1895 Cup second round ties revealed

Halifax will face Sheffield in their first game in rugby league’s new 1895 Cup competition.

The second round draw for the Cup, which includes the 12 English clubs in the Championship plus four League One clubs who won first round ties at the weekend, was held in the clubhouse of community club Featherstone Lions ARLFC on Sunday evening.

It was hosted by Love Rugby League’s very own Dave Parkinson and the draw was conducted by RFL vice-president Pat Crawshaw and former RFL president Kath Hetherington.

Halifax and Sheffield are the two teams with the most recent experience of winning at Wembley. Fax enjoyed their second Wembley Cup final win in 1987, while the Eagles stunned Wigan in the 1998 Challenge Cup final.

Other all-Championship ties in the second round will see Batley hosting Rochdale; Dewsbury at home to Swinton; Bradford travelling to Cumbria to face Barrow; and a heavyweight battle between Widnes and Featherstone.

Workington and Newcastle were done no favours after their impressive first round wins, with tough trips to Leigh and York respectively.

And at least one team from League One is guaranteed to reach the quarter finals, after Oldham were drawn at home to Doncaster.

Neither of those clubs have ever played at Wembley – and the eight winners of these second round ties will be only two wins away from a dream appearance at the famous Wembley Stadium in the first 1895 Cup Final.

The second round ties will be played between May 31 and June 5, with details to be confirmed after next weekend’s Coral Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

1895 Cup second round draw:

Leigh Centurions v Workington Town

York City Knights v Newcastle Thunder

Barrow Raiders v Bradford Bulls

Batley Bulldogs v Rochdale Hornets

Widnes Vikings v Featherstone Rovers

Dewsbury Rams v Swinton Lions

Halifax v Sheffield Eagles

Oldham v Doncaster