Widnes Vikings tonight hosted the draws for Rounds 3 and 4 of the Betfred Challenge Cup – 40 years on from the club’s 19-6 victory over Wigan at Wembley Stadium in 1984.
And the Vikings were rewarded with a home tie against Doncaster and, should they progress, a road trip to either Bradford Bulls or North Wales Crusaders in Round 4.
Widnes are one of 22 semi-professional clubs from the Betfred Championship and League One coming into the competition at Round 3, alongside the 10 community clubs who successfully navigated Rounds 2 at the weekend.
Of the 22, Bradford Bulls (2003) are the most recent Challenge Cup winners and they play League One side North Wales Crusaders. Batley Bulldogs, who won the very first Challenge Cup in 1897, entertain Workington Town, while the club which has won a Wembley final most recently – Halifax Panthers who defeated the Bulldogs in last year’s AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final – will entertain Whitehaven.
Cumbria’s third professional representatives, Barrow Raiders, are at home to Oldham, and the county’s fourth team – amateurs Wath Brow – travel to fellow National Conference League (NCL) side Stanningley.
With three all-community game ties, at least three community clubs will be in Round 4 – one of them from the Southern Conference League, London rivals Hammersmith Hills Hoists having been drawn at home to Wests Warriors.
Betfred Challenge Cup Round 3 draw (ties to be played over the weekend of 10/11 February)
- Sheffield Eagles v Newcastle Thunder
- Batley Bulldogs v Workington Town
- Bradford Bulls v North Wales Crusaders
- Cornwall v York Acorn
- Hunslet v Keighley Cougars
- Halifax Panthers v Whitehaven
- Stanningley v Wath Brow Hornets
- Swinton Lions v West Hull
- Siddall v Wakefield Trinity
- Dewsbury v York Knights
- Lock Lane v Hunslet ARLFC
- Widnes Vikings v Doncaster
- Hammersmith Hills Hoist v Wests Warriors
- Rochdale Hornets v Midlands Hurricanes
- Barrow Raiders v Oldham
- Thatto Heath Crusaders v Featherstone Rovers
Owing to the tight turnaround between rounds three and four, and to aid clubs with their forward planning and preparation, the draw for Round 4 was made immediately after the third round draw. All 32 Round 3 teams went into the hat, with the eight Round 4 ties drawn on an ‘either/or’ basis.
Betfred Challenge Cup Round 4 draw (ties to be played over the weekend of 24/25 February)
- Batley Bulldogs or Workington Town v Rochdale Hornets or Midlands Hurricanes
- Hunslet or Keighley Cougars v Thatto Heath Crusaders or Featherstone Rovers
- Cornwall or York Acorn v Stanningley or Wath Brow Hornets
- Bradford Bulls or North Wales Crusaders v Widnes Vikings or Doncaster
- Swinton Lions or West Hull v Barrow Raiders or Oldham
- Siddall or Wakefield Trinity v Lock Lane or Hunslet ARLFC
- Halifax Panthers or Whitehaven v Hammersmith Hills Hoist or Wests Warriors
- Dewsbury or York Knights v Sheffield Eagles or Newcastle Thunder
BBC Sport will select one tie from each of the rounds, which will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app. Streaming details will be announced as soon as possible.
The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final 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 and AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. 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.
