GIANT killers Haydock ARLFC progressed to the 3rd of the Coral Challenge Cup after a hard earned win in windy conditions at ‘The Graveyard’ home of NCL outfit Normanton Knights.

The Yickers led by ex-St Helens winger Chris Smith, who were on the road again after seeing off NCL outfit Shaw Cross Sharks away in the 1st Round, earned the famous victory overturning a 22 – 10 half time deficit.

Hooker Rob Sexton opened the scoring on 5 minutes to take a 0-4 early lead but Ste Jones failed with the conversion, but the Knights charged back in control of the game making use of good field position due to the strong winds on their backs with 2 tries to take a 10-4 lead. The home team then extended their lead with a further converted try to make it 16-4 and the Yickers looked in trouble.

But a try by centre Dean Dollin converted by Ste Jones made it 16-10 to give Haydock a life-line, but was quickly snuffed out by a another converted try by the Knights to make it 22 – 10 at half time, and the Knights believed they was already in the hat for the next round.

But with the strong wind now behind them, and cheered on by the Haydock faithful the Yickers had other ideas and quickly got themselves right back in the game when on 49 mins winger Karl Dingsdale sped in which Ste Jones converted to make if 22-16 and the home team were rocking.

Centre Dean Dollin then crossed to score his second to make it a nail biting 22-20, with the conversion controversially waved away but it was all to play for going into the final quarter of the match.

The Yickers now were flying and it wasn’t long before skipper Jordan Gibson sent the Haydock support into raptures when he crossed for a try converted by Jones to put the Yickers in front for the first time 22 – 26, and lead they would not relinquish.

Forward Carl Cheetham wrapped up a famous win with a well deserved try, again converted by the reliable Jones to make the final score 22 – 32 to the visitors.

In a superb gritty team performance, Dean Dollin took the Cable Taxis Man of the match accolade, with Adam Brown and Dannie Lee outstanding in taking the ball forward, and Darrell Rotherham and Rob Sexton outstanding in defence

The third round draw will be made tonight and tie to be played 9/10 March.