The Quarter-Finals of the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup came to a close this weekend as four teams grasped their place in the Semi-Finals on 9/10 May.
London Roosters kicked off the weekend as they hosted Sheffield Eagles. The Roosters hit the ground running, putting on another dominant display following their first game in the cup.
The Eagles never gave up, putting up a strong fight for the full 80 minutes and picking up their own momentum to break through the Rooster’s defensive line and add 22 points to their score.
But it wasn’t enough to overcome the powerful Roosters whose 74 points, including six tries from Joe Coyd and four from Captain Lewis King, saw them storm through to the Semi-Finals.
Next up were Wigan Warriors who travelled to face Bradford Bulls, the most recent team to join the Super League, in the Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals.
The Warriors showed no signs of slowing down after their first-round command as Adam Rigby came out firing to score a hat trick within the first 12 minutes, setting the tone for what was to come.
Bradford continued their attacking game, earning their reward when Daniel McGrath crashed over from close range and Keiron Johnson added the successful conversion.
But it turned out to be their only points of the match as the Warriors proved immensely dominant, heading into the Semi-Finals with huge confidence after an emphatic victory at 138-6.
Meeting again for the second consecutive week were Edinburgh Giants and Leeds Rhinos as the Giants hoped they could close the scoreline from their meet in Round One of the Betfred Wheelchair Super League.
The Giants’ defence came back stronger for week two, narrowing the scoreline and reducing the Rhinos’ lead by 20 points compared to last weekend.
But the Rhinos again proved too forceful for the Giants, bringing their journey in the cup to an end with a full-time score of 6-96.
The final game of the weekend saw Cup holders Halifax Panthers host Hull FC in a tense battle for the final Semi-Final spot.
The Panthers’ relentless attacking game saw them lead 66-20 at half time, courtesy of five tries and nine goals from Rob Hawkins, and six collective tries from Joseph Calcott and Finlay O’Neill.
But the Black and Whites continued their fight into the second half, making a remarkable return that saw them secure the second 40 at 25-36 after Josh Edwards added to his strong first half to finish with four tries and eight goals.
But sadly for FC it wasn’t enough to overcome the Panthers’ fierce first half and Halifax move onto the Semi-Finals where they will meet London Roosters in a rematch of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final.
Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup Quarter-Final results:
London Roosters 74 Sheffield Eagles 22
Bradford Bulls 6 Wigan Warriors 138
Edinburgh Giants 6 Leeds Rhinos 96
Halifax Panthers 91 Hull FC 56
Semi-Finals – 9/10 May
Halifax Panthers v London Roosters
Wigan Warriors v Leeds Rhinos
