The Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals: Thrilling Upsets and Exciting Matchups
The Challenge Cup quarter-finals this past weekend were a display of rugby league action, despite the windy conditions. In an unexpected turn of events, there were two major upsets, with Huddersfield Giants stunning the home crowd at Perpignan by defeating Catalans Dragons 34-6, and Warrington Wolves putting on a stellar second-half performance to beat defending champions St Helens 31-8 on the road.
Wigan Warriors and Hull KR Advance
Wigan Warriors continued their impressive run, routing Castleford Tigers 60-6 at The Jungle, while the only home victors were Hull KR, who knocked out the defending champions Leigh Leopards in a repeat of last year’s final. The Robins overcame a deficit to score four unanswered second-half tries and secure their place in the semi-finals.
Semi-Final Matchups
The semi-final draw has set up a repeat of last year’s semi-final between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors, while Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves will face off to determine the other finalist. These matches are scheduled for the weekend of May 18th and 19th, with neutral venues yet to be confirmed.
Women’s Challenge Cup Semi-Finals
In the women’s Challenge Cup, holders St Helens and York Valkyrie both secured dominant 74-0 victories to progress to the semi-finals. The other semi-final will see Wigan Warriors take on last year’s defeated finalists Leeds Rhinos.
Attendance Figures
Attendance figures for the Challenge Cup games were mixed, with one game failing to hit the 5,000 mark. Hull KR did not release their attendance, while Catalans’ figures were also unknown. Castleford Tigers saw just 4,097 fans attend their match against Wigan Warriors, while St Helens drew an impressive crowd of 11,280, including a large travelling support. Warrington Wolves also confirmed that they had sold over 2,500 tickets, and their fans were rewarded with a stunning victory.
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