The British Army moved to within 80 minutes of a fairytale Betfred Challenge Cup tie against the 14-time competition winners Leeds Rhinos as they came from behind to beat the RAF 22-16 in an all-Forces First Round tie in Aldershot.
The Royal Navy also secured their place in the Second Round, and within one win of a home tie against the 2023 Wembley winners Leigh Leopards – as they beat Mirfield of the Yorkshire Men’s League 26-20.
That means Workington Town will make the long trip from Cumbria to Portsmouth to face the Navy in the Second Round next weekend, while the Army have a much shorter journey to the traditional home of Wasps RFC in west London – which is also the base of Wests Warriors, the Southern Conference League club who had already secured their Second Round place by winning one of the three First Round ties to survive the cold snap last weekend.
The sport’s oldest knockout competition has a new format in 2025, with the 12 Betfred Super League clubs entering at the Third Round stage early next month – and the Third Round draw held last week.
A number of other community clubs are therefore within one win of a crack at Super League opposition - including Hunslet ARLFC and West Hull, consistently two of the strongest clubs in the National Conference League, who will meet in the Second Round with the winners to face St Helens.
They had contrasting passages through their First Round ties, as Hunslet had to battle past a determined challenge from Stanley Rangers in West Yorkshire, while East Hull romped to a 90-0 win against Edinburgh Eagles.
Dewsbury Moor’s 20-12 victory over the St Helens community club Haresfinch has secured a Second Round tie against the town’s professional team, Dewsbury Rams.
Waterhead Warriors of Oldham snatched a dramatic 12-8 win in golden point extra time against Leigh Miners Raiders in the BBC’s streamed First Round tie and will now host Featherstone Rovers in the Second Round.
Ince Rose Bridge were too strong for the Irish amateurs Longhorns, and Crosfields of Warrington beat Maryport of the Cumberland League to secure a Second Round tie against another Cumbrian team, but this time away to Barrow Raiders of the Betfred Championship.
Rochdale Mayfield were too strong for the Midlands champions Telford Raiders and will now make the short trip to Sean Long’s Oldham, while West Bowling now face the 1998 Cup winners Sheffield Eagles after beating Cutsyke Raiders – with the winners of that tie hosting the Cup holders, Wigan Warriors.
Oulton Raiders stayed on course for a possible shot at Hull FC with a 28-12 win against London Chargers, while the renowned Castleford community club Lock Lane beat Doncaster Toll Bar 50-10 and will now host Hunslet's professional club in the Second Round - with the winners to take on Huddersfield Giants.
In addition to Wests Warriors, Siddal and Blackbrook had already booked their Second Round places in the three First Round ties which survived last weekend’s cold snap.
That leaves two of the 17 First Round ties to be played on Sunday, both in St Helens.
Great Britain Police, coached by the former Oldham forward Bob Marsden, will host York Acorn at the Portico Vine club, and Thatto Heath Crusaders have home advantage against Orrell St James.
First Round results, Saturday January 18:
- Waterhead Warriors 12 Leigh Miners Rangers 8 (after golden point extra time)
- West Hull 90 Edinburgh Eagles 0
- Dewsbury Moor 20 Haresfinch 12
- London Chargers 12 Oulton Raiders 28
- Longhorns 12 Ince Rose Bridge 56 (played at Ince)
- Lock Lane 50 Doncaster Toll Bar 10
- Mirfield 20 Royal Navy 26
- Crosfields 52 Maryport 0
- British Army 22 RAF 16
- Stanley Rangers 20 Hunslet ARLFC 34
- Rochdale Mayfield 64 Telford Raiders 16
- West Bowling 48 Cutsyke Raiders 16
Remaining First Round ties, Sunday January 19:
- GB Police v York Acorn - 1.30pm
- Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James - 2pm, live on The Sportsman
Revised Second Round draw:
- GB Police or York Acorn v Oulton Raiders (winners play Hull FC)
- Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath or Orrell St James (winners play Catalans Dragons)
- Dewsbury Moor v Dewsbury Rams
- Barrow Raiders v Crosfields
- Royal Navy v Workington Town (winners play Leigh Leopards)
- London Broncos v Goole Vikings (confirmed Saturday Jan 25, 1230pm, live on BBC Sport – winners play Wakefield Trinity)
- Lock Lane v Hunslet RLFC (winners play Huddersfield Giants)
- Waterhead Warriors v Featherstone Rovers
- Wests Warriors v British Army (winners play Leeds Rhinos)
- Whitehaven v Swinton Lions (confirmed Saturday Jan 25, 3pm – winners play Warrington Wolves)
- Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull (winners play St Helens)
- Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings (confirmed Sunday Jan 26, 3pm)
- Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield
- Keighley Cougars v York Knights (confirmed Sunday Feb 2, 3pm – winners play Hull KR)
- Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling (winners play Wigan Warriors)
- Bradford Bulls v Doncaster (winners play Castleford Tigers)
- Blackbrook v Ince Rose Bridge
- Midlands Hurricanes v Siddal (winners play Salford Red Devils)
- Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders (confirmed Sunday Jan 26, 1pm)
- Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs
Third Round draw details can be found here.
Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!
