Blackbrook of St Helens and Wests Warriors of London followed Siddal of Halifax by booking their places in Round Two of the 2025 Betfred Challenge Cup on a First Round weekend which was severely impacted by the cold snap.
It means the three community clubs will also have a close eye on Tuesday evening’s Third Round draw, when the 12 Betfred Super League clubs enter the competition.
Blackbrook emerged victorious from a competitive tie against Aberavon Fighting Irish in South Wales, with the home team living up to their name as they held their northern visitors to a 10-6 lead at half-time.
‘Brook eased away to a 32-16 victory which secures a home Second Round tie on Saturday week (January 25) against either Ince Rose Bridge of Wigan or the Longhorns of north Dublin. Their First Round tie was one of 13 lost to the weather on Saturday, despite the considerable efforts of Rose Bridge who brought in pitch covers and industrial heaters.
Sunday’s other surviving First Round tie was in Colchester, where Eastern Rhinos were blitzed 66-4 by their Southern Conference League rivals Wests Warriors.
Will Poching, the eldest son of the former Leeds Rhinos, Wakefield Trinity, New Zealand and Samoa forward Willie, scored two first-half tries for the Warriors, and Reiss Walker ended with 30 of their points with nine goals and a hat-trick.
The Warriors have reached the Third Round of the Cup in each of the last two seasons, losing to Widnes Vikings in 2023 and Hammersmith Hills Hoists last year, and will now have a home Second Round tie against the British Army or the RAF – whose all-Forces clash was another to be postponed on Saturday.
Siddal, who beat the Hoists 18-4 at Chiswick RFC on Saturday evening, have another lengthy away trip in the Second Round in a fortnight, facing Midlands Hurricanes of Betfred League One.
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 (Jan 18) 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.
Tuesday evening’s Third Round draw will also be live on BBC red button and iPlayer from 630pm.
Betfred Challenge Cup, January 11-12
First Round results – Hammersmith Hills Hoists 4 Siddal 18, Aberavon Fighting Irish 16 Blackbrook 32, Eastern Rhinos 4 Wests Warriors 66
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 (confirmed Saturday Jan 25, 1230pm, live on BBC Sport)
- Lock Lane or Doncaster Toll Bar v Hunslet RLFC
- Waterhead Warriors or Leigh Miners v Featherstone Rovers
- 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
- 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
