PILKINGTON Recs overcame a tough challenge to beat Wallsend Eagles in Newcastle on Saturday and reach the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup second round for the third consecutive year.

Jake Hodgson ran in four tries for the visitors in a 42-6 victory that also included touchdowns for Luke Riley and Jono Peers.

Tyler Walton replied for the hosts, who gave as good as they got to their higher ranked opposition.

The Red, Amber and Black started the game well and eventually took the lead through Riley. Danny Lynch nailed the conversion, as he did again four minutes later after Peers bulldozed his way through the defence.

Hodgson then got two tries in quick succession just before the break, both coming as a result of brilliant set-up play as Pilks went into the half-time break with a 22-point advantage.

The second half was a little more scrappy, with mistakes creeping in to both sides, but Pilks got on the board first in the second half to effectively end the cup tie.

Hodgson grabbed his hat-trick in the corner with a fabulous finish.

It was soon a 30-point lead as the forward was able to power through a Wallsend defence that was tiring after a big effort from them.

Wallsend then got the consolation that their efforts deserved after Walton showed good feet to evade the defender and get the ball down. Full-back Scott Rendles nailed the conversion from out wide.

But any optimism in the Wallsend camp was soon extinguished as Hodgson ran in for his fourth try, with Lynch converting. A runaway Ryan Hilliard try and Lynch conversion completed the scoring.

Premier Division champions Thatto also progressed with a 22-12 success at Saddleworth Rangers.