...with the Fourth Round draw to be held at St Helens on February 15...
Three Betfred Championship clubs are expecting bumper crowds tonight as they welcome Super League clubs for Third Round ties in the new format of the Betfred Challenge Cup.
York Knights have already confirmed advance sales for the visit of Hull KR to the LNER Community Stadium which guarantee a new record for the club since they were reformed in 2002 - beating the 4,281 they attracted against Bradford Bulls in 2018, with a 5,000-plus crowd now expected.
That will be the first of two live ties on The Sportsman this weekend, kicking off at 730pm – followed by Halifax Panthers versus Catalans Dragons on Saturday at midday.
The other two Friday night ties see Sheffield Eagles welcoming the Cup holders Wigan Warriors to Olympic Legacy Park in a repeat of the famous 1998 Final, and the 2023 Cup winners Leigh Leopards travelling to West Cumbria to face Workington Town.
Saturday’s ties include another big Cumbrian occasion as Whitehaven welcome Warrington Wolves for the first time in almost 21 years.
Midlands Hurricanes are also guaranteed a club record crowd at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium for the visit of Salford Red Devils on Sunday afternoon, and the intriguing tie between old West Yorkshire rivals Bradford Bulls and Castleford Tigers on Sunday lunchtime has been selected for live coverage by the BBC, on iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
Of the four community clubs who have reached the Third Round stage, Ince Rose Bridge will face Featherstone Rovers on Sunday while the other three are relishing the prospect of tackling Betfred Super League heavyweights on Saturday afternoon.
West Hull will host St Helens at Sewell Group Craven Park, the home of Hull KR, while York Acorn will face Hull FC on neutral territory at Featherstone’s Millennium Stadium, and Wests Warriors of the Southern Conference League have switched their tie against Leeds Rhinos to AMT Headingley.
The draw for the Fourth Round will be shown live on BBC2 next Saturday evening (February 15), at half-time of their first televised Betfred Super League fixture of the season between St Helens and Salford (kick-off 530pm).
Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round schedule:
Friday
Sheffield Eagles v Wigan Warriors (730pm)
Workington Town v Leigh Leopards (730pm)
York Knights v Hull KR (730pm, live on The Sportsman)
Saturday
Halifax Panthers v Catalans Dragons (Midday, live on The Sportsman)
Wests Warriors v Leeds Rhinos (Midday, at AMT Headingley)
West Hull v St Helens (2pm, at Sewell Group Craven Park)
York Acorn v Hull FC (2pm, at Millennium Stadium, Featherstone)
Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity (3pm, at DIY Kitchens Stadium)
Whitehaven v Warrington Wolves (3pm)
Sunday
Bradford Bulls v Castleford Tigers (1230pm, live on BBC Sport)
Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams (2pm)
Featherstone Rovers v Ince Rose Bridge (2pm)
Midlands Hurricanes v Salford Red Devils (2pm)
North Wales Crusaders v Widnes Vikings (230pm)
Hunslet v Huddersfield Giants (3pm)
Oldham v Barrow Raiders (3pm)
