Six more Betfred Super League clubs secured their places in next weekend’s Fourth Round draw for the Betfred Challenge Cup, on a Saturday afternoon which nevertheless produced a number of memorable Challenge Cup occasions.
The kick-off had to be delayed at Sewell Group Craven Park, the home of Hull KR which staged the tie between the National Conference League amateurs West Hull and Super League heavyweights St Helens, because of a crowd far larger than expected – which also led to the opening of two additional stands.
West Hull also competed impressively against a mostly young Saints side, restricting them to seven tries and 38 points – although the Saints scorers included two of their major signings for 2025, the former Wakefield wing Lewis Murphy and Tristan Sailor, the son of the former dual code international Wendell.
Wests Warriors of the Southern Conference League were swept aside 92-0 by Leeds Rhinos but still relished playing at AMT Headingley having switched the tie. Ryan Hall and Sam Lisone each scored three of the Rhinos’ 16 tries, with new signing Jake Connor scoring 32 points from a try and 14 goals.
But York Acorn, who were the most successful community club in last season’s Betfred Challenge Cup, struck another blow for the NCL in their tie against Hull FC when the second-row Jordan Myers responded to an early Lewis Martin try to bring the scores level at 6-6. Hull ended up winning 52-6, with Martin scoring a hat-trick.
There was another big crowd at Whitehaven for the visit of Warrington Wolves, and the Cumbrian club also scored a try, courtesy of Jay Weatherill, in a 44-4 defeat against the 2024 Wembley finalists.
Goole Vikings, the 2025 Betfred League One newcomers who had stunned London Broncos in their first competitive fixture in the Second Round, were swept aside 82-0 by Wakefield Trinity having switched the tie to Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium – formerly Belle Vue – with Lachlan Walmsley and Caleb Uele each scoring three of Wakefield’s 15 tries, and their captain Max Jowitt accumulating 26 points from a try and 11 goals.
Halifax Panthers were much more competitive against Catalans Dragons, giving as good as they got in a pointless first half and remaining very much in the contest until the closing stages when tries from Fouad Yaha and Cesar Rouge secured a 14-0 win for the Dragons.
The remaining seven ties will be played on Sunday, with the Fourth Round draw being held next Saturday at half-time in BBC2’s coverage of the Round One Betfred Super League fixture between St Helens and Salford Red Devils.
Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round, Saturday results:
- Halifax Panthers 0 Catalans Dragons 14
- Wests Warriors 0 Leeds Rhinos 92 (at AMT Headingley)
- West Hull 0 St Helens 38 (at Sewell Group Craven Park)
- York Acorn 6 Hull FC 52
- Goole Vikings 0 Wakefield Trinity 82 (at DIY Kitchens Stadium, Wakefield)
- Whitehaven 4 Warrington Wolves 44
Friday results
- Sheffield Eagles 12 Wigan Warriors 48
- Workington Town 0 Leigh Leopards 60
- York Knights 2 Hull KR 44
Remaining Third Round fixtures (Sunday)
- Bradford Bulls v Castleford Tigers (1230pm, live on BBC Sport)
- Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams (2pm)
- Featherstone Rovers v Ince Rose Bridge (2pm)
- Midlands Hurricanes v Salford Red Devils (2pm)
- North Wales Crusaders v Widnes Vikings (230pm)
- Hunslet v Huddersfield Giants (3pm)
- Oldham v Barrow Raiders (3pm)
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!
