Barrow Raiders v Oldham

It is six years since Barrow Raiders beat Oldham, having now lost seven successive clashes. That last victory was 19-16 at home in 2000 and Oldham’s growing superiority was confirmed in the penultimate match of last season when they crushed Barrow 52-12.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1922-23 (3) Barrow 12 Oldham 0

1927-28 (2) Barrow 8 Oldham 11

1972-73 (1) Oldham 24 Barrow 7

Batley Bulldogs v Whitehaven

Batley Bulldogs are aiming to end a run of six successive Powergen Challenge Cup and League defeats against Whitehaven. Their last win against the Cumbrians was 26-16 in a National League One home match towards the end of the 2003 season. The only survivors from that day are Craig Lingard and Mark Sibson. Since then Batley’s run of defeats has included four at home.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

2004 (5) Batley 6 Whitehaven 29

Bradford Bulls v Hull FC

Hull have beaten Bradford in their last two Challenge Cup meetings and then gone on to the final – in 1980 and last year, when they lifted the Cup for the first time since 1982. But Hull have not done well on their recent trips to Bradford, having won only once there in Super League and crashing 71-0 in last year’s play-off. That was Hull’s widest margin defeat against any opposition. Hull will be hoping not to emulate Bradford, who were the last Cup holders to be knocked out at the first stage the following season. Bradford won the Cup in 2003 and lost 30-10 at home to St. Helens in the fourth round of 2004.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1897-98 (3) Hull 2 Bradford 6

1945-46 (1)* Bradford 11 Hull 0

Hull 2 Bradford 0

1978-79 (3) Bradford 8 Hull 8

Replay Hull 4 Bradford 8

1979-80 (3) Bradford 0 Hull 3

2005(5) Hull 26 Bradford 24

* Two legs

Catalans Dragons v Thornhill Trojans

Thornhill Trojans are seeking to do the near impossible. No amateur club has beaten a Super League team or a French team in the Challenge Cup. But Thornhill have caused upsets against lower professional clubs in the Challenge Cup, winning 16-14 at Sheffield Eagles in 2000 and beating Workington Town 16-12 this year. Both were third round ties and only three amateur clubs have reached the fifth round. Although this is Catalans Dragons first Powergen Challenge Cup tie since entering the engage Super League, as Union Trezieste Catalan they gained victories in each of the previous four seasons. But their best effort was in losing only 16-10 at Wigan Warriors last year.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

None

Featherstone Rovers v Keighley Cougars

This is their first meeting in any competition since 2004 when they each gained home victories in National League One. Featherstone’s victory was a 54-16 success after a 42-18 defeat. Keighley have the current worst run in the Powergen Challenge Cup, not having passed the fourth round since 1997.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1905-06 (3) Keighley 3 Featherstone* 0

1927-28 (1) Featherstone 28 Keighley 0

1938-39 (2) Keighley 10 Featherstone 0

1960-61 (1) Keighley 5 Featherstone 11

1980-81 (2) Featherstone 10 Keighley 7

* Featherstone were a non-League club

Harlequins RL v Toulouse

Toulouse will be aiming to at least equal last year’s feat when they became the first French club to reach the Powergen Challenge Cup semi-finals, going down 56-18 to Leeds Rhinos. On the way they became the only French club to beat an engage Super League side in the Cup when they won 40-24 at home to Widnes Vikings. This is Harlequins’ first Cup match against French opposition.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

None

Hunslet Hawks v Hull Kingston Rovers

Hunslet Hawks have to go back to 1998 for their last win over Hull Kingston Rovers and then they completed a League treble. Since then Rovers have strung together seven successive wins, but they have not met for four years. Hunslet have shown a little better form in the Challenge Cup with six wins out of their 10 meetings.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1904-05 (3) Hull K.R. 8 Hunslet 2

1914-15 (1) Hull K.R. 10 Hunslet 0

1928-29 (1) Hunslet 16 Hull K.R. 7

1934-35 (1) Hunslet 11 Hull K.R. 0

1946-47 (1)* Hunslet 12 Hull K.R. 3

Hull K.R. 0 Hunslet 6

1954-55 (2) Hull K.R. 2 Hunslet 33

1978-79 (1) Hull K.R. 23 Hunslet 15

1982-83 (1) Hunslet 12 Hull K.R. 11

1984-85 (3) Hunslet 7 Hull K.R. 27

* Two legs

Halifax v Huddersfield Giants

These once fierce neighbouring rivals have not met since Halifax were last in Super League and Huddersfield gained a double in 2003. Huddersfield signed off with a 54-12 away win as Halifax headed for relegation. Halifax last defeated the Giants in 2001 when they gained a Super League double. Huddersfield were the last Super League club to be knocked out by a lower division side, losing 18-14 at Hunslet Hawks in 2003.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1920-21 (SF) Halifax 2 Huddersfield 0 (At Leeds)

1923-24 (3) Huddersfield 7 Halifax 5

1940-41 (3) Halifax 10 Huddersfield 5

1941-42*(2) Halifax 14 Huddersfield 5

Huddersfield 10 Halifax 10

1942-43*(1) Halifax 2 Huddersfield 0

Huddersfield 7 Halifax 2

1944-45*(SF) Halifax 6 Huddersfield 0

Huddersfield 10 Halifax 3

1948-49 (SF) Halifax 11 Huddersfield 10 (At Bradford)

1951-52*(1) Huddersfield 5 Halifax 13

Halifax 5 Huddersfield 5

1957-58 (1) Huddersfield 0 Halifax 15

1967-68 (2) Halifax 5 Huddersfield 23

1981-82 (1) Halifax 17 Huddersfield 12

1982-83 (1) Huddersfield 5 Halifax 13

1994-95 (4) Huddersfield 36 Halifax 30

1998 (4) Halifax 28 Huddersfield 8

Leigh Centurions v Leeds Rhinos

Challenge Cup meetings between these two always recall Leigh’s shock 24-7 victory against hot favourites Leeds in the 1971 final at Wembley. Fortunes have changed greatly since then and Leigh’s last victory was a 18-6 at home in 1988. Leeds have remained unbeaten in the last nine meetings, with only a 12-12 away draw in 1992 breaking their run of success. Last year they completed an engage Super League treble and piled up 176 points, including a 74-0 win at Leigh. Leeds hold the record for the highest score by a Super League club against a lower division club with their 106-10 fourth round win at Swinton Lions in 2001.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1910-11 (1) Leeds 8 Leigh 3

1922-23 (1) Leigh 5 Leeds 11

1930-31 (1) Leigh 7 Leeds 24

1931-32 (3) Leeds 21 Leigh 2

1949-50 (1)* Leeds 14 Leigh 7

Leigh 7 Leeds 2

1950-51 (2) Leeds 20 Leigh 3

1951-52 (3) Leigh 9 Leeds 5

1953-54 (2) Leeds 12 Leigh 3

1961-62 (2) Leigh 7 Leeds 7

Replay Leeds 16 Leigh 17

1970-71 (F) Leigh 24 Leeds 7 At Wembley

1979-80 (1) Leigh 5 Leeds 12

* Two legs

Rochdale Hornets v Celtic Crusaders

Newcomers Celtic Crusaders take a step up in class after achieving a series of big scores in the weakest of the Northern Rail Cup groups. They also crushed Lokomotiv Moscow 64-4 in their first ever Powergen Challenge Cup tie. Now they face LHF Healthplan League One opposition, Rochdale who have also made an impressive start to the season. Rochdale will be expected to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2001.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

None

Salford City Reds v Dewsbury Rams

Dewsbury Rams are one of only six clubs from a lower division to have beaten Super League opposition in the Challenge Cup. They gained a 12-10 fourth round home win over London Broncos (now Harlequins RL) in 1996. That could make Salford City Reds nervous as they are one of the few Super League clubs to have been knocked out by lower division opposition, losing 16-12 at Leigh Centurions in the fourth round of 2001.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1901-02 (2) Dewsbury 0 Salford 2

1908-09 (1) Salford 28 Dewsbury 0

1911-12 (2) Salford 8 Dewsbury 9

1950-51 (2) Salford 6 Dewsbury 0

1960-61 (1) Salford 22 Dewsbury 8

1966-67 (3) Dewsbury 9 Salford 7

St. Helens v Doncaster Lakers

Doncaster have totalled only three tries in five Challenge Cup-ties against St. Helens, but they have great memories of the last time they visited Knowsley Road. That was in 1994-95 and Doncaster’s first match of their only top division campaign when they pulled off a shock 30-29 victory. The Saints gained revenge with a 24-5 win as Doncaster headed for a quick return to the lower division. St. Helens have the current longest run of appearing in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, not having been knocked out at the first stage since 1995.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1969-70 (3) Doncaster 4 St. Helens 4

Replay St. Helens 36 Doncaster 0

1972-73 (1) St. Helens 41 Doncaster 0

1978-79 (1) St. Helens 34 Doncaster 9

1993-94 (6) St. Helens 40 Doncaster 9

Swinton Lions v York City Knights

York City Knights won 32-16 at Swinton Lions last season on their way to promotion to LHF Healthplan League One. But the Lions had won at York earlier in the season to make this an intriguing inter-division clash. Challenge Cup history is overwhelming in Swinton’s favour with York having won only one of their previous nine meetings and that was more than 70 years ago in a replay.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1906-07 (2) York 3 Swinton 11

1926-27 (2) Swinton 10 York 8

1932-33 (2) York 0 Swinton 3

1933-34 (1) York 0 Swinton 0

Replay Swinton 5 York 15

1937-38 (1) York 2 Swinton 12

1941-42 (2)* Swinton 29 York 5

York 7 Swinton 15

1998 (4) Swinton 39 York 21

* Two legs

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors will be hoping to regain their renowned Challenge Cup form to make up for their worst ever start to an engage Super League season. The Warriors hold the record for most Cup final appearances (27) and most wins (17). The figures include Wembley records of 15 wins in 22 appearances at the stadium. Recent engage Super League form, however, favours Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, who beat them home and away last year to end a run of 16 successive defeats against Wigan.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1908-09 (SF) Wakefield 14 Wigan 2 At Broughton

1913-14 (3) Wakefield 9 Wigan 6

1921-22 (1) Wigan 15 Wakefield 6

1933-34 (1) Wakefield 7 Wigan 14

1940-41 (2) Wakefield 22 Wigan 0

1945-46 (F) Wakefield 13 Wigan 12 At Wembley

1948-49 (2) Wigan 37 Wakefield 2

1951-52 (1)* Wakefield 18 Wigan 13

Wigan 40 Wakefield 3

1957-58 (2) Wakefield 5 Wigan 11

1960-61 (2) Wakefield 0 Wigan 2

1961-62 (3) Wakefield 5 Wigan 4

1962-63 (F) Wakefield 25 Wigan 10 At Wembley

1971-72 (2) Wakefield 6 Wigan 5

1989-90 (3) Wakefield 14 Wigan 26

1993-94 (4) Wigan 24 Wakefield 16

2004 (6) Wigan 20 Wakefield 4

* Two legs

Warrington Wolves v London Skolars

London Skolars, who became a senior club in 2003, gained their first Powergen Challenge Cup victory against professional opposition when they beat Gateshead Thunder 20-10 in this year’s third round. But this is their first meeting against engage Super League opposition and a record book check is unavoidable. Warrington’s record score is 84-1 at home to York in the fifth round of 2000, while London’s biggest defeat is 98-4 at Sheffield Eagles in a 2003 League match.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

None

Widnes Vikings v Castleford Tigers

Widnes will be seeking to become the first lower division club to twice knock out engage Super League opposition from the Powergen Challenge Cup. They won 17-10 at Workington Town in the fourth round of 1996, making them one of only two lower division clubs to win a Challenge Cup-tie on a Super League ground. The teams last met in 2004 when Castleford snatched a 7-6 Super League win at Widnes.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings

1963-64 (SF) Widnes 7 Castleford 7 At Swinton

Replay Widnes 7 Castleford 5 At Wakefield

1980-81 (2) Widnes 7 Castleford 5

1986-87 (1) Castleford 16 Widnes 24

1988-89 (2) Castleford 18 Widnes 32

1993-94 (6) Castleford 30 Widnes 6