The Championship's fifth placed side Halifax made the 300 mile round trip to the north west to take on Championship One's fifth placed site Whitehaven in the fifth round of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup. Both sides were in good form with five wins in their last six outings.

A sunny Recreation Ground was the venue for what looked, on paper, like a foregone conclusion but with Super League's Huddersfield Giants having lost out earlier in the day to lowly Swinton, and Hull KR taking down Leigh Centurions yesterday, there is no such thing in the cup.

After going close twice, Halifax broke the deadlock on seventeen when Adam Tangata crashed over after Mitch Cahalane had gone close. Steve Tyrer added the extra two. Five minutes later and James Saltonstall went over under the sticks after James Woodburn-Hall bust a tackle and made good ground down the right wing. Tyrer was again accurate with the kick for 12-0.

Elliott Miller grabbed one back for Whitehaven on twenty-eight from a scrappy build up with several passes and a couple of kicks forward. Paul Crook added the extra two to reduce Halifax's lead.

Three minutes before the interval Woodburn-Hall found space to go through a tiring Whitehaven defence to score out wide. Tyrer added the extras for 18-6. On the stroke of half time a Scott Murrell grubber from ten metres was picked up and scored by Shane Grady. Tyrer added the two for a well deserved 24-6 at the interval.

Having dominated the first period of the second half Whitehaven conceded the first points on sixty-five when Ben Kaye spun over the line from acting half-back. Tyrer kicked the extras and at 30-6 it was 'Fax whose name would be in the hat for the sixth round draw.

Five minutes from time and late consolation for Whitehaven thanks to a Steve Roper kick through which was caught by Jessie Joe Parker in the Halifax goal area to ground. Crook kicked the extras for 12-30.

Just before the hooter Ben Kaye went over from acting half back after a quick play the ball. Scoring under the sticks he gave Tyrer a simple conversion for 36-12.

There will be no argument from Whitehaven that the best side won and Halifax deserved their place in the sixth round.

Whitehaven: Miller (T), Parker (T), Crook (2G).

Halifax: Robinson, Worrincy, Tyrer (6G), Woodburn-Hall (T), Saltonstall (T), Johnston, Murrell, Cahalane, Kaye (2T), Boyle, Grady (T), Tangata (T), Morris. Subs: Barber, Moore, Nelmes, Reilly.

Referee: Liam Moore.

Half-Time: 6-24.

Full-Time: 12-36.

Attendance: .