Maden double puts Leigh into semi

Holders Leigh will meet Featherstone in the semi-finals of the Northern Rail Cup, while Halifax will be away to Sheffield Eagles.

Leigh, who will be away from home, booked their place in the last four with a 32-12 victory over 2010 winners Batley at Leigh Sports Village yesterday.

John Kear's Bulldogs led 12-10 at half-time thanks to tries from Gareth Potts and Matthew Wild but they conceded 22 points without reply after the break. Winger Steve Maden scored two tries while four goals kicked by Martyn Ridyard boosted the tally.

In yesterday's other quarter-final, Halifax saw off the challenge of Championship One leaders Barrow with a 54-24 victory at the Shay. Lee Paterson scored 18 points with seven goals and one of Halifax's 10 tries while Anthony Thackeray and Adam Robinson both scored a try in each half.

Barrow briefly led 12-10 thanks to first-half tries from Ryan Duffy and Daniel Toal but the game had begun to slip away from them by the time Toal added his second while Mike Backhouse also touched down for the visitors.

Featherstone had earlier defeated Keighley 60-12 while Sheffield beat Hunslet 48-0.