SINCE the advent of full-time professionalism in rugby league's top flight, the chances of major Challenge Cup shocks have reduced so much they are almost negligible.

Indeed, the number of surprises involving Super League clubs being knocked out by lower tier teams can be counted on one hand.

York City Knights therefore faced a mountainous task at the McAlpine yesterday, and, although they did not conquer the Giant gradient, they came away with enough credit, especially from the last 50 minutes, to suggest the forthcoming National League Two campaign will be anything but an uphill struggle.

Richard Agar's team had already scaled their own McPennine in the fifth round when, with only 12 men and a much-depleted squad, they famously won at NL1 side Featherstone.

But, as expected, there was to be no real Giants-killing, as Huddersfield booked their semi-final place with a comfortable 50-12 triumph.

The result could have been worse as the Knights endured an indifferent opening, with some good work being spoiled by sloppiness as the hosts ran in two tries by the 12th minute to quell hopes of a shock before cutting loose with a stunning five-try salvo in ten minutes.

Indeed, at 38-2 with half an hour gone, people were checking the record books for Huddersfield's highest-ever score.

However, there was no way they would topple the 142-4 tally racked up against Blackpool in the mid-1990s. What's more, the Knights - with a constant vocal backing from the travelling hordes - puffed out their chests and got a foothold in the game, stemming the tide so well they were unlucky not to outscore their hosts in the 50 minutes that followed.

Granted, Huddersfield may have slackened off, but to lose 12-10 over 50 minutes against a Super League side should not be sniffed at, especially as full-time teams often overpower their tiring part-time opponents towards the end.

Huddersfield had, of course, suffered the embarrassment of falling to NL2 opposition last year against Hunslet, but that would have worked against the Knights as new Giants coach Jon Sharp made doubly sure there would be no complacency this time.

The odds were already stacked in their favour. They are a team of full-timers, while the Knights were back at work today.

Just the respective sizes of the two squads summed up a telling difference as the teams ran out - the Knights being led out by young mascot Gareth Richards - and the extra power and pace was clear as the hosts made noticeably more yards in every hit-up.

Two of the first three tries came on the back of harsh penalties, Ben Roarty and Sean Penkywicz scoring. But to complain about the referee would be churlish as those scores sandwiched one for Brandon Costin as the Giants - bigger, faster, stronger - led 18-2 at the quarter-mark, York's points having come from a Danny Brough penalty for offside.

Then came a burst of true Super League substance as the Giants raced in four tries in seven minutes through Ben Cooper, Hefin O'Hare, Marcus St Hilaire and, straight from the restart, the long-striding speedster Julian Bailey.

Okay, York have defended better, but they were all quality tries and there was a fear the hosts would continue to score with every attack.

But the Knights are made of sterner stuff than that and were rewarded as Jim Elston's lightning quick feet took him flying off at dummy-half to score a 30-yard individual try.

York also started the second half the better and more than held their own until the hour-mark when Roarty benefited from a ricochet to score again.

This, though, was met with more noise from the York fans, as was Costin's second try which came on the back of two questionable penalties.

York were not to be steamrollered, though, as Danny Seal broke through, Brough converting, while fit-again Damian Ball and former Giant Chris Langley came within inches of another try.

Huddersfield, via Roarty's hat-trick score, had the last word on the pitch, but not off it as the York fans - barring a bit of unnecessary carry-on at the top of the John Smith's Stand, which saw several stewards divide rival supporters - was not quashed as their heroes got a standing ovation.

The fact that reaching the quarter-finals in only their second season should be regarded as a major achievement was not lost on them, while a defeat to a Super League club is no great discomfiture.

Match facts:

Powergen Challenge Cup

Quarter-final

Sunday, March 28, 2004

at McAlpine Stadium

Giants: Cooper, O'Hare, Nero, Bailey, St Hilaire, Costin, March, Slicker, Penywicz, Gannon, Jones, Roarty, Gene. Subs (all used): Donlan, Turner, P Smith, Crabtree.

Tries: Roarty 6, 59, 75; Costin 12, 66; Penkywicz 19; Cooper 23; O'Hare 26; St Hilaire 28; Bailey 29.

Cons: March 6, 19, 23, 28, 29.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Knights: Graham 8, Stewart 8, Langley 7, Cain 8, Godfrey 7, Rhodes 8, Brough 8, Hayes 8, Jackson 7, Sozi 7, Callaghan 7, Friend 8, Ball 7. Subs (all used): Elston 9, Seal 8, J Smith 7, Forsyth 7.

Tries: Elston 35, Seal 71.

Con: Brough 71.

Pen: Brough 15.

Sin-binned: None.

Sent off: None.

Man of the match: Jim Elston - injected great pace around the play-the-balls and troubled the Giants defence with his quick feet.

HT: 38-6

Ref: Ronnie Laughton (Barnsley)

Rating: Good, bad, fair to middling

Penalty Count: 12-10

Gamebreaker: Huddersfield's early opener to lay down a marker, or the four-try seven-minute burst before the half-hour mark that killed the game dead.

Attendance: 4,286

Weather watch: Dry, still

Match rating: The fans - most of them anyway - ensured it was a good day out.

Updated: 10:20 Monday, March 29, 2004