BARLA National Cup holders Thatto Heath Crusaders, who also featured in the 2019 Kingstone Press National Conference League Grand Final, will travel to Thornhill in the first round of the 2020 Coral Challenge Cup.
The Crusaders will be keen to repeat last season’s success in the competition, when they reached the fifth round – beating Betfred League 1 North Wales Crusaders along the way – before slipping out to Thornhill’s Betfred Championship neighbours Dewsbury Rams.
Other eye-catching ties include the NCL’s Division One champions Pilkington Recs against Grand Final winners West Hull, and Underbank Rangers v Lock Lane in another Premier Division clash.
Featherstone Lions entertain West Bowling, and Skirlaugh are at home to Hunslet Club Parkside.
Other all-NCL pairings include Leigh Miners Rangers v Stanningley, Milford v Wigan St Judes, Siddal v Saddleworth Rangers and Wigan St Patricks against Dewsbury Moor Maroons.
London side West Warriors, meanwhile, are at Midlands outfit Sherwood Wolf Hunt and Bentley, who hosted last night’s draw, travel to the RAF.
The full draw is:
Barrow Island v Rhondda Outlaws
British Army v Oulton Raiders
Distington v Bedford Tigers
Edinburgh Eagles v Ashton Bears
Featherstone Lions v West Bowling
Great Britain Police v Torfaen Tigers
Ince Rose Bridge v East Hull
Leigh Miners Rangers v Stanningley
Milford v Wigan St Judes
Normanton Knights v Longhorns
Pilkington Recs v West Hull
RAF v Bentley
Rochdale Mayfield v London Chargers
Siddal v Saddleworth Rangers
Sherwood Wolf Hunt v West Warriors
Skirlaugh v Hunslet Club Parkside
Thornhill Trojans v Thatto Heath Crusaders
Underbank Rangers v Lock Lane
Upton v Jarrow Vikings
West Bank Bears v Royal Navy
Wigan St Patricks v Dewsbury Moor Maroons
York Acorn v Hammersmith Hills Hoists
Ties are to be played on the weekend of 11/12 January. The RFL will announce, shortly, which game is to be televised live by the BBC, who will continue their practice of recent years by covering the competition round-by-round.
