IT’S becoming an almost annual occurrence Huddersfield Giants against Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup.
The West Yorkshire rivals have been involved in some Titanic scraps in rugby league’s most famous knockout competition over the years, with this latest meeting – in the sixth round – their third duel in the space of four years.
And it’s also a decade since the Giants’ magnificent against-all-odds semi-final triumph over the Rhinos at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium, inspired by man-of-the-match Brad Drew and Giants current staff coach and captain at the time Chris Thorman.
Altogether, there have been 18 Cup meetings between the sides dating back to the first in 1902, with Huddersfield holding the advantage 10-8 at present.
Leeds have only won twice at Huddersfield in the Cup. Back in 1944 in the second leg of the Round Two clash, Leeds won 14-8 and went through on aggregate 16-15, then in 1976 they ran out 34-10 winners at Fartown with Phil Cookson leading the way with two tries.
Previous Challenge Cup meetings:
2015 (Round 6): Leeds 48 Huddersfield 16
2013 (Round 5): Huddersfield 24 Leeds 8
2006 (Semi-final): Huddersfield 30 Leeds 12 (at Odsal Stadium, Bradford)
1976 (Round 1): Huddersfield 10 Leeds 34
