Siddal became the first community club to secure their place in the Second Round of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup with an 18-4 win against Hammersmith Hills Hoists in Chiswick in the only one of Saturday’s 14 scheduled First Round ties to beat the weather.
The National Conference League Premier Division club from Halifax, watched by the new Leeds Rhinos signing Jake Connor who is a member of their coaching staff, will now travel to Midlands Hurricanes of Betfred League One in the Second Round in a fortnight.
Hammersmith had an impressive run to the Fourth Round of last season’s Challenge Cup before going down 50-4 against the professionals of Halifax Panthers at The Shay, and went on to win the Southern Conference League title.
But they were largely shut out by a Siddal team who have been one of the most consistent teams in the NCL in recent seasons, and hosted Wakefield Trinity in the Challenge Cup last season.
Wests Warriors, the team beaten by Hammersmith in the 2024 SCL Grand Final, launch their Challenge Cup campaign in one of two First Round fixtures scheduled for Sunday, against the Eastern Rhinos in Colchester.
The Warriors include Neil Thorman, one of three brothers from Newcastle who have played professionally, and Will Poching, the eldest son of the former Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity, New Zealand and Samoa forward Willie.
“It’s a great club to be part of,” says Thorman, now 40. “We play at the old Wasps RFC club in Acton, and we’ve got a great spirit between the two clubs. We’ve enjoyed some good times in the Challenge Cup in the last couple of years, and the way the draw has gone we’re looking for another decent run this time.”
The winners of the Rhinos-Warriors tie will have home advantage in Round Two against the winners of the all-Forces First Round tie between the British Army and the RAF – which was called off less than an hour before the scheduled kick-off in Aldershot on Saturday.
There was similar frustration for Longhorns, the Irish team who had flown into Manchester on Saturday morning for a First Round tie at Ince Rose Bridge in Wigan.
Ince had hired industrial heaters and pitch covers in a determined effort to defeat the elements, but it wasn’t quite enough – and discussions are now ongoing over the complicated logistics surrounding a rearranged match next weekend.
The second tie expected to go ahead on Sunday is in South Wales as Aberavon Fighting Irish host Blackbrook, the renowned St Helens community club whose lengthy list of alumni includes the great Saints hooker James Roby.
The winners of that tie will have home advantage against Ince Rose Bridge or Longhorns in the Second Round.
The tie between Waterhead Warriors and Leigh Miners Rangers, which had been selected for coverage by BBC Sport on iPlayer and red button, will now be broadcast on its rearranged date next Saturday with the same 1230pm kick-off.
BBC Sport and RL Commercial have also confirmed their Second Round selection as the historic fixture between London Broncos and Goole Vikings on Saturday January 25, also with a 1230pm kick-off.
That will be the first competitive fixture for the Vikings, the newest member club of the Rugby Football League who made a successful application to play in Betfred League One in 2025, and are coached by the three-times Challenge Cup winner Scott Taylor.
The Third Round draw, when the 12 Betfred Super League clubs enter the competition, will be held on Tuesday evening at 630pm, and also broadcast live on BBC red button and iPlayer.
Betfred Challenge Cup, January 11-12
First Round result – Hammersmith Hills Hoists 4 Siddal 18
First Round Sunday fixtures – Aberavon Fighting Irish v Blackbrook (Aberavon Green Stars RFC, 130pm), Eastern Rhinos v Wests Warriors (Colchester Sports Park, 230pm)
Revised Second Round draw:
- GB Police or York Acorn v London Chargers or Oulton Raiders
- Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath or Orrell St James
- Dewsbury Moor or Haresfinch v Dewsbury Rams
- Barrow Raiders v Crosfields or Maryport
- Mirfield or Royal Navy v Workington Town
- London Broncos v Goole Vikings
- Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar v Hunslet RLFC
- Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners v Featherstone Rovers
- Eastern Rhinos or Wests Warriors v British Army or RAF
- Whitehaven v Swinton Lions (confirmed Saturday Jan 25, 3pm)
- Stanley Rangers or Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull or Edinburgh Eagles
- Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings (confirmed Sunday Jan 26, 3pm)
- Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield or Telford Raiders
- Keighley Cougars v York Knights (confirmed Sunday Feb 2, 3pm)
- Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling or Cutsyke Raiders
- Bradford Bulls v Doncaster
- Aberavon Fighting Irish or Blackbrook v Longhorns or Ince Rose Bridge
- Midlands Hurricanes v Siddal
- Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders (confirmed Sunday Jan 26, 1pm)
- Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs
