Sheffield Eagles 54 Thatto Heath Crusaders 0: Eagles make most of Stringer's strength

The Eagles used their bigger forwards – with prop Mitch Stringer outstanding – to batter and tire the National Conference team.

But it took the Eagles 16 minutes to score their first try with half-back Brendon Lindsay sending second row Sam Barlow blasting through before he passed to Stringer who completed the job. It was followed swiftly by a try for hooker Craig Cook going in from dummy half.

Sheffield stepped up the pace in the final 20 minutes of the half with tries from centre Menzie Yere and loose-forward Peter Green. Stringer and centre Tangi Ropati each kicked two conversions for a 24-0 lead at half-time.

Thatto enjoyed their best spell after the restart but the Eagles' defence was rarely tested and they were made to work for their tries from back row Joe Hirst after taking a pass from Dane McDonald and a second touchdown for Cook.

As Thatto tired fast the Eagles moved to the 50-point mark. Samoan winger Misi Taulapapa showed his power in claiming his first two tries for the club. Yere burst through the line before sending Lindsay in for a try and two minutes from time Matty Brooks weaved in.

Stringer finished with five goals from seven attempts, his final kick hitting an upright, and Ropati kicked two from three.

Eagles coach Mark Aston said: "Keeping a side to nil may satisfy some people but our performance was patchy and we lacked concentration. But we're in the fourth round."

Sheffield Eagles: Thackeray, Barnett, Yere, Ropati, Taulapapa; Brooks, Lindsay; Hepworth, Cook, Stringer, Barlow, Green, McDonald. Substitutes: Woodcock, Exton, Corcoran, J Hirst.

Thatto Heath Crusaders: Quinn; Woods, Hill, Hughes, Walsh; Stott, Frodsham; Ledger, Maddocks, Shea, Johnson, Beech, Ward. Substitutes: Hughes, Lamb, Bates, Holland.

Referee: G Dolan.