Challenge Cup retains appeal

KELLS TEST: Chris Hamilton says the amateur side will relish Sunday’s game.

CHRIS Hamilton believes the Rugby League Challenge Cup still has a magic of its own for everyone connected with the sport.

It’s appeal will be encapsulated by Sunday’s tie between Oldham and Kells at Bower Fold (3pm), and by the other 11 ties on this fourth-round weekend.

There was a time when lower-league clubs could make a financial killing out of a cup run, but those days have gone, says Oldham’s chairman.

“The way the competition is structured, with the top eight Super League clubs not entering until the sixth round, removes the realistic opportunity for clubs like Oldham, and many others, to make serious money on a cup run,” he said.

“But there’s a lot more to the Challenge Cup than money. It has an appeal all of its own. We saw that in the last round when five amateur clubs caused upsets against semi-pro opponents, and we’ll see it at first hand on Sunday when Kells come down dreaming of causing another shock.

“Championship clubs and those League One clubs who survived the last round will be dreaming of Wembley, regardless of how unattainable those dreams might be. That’s the magic of the Challenge Cup.

“Players look forward to being tested against teams they wouldn’t normally meet in the leagues and they can get their time in the limelight on the back of a major upset.”

Kells, from Whitehaven, have won three promotions in a row to go from National Conference League Division Three to Premier Division in the shortest possible time, but they were beaten by Siddal last Saturday in their first game at the highest level.