Cup draw throws up Cas derby

Correspondent

Lock Lane – currently embroiled in a relegation battle in Division One, lying just one place and two points above the relegation zone – will look upon the cup tie as a welcome change of pace from their struggle to beat the drop.

The game will take place at Castleford Tigers’ Jungle Stadium on Sunday March 11, with the Tigers – one of the favourites to make a return to the engage Super League – overwhelming favourites to progress to the next round.

Tigers boss Terry Matterson commented on the draw: "Derbies don't come any more local than this, and I'm sure that Lock Lane will be delighted to tackle us. It will give them a real financial boost. I'm sure that they will be up for a big performance."

Meanwhile, in the two all-National League ties Leigh Centurions will take on Dewsbury Rams at Hilton Park, and Whitehaven will welcome Doncaster Lakers to the Recreation Ground.

Swinton Lions will face Russian Championship holders Locomotiv Moscow, while York City Knights have a tough ask against French Championship leaders Toulouse, who reached the cup semi-finals in 2005.

The other French teams Pia and Limoux will be favourites when they travel to the UK to face Blackpool Panthers and Gateshead Thunder respectively.

Thornhill Trojans – who beat Workington Town last year – were drawn against Keighley Cougars, with head coach Paul March saying: "I'm happy with the draw. We went there a few years ago and put up a good display."

Full draw:

Normanton Knights v Widnes Vikings
Castleford Tigers v Castleford Lock Lane
Gateshead Thunder v Limoux
Swinton Lions v Lokomotiv Moscow
Workington Town v Oulton Raiders
Keighley Cougars v Thornhill Tojans
Halifax v       Eccles and Salford
Leigh Miners Rangers v Sheffield Eagles
West Hull v Barrow Raiders
Rochdale Hornets v Saddleworth Rangers
Celtic Crusaders v Hull Dockers or Eastmoor
Dewsbury Rams v Leigh Centurions
Whitehaven v Doncaster Lakers
Batley Bulldogs v Widnes St Maries
Seaton Rangers or West Bowling v London Skolars
Blackpool Panthers v Pia XIII
Featherstone Rovers v Drighlington
Hunslet Hawks v Rochdale Mayfield
East Hull v Oldham
York City Knights v Toulouse XIII

The matches will be played on Sunday 11th March unless mutually agreed otherwise.