CONFERENCE CHALLENGE CUP
The draw for the opening rounds of the inaugural Conference Challenge Cup has been made with Miners being handed with a trip to Yorkshire to take on Leeds outfit Stanningley in the Preliminary round on Saturday 28th April, Should they overcome Stanningley they will make a trip across the borough in May to take on Wigan St Judes in round one.
35 teams were in the hat for the draw which was conducted at this week’s RFL Community Board Meeting, with National Conference League President Peter Moran and Community Board Member Damian Clayton MBE on hand to conduct the draw.
Three games complete the Preliminary Round which will be played over the weekend of April 28/29, whilst the First Round is scheduled for the middle of next month.
Hattons Solicitors National Conference League Chairman Trevor Hunt said: “This is an exciting new initiative and opportunity for those top echelon clubs who have made the switch to summer, to not only enjoy the challenge of a knock out cup competition, but to show their skills and talents to a national TV audience.”
The first ever Conference Challenge Cup Final will take place on Sunday September 30 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington, as part of the Co-operative Championship Finals day. All three games from the day will be screened live on Premier Sports (Sky Channel 433).
PREMLIMINARY ROUND
April 28/29
Stanningley v Leigh Miners Rangers
West Hull v East Hull
Featherstone Lions v Wath Brow Hornets
FIRST ROUND
May 12/13
Normanton Knights v Milford Marlins
Hull Dockers v Wigan St Patricks
Oldham St Annes v Heworth
Featherstone Lions or Wath Brow Hornets v Shaw Cross Sharks
Saddleworth Rangers v Bradford Dudley Hill
Ovenden v Skirlaugh
Hunslet Warriors v West Hull or East Hull
Rochdale Mayfield v Stanley Rangers
Thatto Heath Crusaders v Eastmoor Dragons
Siddal v Dewsbury Celtic
Oulton Raiders v Waterhead
Castleford Panthers v Widnes West Bank
Elland v Askam
Wigan St Judes v Stanningley or Leigh Miners Rangers
Millom v Leigh East
Egremont Rangers v East Leeds