Leeds rugby league sides on course for huge Challenge Cup derby: draw for rounds 1 & 2 revealed
Draws have been made for the opening two rounds of next year’s Challenge Cup, setting up a potential Leeds derby.
Betfred Championship side Hunslet RLFC – who have appointed Leeds Rhinos legend Keith Senior as director of rugby – will visit either city neighbours Stanningley or another National Conference community outfit Dewsbury Moor in the second round on the weekend of January 24/25. The first round takes place two weeks earlier, on January 10/11.
Joining Stanningley in round one are Hunslet ARLFC. They are at home to York Acorn in an all-Conference tie, with the winners set to visit Championship club Batley Bulldogs in round two. Leeds-based Woodhouse Warriors, of the Pennine League, play host to Mirfield Spartans. The prize is a home tie against Goole Vikings.
Dewsbury Rams have been drawn at home to the winners of a first round clash between Halifax-based King Cross Park and West Hull. Featherstone Rovers will visit either Castleford Lock Lane or Brighouse Rangers.
The first and second round draws were made at the RFL’s Etihad Campus headquarters in Manchester on Monday. Round one, which is regionalised, features 34 teams from the community game. The 21 clubs due to play in next season’s expanded Championship enter at the second round stage, in their first competitive match of the new campaign. For the second successive year, Super League clubs – minus Toulouse Olympique who are not taking part – join the competition in round three and will be seeded away to winners of the 19 round two ties. Rhinos faced London amateurs Wests Warriors in a third round tie last season which was switched to AMT Headingley. The fourth round is scheduled for March 14/15, the quarter-finals on April 11/12, semi-finals on May 9/10 and final on Saturday, May 30.
Betfred Challenge Cup round one (to be played on the weekend of January 10/11): Orrell St James v Haresfinch, Wigan St Judes v Leigh Miners Rangers, Rochdale Mayfield v Ince Rose Bridge, Blackbrook v GB Police, Thatto Heath Crusaders v Seaton Rangers, Siddal v Waterhead, Stanningley v Dewsbury Moor, King Cross Park v West Hull, Hunslet ARLFC v York Acorn, Heworth v RAF, Brighouse Rangers v Lock Lane, Woodhouse Warriors v Mirfield Spartans, Bedford Tigers v Medway Dragons, British Army v Wests Warriors, Banbridge Broncos (Northern Ireland) v Aberavon Fighting Irish, Telford Raiders v London Chargers, Royal Navy v Hammersmith Hills Hoists.
Challenge Cup round two (to be played on the weekend of January 24/25): Oldham v Orrell St James/Haresfinch, Wigan St Judes/Leigh Miners Rangers v Barrow Raiders, Rochdale Mayfield/Ince Rose Bridge v Swinton Lions, Blackbrook/GB Police v Workington Town, Thatto Heath Crusaders/Seaton Rangers v Widnes Vikings, Siddal/Waterhead v Rochdale Hornets, Stanningley/Dewsbury Moor v Hunslet RLFC, Dewsbury Rams v King Cross Park/West Hull, Batley Bulldogs v Hunslet ARLFC/York Acorn, Heworth/RAF v Keighley Cougars, Brighouse Rangers/Lock Lane v Featherstone Rovers, Woodhouse Warriors/Mirfield Spartans v Goole Vikings, North Wales Crusaders v Bedford Tigers/Medway Dragons, London Broncos v British Army/Wests Warriors, Midlands Hurricanes v Banbridge Broncos/Aberavon Fighting Irish, Halifax Panthers v Telford Raiders/London Chargers, Royal Navy/Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Salford Red Devils, Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven, Doncaster v Newcastle Thunder.