoulder while the other broke his ankle in particularly brutal fashion:

Poor fella that hurt his foot last night at the halftime challenge 😖😖😖! #speedyrecovery pic.twitter.com/fWtXZWMKjY

— chicko segeyaro (@chicko9) July 15, 2014

According to Yahoo 7 Sport News in Australia:

A Faulconbridge resident, who goes by the name "Shunter" on Twitter according to News Limited reports, was competing with another fan at the interval in a popular game called the 'Big Ball Bash'.

The game sees two teams sprint from each goal line to a giant ball and attempt to push it over the opposition stripe.

As for "Shunter," he soon took to Twitter with an update on his condition:

#SHUNTER #IN #CRISIS

— Shunter (@Shunter86) July 14, 2014

And the hashtag "#PrayForShunter" was also spotted in support of the fan.

[H/T Sportal]

The third and final match of Australia's State of Origin series took place on Wednesday night at the Suncorp Stadium as 50,000 fans watched Queensland dismantle New South Wales, winning 32-8.

NSW had already captured the series against their bitter rivals, winning the first two games to secure the overall victory.

But Queensland were trying to avoid an embarrassing whitewash, and they took their destiny into their own hands, comfortably beating their foes to regain some pride.

Blues coach Laurie Daley had warned against playing a wounded Maroons team prior to kick-off, per the Daily Telegraph:

I can’t control whether anyone stays behind to watch us pick up the shield. It will be a fantastic occasion for our boys when we do that. But our job is not done yet.

We want to play well for 80 minutes against this champion team and, to do that, we have given ourselves the best opportunity by the way we have prepared.

There are no excuses. As far as I can tell, the boys are ready. They have been nice and relaxed all well.

They want to finish the series on a positive. But Queensland will be hurting...

But it was not to be the perfect end for Daley, as his team capitulated to a motivated Queensland side.

After a delay to the kick-off, the early action saw Queensland push the harder of the two teams with Greg Inglis coming close to scoring in the opening moments, losing control of the ball as he attempted to ground it for the try.

Queensland continued to apply pressure until the 13th minute, when NSW finally gained some territory via a penalty inside their own half. 

But with the ball being moved frequently, it was Queensland who once again nearly scored as Aidan Guerra was denied a try due to offside.

The match was proving to be anything but a dead rubber with a frantic pace and a strong competitive edge being shown by both teams.

The deadlock was finally broken on 22 minutes, as the Maroons' Ben Te'o put in a late high tackle on Trent Hodkinson after just coming off the bench, resulting in a penalty. The kick was converted by Hodkinson to hand the Blues the advantage.

The game continued at a fast pace as Queensland looked for a reply. And they finally achieved it on 38 minutes as Cameron Smith scored a try from a perfect Daly Cherry-Evans grubber kick, making the score 6-2 after the conversion, giving the Maroons a deserved lead at half-time.

Queensland continued with the pressure straight into the second half and were rewarded with an early try by Billy Slater on 44 minutes, taking the score to 12-2.

The Maroons furthered their lead in the 60th minute after NSW's Greg Bird was penalised for a dangerous tackle on Nate Myles, with Johnathan Thurston making it 14-2 with the boot.

But just one minute later, the Blues were back in the match as Josh Dugan ran home a try after a smart decoy move by NSW. Hodkinson then successfully converted to make it a more even game at 14-8.

However, Queensland almost replied immediately as Myles had the ball stripped from him right on the NSW goal line, preventing the try.

The battle for territory continued with the Maroons in the ascendancy, and they finally made it pay in the 72nd minute as Darius Boyd crossed the whitewash for a converted try, making the score 20-8.

It was Boyd's third try of the series, having scored in the previous two games. 

The Maroons then went on to bury the result with two tries in the last six minutes―from Guerra and Cooper Cronk―to finish the match, 32-8.

News presenter Peter Hitchener tweeted his thoughts about the match and the series victory for NSW:

Queensland looked a totally different team from the first two matches, and their aggression and skill levels were on point during the third contest. If they had played like this earlier in the series it could have been a very different end to the competition.

Having said that, it was always likely that the Blues' standards would dip having already secured the series.

The result will offer the Maroons some slight relief, but it is ultimately too little too late. The Blues take the series, 2-1, and will now look to establish the type of dominance enjoyed by their rivals over recent years.

The gloves are off for this year's State of Origin series curtain call, where even a dead-rubber environment isn't likely to quell the animosity shared between Queensland and New South Wales.

The Maroons were tremendously disappointed to have lost their first series since 2005, but that shame can be intensified all the more should the Blues record their first 3-0 triumph since 2000.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZKG4fMvyJc

The line-ups have been altered with stars such as Michael Jennings, Brent Tate, Anthony Watmough and others forced out through injury, but a fierce third encounter still has fireworks on the schedule.

"Unpredictability" will be the word of the day for Wednesday's clash as both outfits seek very different goals in game three, making this week's predictions all the more difficult to cast.

Date: Wednesday, July 9

Time: 10:30 a.m. BST/5:30 a.m. ET

Queensland Avoid 3-0 Series Embarrassment

Laurie Daley entered this Blues side into the history books by bringing an end to Queensland's eight-year reign in the State of Origin series, but there's a firm possibility that's as far as things will go for his outfit this year.

Triple M Sydney's Grill Team allude to just what this fixture means for both sides, rubbishing any suggestion of a "dead rubber" tag, and that's precisely where the Maroons may have an advantage:

Daley's young guns showed themselves to be a magnificently talented crop in the first two fixtures, but a lot of Wednesday's collisions will be decided upon who wants Game 3 more.

And it's the older, more experienced heads of the Suncorp Stadium hosts who will have an easier time in engineering enthusiasm for the game, the threat of a 3-0 decimation lighting the fire underneath them.

Low-Pressure Atmosphere Opens Up Points Gauge

So far in this series, we've averaged just 15 points per game, far from unheard of when the stakes are so substantial.

However, one can expect to see those shackles come loose in Brisbane on Wednesday, when the pressure will be lessened and a far more open game likely to be its by-product.

According to Michael Carayannis of the Sydney Morning Herald, this could be the first time that Suncorp hasn't sold out since 2003, with home fans left with bitter disappointment at the 2-0 deficit:

But that will only have so much of an impact on the players, who may well sacrifice some security in pursuit of a more flair-filled approach. Expect the points tally to carry over the 25- or perhaps even 30-point region.

Cameron Smith Earns Man of the Match Finish

The circumstances may not be those he was hoping for, but who else has the ability to revitalise this Queensland Maroon side better than captain and league great Cameron Smith?

The hosts' captain will be hurt by the Telegraph's news that Johnathan Thurston suffered a training injury on Monday, leaving it in some doubt as to whether his territory-clinching influence will be present on Wednesday:

However, star fly-half or not, hooker Smith once again takes on Robbie Farah in a key head-to-head this week, and will undoubtedly be fuelled for the fight, leading in all aspects as he looks to give his men some form of cheer at the last hurdle.

Prediction: Queensland win by 10.

Cronulla Sharks star Todd Carney was sacked Sunday over a lewd photo that was making the rounds online.

In an official statement, Sharks explained their decision:

"When Todd was first signed to the Sharks he was made well aware of his responsibilities both on and off the field, to himself, the club and to the game in general, however the photograph that appeared last night on social media does not meet the values and standards the club is looking to uphold and take into the future."

The photo apparently depicts Carney at a urinal, relieving himself into his own mouth. The Sydney Morning Herald has the details:

The image, which is too graphic to publish and has yet to be authenticated, appears to show the Cronulla Sharks player urinating towards his mouth while standing at a urinal.

The photo is believed to have been taken in Sydney on Saturday night, not in Brisbane on Friday during the Sharks’ celebrations after their dramatic upset win over the Broncos, in which Carney starred. It is the latest incident to hurt Carney’s career, which has been marred by alcohol-related issues.

The incident may cost Carney dearly. Per the Herald, he was on a $700,000 yearly contract through 2018.

While we obviously won't be publishing the image here, here's the Daily Mail's censored version. Warning: It's still exactly what you think it is.

.

New South Wales claimed their first State of Origin series win since 2005 after beating Queensland 6-4 in a frantic and tense Game 2 in Sydney on Wednesday.

Johnathan Thurston's two penalties saw the Maroons lead up until the 71st minute, but it was then that the Blues' halfback Trent Hodkinson struck, converting his own try to give New South Wales a critical second win of the 2014 series.

Queensland have won the last eight series in succession, with seven of those coming by a scoreline of 2-1, but the wait is at last over for the party who have spent so long in the shadows of their bitter rivals.

Fox Sports News reacted to the end of Queensland's streak, indicating precisely what a seismic shift this represents for Australian league:

The Sydney Telegraph shows the delight of the hosts' players after Hodkinson made such a dramatic impact late on in the fixture:

In such a tight affair, it wasn't always about the dazzling footwork that the National Rugby League is used to, with Blues fullback Jarryd Hayne doing his bit in defence to ensure the Maroons weren't able to build on Thurston's foundation.

Hayne denied a Sam Thaiday chance in the second half, spilling the ball from his opponent's hand as he crossed the line, a decision that needed confirmation by a television match official but was terrifically symbolic of just how hard fought the win was.

The heartache of a series loss is nothing new to Kangaroos star Hayne, and he concisely summarised just what this victory means for his outfit:

Blues head coach Laurie Daley took some chances with his selection in this series, picking some players with no previous State of Origin experience, such as the aforementioned Hodkinson and Daniel Tupou.

However, those risks paid off, and Daley was right to join his troops in jubilation upon hearing the final whistle:

Of course, it wouldn't have been an Origin match without its own share of heavy collisions and scraps, with Fox Sports NRL capturing an alleged Thurston dig on New South Wales five-eighth Josh Reynolds:

However, it's a testament to the occasion, sport and its athletes that even through such adversities, all can be forgotten outside of the 80 minutes, with the Queensland staple gracious in defeat:

The Blues have stolen the crown, but now attention will turn to establishing a dynasty the likes of which Queensland has become so used to in the last decade or so.

Daley will look to work with the crop of players who triumphed this week and turn their gaze toward the third match in the series, now with a lot less riding on it.

But for now, New South Wales will rejoice in the breaking of the curse that has haunted them for so long.

New South Wales are just one victory away from their first State of Origin series triumph in eight years, as they get set to face Queensland in the second game of the three-match series.

Inspired by a stunning performance from Jarryd Hayne, Blues won the first game of the series by a 12-8 scoreline and will be looking to wrap up the title with a win in front of what promises to be a packed-out ANZ Stadium in Sydney.

If the Maroons can nick a victory in the second clash, the series will go to a third game in Brisbane on July 9. But that scenario remains hypothetical, and the focus of the rugby league world will be squarely on the ANZ come 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday evening.

Here are all the details you need on where to catch the game via an online stream.

Date: June 18, 2014

Start Time: 8:00 p.m. (Local time), 11 a.m (BST), 6 a.m. (ET)

Live Stream: Premier Player (UK)

In the encapsulating best-of-three format, the Queensland outfit have won the last eight series. But in truth, it’s not as if New South Wales have been comprehensively outplayed on every occasion. After all, only one of those eight wins was by a 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

Having won the opener, the Blues have managed to put some real pressure on their rivals and, as you might expect, they’ve named a line-up that deviates little from the side that triumphed in Game 1 back in May. Five-eighth Josh Reynolds will line up for the Blues, but he’ll count himself lucky that he received a downgrade of his initial charge for a savage tackle on Maroons’ Brent Tate:

The Maroons squad that’s looking to turn the series round has been decimated by injuries ahead of this critical match. Key men Daly Cherry-Evans and Greg Inglis are major doubts but will be given time to prove their fitness, per the Australian Associated Press (h/t The Guardian).

The loss of Cherry-Evans would be an especially big blow. The talented but raw Ben Hunt could come into replace him, and in such a vital contest, Maroons skipper Cameron Smith will be hoping to have his main man fit to don the No. 7 jersey.

You suspect that Queensland will need him at his absolute best if they’re to contain Hayne, who was sublime in the first of the two games. The Blues full-back put on a masterclass in handling and running in Game 1, scoring a vital try just before half-time to give New South Wales some much-needed breathing space.

OptaJason gives us an indication of how unstoppable he was in that first clash:

With Maroons crippled by injuries going into this one, Hayne could have another field day against their defensive line. Cherry-Evans would be a major loss in that sense, but you suspect even if he was to feature, he may not be at his intimidating best.

Having failed to win Origin for the past eight years, on the brink of this critical clash the Blues look well placed to end that streak. They can’t afford to play with the apprehension and nervous reflexes that have gripped them for so long in these big games. But with Hayne galvanising this New South Wales team on, expect them to wrap up the series with a flourish in Sydney.

Scotland's struggles in 2014 continued on Saturday, needing a late penalty to defeat a resilient Canadian team 19-17 in Toronto.

Canada started the match as the more energetic team, while Scotland's dominance in the scrum and set pieces was clear from the first whistle. Greig Laidlaw put the Scots up 3-0 with an early penalty, with both teams committing errors all over the pitch.

As shared by RugbyUnplugged.com, Scotland's defence looked shaky despite the early lead:

Phil Mack seemed to have scored the first try of the match just minutes later, but the officials overruled his touch down. Possession was mainly for the hosts, with large portions of the match being played close to the Scottish line.

The visitors got a chance to press forward after 10 minutes but gave away the ball in a silly manner, and the Canadians would get a penalty from the resulting break, James Pritchard tying the match up 3-3.

Canada continued pushing and took the lead on a try from Jeff Hassler, diving in on the wing after great work from Ciaran Hearn. The conversion was missed, however, and as shared by The News Review's Chase Ruttig, Canada weren't taking enough advantage of the chances they got against a strong Scottish line:

Scotland retook the lead with a try of their own immediately after Canada's score, breaking out wide before working the ball back to the posts. Grant Gilchrist powered his way over the line and Laidlaw didn't miss the conversion, the score now 10-8.

Canada came very close to scoring a second try, but excellent defensive work from Scotland kept the hosts from adding to their tally. Amid the carnage Alasdair Strokosch went down with an injury, and as reported by The Scottish Daily Mail's Rob Robertson, the flanker had to be taken to the hospital:

Strokosch stayed down for minutes and left the pitch on a stretcher, and with both teams visibly shocked by the severity of the situation, the energy was drained out of the match. Scotland finally found some breathing space, and Laidlaw would score one more penalty to make the score 13-8 after the first half.

Pritchard scored a penalty early in the second half as shared by Rugby Canada, and Canada seemed to have rediscovered their energy in the dressing room. Scotland were reeling now, and yet another penalty gave the hosts a one-point lead with half an hour left to play.

Scotland now took control of the match, using a physical approach to work the ball forward. A massive penalty from just inside the Canadian half gave the Scots the lead back, courtesy of the big leg of Stuart Hogg.

Canada's reputation for crumbling in the final 20 minutes didn't rear its ugly head, and Pritchard kicked his team back in front with 10 minutes left on the clock, the hosts now holding a one-point lead. That lead was short-lived, however, Laidlaw again coming through in the clutch to make it 19-17.

BBC's Andrew Cotter wasn't happy with the team, however:

The hosts tried to push for a late winner, but Scotland's experience made the difference in the final minutes, easily controlling play on their way to the win. A controversial late red card for Jebb Sinclair made the task even more difficult for the hosts, and manager Ciaran Crowley didn't like the decision at all, as shared by Bleacher Report's Jeff Hull:

Scotland's Vern Cotter praised the Canadian team, pointing out the team is on the right track:

He also conceded the red card had a big impact on the match, taking some of the Canadian momentum away:

Scotland can't be happy with the result of this match, as the Canadians showed their inexperience by making plenty of mistakes the visitors never took advantage of. Following the disappointment of the Six Nations, this team is still trying to reinvent itself, and so far, it seems with little success.

The hosts will feel like they had a strong chance of winning this match, but playing 80 strong minutes against a team as powerful as Scotland is something to be proud of for Canada. The team didn't back down in the final 20 minutes, and if they can find more discipline on set pieces, the future of Canadian rugby will look very bright.

Though 81 teams started their respective Challenge Cup campaigns with dreams of holding the famous trophy aloft, just eight teams now remain as we enter the competition’s climax.

Widnes Vikings, Keighley Cougars, Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Centurions, Wigan Warriors, Castleford Tigers, Bradford Bulls and Warrington Wolves will battle it out for the semi-final spots, with the prize of a final appearance at Wembley edging closer.

Here, we take a look at the quarter-final fixtures as a thrilling weekend of rugby unfolds.

Date	Match	Venue
June 5	Widnes Vikings 56-6 Keighley Cougars	Select Security Stadium
June 6	Leeds Rhinos 25-12 Leigh Centurions	Headingley Carnegie Stadium
June 7	Wigan Warriors 4-16 Castleford Tigers	DW Stadium
June 8	Bradford Bulls 10-46 Warrington Wolves	Provident Stadium

Bradford Bulls 10-46 Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves comfortably took care of Bradford Bulls on Sunday, winning 46-10 to become the final team to qualify for the semi-final of the Tetley's Challenge Cup.

ISC Sport had the final result:

Sunday's match was played in picture-perfect conditions, via BBC Sport' Dave Woods:

Wolves started the match on fire and scored after 15 minutes, Richie Myler taking advantage of a gap in Bradford's line to score the try. Chris Bridge added the conversion, giving the visitors a 6-0 lead. Prop Chev Walker had to leave the pitch for Bulls, making their push for the semi-finals even harder.

Bradford refused to let the loss of Walker get in their heads, however, and some excellent passing work led to a try of their own, Elliot Kear being the one to touch down. The conversion was unsuccessful, however, and a quick answer from Ryan Atkins saw Warrington's lead extended to six points.

Matthew Russell then found some space under the sticks to make it 18-4, but Bulls would dig in defensively and stop the visitors from adding any more points before half-time, as shared by the Tetley's Challenge Cup official Twitter account:

An early score in the second half by Luke George gave life to Bradford, and the long scamper down the wing brought the home crowd back to life. Both teams seemed content keeping the ball in the centre of the pitch for a while, knowing full well the next score would probably decide the fixture.

It would be the visitors scoring to preserve the lead, Gene Ormsby finding the corner. Myler's second try of the match broke the spirits of the Bulls, and Wolves showed no mercy to their opponents, pushing on to score even more tries.

Michael Monaghan scored two more tries and Ben Currie added a score of his own to make it 46-10.

Chris Bridge was brilliant distributing the ball in the centre of the pitch, and he was rightfully crowned Man of the Match. Former Super Leaguer John Stankevitch thought the choice as rather interesting:

Manager Tony Smith spoke to the BBC about the pressure of playing in the Challenge Cup before the match, a tournament that has been very kind to his team in recent years:

We try hard in every competition we're in and we've had an affiliation with the Challenge Cup recently.

We enjoy it. It's either perform, or get out of it. You can't afford to be too far off your best. If you are, you run the risk of being bundled out.

Hopefully we can handle that pressure again. As we all know, it's sport and anything can happen on the day.

The draw for the semi-finals was made immediately following the match, and the Challenge Cup's Twitter account had the results:

Warrington have to be one of the favourites to make it to Wembley Stadium following their easy win over Bradford, and with Leeds having played such a tough, physical match against Leigh, the Rhinos could perhaps be vulnerable going into the semi-finals.

Wigan Warriors 4-16 Castleford Tigers

There will be a new champion crowned in the Challenge Cup, as the 2013 winners were dumped out by the Castleford Tigers at the DW Stadium.

The game was an extremely tight affair, with neither side looking to give an inch with a semi-final place up for grabs. But it was the visitors who handled the pressure better, as they looked more composed and more incisive throughout.

The vanquished holders were quick to wish the victors well ahead of the semi-final:

In sodden conditions, James Clare put Castleford ahead when Luke Dorn and Michael Shenton combined superbly nine minutes before the break. Wigan, by comparison, looked a little short of ingenuity in the attacking areas of the pitch. They failed to create any genuine scoring chances, as the Tigers adapted to the testing conditions a lot better.

Thanks to Clare's try, Castleford went in 6-0 up at the break, but it should have got better for them almost immediately after. Dorn was once again at the heart of proceedings, and he played a superb pass into the path of Shenton. But with the line gaping, he couldn't cling on. 

The Tigers' official Twitter account was quick to bemoan his profligacy with the ball:

It was a much needed wake-up call for Wigan, and as the game wore on, the holders began to grow in confidence, establishing themselves in the match. The Warriors' George Williams looked set to touch down midway through the second half, but a vital intervention from Oliver Holmes kept the Tigers in front.

But Holmes and his teammates' were eventually beaten, when Liam Farrell stormed through a tackle and over the line. Castleford were off the hook however, as Matty Smith missed the subsequent conversion after losing his footing, meaning they still preserved a slender 6-4 advantage.

After that let off, Castleford came roaring back, and with 70 minutes on the clock, they increased their advantage, through Kirk Dixon. Wigan heads dropped and it was left to Castleford's Lee Jewitt to seal victory.

Naturally delighted, the Castleford players were happy to pose with the swathes of travelling support at the final whistle:

After going to the home of the holders and winning, Castleford will feel supremely confident of going all the way in this tournamnet. They could yet come up against the might of Leeds, Bradford or Warrington in the semi-final, but at this juncture they'll feel as though they can topple anyone and take their place at the Wembley showpiece on Aug. 23.

Leeds Rhinos 25-12 Leigh Centurions

Championship side Leigh put forth a phenomenal effort against cup-facourites Leeds for 70 minutes, but two late tries saw Leeds walk away with a hard-fought win and a ticket to the Challenge Cup semi-final.

Even the club's official Twitter account paid tribute to the fantastic performance from Centurions:

The visitors started very lively, undaunted by their opponents' status as clear favourites. Good work from Stevie Ward quickly gave the upper hand to Rhinos, however, and following some good work from the forward, it was winger Ryan Hall who opened the scoring with a try in the corner.

Kevin Sinfield was successful on the conversion, giving the hosts an early 6-0 lead.

The lead would be short-lived, however, with Tom Spencer taking advantage of excellent positioning following a penalty, and Martyn Ridyard hitting the conversion to tie things up. Sinfield's kick-off then went out on the full, and Leigh were smelling blood in the water.

Attacking furiously, they eventually worked the ball wide to Tom Armstrong who powered his way over the line, giving the Championship side the lead. Ridyard made it 2-for-2, for the 12-6 lead.

Ward gave Leigh's defence fits every time he touched the ball, but the visitors played with admirable enthusiasm and put up an excellent fight against the tournament favourites, surviving several close battles near their own line to hold onto their lead for much of the first half.

Dave Woods was very impressed by what he saw from the Championship team:

Mick Gledhill even took things one step further:

Ridyard was in full control distributing the ball, and Leigh nearly scored a third try midway through the first half, only denied by excellent defensive work from Ryan Hall.

Liam Sutcliffe appeared to have tied things up for the hosts with a fine try following a break by Ward, but Ryan Bailey was called for obstruction despite not interfering with the play.

It was only stay of execution, however, with Rhinos this time taking advantage of a penalty, leading to a try from standout Ward. Sinfield stepped up for the conversion, and both teams were tied 12-12, as shared by the Tetley's Challenge Cup's official Twitter account:

Both teams looked like making a statement as they came out of the dressing rooms, and things briefly spilled out of control early in the second half. Punches were thrown, with Jamie Peacock and Matt Sarsfield seeing yellow cards.

Centurions had a fantastic chance 10 minutes into the second half, a try-saving tackle from Sinfield knocking the ball loose just inches away from the goal line.

Leigh started to pressure the Rhinos wings more and more, but several kicks just failed to find a Centurion near the goal-line. With no way through wide, the ball was brought back inside, as this fixture turned into an absolute slugfest.

Both teams refused to give up an inch and kept looking for any kinks in the opposing team's armour, but with 10 minutes left to play, the score was still 12-12.

Leeds' edge in stamina started to become visible, as Leigh found themselves pinned back against their own zone. Absolutely exhausted, Leigh tried to jump an exchange and failed to recognise Robbie Ward smartly timing his run as opposed to playing the pass, scoring with eight minutes remaining, via Rhinos' Twitter account:

Sinfield's conversion made it 18-12, and a drop-goal just minutes later finally broke the spirits of a valiant Leigh squad. Zak Hardaker found a way to get his name on the score sheet late, the scoreline now looking rather harsh.

Chris Clarkson knew the underdogs would put up a sensational fight, as he told the people at Thechallengecup.com:

Leigh are in great form and we are aware that it will not be easy by any means. They have been one of the top Championship teams for a while now and they will be ready for the game I'm sure.

I have played in two Challenge Cup finals and lost both which has been heartbreaking. I remember going to the 1999 final when Leeds played London Broncos and it was just an amazing experience. I was playing rugby at the time as a kid and remember thinking I want to play in a game like this.

Leigh will return to the Championship with their heads held high, going toe-to-toe with the team punters are backing to win the cup this year. Leeds will have to recover from a very physical match, with just 80 minutes now separating them from the final at Wembley.

Widnes Vikings 56-6 Keighley Cougars

Widnes Vikings eased into the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a routine victory over Keighley Cougars on Thursday at Select Security Stadium.

As BBC Sport reported, Widnes made history by making the semi-finals on Thursday, as it’s the first time they’ve reached the last four since way back in 1996, where they lost to eventual champions St. Helens.

Though this quarter-final was always going to be a one-sided affair, Widnes performed admirably and were out of sight by half time.

It took the Viking just over two minutes to edge into the lead, with Declan Hume going over after good work from Stefan Marsh.

Marsh, Tom Gilmore, Kevin Brown, Jack Owens and Hulme then added further tries to put the hosts 32-0 up at the interval.

With one foot in the semi-final after half time, Widnes seemed to ease up on the gas, and Keighley were given something to cheer shortly after the break as Daley Williams crossed the line.

Williams worked his way through after capitalising on some poor Widnes handling, but that’s as good as it got for the visitors, as Widnes romped to a easy victory.

Tries from Willie Isa, Danny Craven and two more from Gilmore meant the Vikings dotted down 10 times in the match, with eight goals between Danny Tickle and Owens sealing a fine victory.

Following the match, Widnes head coach Denis Betts spoke to the club's official website and said that it was "job done" for his side:

It is what it is. We scored some good tries and got ourselves in some good positions as well, and to be honest I’m disappointed we conceded 6 points. They got an opportunity and a bit of fire in their bellies and they scored their try, but it’s not the ‘be all or end all’. The objective today wasn’t points for or against it was about getting our name in the hat for the semi-finals and we got the job done.

Though Widnes have won the Challenge Cup seven times in their history, they haven’t lifted the trophy since 1984, making a victory this year the perfect way to mark the 30-year anniversary of their last triumph.

Widnes' triumph was a fantastic start to the quarter-finals, but with the big-name sides still to be in action, the Challenge Cup fireworks are far from over.