Challenge Cup fifth round draw
Championship leaders Leigh will face Salford Red Devils in the stand-out tie of the Challenge Cup fifth round draw.
The draw, which took place on the Scale Lane Bridge over the River Hull, pulled out a number of interesting ties, with Super League side Hull KR facing a tricky trip to Bradford.
The two other Super League sides entering the competition at this stage, Hull and Wakefield, will face Sheffield and Halifax respectively.
The home teams were drawn by former Hull FC legend Johnny Whiteley MBE who made 417 appearances for the Airlie Birds and featured in the 1959 Challenge Cup final. The away teams were drawn by former Hull Kingston Rovers player Phil Lowe who was part of the 1980 Challenge Cup team that beat their city rivals 10-5 at Wembley.
Johnny Whiteley MBE said: “It’s an honour to represent Hull FC at the Challenge Cup draw during their 150 year celebrations.
“I have some great memories from my own career of being involved with the Challenge Cup and it’s great that this historic competition means so much to modern day players.
“Every player wants to play at Wembley and everybody in Hull wants to see Hull FC and Rovers do battle in the final on August 29.”
Phil Lowe said: “It’s hard to think that 35 years have elapsed since that famous Wembley final between Rugby League’s biggest rivals and after all these years fans are still talking about that day.
“That’s why the Challenge Cup is so special just as it was when I played.”
The Ladbrokes Challenge Cup fifth round draw in full is as follows:
Leigh Miners Rangers v York City Knights
Bradford Bulls v Hull Kingston Rovers
Batley Bulldogs v Swinton Lions
North Wales Crusaders v Featherstone Rovers
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Halifax
Leigh Centurions v Salford Red Devils
The winners of the fifth round fixtures will progress to the sixth round when the remaining eight Super League clubs will enter the competition. All fifth round games will be played over the weekend of April 17 – 19.
