Leigh Leopards and Wakefield Trinity complete Challenge Cup quarter-final line-up amid injury concern

Leigh Leopards and Wakefield Trinity completed the Challenge Cup quarter-finals line-up as they picked up wins this afternoon. Leigh overcome Championship opposition with ease, beating Batley Bulldogs 62-4 at Leigh Sports Village to go within two wins of another date at Wembley.

Wakefield, on the other hand, dug deep to see off Huddersfield Giants at the John Smith’s Stadium 22-12, picking up their third successive away win and piling more misery on Luke Robinson’s side as a result.

However, the result may well have come at a price with Daryl Powell seeing Max Jowitt leave the field through injury in the first half.

Wakefield were made to work for their win against their West Yorkshire rivals and despite taking the lead through a Mike McMeeken try, they actually went in at the break behind. Adam Swift and the returning Sam Halsall touched down for the home side as they continued this season’s tradition of taking a lead into the interval.

As has happened in Huddersfield’s last four games, though, they surrendered that advantage in the second half as Wakefield scored three unanswered second half tries to progress in the Challenge Cup. Liam Hood got the first before Tom Johnstone touched down for a brace.

Leigh took their spot in the last eight by scoring 12 tries against the Bulldogs, with Umyla Hanley, Lachlan Lam and Keanan Brand all getting on the scoresheet twice. Hanley got the scoreboard ticking over after just six minutes, with Brand, Darnell McIntosh, Lam, Tesi Niu and Matt Davis touching down before Lam’s second sent the Leopards in at the break with a 36-0 lead.

Hanley and Brand scored the first two of five second half tries, with Andrew Badrock, Aaron Pene and Owen Trout also getting over the line on a comfortable afternoon for Adrian Lam’s side. Robbie Butterworth scored Batley’s only try of the game.

It means Leigh Leopards and Wakefield Trinity join Salford Red Devils, Hull KR, St Helens, Hull FC, Warrington Wolves and Catalans Dragons in the quarter-finals with the draw to be made on Monday night.

FULL TIME at The Leopards Den and the boys are into the next round. A huge thank you to the fans and travelling support from Batley Bulldogs.#BeTheRoar pic.twitter.com/LPEoLv9CIg

— Leigh Leopards (@LeighLeopardsRL) March 16, 2025