Last year's beaten finalists Leeds Rhinos battled through to the semi-finals of UK rugby league's Challenge Cup with a hard-fought 38-22 win over Hull on Sunday.

Carl Ablett's second-half double proved vital for Leeds as they reached the last four for the ninth time in 12 seasons, where they will face Castleford.

The other semi-final sees Wigan - who knocked out holders Warrington on Saturday - taking on St Helens who won a hat-trick of Challenge Cups in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

The Rhinos came from behind to record their win, with Sam Obst and Jordan Turner's own double helping Hull to a 16-6 lead at half-time at the KC Stadium.

But two tries in three minutes from former New Zealand Warriors second-rower Ali Lauitiiti and ex-Gold Coast Titans centre Brett Delaney proved the catalyst for a Leeds fight back.

That paved the way for Ablett's double, although it was far from plain sailing for Leeds with Joe Westerman's 65th-minute score keeping Hull in the game right until the end.

Turner thought he had a hat-trick at the death but his third was ruled out before Ben Jones-Bishop, the Rhinos' only scorer in the first half, completed his double on the final hooter.

Meanwhile Castleford, boosted by the return of stand-off Rangi Chase from suspension, downed Huddersfield 22-18 in a tight encounter.

Kirk Dixon opened the scoring in the 16th-minute for the Tigers with Jordan Thompson following suit, but Huddersfield hit back through Scott Grix and Jermaine McGillvary.

Castleford's Danny Orr and Huddersfield's Leroy Cudjoe soon traded scores as did Ryan Hudson and Michael Lawrence in an enthralling second half at the Probiz Coliseum.

And it was Dixon's three goals to Danny Brough's one that proved the difference for Castleford.

On Saturday, Pat Richards starred with hand and foot as Super League champions Wigan dumped Warrington out with a 44-24 victory that ended the Wolves hopes of a third straight title.

Richards, a former Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers wing, scored in both halves as the Warriors ran in eight tries and booted six goals for a 20-point haul.

The 29-year-old's first score capped a run of four in 15 first-half minutes with Harrison Hansen, Sam Tomkins and Andy Coley all going over beforehand for a 22-0 lead.

And the Australian's second started a run of four tries in 18 second-half minutes that saw Josh Charnley bag a quick-fire double before Sean O'Loughlin completed the scoring.

South Sydney Rabbitohs-bound centre Matt King and Richie Myler both scored twice for the Wolves and New Zealander David Solomona added a fifth.

Solomona's try brought Warrington within two points but he was soon to leave with the field with a serious looking knee injury following a Coley tackle, a situation that turned the game.

Next up for Wigan is a semi-final tie against St Helens, who scored 10 tries, in a 54-6 rout of Hull KR.

Jon Wilkin and Thomas Makinson were the standout performers for Saints, bagging two tries each, with Rovers' only score coming from Ex-Wests Tigers lock Ben Galea.

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