St Helens amateur side handed boost in bid to secure Challenge Cup clash v Leeds Rhinos
Amateur club Thatto Heath’s hopes of facing Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup third round have been handed a boost.
The National Conference side were drawn at home to Betfred Championship outfit Widnes Vikings in the competition’s second round. The winners will play host to Rhinos in Leeds’ first competitive game of the season, on the weekend of February 7-8.
Thatto Heath hammered Cumbrian side Seaton Rangers 78-10 in round one last weekend and have been given approval to take on Widnes at their 1,200-capacity Close Street ground in St Helens. The tie will be played on Sunday, January 25 (1pm).
Thatto finished fifth in the Conference Premier Division last year, having previously won that competition in 2011, 2017 and 2021.Their coaching staff includes Warrington Wolves forward Adam Holroyd, who is a cousin of Rhinos prop Tom Holroyd. The community side have experience of beating semi-professional opposition in the Cup, stunning North Wales Crusaders 16-14 in the fourth round seven years ago before losing 36-10 to Dewsbury Rams, both on their own ground.
Widnes - the fifth most successful club in Challenge Cup history, with seven wins - will go into the tie as hot favourites, having finished seventh in the second-tier Championship last year. They begin their league campaign away to London Broncos on Sunday.