Challenge Cup: Halifax Panthers 4-40 Catalans Dragons - Tom Davies scores hat-trick in comfortable win

Catalans Dragons have not gone beyond the quarter-finals since winning the Challenge Cup in 2018

Catalans Dragons cruised into the last eight of the Challenge Cup as they comfortably saw off Halifax Panthers.

Any hopes the Championship side had of an upset faded inside 14 minutes as wing Tom Davies scored a hat-trick.

Paul Seguier, Arthur Romano, Cesar Rouge and Chris Satae added further tries, with James Saltonstall grabbing a consolation score for Halifax.

The French side complete the quarter-final line-up with the draw taking place on Monday night (20:45 GMT).

Catalans, last season's Super League runners-up, have started this season strongly with four wins out of five in the league.

There was no let-up here against second tier opponents as Davies crossed from their first attack.

The winger added his second after five minutes and completed his hat-trick following fine work from centre Matt Ikuvalu.

They continued to dominate their opponents, scoring once more before the interval and three times after it.

But Halifax were determined to avoid a whitewash and local lad Saltonstall touched down from the final play of the game to get his team on the board.

The Dragons have not gone beyond the quarter-finals since lifting the Challenge Cup in 2018, but are now part of an all-Super League last eight with holders Leigh Leopards, Wigan Warriors, St Helens, Castleford Tigers, Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves.

Halifax Panthers head coach Liam Finn told BBC Radio Leeds:

"I'm not disappointed with the effort and the commitment we put in, but disappointed with the start.

"We were 12 points down before we had touched the ball. It was over as a contest and it took all the atmosphere out of it.

"We then battled away for 80 minutes but they showed us why they've been to two of the last three Super League Grand Finals."

Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara told BBC Radio 5 Live:

"It was professional from us. Having to fly in only a couple of hours before the game and on a really heavy field, I'm pleased.

"You know a Championship side is going to come with lots of effort and energy and wants to stay in the game as long as they can.

"But if you start well and put some points on the board it helps, and I thought we were pretty clinical, certainly early on."

Halifax: Woodburn-Hall; Saltonstall, McComb, Tibbs, Eden; Jouffret, Keyes; Fairbank, Inman, Larroyer, Kavanagh, Gee, C. Davies.

Interchanges: O. Davies, Tanagata, Lannon, Widdop.

Catalans: Rouge; T Davies, Ikuvalu, Laguerre, Yaha; Abdull, Fages; Navarrete, McIlorum, Bousquet, McMeeken, Seguier, Garcia.

Interchanges: Romano, Da Costa, Satae, Dezaria.

Referee: Liam Rush.