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Challenge Cup

9 Feb 2020

Underbank Rangers secure fourth-round spot

Underbank Rangers secure fourth-round spot

Challenge Cup round-up

Rugby league’s oldest club Underbank Rangers are through to the fourth round of the Coral Challenge Cup for the first time after knocking out League 1 club West Wales Raiders.

Owen Restall scored all five tries as the West Yorkshire amateur club, who were founded in Holmfirth in 1884, cruised to a 30-8 win over the Raiders in one of only two third-round ties to survive Storm Ciara on Sunday.

Richard Pogson kicked five goals for the National Conference League (NCL) visitors while Phil Cowburn and Daf Phillips scored tries for the Raiders, who had Chris Davies sent off in the second half.

The day's other winners were Hunslet Hawks, who turned on the style in the second half to beat League 1 rivals Coventry Bears 36-4 at the South Leeds Stadium.

Kiedan Hartley scored two tries for the Hawks and others came from Duane Straugheir, Matty Chrimes, Jordan Andrade, Josh Tonks and Jack Lee, with Dominic Brambani kicking four goals.

Hayden Freeman's try kept Coventry in contention at the break, when they trailed only 8-4.

Underbank will be joined in the hat for Monday night's fourth-round draw by the British Army, who also made history by getting past the third round for the first time, courtesy of a 34-22 win over Ince Rose Bridge in Aldershot on Saturday.

The Army trailed 12-4 at the interval but ran in 30 points in the second half.

League 1 side Doncaster RLFC survived a scare against amateurs Thornhill Trojans before squeezing through 24-20 at Dewsbury's Tetley's Stadium.

Thornhill led 14-6 at half-time and were still 20-18 in front before Papua New Guinea international Watson Boas scored a solo try two minutes from time to spare the Dons’ blushes.

Aaron Ollett, Kieran Cross and Sam Doherty were Doncaster's other tryscorers while Declan Kaye, George Stott and Nicholas Mitchell touched down for the Trojans.

Forward Gavin Rodden scored four tries and Tommy Johnson kicked 10 goals as North Wales Crusaders thrashed Rochdale Mayfield 64-6.

Also in the hat for the fourth round are NCL sides Leigh Miners Rangers and Siddal, who won against Bentley and West Hull respectively.

They will be joined by the 14 Championship clubs, including former Wembley winners Bradford Bulls, Halifax RLFC, Sheffield Eagles, Leigh Centurions, Featherstone Rovers and Widnes Vikings.