The Quarter-Finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup have arrived, with two teams just two wins from Wembley…
Oldham are searching for their first ever Wembley appearance and will be hoping to move one step closer to achieving this when they host Barrow at Boundary Park on Sunday.
Sean Long’s men also remain unbeaten on their home patch in 2025.
The Roughyeds have won their last 18 meetings with the Raiders, including their Betfred Challenge Cup Third Round home tie earlier this year (42-4).
It’s Barrow who recently claimed the spoils, however, in Round 3 of the Betfred Championship – running out 20-6 victors in Cumbria and consigning Oldham to their first and only defeat of the season so far.
The Raiders featured in their first 1895 Cup semi-final in 2022, so will be looking to reach this stage once more.
Two-time finalists and 2021 winners Featherstone Rovers will meet London Broncos for the first time in the 1895 Cup’s history.
They recently met in Round 2 of the Championship in a close contest – where the Broncos came from behind to win 14-12 in the capital.
But who will be booking their place in the semis?
2021 Finalists York Knights meet Widnes Vikings in the quarters. The Knights have reached back-to-back 1895 Cup semi-finals for the past two seasons, whereas the Vikings, who appeared in the maiden 2019 Final, haven’t reached the last four since 2021.
Can the former ‘Challenge Cup Kings’ make their mark on the competition this year? Widnes last featured at Wembley in 1993 and last won at the famous stadium in 1984.
Who will move to 80 minutes within an iconic Wembley?
Elsewhere, there’s a blockbuster tie when Bradford Bulls take on inaugural winners Sheffield Eagles.
Sheffield are the only side to have reached Wembley twice since the competition’s formation in 2019.
The Bulls reached their first ever 1895 Cup semi-final last year, but were defeated by eventual winners Wakefield Trinity.
Interestingly, Bradford have won the Challenge Cup five times in their history, but only one of these triumphs occurred at Wembley in 1948.
Their most recent Challenge Cup successes in 2000 and 2003 were played at Murrayfield and The Millenium Stadium, meaning that many of the Bulls’ current fan base are yet to experience the Wembley dream.
Could this be the year to Bulls return to the big stage under Brian Noble? Or will the Eagles seal a place in the semis and have the chance to make a historic three Final appearances?
AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Quarter-Final fixtures (Sunday 6 April, K.O. 3pm):
Oldham v Barrow Raiders
York Knights v Widnes Vikings
Bradford Bulls v Sheffield Eagles
Featherstone Rovers v London Broncos
The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final is part of a Finals Day triple-header at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 June, alongside the finals of the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup and Men's 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup Final. Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final. Tickets are on sale now!
