CROSFIELDS warmed up for Saturday's GMB Union National Cup quarter-finals tie at Castleford Panthers with a 36-22 defeat of Normanton Knights.

Panthers are a division above Soap in the National Conference League but they are in the lower reaches of the table and Crosfields can carry confidence into the tie on the back of the excellent tries they scored in their Division Two win at Normanton.

Jimmy Williams was influential as Crosfields built up a 16-8 lead at half time, thanks to a score by Phil Bannon and two by Kris Buckley. Williams added two conversions.

Normanton opened the second half sharply and crossed twice to take a 20-16 lead.

A delayed Williams pass fed Dave Lucas close to the line and he carried three defenders over the line. Williams converted for a 22-20 lead.

Normanton kicked a penalty to level the scores, before Phil Bannon got his second try after Williams' beautifully weighted chip.

A 40/20 from Williams laid the platform for Buckley's hat-trick try and Pete Royle's try rounded off the scoring.

Crosfields: Kris Buckley; Phil Bannon, Russ Parkman, Pete Royle, Ian Lucas; Jimmy Williams, Dave Gibbons; Terry Reid, Eddie Bannon, Barry Lowe, Craig Noone, Matty Pitt, John Bannon. Subs: Greg Pitt, Neil Savage, Dave Lucas, Lloyd Neary.

Crosfields' coach leaves for Castleford at 11am on Saturday.