A week after Wakefield Trinity were humiliated 58-0 by the Catalans Dragons, they travelled the short distance to the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield to take on the same opponents in the re-organised sixth round of the Challenge Cup.

Both sides made a number of changes, the Dragons to rest some key players, but Trinity to try and avoid the onslaught that they experienced last time out. The bookies couldn’t see past the Dragons making progress, and setting up a quarter final tie against the Salford Red Devils.

The Dragons took just five minutes to open their account after a great defensive element on the Trinity line gave them possession in the red zone and David Mead grounded a grubber in goal to get the ball on the ground. James Maloney added the conversion as the heavens opened.

The longer the game wore onn, and the longer that Trinity avoided falling further behind, the more they grew in confidence.

On twenty-two the Dragons went in again with a pinpoint Josh Drinkwater kick to the corner being caught by Fouad Yaha for a walk in try. Maloney converted from the touchline for a 12-0 lead. Despite putting up a better show Wakefield already had a mountain to climb.

On thirty, Trinity managed something that they hadn’t in the previous one hundred and ten, when Jay Pitts won the race to ground a Hampshire kick. The Wakefield half-back added the conversion and Wakefield were back within six.

A Maloney penalty on thirty-three extended the lead to eight points and three minutes later Drinkwater put in a kick to the left wing which was taken by a flying David Mead who dropped over the line for a try that coach Chester will have thought was way too easy. Maloney added the conversion for 20-6, the Dragons more than half way home.

Trinity struck first in the second half on forty-five as Max Jowitt and Jay Pitts both raced and simultaneoiusly grounded a Hampshire grubber kick to the corner. Pitts won the race by a fraction of a second for his brace. Hampshire added the goal, although it looked to have been wide of the right upright.

Tempers boiled over of fifty-five after a high shot from Michael McIlorum and a shoulder from Sam Kasiano. Jay Pitts and Michael McIlorum were both sin-binned for their part in the fracas.

Two plays after the penalty, awarded to the Dragons, Benjamin Garcia went from acting half-back to fool the one marker down the blind side to get the four pointer. Maloney missed the extra two, the Dragons two converted tries ahead.

On the hour mark Mead completed his hat-trick to seal the Dragons progress to the quarter finals. It was a simple finish after he took the pass and bust between two weak tackles. Maloney added the goal for a 30-12 lead.

Once again the heavens opened and the Dragons adopted the better as Matt Whitley grounded a Drinkwater grubber kick. Maloney kicked the extras and it was all looking far too much like last week.

A seventy-fifth minute Wakefield consolation for Tinirau Arona was scored under the uprights, Hampshire adding the conversion for 18-36. Jacob Miller crashed the line on seventy-eight and Hampshire added the goal for 24-36 but there was no way back for Trinity, the game won with ease by Catalans Dragons.

The Catalans were as confident and devastating as last week but a more organised defence, and a little bit of intelligence going forward, reduced the magnitude of the loss. The result is the same, it is the Dragons who go through to the quarter finals and Wakefield who become the second Super League club to be elimiated from the competition.

Dragons: Mourgue, Davies, Folau, Mead (3T), Yaha (T), Maloney (7G), Drinkwater, Casty, McIlorum (SB on 54), Maria, Whitley (T), Tomkins J, Garcia (T).  Subs: Jullien, Jullien, Baitieri, Kasiano.

Trinity: Walker A, Senior, Croft, Tupou, Jowitt, Hampshire (4G), Miller (T), Fifita, Wood K, Arona (T), Pitts (2T, SB on 54), Ashurst, Westerman. Subs: Crowther, Tanginoa, Navarrete, Kopczak.

Referee: Chris Kendall.

Half-Time: 20-6.

Full-Time: 36-24.

Ground: John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield.