AFTER all the politics of recent weeks (prior to Yuletide anyway) it’s no less than exhilarating, indeed it’s a breath of fresh air, to be able to focus on the football for a change.
The first round of the Betfred Challenge Cup is almost upon us and I’ve featured, elsewhere in this issue, the game that I see as being the tie of the round, between two of the National Conference League (now National League) big guns in Siddal and Waterhead Warriors.
In passing, meanwhile – and touching a tad on the politics – I anticipate being able to report, shortly, on the date of the NCL’s emergency general meeting which is set to be called soon and at which the competition could be dissolved – on its 40th birthday – following the launch of the National Community Rugby League initiative.
The episode brings to mind the acceptance by David Gent, the visionary at the Rugby Football League who had his own blueprint for the sport, that there would, under his plans, “be casualties”.
Anyway, back to muddy-kneed action. I touched, just before Christmas, on another big tie, in which Bedford Tigers will take on Medway Dragons in a huge southern clash, while a match that certainly took my eye is the one between Hunslet ARLFC and York Acorn.
I’ve been fortunate in recent years, incidentally, to see both of those leading amateur sides push professionals hard in the Challenge Cup, with Sheffield Eagles delighted to hear the final hooter against Hunslet ARLFC and Acorn, last year, putting the frighteners on Hull FC.
King Cross Park, whose membership of the NCL has been dashed by the NCRL drive, will at least have the chance to put down some kind of marker against Conference champions West Hull.
Meanwhile BARLA National Cup holders Orrell St James have had to switch their focus following the withdrawal from the Challenge Cup of fellow North West Men’s side Haresfinch. The Saints will now host Oldham St Annes, the blue-chip NCL outfit having quickly stepped into the breach, and this should be another humdinger of a tie.
So should the derby involving 2025 NCL Division One champions Wigan St Judes and Leigh Miners Rangers, who came bottom of the top flight, while the game between Rochdale Mayfield and Ince Rose Bridge would have been an all-Premier National League pairing but for the latter having opted for Regional Conference fare.
I see the tie between Blackbrook and Great Britain Police as a St Helens derby (and all that that involves) given that the cops are, as far as I’m aware, still based at Portico Panthers.
Across town, Thatto Heath Crusaders should be too strong for Cumbrians Seaton Rangers, while the clash of Stanningley and Dewsbury Moor Maroons, who are both set to operate in National Division One, is hard to predict.
Heworth (who have been promoted to the top flight) against the RAF is another intriguing fixture, while I’ll be looking closely at the meeting of Brighouse Rangers (who were runners-up to Orrell in the National Cup final, but have been unable to fulfil some recent Pennine fixtures) and Lock Lane, who find themselves in the National Premier.
Woodhouse Warriors (who I believe will be in one of Yorkshire’s regional leagues) take on National Conference Yorkshire A outfit Mirfield Stags who, because of their higher status, might be viewed as favourites.
London Chargers, as a long-standing Southern Conference side, should similarly be favourites at the Midlands’ Telford Raiders, and I reckon that SCL giants Hammersmith Hills Hoists should prevail – albeit after a right old tussle – at the Royal Navy.
The two matches that, together with Siddal versus Waterhead and Bedford versus Medway, will take place on Sunday are compelling.
Wests Warriors, like their old rivals Hammersmith, face a tough Forces challenge, in their case at the British Army and, as with the Hoists, should perhaps edge it.
And what of the game in Ireland between Banbridge Broncos and Wales’ Aberavon Fighting Irish? It’s a massively exciting tie that, only a few years ago, could only have been dreamt of and I’ve no idea who will prevail.
Given the time of year, and potential fluctuations in squad strengths, there’s an air of uncertainty surrounding many ties, and it will be interesting to try to discern whether the NCRL initiative has impacted in any way (positively or adversely) on any clubs. We’ll see, although not perhaps conclusively, this week.
What I do hope is that I’ll receive match reports from all home sides. I’m very confident regarding those ties in which teams in the National Conference League are the hosts, as filing reports is absolutely second nature to them.
I might well be looking to those personnel to assist in games in which their teams are away to regional or services sides.
As for the rest, expect a call from me this week – it’s important that all clubs treat the Challenge Cup with the respect it hugely deserves and send me details of scorers for both sides.
Hearty congratulations, meanwhile, to Julia Lee, who has been made an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List.
Julia Lee MBE (doesn’t that look good) has a lengthy background of unstinting service to Rugby League, in a wide range of capacities, spanning more years than she might like to remember.
She has, in particular, given so much to the female game (including, so importantly to my mind, long before it became, for want of a better word, ‘fashionable’). Indeed, it’s hard to imagine that Women’s and Girls’ Rugby League would enjoy its present comparatively rude health without the input of Julia and others such as (to name only a few) Brenda Dobek, Lisa McIntosh, Amanda Wigglesworth, Karen Lewis, Steve Manning and Lois Forsell.
And, finally, I was saddened to learn, belatedly, of the death of Eddie Ashton, the former chairman of Castleford.
I got to know Eddie very well when I was media manager at Cas and he was a top man in so many ways, not least in his support of grassroots sport, including my own club Methley Royals. RIP Eddie Ashton.