Challenge Cup round-up as Super League clubs’ list of potential opponents narrows

The Challenge Cup
12 of the rescheduled First Round ties in this year’s Challenge Cup were played out on Saturday afternoon, narrowing down the list of potential opponents for Super League clubs.
Just three of the 17 First Round ties survived the cold snap experienced across the country and were played out as originally scheduled last weekend.
Beating Hammersmith Hills Hoists, Aberavon Fighting Irish and Eastern Rhinos respectively, Siddal, Blackbrook and Wests Warriors all booked their spots in Round 2 last weekend.
The the remaining 14 ties from the First Round were rescheduled for this weekend, and all bar two of those 14 were played out yesterday (Saturday), meaning we now have a much clearer idea of how both Rounds 2 and 3 will shape up.
In next month’s Third Round, the 12 Super League clubs will enter the competition – and that draw has already been made.
Saturday’s Round 1 results in full
😱 What a way to start the season!
🤩 @WaterheadARLFC win it in Golden Point extra-time and are through to the Second Round!
🏆 #ChallengeCup pic.twitter.com/MhrnEpOrk5
— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) January 18, 2025
Among the standout results from Saturday’s Challenge Cup action were wins for Oldham-based Waterhead Warriors, West Hull and the British Army.
Live on the BBC, Waterhead won a thrilling tie at home against Leigh Miners Rangers in Golden Point extra time, while West Hull demolished Edinburgh Eagles and the Army beat the RAF!
The results in full…
- Waterhead Warriors 12-8 Leigh Miners Rangers
- Rochdale Mayfield 64-16 Telford Raiders
- West Hull 90-0 Edinburgh Eagles
- Mirfield 20-26 Royal Navy
- Crosfields 52-0 Maryport
- British Army 22-16 RAF
- London Chargers 12-28 Oulton Raiders
- Ince Rose Bridge 56-12 Longhorns
- Lock Lane 50-10 Doncaster Toll Bar
- Stanley Rangers 20-34 Hunslet ARLFC
- Dewsbury Moor 20-12 Haresfinch
- West Bowling 48-16 Cutsyke Raiders
Sunday’s Round 1 fixtures
The two remaining Round 1 fixtures will be played out today (Sunday), with one available to watch live.
Full details are below…
- GB Police v York Acorn (1.30pm KO)
- Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James (2pm KO – Live on YouTube via The Sportsman)
Round 2 line-up

With the vast majority of the First Round ties now played out, Round 2 is more or less fully locked in with clubs from the Championship and League 1 entering the competition.
Standout ties include an all-Dewsbury clash between community club Moor and the Rams, a League 1 outfit.
Elsewhere, London Broncos will host League 1 new boys Goole Vikings, and there will be a local derby with St Helens natives Blackbrook facing Wigan’s Ince Rose Bridge.
That tie is one of four guaranteed to be made up entirely of community clubs, so we will see at least four community clubs in Round 3.
The Second Round line-up is as follows…
Ties to be played over the weekend of January 25/26, unless otherwise stated
- GB Police OR York Acorn v Oulton Raiders
- Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath Crusaders OR Orrell St James
- Dewsbury Moor v Dewsbury Rams
- Barrow Raiders v Crosfields
- Royal Navy v Workington Town
- London Broncos v Goole Vikings
- Lock Lane v Hunslet RLFC
- Waterhead Warriors v Featherstone Rovers
- Wests Warriors v British Army
- Whitehaven v Swinton Lions
- Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull
- Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings
- Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield
- Keighley Cougars v York (February 2)
- Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling
- Bradford Bulls v Doncaster
- Blackbrook v Ince Rose Bridge
- Midlands Hurricanes v Siddal
- Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders
- Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs
Round 3: Super League clubs’ potential opponents

And here’s a look at how Round 3 shapes up as things stand, with most Super League clubs set to find out their opponents in the cup for definite next weekend.
Hull FC, Leeds Rhinos and St Helens are all guaranteed to be travelling to a community club.
These ties will be played over the weekend of February 7-9.
- London Broncos OR Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity
- GB Police, York Acorn, OR Oulton Raiders v Hull FC
- Bradford Bulls OR Doncaster v Castleford Tigers
- Lock Lane OR Hunslet RLFC v Huddersfield Giants
- Wests Warriors OR British Army v Leeds Rhinos
- Halifax Panthers, Thatto Heath OR Orrell St James v Catalans Dragons
- Hunslet ARLFC OR West Hull v St Helens
- Royal Navy OR Workington Town v Leigh Leopards
- Midlands Hurricanes OR Siddal v Salford Red Devils
- Whitehaven OR Swinton Lions v Warrington Wolves
- Keighley Cougars OR York v Hull KR
- Sheffield Eagles OR West Bowling v Wigan Warriors
- Oldham OR Rochdale Mayfield v Barrow Raiders OR Crosfields
- Newcastle Thunder OR Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Moor OR Dewsbury Rams
- Cornwall OR North Wales Crusaders v Rochdale Hornets OR Widnes Vikings
- Waterhead Warriors OR Featherstone Rovers v Blackbrook OR Ince Rose Bridge