Leigh beat Wakefield to reach Challenge Cup last four

Betfred Challenge Cup, Belle Vue

Wakefield (0) 12

Tries: Russell, Rourke Goals: Lino 2

Leigh (6) 20

Tries: Lam, Niu, Hodgson Goals: O'Brien 4

Second-half tries from Fanitesi Niu and Bailey Hodgson helped Leigh Leopards through to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup after a comeback victory at Wakefield Trinity.

Lachlan Lam's try put the visitors 6-0 up at the break before two quick tries after the interval from Matty Russell and Josh Rourke turned the game around to put Trinity 12-6 ahead.

But Rourke's knock-on led to a superb try from Niu to bring Leigh level, before Gareth O'Brien kicked a penalty to put them ahead.

Wakefield again lost possession cheaply and Hodgson pounced to score the decisive try and send Leigh through.

Leigh are back in the last four of the cup they won back in 2023 and they avenged last weekend's 40-14 Super League humbling by Wakefield.

They took an early lead as the ball was worked wide on their last tackle before a grubber in behind the defence was collected by Lam to score.

It proved the only score of the half as despite a greater share of territory, the visitors were kept in check and took a narrow lead into the break.

After half-time, the game quickly changed as Mason Lino's cross-field kick bounced kindly for Russell to touch down.

Oli Pratt then broke the Leigh defence and sent Rourke in to put Wakefield in front.

But two errors by Rourke saw the home side surrender their ascendency.

First he spilled a high kick to hand Leigh possession and Niu danced his way left and right before seeing off four tacklers to power to the line and level the tie at 12-12.

Rourke then took O'Brien's high kick only to release a loose pass that Hodgson picked off to run in.

It knocked the life out of Wakefield who never threatened to reignite the game in the closing stages.

Wakefield: Rourke; M Russell, Scott, Pratt, Johnstone; Lino, O Russell; McMeeken, Hood, Hamlin-Uele, Croft, Vagana, Pitts.

Interchanges: Rodwell, Atoni, Cozza, Smith.

Leigh: Armstrong; Hodgson, Niu, Hanley, Brand; O'Brien, Lam; Trout, Ipape, Mulhern, O'Neill, Halton, Liu.

Interchanges: Hughes, Tuitavake, Davis, Brogan

Referee: Jack Smith.