It's all change for the 2015 Challenge Cup with a new format that goes hand in hand with the new league structure.
The weekend saw twelve round four games, involving the amateur survivors from the earlier rounds, with the Championship sides thrown into the mix for the first time.
Tuesday night will see all eyes turn to the fifth round draw in Hull when the victors from round four will be joined by the Superleague sides which did not finish in the top eight last season; Salford Red Devils, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, and both Hull FC and Hull KR (three out of this seasons bottom four after round six).
This season the top eight from the 2014 Super league don't join the competition until round six, and from 2016 the same format will be followed but it will be the eight top division Super Eight teams who will get the byes.
Round Four delivered just two shocks. Leigh Miners defeated Oxford by a massive 32-6 after being forced to switch the game to Leigh Sports Village from their own Twist Lane ground on Saturday, while Sunday saw Championship One side Crusaders add to higher division Doncaster's woes with a 40-12 win.
The poor form of the London Broncos show no sign of abating as they were hammered 64-12 on Friday night by Leigh Centurions, the same evening that York thrashed Fev Lions by 58-8. In addition to Leigh Miners great win on Saturday, there were victories for Batley by 78-6 over Normanton and Featherstone beat fellow Championship side Whitehaven by 36-12 at the Recreation Ground.
Sunday saw six games in addition to the Crusaders, with the biggest win coming not unexpectedly at Bradford where the Bulls thrashed Workington by 74-6 in a thirteen try rampage. Halifax won 56-16 away at Barrow, Dewsbury Rams beat Newcastle, Hunslet won away at Gloucester, the Eagles beat Oldham 44-20 and Swinton defeated Rochdale Hornets to make the fifth round.
The full list of sides for Tuesday evenings (6:30 to 6:45) draw is; Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Crusaders, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone, Halifax RLFC, Hull FC, Hull KR, Hunslet, Leigh Centurions, Leigh Miners, Salford Red Devils, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton, Wakefield Wildcats, and York.
|