Challenge Cup: Leigh Centurions 18-36 Huddersfield Giants - Visitors reach quarter-finals

Jermaine McGillvary has appeared in each of Huddersfield Giants' three matches this season

Jermaine McGillvary scored a hat-trick of tries as Huddersfield weathered a Leigh comeback to reach the Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Kenny Edwards opened the scoring for Huddersfield while Sam Wood crossed for his first try of the match soon after.

McGillvary scored either side of the break with Jordan Thompson responding for the hosts just before half-time.

Nathan Peats and Thompson pulled it to 18-28 but late tries from McGillvary and Lee Gaskell wrapped up the win.

Victory for Huddersfield means they will now face reigning Super League champions St Helens in the last eight.

Both sides were handed yellow cards at the end of either half, with Huddersfield losing Luke Yates to the bin for a late challenge on Ryan Brierley before Adam Sidlow was punished for a wayward tackle on Owen Trout.

However, they bolstered their lead upon the restart thanks to McGillvary and Wood's efforts with the pair doing well to put them into what had looked like a winnable 28-6 lead before debutant Peats and Thompson rallied for the hosts.

Leigh, who also handed Ben Flower his debut, are now without a win in all competitions this season while Giants boss Ian Watson recorded his first competitive win since his arrival at the club.

Leigh: Flower, Hood, Sidlow, Hellewell, Gee, McCarthy, Brierley, Reynolds, Tierney, Thornley, Mullen, Brand, Wallace.

Interchanges: Peats, Thompson, Ioane, Peteru.

Huddersfield: McIntosh, McGillvary, Wardle, Cudjoe, Wood, Gaskell, Cogger, Yates, Cunningham, Ashworth, McQueen, Edwards, Jones.

Interchanges: English, Trout, O'Brien, Lawrence.

Referee: L. Moore.