The tie of the sixth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup saw an in-form Huddersfield Giants side travel to Headingley to take on the league leaders and cup holders, Leeds Rhinos.

The two sides met three weeks ago in Super League, and despite the Rhinos holding a convincing 22-4 half time lead, the spoils were shared in a 24-24 draw after a valiant Giants fightback.

Brian McDermott had selected Kevin Sinfield after leaving him out for the last two weeks losses and Ryan Hall also returned to the Leeds ranks. On paper there was very little to choose between the sides and the stage was set for a cracker.

The Rhinos had a strong wind behind them as they started the game kicking towards the Carnegie Stand and with just three minutes on the clock they looked to have scored the opener when a grubber through hit the referee, bounced in touch and was touched down but the video referee ruled that the direction had been altered by the referee and a drop out was the decision.

On six minutes the Rhinos did take the lead after Grix spilled the ball on the last tackle on the Leeds ten metre. Kallum Watkins picked up the loose ball,and showed a clean pair of heels to the chasing Danny Brough to go ninety metres to score. Sinfield kicked the two for 6-0.

On eleven a great back pass from an inspired and determined Sinfield put Watkins over for his second and when Sinfield goaled the Rhinos were scoring at a point a minute and had a 12-0 lead. On fifteen it was the Rhinos again as the Giants crumbled. McGuire, Ward and Hardaker combined for Hall to crash over in the right corner. This time Sinfield couldn't convert from the touch line.

Just before twenty minutes a great drive from Ward took him close before a grubber from McGuire was hacked at by Cudjoe and after the ball hit the post it bounced nicely for Paul Aiton to ground by the posts. Sinfield's goal made it 22-0 and the Rhinos were flying high.

As the half wore on the Giants got themselves back into the game and five minutes out from the break Huddersfield benefitted from a second set of six deep in the Leeds half. when Kyle Wood jinked past three defenders to ground he'd reduced the half time deficit to 22-4, exactly the same as it had been at the John Smiths Stadium three weeks ago.

But the Rhinos weren't going to let this one slip.

With the second half ten minutes old a kick through forced the error and when Leeds moved the ball right and then left, Moon and Hall combined to put McGuire over. Sinfield's goal made it 28-4 and when he opted to kick a penalty after Rob Burrow had been fouled in front of the sticks. The Rhinos had made it clear that they weren't going out of the competition at this stage.

On the hour Hardaker put in an impossible last ditch try-saving tackle on Scott Grix and three minutes later the Rhinos made the Giants pay and sealed the win with a Cuthbertson try off a Burrow pass. Sinfield goaled for 36-4.

Just two more minutes had passed before the Rhinos scored the try of the afternoon with a flowing break down the left wing which saw Moon, Hall, and McGuire combine to put Hall over. Sinfield kicked the two for 42-10 before Leeds eased off the gas and let the Giants in for two tries which will do little to console their fans or coach.

On seventy-one Ferres scored a walk in and four minutes later Grix crossed off a Brough pass. Brough goaled both for 42-16, but the Rhinos had the last laugh when a panic offload on half-way saw the ball into Carl Ablett's hands for him to outpace the defence and score under the posts. Sinfield made it 46-16 to crown a man-of-the-match performance and send his side through to the last eight.

The Rhinos simply blew the Giants away. Unlike three weeks ago they had no answer and the Rhinos showed a grit and determination which makes you suggest that they aren't going to give up their trophy without a fight.

Sinfield made a big difference to the Rhinos side of the last few weeks and no-one will be wanting to come out of the hat against the Rhinos in the quarter finals.

Rhinos: Hardaker, Handley, Watkins, Moon, Hall, Sinfield, McGuire, Cuthbertson, Aiton, Peacock, Ablett, Ward, Delaney. Subs: Burrow, Singleton, Achurch, Walters.

Giants: Grix, McGillvary, Cudjoe, Wardle, Murphy, Brough, Wood, Crabtree, Robinson, Huby, Ferres, Hughes, Taia. Subs: Mullally, Lawrence, Kopczak, Ellis.


Referee: Phil Bentham/John Roberts (Second Half)
Attendance: 8,133