The draw for Round 5 of the Betfred Challenge Cup was made earlier today on BBC Radio Leeds – the final round before Super League teams enter the competition.
And the tie of the round will undoubtedly be at Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium where Rovers, fresh from an emphatic 58-14 at Cougar Park, will entertain fellow Championship heavyweights and derby rivals Wakefield Trinity, who won just as emphatically against Hunslet ARLFC. The against reigning NCL Champions lost 78-6, but bowed out with heads held high.
And the community game will still be represented in Round 5 after York Acorn defeated fellow National Conference League (NCL) Premier Division outfit Wath Brow Hornets 32-28 to reach the fifth round of the competition for the first time. Their reward is a trip to The Shay to play Halifax Panthers, who despatched reigning Southern Conference League champions Hammersmith Hills Hoists 50-4.
Two games vied for the Round 4 ‘tie of the round tag’ – and both went the way of the away teams, Widnes Vikings winning 26-12 at Bradford Bulls to earn a home tie with Rochdale Hornets’ conquerors Batley Bulldogs and Sheffield Eagles winning just as impressively at York Knights 32-16.
Sheffield Eagles found out that they will travel to Swinton Lions. The Lions defeated local rivals, Oldham, in the late kick-off in an entertaining clash shown live on The Sportsman. Swinton opened the scoring inside 90 seconds and stayed ahead throughout the 28-12 contest.
The ties were drawn by the former England and Great Britain prop Paul Anderson, a Challenge Cup winner with both Bradford Bulls and St Helens, in the company of regular West Yorkshire Sport host James Deighton.
Anderson said: “Rovers versus Trinity is mouthwatering. There’s lots of hype around Wakefield at the moment – and deservedly so – and Daryl will be very excited about taking his team to Featherstone. It’s the beauty of the cup.”
Round 5 draw (ties to take place over the weekend of 9/10 March)
Halifax Panthers v York Acorn
Widnes Vikings v Batley Bulldogs
Featherstone Rovers v Wakefield Trinity
Swinton Lions v Sheffield Eagles
BBC Sport will select one tie to be streamed live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app; The Sportsman will select another. Streaming details will be announced as soon as possible.
12 Betfred Super League sides enter the competition at Round 6, with the draw for that round scheduled for Monday 11 March and the ties themselves for the weekend of 23/24 March.
The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final (KO 3pm) is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 8 June, alongside the finals of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup (KO 11.45am) and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (KO 5.45pm). Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final at 10am. Tickets are available online now from only £15 Adults and £7.50 Under 16s, with family packages also available starting from just £18.75 for one Adult and two Under 16s.
