Rhinos set to face Wests Warriors in Betfred Challenge Cup

Leeds Rhinos will take on Wests Warriors of the Southern Conference League take on in the Third Round of the Betfred Challenge, after their 36-18 win against the British Army. 

The line up for the next round of the famous competition became a lot clearer over the weekend with all but one of the second round ties completed. 

Goole Vikings claimed a stunning win at London Broncos in their first fixture as a professional club to book a Third Round tie in the Betfred Challenge Cup against Wakefield Trinity.

They will be joined in the last 32 by three community clubs who now have two weeks to prepare for ties against Betfred Super League heavyweights – York Acorn against Hull FC, West Hull against St Helens, and Wests Warriors of London against Leeds Rhinos.

The Vikings, who made a successful application to join Betfred League One in 2025 and are coached by the three-times Cup winner and former England forward Scott Taylor, came from 10-0 behind to win 17-10 against a Broncos team who were in the Betfred Super League last season.

The Broncos are a club and a team in transition, switching the match from their regular Wimbledon base to Rosslyn Park FC, and including only a handful of regulars from their Super League squad.

But they looked on course for victory after scoring two first-half tries until the introduction of Andy Ellis, a former Hull KR hooker who is now 40 and has returned to the professional ranks with Goole.

Tom Halliday, who was born in Goole and played in the Championship for Doncaster last season, had the honour of scoring the Vikings’ first try late in the first half, and they dominated the second period.

The former Leeds centre Thomas Minns brought them level with a long-range effort, then the former Hull FC Academy stand-off Mackenzie Harman scored an interception try and scrum half Reece Dean added a canny drop goal.

There was plenty more magic in evidence as community teams battled for a shot at Super League opposition as a result of the new structure of the Betfred Challenge Cup in 2025.

York Acorn, who were the most successful community club in the 2024 Cup and had to win four matches to earn a Fifth Round tie at Halifax, will now face Hull FC after beating Oulton Raiders 22-2.

West Hull edged a tight contest against their National Conference League rivals Hunslet ARLFC 24-18 to book a meeting with the 13-time Challenge Cup winners St Helens.

In Saturday’s other ties, Whitehaven celebrated a 24-12 win against Swinton Lions which secured a lucrative Third Round fixture at home to Sam Burgess’s Warrington Wolves, and Hunslet beat the Castleford amateurs Lock Lane 50-10 to earn a home tie against Luke Robinson’s Huddersfield Giants.

Featherstone Rovers romped to an 88-10 win against the Oldham community club Waterhead Warriors, and Dewsbury Rams beat one of the town’s leading community teams, Dewsbury Moor, by 50 points to 6 in a match which was switched to Batley’s Fox’s Biscuits Stadium.

Workington Town will face 2023 Challenge Cup winners Leigh Leopards in the competitions Third Round following a comfortable win over the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.

Jonny Hutton scored a hat-trick for the visitors and Rio Corkill also crossed twice as they ran in 11 tries to book themselves a home-tie against Adrian Lam’s side.

Four other clubs confirmed fixtures against Betfred Super League opposition – including Bradford Bulls with head coach Brian Noble beginning his second tenure at the club with a 30-4 victory against Doncaster to secure a clash against Castleford Tigers.

Sheffield Eagles have set themselves up for a 1998 Challenge Cup Final rematch against current holders Wigan Warriors following their defeat of NCL side West Bowling.

Kyle Eastmond celebrated his first game at the helm of Halifax Panthers with a 48-6 win against Thatto Heath and will now welcome Catalans Dragons to The Shay in two weeks’ time.

Midlands Hurricanes will also face opposition from the top flight with their 46-0 defeat of Siddal confirming Salford Red Devils as their next fixture.

Elsewhere, North Wales Crusaders were dominant in their game against Cornwall and will now face seven-time Challenge Cup winners Widnes Vikings – the Vikings having overcame a determined Rochdale Hornets 16-34 away from home.

Five tries from winger Mo Agoro and doubles by Kieran Dixon and Iain Thornley saw Oldham charge to a 60-10 victory over Rochdale Mayfield. The Roughyeds will come up against fellow Championship opposition Barrow Raiders next time out following their 86-6 dismantling of Crosfields.

Ince Rose Bridge were the only Community Club from Sunday’s fixtures to progress into the next round and will face Featherstone Rovers as their reward, and Batley Bulldogs 54-0 defeat of Newcastle Thunder has booked them a spot against Dewsbury Rams.

There is now just one Round Two tie outstanding with Keighley Cougars hosting York Knights next Sunday (2 February, 3pm KO) following the Knights’ game against Hull KR in Amsterdam this weekend.

Betfred Challenge Cup Round Two Remaining Fixtures

Keighley Cougars v York Knights, Sunday 2 February KO 3pm (winners play Hull KR)

Betfred Challenge Cup Second Round Results, Sunday 26 January:

Oldham 60 Rochdale Mayfield 10

Royal Navy 0 Workington Town 56

Blackbrook 12 Ince Rose Bridge 34

Midlands Hurricanes 46 Siddal 0

Barrow Raiders 86 Crosfields 6

Cornwall 0 North Wales Crusaders 52

Halifax Panthers 48 Thatto Heath Crusaders 6

Bradford Bulls 30 Doncaster 04

Newcastle Thunder 0 Batley Bulldogs 54 

Rochdale Hornets 16 Widnes Vikings 34

Sheffield Eagles 62 West Bowling 0

Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three – updated draw:

• Goole Vikings v Wakefield Trinity
• York Acorn v Hull FC
• Bradford Bulls v Castleford Tigers
• Hunslet RLFC v Huddersfield Giants
• Wests Warriors v Leeds Rhinos
• Halifax Panthers v Catalans Dragons
• West Hull v St Helens
• Workington Town v Leigh Leopards
• Midlands Hurricanes v Salford Red Devils
• Whitehaven v Warrington Wolves
• Keighley Cougars or York Knights v Hull KR
• Sheffield Eagles v Wigan Warriors
• Oldham RLFC v Barrow Raiders
• Batley Bulldogs v Dewsbury Rams
• North Wales Crusaders v Widnes Vikings
• Featherstone Rovers v Ince Rose Bridge

The Betfred Challenge Cup Round Three ties are to be played over the weekend of 7-9 February.

Saturday 7 June is Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day 2025 – also including the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup Final, AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Final, and RFL Champion Schools Year 7 Boys Final. Tickets are on sale now!