Super League at risk of cup upset

This season’s Challenge Cup Fourth Round fixtures gave Rugby League neutrals something which has evaded the sport for too long – closely contested fixtures between Super League and Championship sides.

Thrashings of Championship sides have become all too common in our game’s major knockout competition in recent years, but this weekend’s clashes have shown the Rugby League world that teams outside the top flight can still put up a scrap against the supposed ‘elite.’

Catalans, Huddersfield and Bradford all came close to being shown up by Championship challengers this weekend, with both Leigh Centurions and Batley Bulldogs being only minutes away from claiming famous victories in their respective matches.

Halifax, who so nearly defeated Castleford this time last year, contested with Bradford Bulls for around 60 minutes, before the pure intensity and fitness levels of their Super League counterparts showed, helping Bradford claim a 46 – 34 victory.

The divide between the two leagues cannot be overlooked, with Halifax coach Matt Calland himself admitting the Super League and Championship were “leagues apart.” Nonetheless, with closely contested, competitive games between the two becoming more prominent over the past few years, it cannot be too long before a real scalp is achieved by a side outside of the Super League.

However, with only two sides from the Championship making it through to the fifth round draw, and both drawing Super League sides, the chances of one progressing to the later stages are somewhat inconceivable.

Widnes Vikings, however, have a huge chance to impress the Rugby League world ahead of their entry into Super League next year. Handed a home tie against a faltering Hull FC side, it appears that this may be the most probable place for an upset in this year’s Challenge Cup.

The only other Championship outfit left in the competition, Featherstone Rovers, face the mammoth task of defeating St Helens on their own (or perhaps Widnes’!) own turf.

A victory for either of the sides, notably Widnes, would send a message to the doubters of the game outside the top level, and show that the Vikings may well be able to compete in the top division, and not be mere whipping boys.

With the franchise system practically ruling out the chance of entering Super League for many of the sides in the Championship, a turn up for the books in a Challenge Cup tie may well be the only chance they have of hitting the big time.

Hull FC and St Helens, beware!