Challenge Cup round one round-up as Orrell St James progress but nine ties postponed
Just eight Challenge Cup first round ties survived Storm Goretti this weekend, including Orrell St James, who will meet Championship heavyweights Oldham in the second round.
Of the 17 first-round ties which should have taken place this weekend, just eight survived due to the weather.
Orrell St James advanced to the second round with an impressive 34-0 win on home soil against Oldham St Annes on Saturday.
However, the borough’s three other clubs – Wigan St Judes, Leigh Miners Rangers and Ince Rose Bridge – saw their ties postponed.
The nine ties still to be played will be rearranged, with most of them being played this coming weekend.
Challenge Cup first round results: Telford Raiders P-P London Chargers, Royal Navy 4-18 Hammersmith Hills Hoists, Rochdale Mayfield P-P Ince Rose Bridge, British Army 12-24 Wests Warriors, Orrell St James 34-0 Oldham St Annes, Stanningley P-P Dewsbury Moor, Hunslet ARLFC 48-6 York Acorn, Heworth P-P RAF, Brighouse Rangers P-P Lock Lane, Woodhouse Warriors P-P Mirfield Spartans, Wigan St Judes P-P Leigh Miners Rangers, Blackbrook 52-6 GB Police, Thatto Heath Crusaders 78-10 Seaton Rangers, King Cross Park P-P West Hull, Siddal P-P Waterhead, Banbridge Broncos (NI) 26-32 Aberavon Fighting Irish, Bedford Tigers 36-6 Medway Dragons.
The draw for the second round was made last month alongside the first round draw.
After this weekend’s widespread postponements, the makeup of the ten round two ties has been confirmed.
Eight still require the identity of the community club involved to be confirmed, which will happen once those rearranged first-round ties have been played.
The winner of the first round tie between Brighouse Rangers and Lock Lane will receive an automatic bye into the third round. The winner of that tie had been set to host Featherstone Rovers in the second round, but the latter have not been granted RFL membership for 2026, so they cannot enter the Cup.
Challenge Cup second round draw: Oldham v Orrell St James, Wigan St Judes/Leigh Miners Rangers v Barrow Raiders, Rochdale Mayfield/Ince Rose Bridge v Swinton Lions, Blackbrook v Workington Town, Thatto Heath Crusaders v Widnes Vikings, Siddal/Waterhead v Rochdale Hornets, Stanningley/Dewsbury Moor v Hunslet, Dewsbury Rams v King Cross Park/West Hull, Batley Bulldogs v Hunslet ARLFC, Heworth/RAF v Keighley Cougars, Woodhouse Warriors/Mirfield Spartans v Goole Vikings, North Wales Crusaders v Bedford Tigers, London Broncos v Wests Warriors, Midlands Hurricanes v Aberavon Fighting Irish, Halifax Panthers v Telford Raiders/London Chargers, Hammersmith Hills Hoists v Salford Red Devils, Sheffield Eagles v Whitehaven, Doncaster v Newcastle Thunder.
Monday afternoon will see the third round draw take place at Wakefield Trinity’s DIY Kitchens Stadium as part of the 2026 Championship season launch.
13 of the 14 Super League clubs – excluding French side Toulouse Olympique – will be involved in Monday’s third round draw and will be drawn away from home against lower league opposition.
Wigan Warriors will discover who they will face in the third round in Monday’s draw. Last year, they picked up a 48-12 away win at Championship outfit Sheffield Eagles in the third round.