There’s a tasty Cumbrian derby in prospect for the fifth round of the Betfred Challenge Cup on March 13.
Barrow Raiders will entertain Workington Town on Sunday, March 13 in what is the stand-out tie of the round.
Whitehaven are rewarded for their big 60-0 win at Doncaster with a home tie against York City Knights.
But it’s the game between Barrow and Workington which will undoubtedly provide the biggest talking point after the pair finished champions and runners-up in last season’s League One.
The game at Barrow finished as a draw but the return at Derwent Park was never played because of COVID-19.
They did meet in a pre-season friendly this year when Barrow came out on top 24-12, and so far in the Championship have had contrasting results. Barrow have won all three while Town have lost all their three.
But Town have played particularly well inn their last two games as they gave Featherstone their toughest contest to date and then beat Dewsbury 26-12 in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
Whitehaven will just be pleased they have a home game in the next round after a trip to Doncaster, and a potential banana skin, was eventually avoided in some style with a 60-0 win – 48 of the points coming in the second half.
York City Knights have won two and lost two of their games so far but have strengthened since last season and a good, close contest is the most likely outcome of their trip to west Cumbria.
The big incentive for winning these matches is that the big guns from Super League enter in the sixth round, so offering the chance of making some cash from the competition.
The full draw, with matches played on both Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, is as follows:-
Barrow Raiders v Workington Town; Bradford Bulls v Leigh Centurions; Whitehaven v York City Knights; Batley Bulldogs v Featherstone Rovers; North Wales Crusaders v Sheffield Eagles.
