Challenge Cup Preview: Workington v Widnes

Widnes will be looking for an improvement on their last outing when they take on Workington in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.

The Super League side were down 12-0 early against Doncaster, and were pushed throughout the fourth round tie, which they eventually won 42-28.

Workington, who will be looking to beat Widnes for the first time in the competition since 1965, saw off fierce local rivals Whitehaven in the last round, and are one of only four remaining Championship sides.

It is the first time these two sides have met in a competitive fixture since 2001, although they did play a pre-season friendly early this year following the announcement of a partnership between the two clubs.

Several Vikings players, including Ben Kavanagh and Declan Hulme, have turned out for the Cumbrians on dual-registration this season.

Widnes have named an unchanged squad to that which recorded a first ever Super League win over St Helens last Friday.

Workington 19-man squad: TBC

Widnes 19-man squad: Allen, Brown, Clarke, Craven, Dean, Flynn, Gore, Hock, Joseph, Kavanagh, Lawton, Marsh, Mellor, O’Carroll, Owens, Phelps, Pickersgill, Winterstein, White.

Prediction: The Super League side should be too strong – away win.

Stats:

Workington have not defeated Widnes in the Challenge Cup since 1965.

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

1996 (Round 4) Workington 10 Widnes 17
1979 (Round 1) Widnes 12 Workington 5
1965 (Round 1) Widnes 2 Workington 2
1965 (Round 1, Replay) Workington 2 Widnes 0
1958 (Round 2) Widnes 5 Workington 8
1949 (Round 1, First Leg) Workington 6 Widnes 7
1949 (Round 1, Second Leg) Widnes 0 Workington 10

Last meeting:

Workington 6 Widnes 25 (NFPR23, 27/5/01)