Whatever the result two weeks ago, Wath Brow Hornets would have faced an eight or six-hour trip when they entered the second round of the Challenge Cup.
As it happened it’s going to be the longer journey after Brentwood Eels beat Bedford Tigers 34-24.
The Hornets squad left West Cumbria at lunchtime today, February 24, for the trek to Essex where they will start strong favourites to make progress.
The Eels are only the second Essex team to take part in the historic competition, which began in 1896-97.
Their victory over Bedford was the team’s first competitive match since last September when the 2022 season came to an end.
Coach Anthony Sherwood, a former Eels loose forward, said: “The boys have been more focused than they’ve ever been,[in terms of commitment levels at this time of year.
“Everybody likes playing in the summer, and this is definitely not the summer, so they are going out of their way to prepare the best way they can for probably the biggest game in the region and the biggest game of some of their careers so far. It’s exciting, but humbling as well.”
The club was originally formed in 2004 as junior team Brentwood Elvers but gradually expanded and now runs men’s and women’s teams.
Sherwood added: “Some of the first-team players have been here since 2009, 2010, but are only 21, 22, 25 – and they are some of our older players.
“Last year, we finished third in the Southern Conference League with an 85, 90 per cent home-grown squad and there are only two out of our 22-man squad at the moment that haven’t come through the club system. I think that’s what makes us unique and this journey ever so special.”
The fourth-tier Southern Conference was formerly two divisions, but last October the decision was taken to gather all the teams together into a single Premier Division, with the new season set to begin April.
Club president and former chairman Carl Horsman says: “”When I took over the club all those years ago, we had a vibrant youth and junior section but we didn’t have an adult team at that time. If you’d told me then that we’d be preparing for our second Challenge Cup fixture in a fortnight, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
“We’re kind of forgotten about in the south sometimes. This is a great achievement, something we need to publicise and generate that extra excitement within Essex and the London boroughs as well.”
The draw for the third round of the men’s Betfred Challenge Cup will take place at Featherstone Rovers on Monday, February 27, – and will be streamed live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online from 6pm.
Rovers, along with Barrow and Whitehaven, are among the 13 Betfred Championship clubs entering the competition at this stage.
