The draw for the sixth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup had placed its biggest banana skin under the feet of the Wakefield Wildcats as a Leigh Centurions side, unbeaten in their last twenty-four outings, descended on West Yorkshire as far from underdogs.

The top side in the Championship were up against the team well adrift and propping up Super League, and whose only win since round two of Super League was against Championship opposition, when they rode the challenge of Halifax in the last round.

This was a chance for Wakefield to keep their season alive and get a much needed confidence boost, for Leigh Centurions it was their opportunity to test whether they could compete against Super League sides and claim their second top flight scalp in this seasons competition.

We also include the quarter Final draw.

Wakefield needed to set out their stall from the outset, and they did so, having by far the best of the early exchanges. It took just seven minutes to open their account when Arundel dislodged the ball in the tackle and it was picked up Washbrook who passed inside to Riley to run forty-five metres to score. Hall slotted over the two and the home supporters had a rare opportunity to celebrate.

On sixteen Hock surrendered possession on half-way and when Wakefield worked downfield Smith put in a grubber for Arundel to touch down. Hall failed to add the two. He did make the kick on twenty-five when two quick penalties punished Leigh and McShane fed Scruton to go over from close. Three minutes later and it was 22-0, a reflection of Wakefield's total dominance.

Ali Lauitiiti had gone close and on the next play a McShane grubber was grounded by Arundel and Hall added the two. There could be little argument about the score line and Wakefield were good value for their lead. Leigh were committing errors, making poor decisions and relinquishing possession far too easily.

Seven minutes from the interval and Leigh finally got points on the board, thanks to a Wakefield mistake from the kick-off. The Centurions used the ball well in the Wildcats twenty and Brierley went through a gap with the dip of the shoulder to score. Ridyard added the two and reduced his sides deficit to 22-6 at the interval. Leigh had a second half mountain to climb and Wakefield had every right to be happy with their first half efforts.

Whatever got said at the interval saw a different Centurions side emerge for the second half. After Kirmond and Kay saw yellow on forty-four for exchanging punches it signalled a change in momentum. From the resulting penalty a long pass from Brierley to Pownall allowed him to fly over in the corner. Ridyard made it 24-12, there was hope for the visitors.

On fifty-four it was 24-18 when Leigh probed the Wakefield defence for four sets before Beswick found a gap to score an acrobatic try and two minutes later it was sensationally all-square thanks to a superb Brierley chip and collect before a pass out to Armstrong to score in the corner. On fifty-eight Leigh looked to have snatched the lead but a long deliberation with the video referee ruled offside.

With twenty minutes to play it was anyone's game and the two sides were serving up a thriller.

On sixty-one McShanes short pass allowed Molloy to crash over and grounding under the sticks he made Halls conversion a simple one for 30-24. On sixty-eight the sides were tied up again when awful Wildcats defence allowed Beswick to feed Hopkins for him to ground under the sticks and Ridyard slotted over the extras.

Ten out from the hooter and Ridyard missed the chance to kick a penalty and ease his side into the lead but with just three minutes left on the clock Ridyard, McNally, Armstrong and Beswick all showed fast hands to allow Wilkes to go over against his former employers to snatch the win and demolish Wakefields hopes. Ridyard kicked the extras and Leigh ran out the clock for a 36-30 win.

Wakefield were little short of brilliant in the first half and were in total control and looked like ironed on quarter finalists. In the second half the Centurions showed the reason why they are unbeaten in twenty-five and have now claimed two Super League scalps.

Warrington Wolves, Leigh's hosts in the quarter finals, will not be relishing the Centurions rolling into town.

Full Quarter Final draw;

Hull KR v. Catalans Dragons
Warrington Wolves v. Leigh Centurions
Hull FC v. Leeds Rhinos
St Helens v. Widnes Vikings

Wildcats: Hall, Riley, Collis, Owen, Miller, Smith, Scruton, McShane, Anderson, Kirmond, Washbrook, Arundel, Kavanagh. Subs: Lauitiiti, Simon, Molloy, Paea.

Centurions: McNally, Armstrong, Kay, Ridyard, Brierley, Moimoi, Beswick, Goulden, Pownall, Platt, Dixon, Acton, Cox. Subs: Wilkes, Barlow, Haggerty, Hock.

Referee: Ben Thaler
Attendance: