New cup competition gets underway, plus second round draw

Semi-professional rugby league’s newest competition got underway this weekend.

The iPro Sport Cup, so-called following a new sponsorship deal announced late last week, features the 14 League One clubs plus East Leeds and West Hull, who were invited to make up the numbers for a straight knock-out competition.

West Hull had the honour of hosting the first ever game in the new competition, going down 36-10 to North Wales Crusaders on Saturday afternoon, while Newcastle Thunder celebrated their first competitive game since the club’s re-branding by beating Oxford 56-20.

Of the six games on Sunday, five were settled by convincing margins, with only Barrow’s 16-14 win over Gloucestershire All Golds proving remotely competitive.

Keighley, Rochdale and Swinton all nilled their opponents, East Leeds, South Wales and Hemel Stags respectively, while York thrashed London Skolars 78-10 in the capital.

League One new boys Coventry Bears, rugby league’s newest semi-professional club, went down 42-6 at Oldham.

The draw for the second round took place live from Craven Park after the Barrow game, by Gary Broadbent and Louise Scarr.

iPro Sport Cup second round draw:

York City Knights v Newcastle Thunder
North Wales Crusaders v Rochdale Hornets
Keighley Cougars v Swinton Lions
Barrow Raiders v Oldham

iPro Sport Cup first round results:

Barrow 16-14 Gloucestershire
Keighley 64-0 East Leeds
London Skolars 10-78 York
Oldham 42-6 Coventry
Oxford 20-56 Newcastle
Rochdale 40-0 South Wales
Swinton 34-0 Hemel