Dewsbury 6-54 Wakefield: Trinity through in Challenge Cup

Match stats: Dewsbury v Wakefield

Dewsbury tries:  Brown (41)
Conversions:  Glover (41) 

Wakefield tries:  Caton-Brown (4,48,68,71), Ashurst (14), Williams (31), Tupou (38, 60), Gibson (62)
Conversions:  Finn (4,14,31,38,48,60,62,68,71) 

Match report

Mason Caton-Brown claimed four tries as Wakefield took an expected step into the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable 54-6 victory at Dewsbury.

The Betfred Super League side, who could share near-neighbours Dewsbury's Tetley's Stadium next season, can take away fond memories of their latest visit after running in four converted and unanswered scores in the first half and another five touchdowns after the interval.

Liam Finn, Wakefield captain in the absence of Danny Kirmond, kicked each of the nine conversions, while Bill Tupou also grabbed a brace of tries.

Relegation-threatened Kingstone Press Championship part-timers Dewsbury, with just one league success so far this term, fell behind after just five minutes and the result rarely seemed in doubt thereafter, although the resilient Rams gave as good as they got for sizeable chunks of the game.

The Rams eventually got on the scoresheet at the start of the second half through an Aaron Brown try and some stoical defence ensured they exited the competition with plenty of credit.

Wakefield, who made the last four of the cup in 2016, fielded no fewer than eight players, including Caton-Brown, who had appeared for their hosts this season in recent weeks under the terms of the dual-registration agreement between the two clubs.

The Rams, who disposed of Newcastle and Batley to reach the last 16, began enthusiastically but their early pressure came to a halt when they lost possession deep in opposition territory.

Tupou scooped up the loose ball and broke 50 metres before he was eventually brought down, but the ball was quickly splayed across the field on the next play for Caton-Brown to touch down.

Matty Ashurst then powered his way over from close range, shortly after a titanic group effort, aided by the sturdiness of one of the posts, had prevented Anthony England from scoring.

Helped forward by a penalty, Dewsbury nearly hit back when Lucas Walshaw was held just short of the line but it was a rare threat to the full-time outfit's dominance with only tenacious and often frantic defence preventing the Wakefield section of the scoreboard ticking over more frequently.

Sam Williams bemused and then danced around a flat-footed Daniel Igbinedion to claim Wakefield's third try, then the Australian half-back launched a pin-point cross-field kick which Tupou brilliantly plucked from the air and grounded to send the Super League side in at the break leading 24-0.

Within 90 seconds of the restart the Rams got justifiable reward for their endeavour as Tom Hemingway's put Aaron Brown over from close range with James Glover adding the goal.

But more good work from the home side was undone when, again while on the attack, Rams skipper Paul Sykes lost the ball in a one-on-one tackle from Joe Arundel, with Caton-Brown racing over the last 60 metres for his second try.

Caton-Brown looked set for his hat-trick but a wonderful ankle tap from opposing winger Glover brought his race down the touchline to a halt.

Seconds later however, Tupou crossed in the other corner and Ashley Gibson added another try shortly afterwards as the part-timers began to tire.

Caton-Brown finally completed his hat-trick 12 minutes from time and grabbed a fourth just afterwards to help pass the half-century mark.

Match reaction

Wakefield director of rugby John Kear said: "I thought it was a very professional performance.

"Obviously these games can be banana skins as Huddersfield (who lost to Championship strugglers Swinton) found out in the last round, so we came here fully focused and intent.

"I'd like to give Dewsbury a pat on the back because they are doing it tough at the moment yet I thought they showed plenty of spirit and some of their on-line defence was very, very desperate - they played well.

"I like to think we play a good brand of rugby league and you only have to look at the number of tries our wingers score.

"Everyone goes on about Castleford and the tries their wingers score but ours aren't bad either! It's exciting for the fans to watch.

"I think it was tough on Mason to score four scorchers like that and not get (the sponsor's) man of the match.

"Liam (Finn, who was given the award) is very important to our team - he has an old head on young shoulders and settles everything down in a composed manner and both his kicking out of hand and off the tee was sublime."

Dewsbury coach Neil Kelly, who lives in and played for Wakefield during the 1980s, said: "I can't remember a time when I've lost a game by over 50 points and said that we defended superbly.

"Fitness took its toll in the end but we scrambled well and showed a great desire to keep them out. I've got so much respect for the players and so many positives came out of that for us as a team.

"If we can keep sides out like that in the Championship we'll climb the table but we have to do better with the ball as well.

"The players have earned a weekend off and then we'll concentrate on next week's game."