 Leeds celebrate their 1999 Challenge Cup final win |
Super League champions Leeds Rhinos face a difficult-looking trip to Hull FC in next month's fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup. The Rhinos have not won the Cup since 1999, despite claiming four Super League crowns in that time. The Hull-Leeds game is one of four all-Super League ties in the last 32, which will be played from 16-18 April. Last year's beaten finalists Huddersfield face a tricky task against fellow Super League side Hull KR. In the other all-top-flight ties, Harlequins host Wakefield, while Salford will make the trip to Perpignan to play Catalans Dragons, who beat them at The Willows last Friday night. Leeds's trip to Hull is a repeat of the 2005 final, won 25-24 by the Black and Whites. "It's a tough draw," said Rhinos coach Brian McClennan, whose side lost 22-18 to St Helens in last year's fourth round. "We'll have to perform very well to beat Hull on their ground. "But it's part of the drama of the Challenge Cup that there are some tight encounters and exciting draws.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We won't be looking any further than the first minute of that game and making sure we're in there competing and putting in a good performance and if we don't we'll be out." Cup holders Warrington will host Championship side Featherstone, who they also beat in last year's run but coach Tony Smith is not underestimating his side's task. "That's a tough draw," he said, "tougher than most people would think. They are one of the favourites from the division below. "But the will to go back and do it again is great from all of us. For the fans, players and coaches, that would be fantastic." Wigan face Sheffield Eagles in a repeat of the 1998 final won by the Eagles, while St Helens will be expected to advance against Championship side Toulouse. And Castleford host a Barrow Raiders side containing five former Cas players, Andrew Henderson, Michael Knowles, Richard Fletcher, Ned Catic and Jamie Rooney. Halifax amateur club Siddal's prize for beating struggling Championship One side Doncaster in the last round is a tie against Batley.
Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round draw York v Crusaders Hunslet v Oldham Swinton v Halifax Limoux v Leigh Harlequins v Wakefield St Helens v Toulouse Widnes/Wigan St Judes v Lezignan Catalans v Salford Sheffield v Wigan Siddal v Batley Hull FC v Leeds Castleford v Barrow Raiders Warrington v Featherstone Rovers Blackpool v Whitehaven Huddersfield v Hull KR Dewsbury v Bradford Ties to be played 16-18 April
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