LUCTONIANS took over the leadership of Midlands One last weekend when they beat Leicester Lions 11-3 at Kingsland.

But on Saturday they face another top challenge when they take on Yorkshire visitors Halifax in the sixth round of the Intermediate Cup, bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.

Halifax, who have won promotion twice in the last two seasons, are riding high in North One and currently lie second in the table .

Luctonians, however, will relish the challenge after a magnificent debut season at Midlands One. Halifax have only lost two games this season and in New Zealand full-back Glen Strong, they have a player with 101 league points to his name so far.

Halifax started their Intermediate Cup campaign with a 51-3 away win over junior club Old Crossleyans in round one, and followed this with a 21-12 victory at Dinnington.

Wins against Broughton Park, 87-3 and Stockport, 20-10, followed in rounds three and four, before they earned the right to meet Lucs with 26-5 victory at local rivals Bradford and Bingley in what had been billed as a home banker.