On what should have been the week of more Coral Challenge Cup action, hullfc.com looks back at five memorable clashes for the Black & Whites at this stage of the competition.
2000: Hull FC 14-4 Wigan
Hull managed to keep eventual table-toppers and Super League Grand Final runners-up Wigan try-less at the Boulevard back in 2000 to secure their place in the semi-final against Leeds at Huddersfield.
David Maiden opened the scoring for Hull, and with the help of a Ben Sammutt penalty, Hull led 8-2 at the break, with Wigan’s only points coming from the boot of Andy Farrell.
Farrell would replicate this in the second-half, leaving the visitors with only a total of four points on the board as Hull’s defence remained firm. Victory was sealed for the hosts as Wayne McDonald came off the bench to score the winner.
2005: Hull FC 46-14 Leigh
The Centurions were enjoying their maiden season in Super League in 2005, but FC would dismantle the side from across the Pennines on their way to securing a memorable Challenge Cup semi-final spot against St Helens.
A first-half blitz of 34 points would see Hull secure certain victory even before half-time, as Leigh’s indicipline proved to be their downfall for the second week in a row against the Black & Whites.
Shayne McMenemy opened the scoring for Hull, before Tommy Saxton went over in the corner. Leigh’s first real chance of the game then ended in disaster as Richard Horne picked out a wide ball to go 80 meteres and touch down. Horne got over again before the break, as well as Jamie Thackray, while Nathan Blacklock would also race the length of the field to score.
Leigh did hit back with scores from Richard Marshall, Rob Jackson and Danny Halliwell, but Hull already had too much on the scoreboard and consolidated their win with further scores from Richie Barnett and Paul Cooke.
2013: Hull FC 24-13 Catalans
Hull’s route to the 2013 final would see them take in a trip to the continent to take on the Dragons.
Shannon McDonnell opened the scoring mid-way through the first-half scurrying over from close range. A Eloi Pellissier try, along with a conversion and drop-goal from Scott Dureau looked to have put the Dragons ahead at the break, but the boot of Danny Tickle edged Hull ahead 8-7 with a late penalty.
On a hot and sticky afternoon in the South of France, handling errors were aplenty, and it was the Dragons who regained an early lead in the second-half as Morgan Escare powered onto Lopini Peae’s offload to score. but it was only minute later before Hull regained the lead themselves once more with Tom Lineham touching down in the corner.
Leading 13-12 with 15 minutes left on the clock, it was a spectacultar effort from Tom Briscoe that secured their place in the semi-finals to take on Warrington in Huddersfield, with Danny Houghton breaking from his own half and finding the winger who dummied his way to the line to touch down under the posts.
2017: Hull FC 32-24 Castleford
In another thrilling Challenge Cup contest between the two Yorkshire rivals at the KCOM Stadium, two years after the last, Hull booked their place in the semi-finals over competition favourites Castleford.
The holders again quickly ran into the lead against the Tigers, with Carlos Tuimavave going the full-length to score before wing partner Fetuli Talanoa muscles his way over.
But just like they did two year previous, the visitors his back with Ben Roberts and Zak Hardaker touching down.
Jake Connor’s boot kept Hull in control with several penalty goals, but Roberts touched down once more to keep the pressure on.
But two quick-fore tries from Mahe Fonua and a sensational team effort finished by Jamie Shaul saw Hull into the semi-finals setting up a mouth-watering tie against Leeds in Doncaster.
2019: Hull FC 51-8 Catalans
The Black & Whites and the Dragons have become regular Challenge Cup opponents in recent seasons, and Hull claimed another emphatic win over their French counterparts last season, running in eight tries to secure a semi-final against Warrington.
Tries from Jake Connor and Bureta Faraimo put Hull ahead before Lewis Tierney hit back to bring the visitors within four points.
But that is as close as they would get to taking the lead as Hull scored a remarkable 39 unanswered points in the second-half.
Tries from Sika Manu, Albert Kelly, Jamie Shaul, Danny Houghton and two from Ratu Naulago saw the five-time cup winners ease into the last four.
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