A semi-final place, joining Wakefield and Warrington in the draw, was on offer as league leaders Hull FC welcomed fourth placed Catalans Dragons.

Both sides made a number of changes, welcoming back players from injury and in the case of Ben Garcia for the Dragons, after a spell away from the club.

It looked like the tie of the round and neither side would take a backward step.

The game was thirteen minutes old when the returning Ben Garcia scored the Catalans opener. Jodie Broughton had diffused a bomb and made a break downfield before being tackled. On the next play they kept the ball alive before Glen Stewart grubber picked up and scored by the Dragons centre. Pat Richards missed the conversion attempt.

On twenty-one, Hull FC hit the front. A Carlos Tuimavave high kick caused confusion in the Dragons defence and Steve Michaels collected the ball on its first bounce to walk in from five metres. Marc Sneyd added the extras for 6-4.

A short-range try for Frank Pritchard off a Gareth Ellis pass extended the lead and when Sneyd added the extras it was 12-4.

Ten minutes into the second half the Airlie Birds scored a try from nothing as Danny Houghton supported a Scott Taylor break to take the pass and score under the sticks. When Sneyd kicked the conversion and made the score 18-4, Hull had one foot in the semi-finals.

The Dragons weren't done. After earning good position with a 40-20, Todd Carney found Pat Richards who put Fouad Yaha over in the left corner. Richards again failed with the conversion.

A Sneyd penalty on sixty-three, and another two minutes later, increased the lead to fourteen at 22-8 and despite late Catalans pressure they held out for the win.

This was FCs tenth consecutive win in all competitions and sees them a step closer to a Wembley appearance. Despite conceding the first try they never looked in trouble, the boot of Sneyd easing them to victory. When the draw us made for the semi-finals, the Black & Whites will be the team to avoid.

FC: Shaul, Michaels (T), Fonua, Yeaman, Talanoa, Tuimavave, Sneyd (5G), Taylor, Houghton (T), Watts, Manu, Minichiello, Ellis (T). Subs: Green, Bowden, Pritchard, Washbrook.

Dragons: Escare, Broughton, Garcia (T), Richards, Yaha (T), Carney, Albert, Mason, Pelissier, Casty, Stewart, Horo, Baitieri. Subs: Taylor, Bousquet, Mounis, Bosc.

Referee: Ben Thaler.

Attendance: