Ahead of Halifax v York Acorn’s eagerly-awaited Betfred Challenge Cup clash on Sunday, we take a look at the different community teams who have enjoyed decent cup runs in recent years.
NCL’s York Acorn are the last community team left standing in the 2024 Challenge Cup competition and have already broken club records by reaching the Fifth Round for the first time ever in their 51-year history.
To earn a trip to The Shay in Round 5, the home of five-times Challenge Cup winners Halifax Panthers, Acorn have impressively overcome NCL rivals Wath Brow Hornets, beaten League One’s Cornwall outfit, and contested with North West amateur side Orrell St James in their opening rounds.
Ultimately, community teams having the opportunity to face higher opposition encapsulates the magic of the cup, but what is the furthest round community teams have reached in the past five years?
In 2023, Rochdale Mayfield and Hunslet ARLFC both reached the Fourth Round - Mayfield also causing a cup upset by defeating League One’s Cornwall live on BBC in Round 2. The final score ended 20-14 on Cornwall’s home patch, before Mayfield went on to comfortably beat NCL rivals Leigh Miners Rangers, but fell short to the then Championship opposition Newcastle Thunder, 22-12.
Likewise, Hunslet ARLFC enjoyed a dream debut year in the Challenge Cup – making it all the way to Round 4 on the back of wins over amateur teams Pilkington Recs and Westgate Common respectively. They would then bow out with a tough loss against Championship heavyweights Batley, but bowed out proudly with a memorable experience playing of at the Fox's Biscuits Stadium.
In 2022, Royal Navy cruised to the Fourth Round following wins over Bridgend Blue Bulls, British Army and NCL’s York Acorn, before also losing to Batley away.
Hunslet Club Parkside also caused a cup shock that year – firstly they beat Featherstone Lions and Stanningley in their first two rounds, before most notably knocking the then League One’s London Skolars out of the competition with a stunning 28-6 victory in the capital. However, Mark Aston's Sheffield Eagles would prove too strong for the community side in Round 4, but Parkside proudly hosted the occasion, and matched them all the way in an enticing contest - the final score a respectable 20-40.
Siddal ARLFC, Underbank Rangers and British Army all earned the chance to face opposition from the professional ranks in 2020, as the three sides progressed to the Fourth Round. Siddal played hosts to Newcastle Thunder, Underbank Rangers were awarded a chance to play at the historic Odsal and faced the once Super League pioneers Bradford Bulls, whilst British Army travelled to Rochdale - more examples of magical cup moments for lower league teams.
And finally, if we cast our minds back to 2019, who can forget Thatto Heath Crusaders’ remarkable Challenge Cup run? The Premier Division NCL side, based in St Helens, made it all the way to the Fifth Round – the furthest a community team is known to have ever progressed.
Entering in Round 1, they triumphed against Stanningley, before winning against Leigh Miners and Rochdale Mayfield in Rounds 2 and 3. This was before famously seeing off League One’s North Wales Crusaders 16-14 on home soil, which lined up a Fifth Round tie with Dewsbury Rams, also at home.
Although a tie with the Rams was a step too far for the Crusaders, these examples highlight that anything is possible in the Betfred Challenge Cup. And now York Acorn have equalled this run, can the history makers continue to break records and cause one of the biggest cup upsets on Sunday at The Shay?
Tickets are still available for this Round 5 Challenge Cup tie. Fans can purchase tickets from Halifax Panthers' official club website by clicking here.
A full Betfred Challenge Cup Round 5 preview can be found here.
The Men's 2024 Betfred Challenge Cup Final (KO 3pm) 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 (KO 11.45am) and the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup (KO 5.45pm). Plus, there will be the traditional Year 7 Boys’ Champion Schools Final at 10am.
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. This early bird offer ends this Sunday - purchase your tickets today and avoid missing out!
Photo Credit: Andy Nelson Sports Photography
