EXCITEMENT is mounting ahead of the Betfred Challenge Cup first-round tie between Southern Conference League side Bedford Tigers and Medway Dragons of the London League.
The fixture, on the second Sunday of the New Year, January 11, will be utilised to the full by the Tigers to promote Rugby League in the region.
Bedford missed out to Goole Vikings late last year on an application to join Betfred League One and Rob Ashton (pictured), who is one of the driving forces behind the club, told League Express: “One of the areas we were told to improve on was the strength of our player pool.
“We worked on that with the aim of getting into the Challenge Cup and it’s great to get a home tie after having been drawn away in our previous two outings (at Distington in 2020 and Brentwood Eels in 2023).
“Both of those games ended in defeat but we’re hoping for third time lucky, and it’s a huge tie for us.
“We’re ambitious and this is a massive occasion for the town – the first time, in fact, that a Challenge Cup tie will have been played in Bedford.
“It’s nice to play a team we’ve never met before – there was a danger we could have been drawn against another Southern Conference side – so that will freshen things up.
“I know Martin Coyd, who is perhaps my counterpart at Medway, well, especially through our teams’ rivalry in Wheelchair Rugby League, and I also obviously know his sons Tom and Joe through that.
“The clubs have never met before in the running game and I imagine they’ll be looking to pull off a win to make a mark regarding their ambitions to join the SCL.
“From our perspective, we can’t be complacent. We’ll be doing a video analysis and study their game plans.
Ashton revealed: “The core of our squad are Rugby League players and are mainly from around Bedford. There’s tangible passion for Rugby League not only here but in many areas in the south of England. It’s simply incorrect to view the sport, as many people in Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire seem to do, as a northern game.”
Coyd said: “Bedford, who are a division above us, will provide a great test of our ability to compete. It’s an out-of-season cup tie and anything can happen.
“Our team is made up of Dragons juniors who have grown up with Rugby League and love the game.
“Rob Ashton is a great bloke and an inspirational leader in Bedford but we enjoyed a great season in 2025 and are looking forward to taking on his lads – two of whom were Dragons juniors – and enjoying their company afterwards.
“I am pleased that teams beyond the traditional areas are being given an opportunity and can begin to feel that they belong.”