Roughyed delighted to avoid away ties
OLDHAM have been handed home ties in the next round of the both domestic cup competitions, much to the delight of chairman Chris Hamilton.
Roughyeds will welcome Widnes Vikings to the Vestacare Stadium on the weekend of March 30/31 in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup and Whitehaven will be the opponents in the first round of the new 1895 Cup on the weekend of May.
“We couldn’t ask for much more,” said Hamilton. “You never go to these occasions with thoughts of who you want because it never works out that way. You get what you get. It is what it is.
“Despite their recent problems Widnes are still a relatively big club. It’s only last season that they were in Super League. And they still have a big fan base.”
The 1895 Cup is a new competition consisting solely of teams from League 1 and the Championship.
Toulouse Olympique and Toronto Wolfpack were ineligible to enter, while Coventry Bears, London Skolars and North Wales Crusaders opted not to take part.
As a result, the eight remaining League 1 sides contest the first round, before the 12 other second-tier teams enter in round two. There will then be a quarterfinals and semi-finals stage, before the final is played as part of a double header with the Challenge Cup climax at Wembley on August 24.
“There were some teams in this one that, for various reasons, we didn’t fancy playing away so we were really pleased to be out of the hat first,” admitted Hamilton.
“We’ve already beaten them at the Vestacare Stadium in the league this season, but that will make them determined to balance things up and they will be very dangerous opponents.”
Scott Naylor was also pleased with the draw, particularly the opportunity to face Widnes.
“In a draw which doesn’t involve Super League teams they’re in the top bracket, definitely one of the top teams to play,” said the Roughyeds boss.
Elsewhere, Rochdale will travel to Cumbria to take on Whitehaven in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup, Swinton have been drawn away to Featherstone Rovers and Leigh will also be on their travels, taking on Sheffield Eagles.