SIDDAL put up a brave battle in the third round of the Challenge Cup but went down 30-14 in their clash against Kingstone Press Championship side Keighley Cougars at Laund Hill.

Siddal made a fantastic start to the game, played at the home of Huddersfield YMCA, with stand off Shaun Garrod going in for a try to which winger Gareth Blackburn added the goal.

However, Keighley were quickly back on terms as prop forward Lewis Reed crossed and scrum half Scott Leatherbarrow added the goal.

The National Conference Division I side were not about to give in and Blackburn handed them back the lead with a penalty.

The Cougars managed to reach half-time in front as stand off Danny Jones grabbed their second try and Leatherbarrow was again on target.

The second period finally saw Keighley begin to show some authority and touchdowns from hooker James Feather and Leatherbarrow, who added goals to both scores, put them in charge of the contest.

Leatherbarrow extended his personal tally to 18 points with another try and goal, but Siddal had the last word with a second Garrod try and a third Blackburn goal.

Siddal: Caley; G Blackburn, Newburn, Lopag, Hope; Garrod, Brooke; White, Sanderson, Boothroyd, Patrice, Chapman, Williams. Replacements: G Greenwood, Dennis, Green, Garnett.

Keighley: J Sheriffe; Barnett, Williams, Lawton, Duffy; Jones, Leatherbarrow; Law, Feather, Reed, Sagar, Shepherd, Rawlins. Replacements: Hesketh, J. Sheriffe, Chandler, Parkinson

Referee: Jamie Bloem

Halifax made easy work of reaching the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with a 54-12 victory over Oxford at The Shay.

The Championship table-toppers saw off their rivals from Championship I with a 10-try haul.

Halifax’s touchdowns were scored by Ste Tyrer, who added seven goals, Lee Paterson, Luke Adamson, Dane Manning, Keith Holden, Freddy Walker (2), Callum Casey, Paul Handforth and Wayne Reittie.

Alex Thompson and Dave Ellison scored Oxford’s tries with Jonny Leather kicking two goals.

Halifax: Walker; Paterson, Tyrer, Heaton, Reittie; Handforth, Thackery; Ambler, K Ashall, Davies, Manning, Divorty, Adamson. Replacements: Bracek, Barlow, Casey, Holden

Oxford: Leather; Crabtree, Johnson, Hoggins, S Robinson; Connick, Connaughton; Ellison, Roden, Clarke, McGory, Bentley, Thompson. Replacements: Clough, Osborn, Hadden, Flander

Referee: G Hewer