League is Whitehaven’s priority ahead of cup match

Whitehaven coach Dave Woods admits the league is their priority ahead of this weekend’s Northern Rail Cup tie against London Skolars.

It is the second time the Cumbrians have come up against the Championship 1 side this season, having seen them off in the third round of the Challenge Cup.

Woods said: “We played them in the Challenge Cup at home, so we know what they’re like. We had the game in our control and they really pushed us hard. We know they’re going to want to do well.

“We’ve not really thought about it (progressing in the competition) too much, our priority is the league.

“But the way it’s done now, scrapping the group stages for teams at our level and going straight to knockout, it’s more like the Challenge Cup, and if you can play well and get a decent draw, you can get to the final.”

Woods has reached the final of the Northern Rail Cup before, leading Castleford to a 18-16 defeat to Hull KR back in 2005.

Whatever the outcome of this last 16 match, Skolars have already assured their place at the finals day at Halifax on July 20th, where they will take on North Wales Crusaders in the inaugural Northern Rail Bowl final, assuming neither side makes it all the way to the main event.