The Sportsman’s coverage of the Betfred Challenge Cup will head for Dewsbury on Sunday April 2, and the Rams’ Fourth Round tie against John Kear’s Widnes Vikings.
Kear has a relationship with the Challenge Cup which is as strong as that of the Widnes club, having famously guided Sheffield Eagles to Wembley victory over Wigan in 1998, and then steering Hull FC to a thrilling triumph against Leeds Rhinos in Cardiff seven years later.
He is in his first full season as head coach of Widnes, who are seven-times Challenge Cup winners, including four wins in seven Final appearances between 1975-84.
But Dewsbury also have a unique Challenge Cup pedigree, having lost to Wigan in the first Wembley Final in 1929.
They are now coached by Liam Finn, Ireland’s all-time record pointscorer in 30 international appearances between 2007-18, and have made an impressive start to the Betfred League One season with three consecutive victories – in addition to Challenge Cup wins against Ashton Bears and Rochdale Hornets.
Widnes are seventh in the Betfred Championship with three wins from six matches, and comfortably secured their Fourth Round place with an 80-4 win against the London amateur team Wests Warriors, the Southern Conference League champions, in an enjoyable occasion at the DCBL Stadium.
The match will kick off at 3pm, and the winners already know that they will travel to the winners of the tie between London Broncos and Doncaster later in April, after the Fourth and Fifth Round draws were made together.
For all the teams in the Fourth Round, there is the additional incentive of knowing that they are three wins from Wembley, as the four Fifth Round winners will also qualify for the semi finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup.
BBC Sport have already announced that they will stream the Fourth Round tie between York Knights and Sheffield Eagles earlier on April 2, kicking off at 1230pm.
Betfred Challenge Cup
Fourth Round (ties to be played April 1-2)
- London Broncos v Doncaster
- Keighley Cougars v North Wales Crusaders
- Hunslet ARLFC v Batley Bulldogs
- Midlands Hurricanes v Bradford Bulls – Odsal Stadium,
- Dewsbury Rams v Widnes Vikings – April 2, 3pm, live on The Sportsman
- Rochdale Mayfield v Newcastle Thunder
- York Knights v Sheffield Eagles – April 2, 1230pm, live on BBC Sport
- Halifax Panthers v Barrow Raiders
Fifth Round (ties to be played April 22-23)
- York Knights or Sheffield Eagles v Rochdale Mayfield or Newcastle Thunder
- London Broncos or Doncaster v Dewsbury Rams or Widnes Vikings
- Hunslet ARLFC or Batley Bulldogs v Keighley Cougars or North Wales Crusaders
- Halifax Panthers or Barrow Raiders v Midlands Hurricanes or Bradford Bulls
Sixth Round – May 19-21
Quarter Finals – June 17-18
Semi Finals – July 22-23
Final – August 12, Wembley Stadium
