Rugby League: Broncos' Offiah races into record books

MARTIN OFFIAH moved to fifth in the all-time list of try-scorers by sealing a late 21-18 victory for London Broncos in yesterday's Silk Cut Challenge Cup fifth-round tie against Halifax.

With seven minutes left, Damien Chapman passed inside to Offiah and the former Great Britain wing raced over for the 442nd try of his career and put the Broncos closer to their first quarter-final. Chapman, who collected 13 points, capped a fine individual display on his debut by dropping a goal with four minutes remaining.

Chapman had also given the Broncos the lead with a penalty and then outshone a variety of half-backs put out by Halifax, who lost both Chris Chester and Gavin Clinch to head injuries in the first quarter.

Wigan, meanwhile, handed out another Challenge Cup hiding, this time to Dewsbury Rams, after thrashing Keighley 76-0 in the previous round. The Rams managed to hold Wigan for 20 minutes before the Warriors scored their first try. Andy Farrell's match tally was 24 points from 10 goals and a try.

Sheffield Eagles humbled the Cumbrian part-timers Egremont Rangers 84- 6 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the club's history. The Eagles were never in trouble against Workington's conquerors as they raced into a 36-0 interval lead and in the dying seconds passed their club record win of 80-8 against amateurs Wigan St Patrick's in 1988.

Hull brought to an abrupt end the Cup run of the other Cumbrian Rangers, Ellenborough, with a crushing 78-0 win, running home 14 tries and kicking 11 goals at The Boulevard.