Bradford upset Cas as Salford & Giants go through

Championship side Bradford Bulls dramatically upset Super League team Castleford Tigers with an 18-16 victory in the third round of the Challenge Cup.

Tries from James Donaldson and Matty Gee helped the hosts take an early lead, before Tom Holmes ran almost the entire length of the field unchallenged to make it 17-0 at half-time.

But Castleford roared back after the break to reduce the deficit to 17-12, before the hosts snuck in a drop-goal to ensure a Cas converted try would not result in defeat.

Tex Hoy gave Cas a last-gasp chance to take the game to golden-point extra time by dancing through Bradford's defence for a try, but his conversion to add an extra two points drifted agonisingly wide.

There were no shocks for the other two Super League sides in action on Sunday as Salford Red Devils beat Midlands Hurricanes and Huddersfield Giants saw off Hunslet.

Batley Bulldogs, Featherstone Rovers, Widnes Vikings and Oldham were the other teams to make it through to round four.

Bulls hold on for famous win

Matty Gee was one of two try scorers for Bradford in the opening 16 minutes

Bradford worked tirelessly to keep up the early pressure on their opponents and deserved to go ahead when Donaldson drove over the line from Mitch Souter's neat pass.

Moments later, a clever steal of the ball by James Meadows led to a delicate pass by Joe Keyes, which Gee showed hunger to dive onto and score.

Castleford's defence continued to look ragged and uncomfortable as they repeatedly gave away penalties in Danny McGuire's first competitive match as head coach, with Meadows opting to strike between the posts for an extra two points.

An opportunistic drop-goal from Keyes kept the scoreboard ticking over, before Holmes collected a loose ball and accelerated away brilliantly, just as the visitors had committed high up the pitch.

Cas lacked cutting edge, but finally scored in the second half when Jeremiah Simbiken touched over from Daejarn Asi's delicate toe-poked kick.

Three minutes later, Josh Simm reignited Castleford's belief after capitalising on a loose offload by Bradford, with Hoy converting to reduce the deficit to 17-12.

Just as Bradford tried to wind down the clock, Jordan Lilley eased the home side's nerves by adding another drop-goal.

But Hoy sent shockwaves around Odsal Stadium when he showed great pace and trickery to spook the Bulls backline and put his side within reach of extra time.

Hoy, who looked hurt as he touched the ball down, then got up to take the all-important kick, but he fell to his knees in agony as it sunk narrowly wide of the posts.

11 of 12 Super League sides through

Super League side Salford survived a scare as they were made to work hard for their victory by League One side Midlands Hurricanes.

Hurricanes only trailed by two points at the break, but the floodgates opened in the second half as the visitors scored six tries to win 46-10, including two each for Deon Cross, Jayden Nikorima and Nene MacDonald.

Huddersfield Giants made sure 11 of the 12 Super League sides went through to round four as they beat Hunslet of the Championship 36-4.

Championship leaders Widnes Vikings narrowly escaped an upset at the hands of League One's North Wales Crusaders in Colwyn Bay.

Welshman Rhys Williams was the hero for visitors Widnes as his hat-trick helped the Vikings to come back from being 20-18 down at half-time to win 26-20.

Championship side Featherstone Rovers routed National Conference League side Ince Rose Bridge 68-0, while ellow second-tier outfits Batley Bulldogs and Oldham beat Dewsbury Rams and Barrow Raiders.