Holders Widnes Vikings will face Keighley Cougars in the semi-finals of the Northern Rail Cup.

The Vikings, who reached the last four with Thursday's 26-12 victory over Barrow, will travel to Cougar Park on the weekend of 19/20 June.

Keighley booked their semi-final place with a 32-6 win over York.

Leigh Centurions, 42-6 winners at Hunslet, and Batley Bulldogs, who beat Sheffield 26-16, will contest the other semi-final at Leigh Sports Village.

Keighley's passage into the last four looked far from straightforward at half time of their tie with Championship 1 side York on Sunday as they only led 14-6 thanks to tries from Tom Sheldrake and Jermaine Wray.

But they pulled clear after the restart courtesy of former Salford winger Daley Williams' brace and an Andrew Shickell score. Matty Duckworth scored York's solitary try.

NORTHERN RAIL CUP QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS Widnes 26-12 Barrow Batley 26-16 Sheffield Hunslet 6-42 Leigh Keighley 32-6 York

Tournament favourites Leigh were also grateful to a strong second-half display to comfortably overcome Hunslet, who had taken a shock 6-0 lead through Wayne McHugh's converted second-minute try.

Leigh centre Mick Nanyn then took centre stage, scoring two tries and kicking seven conversions to inspire the Centurions to victory.

Tries from James Taylor and Anthony Nicholson had Leigh 12-6 in front at the interval, before Mike Morrison, Dave Alstead and Jacob Emmett added to Nanyn's efforts after the break.

Batley had their passage all-but secured by half time of their clash with Sheffield as they went in 24-4 in front thanks to tries from Sean Heskett, Craig Potter, Johnny Campbell and Ash Lindsay.

But the Eagles hit back with tries from Craig Cook and Danny Mills, to add to Dane McDonald's first-half effort, before Gareth Moore kicked a goal to ease the Bulldogs' nerves 10 minutes from time.

Widnes were the first team to book their place in the semi-finals with their victory over last year's runners-up Barrow.

Winger Dean Gaskell and on-loan hooker Kirk Netherton both scored two tries as Widnes ended a run of four defeats.

The Vikings led 16-6 at the break thanks to Gaskell's brace and scores from Shane Grady and Netherton.

Ned Catic's second try of the tie gave Barrow hope but Toa Kohe-Love and Netherton's second eased Widnes clear.

Halifax closed the gap on Championship leaders Featherstone to four points by beating Dewsbury Rams 28-8 at the Shay in Sunday's only Championship game.

The Rams led 8-6 at the break thanks to a Scott Turner try and two Ed Barber goals to raise hopes of a first win of the season.

But Australian scrum-half Ben Black touched down twice and Jon Goddard and Steve Bannister also went over as Halifax hit back to make it eight wins in a row.

Oldham went top of Championship 1 with a 40-26 win over Blackpool, who have now suffered back-to-back defeats after opening the season with eight straight wins.

The Roughyeds only led 16-14 at the break thanks to tries from Lucas Onyango and Marcus St Hilaire, Damian Munroe (2) and Thomas Woodcock replying for the visitors.

Kurt Haggerty and Tom Hemingway ran in three more tries for the Panthers after the break but Oldham wrapped up victory thanks to efforts from Joe Chandler, Gregg McNally, who also kicked seven goals, Dave Ellison and Paul O'Connor.

At the other end of the table, Gateshead remain rooted to the bottom after a 34-12 home defeat by Swinton.

Lee Wingfield, Dana Wilson, Richard Flooks, Danny Heaton, Neil Rigby and Rob Foxen, who also kicked five goals, all went over for Swinton, with Gateshead replying through Robin Peers and Kevin Neighbour.

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