REST OF THE DRAW (From Warrington Guardian)

REST OF THE DRAW

Saturday 5th February 2005 (all kick off at 1.30pm unless specified): Barrow Island v Skirlaugh -

Humberside club Skirlaugh go to Barrow Island with an ace up their sleeve, assistant coach Steve McNamara.

McNamara, besides being assistant coach to Skirlaugh's head coach Lee Richardson, has a day job in Rugby League as assistant coach to Great Britain boss Brian Noble at Super League club Bradford Bulls.

He still likes to help out with the amateur club based in his home-city of Hull and he has a host of Challenge Cup experience on which to call. In fact he's been all the way to the Final twice although it was on the losing side on both occasions when Bradford Bulls were beaten by St Helens at Wembley in 1996 and 1997!

But Skirlaugh battling against relegation in the National Conference League the Furness-based club will fancy their chances of reaching the second round draw.

North West Counties League club Barrow Island are coached by former Barrow Raiders forward Ian Rawlinson and they beat another Hull-based club, Cottingham, 8-2 in the preliminary round.

The Islanders are currently pushing for the NW Counties Championship after winning promotion to the Premier flight last season and can call upon key players brothers, Lee and Gary Dutton, in their forward pack and stand off Craig McKinnon.

Skirlaugh Head coach Lee Richardson is able to call upon a talented side that includes former Hull KR men Andy Dearlove and brothers Gary and Kevin Smith, plus a whole host of BARLA Internationals including second rows Phil Crane and winger Phil Thacker but goal kicker Mark Hewitt could be their trump card.

Skirlaugh were drawn at against professional opposition, Workington Town in 1999 and 2000 losing 12-2 last time out while in 2002 they took Swinton extra-time before losing 32-24 and in 2003 they were beaten 20-8 by York City Knights.

Blackbrook v Oulton Raiders kick off 2.30pm

Blackbrook of St Helens are another North West Counties League side taking on struggling Conference Premier opposition Oulton Raiders from Leeds in this Powergen Challenge Cup encounter.

Goal-kicking BARLA Great Britain centre Paul Toole is a key player for the 'Brook while hooker Jason Mitchell, scrum half Phil Anderton are also important to the Merseyside team.

Warren Jowitt, the former Bradford, Hull and Salford forward, now trying to revive his professional career with Dewsbury Rams after serious injury, is the Oulton head coach.

In previous Cup outings against professional club opposition the Raiders lost 24-12 to York in 2001 and 66-10 to Halifax in 2004.

The Oulton fullback Tommy Skerrett is nephew of former Wigan and Great Britain prop forward Kelvin Skerrett while David and Alan White go well long with props Andrew and Lee Williamson.

Incidentally, one of their second row forwards Sasch Brook is the media officer at Super League club Hull FC.

Castleford Panthers v East Hull

Castleford Panthers have it all to do against high flying National Conference first division rivals East Hull who beat professional club Swinton Lions in last year's Powergen Challenge Cup.

Both sides won promotion to Division One last season. Malcolm Agar is the Panthers coach and they have former professional, goal-kicking scrum half Jamie Benn playing well at the moment while full back Chris Hepworth provides a resolute final line of defence and experienced hooker Dave Probert leads a strong pack in which Luke Varley and Danny Pickering are prominent.

East Hull went up as Champions and they are now pushing for promotion to the Premier flight. Bradford Bulls forward star Lee Radford is their head coach and he was in the Bulls team that beat Leeds Rhinos in the Powergen Challenge Cup Final at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium in 2003.

Radford can call upon leading players such as BARLA International Phil Batty, half back Gary Blanchard, brothers Paul and Lee Roberts and former Hull scrum half Mike Docherty to do the work on the field.

East Hull beat Swinton Lions 26-14 in the Third Round last season and gave high-fling LHF Healthplan National League One leaders Whitehaven a fright before going down 14-4 in Round Four.

Essex Eels v Elland kick off 3.00pm

This Powergen Challenge Cup First Round tie will prove a real test for the Essex Eels because they face one of amateur Rugby League's strongest traditional clubs, Elland from near Halifax.

After being founded in 2003, the Eels made rapid advances with their junior development programmes in Essex and East London, providing themselves with a conveyor belt of players for the future.

Their motto 'Building a Rugby League Community' extends beyond the River Thames and they have been forging strong links with the NNRLB in Holland as well as fulfilling commitments within Essex as learning mentors for local schools.

The Eels have consolidated their progress by moving from Basildon RUFC to the impressive Gloucester Park Stadium for 2005 and they are now seeking to maximise the commercial activities that saw the Eels make a healthy profit in 2004, with the launch of the 'That's' MY Team' initiative. The aim is to draw in more boys and girls to the club.

Their young squad has an average age of 19 and it has been boosted by the signings of Danny Lacono from Australian club Cronulla and Armed Forces stalwarts Andrew Long and Daniel Hensby.

Elland are coached by former BARLA International Junaid Malik and Lee Shackleton and they were beaten in the Final of this season's BARLA Yorkshire Cup. Andy and Marc Schickell, James Angus and Dean Bishop go well in the three-quarters while Thomas Walton is a consistent performer in the pack.

Adam Oldroyd has been around a long time and has a habit of coming up with big scores while Elland have maintained a long-time connection with the Fairbank family by including cousins Ben and James in their side.

Gateshead Storm v Wath Brow Hornets

Gateshead Storm have a really tough job on here against a Cumbrian side that doesn't seem to know how to lose.

But Gateshead have had an immensely productive close season so far after announcing that they have concluded an agreement with rugby union club Winlaton Vulcans that will see the two clubs join forces to establish a dual-code, all-the-year-round operation at the Axwell Road ground.

Storm believe that by having a secure home base they will be able to progress all aspects of their operation including junior development. They have also had a number of discussions with the new coaching team at neighbouring professional club Gateshead Thunder and hope to establish mutually beneficial development programmes that should bear fruit in the months ahead.

Wath Brow Hornets were promoted to the National Conference Premier League as Division One Champions of division one at the end of last season and they arrived with the BARLA National Cup under their belts for good measure.

In Powergen Challenge Cup terms, Hornets are the most successful-ever Cumbrian amateur side. They grabbed the headlines in 2003 with a Third Round 13-12 win against neighbours, Workington Town before losing 18-6 at home to Batley Bulldogs in the Fourth Round. In 2000 they beat Eccles 26-0 in the third round and then gave London Broncos a scare before going down 44-18 at The Valley while they lost 44-4 at Huddersfield Giants in the 2002 tournament Third Round

Coached by former Whitehaven centre Ian Rooney and Scott Anderson, Hornets are a top side that boast players of the calibre of prolific goal-kicking full-back Gavin Curwen, stand off Craig Johnstone.

Halton Simms Cross v Widnes St.Maries

An all-Widnes Powergen Challenge Cup clash has captured the imagination of the Rugby League-mad Cheshire town.

Halton Simms Cross have been the Champions of the NW Counties League for the past two seasons. In the 2003 Powergen Challenge Cup they beat then newly-established professional club London Skolars and enjoyed a moment of glory before being beaten by Wigan Warriors in the Fourth Round at the JJB Stadium.

Their coach is Rob Shone, a former BARLA international. He is a long-time player and servant of the club while former Chorley centre Brian Capewell is a prolific points scorer for 'Simmies'. Stand off Neil Percival was the NW Counties League 'Player of the Season 2003/04 and hooker Peter Hodson is having an outstanding season.

Rivals and neighbours Widnes St.Maries are coached by Barrie Quinn who took over the job following the departure of Bobbie Goulding to Rochdale Hornets. Hooker Anthony Hollins and 19-year-old loose forward Adam Flanagan were real livewires when they hammered Oldham-side Saddleworth Rangers 52-0 in their Preliminary round encounter.

Haydock v Cutsyke

Haydock from the North West Counties League take on Castleford-based Yorkshire League club Cutsyke in this Powergen Challenge Cup first round tie.

The St Helens area club are coached by former Swinton half back Wayne Bloor and they narrowly lost to professional club Workington Town 12-8 in the 1998 Cup competition.

County hooker Peter Cahalin, full-back Matt Cunliffe, scrum half Mark Boland and, of course, Bloor are the key play makers on the field of play.

Cutsyke enjoyed a superb 16-14 win over Dewsbury's Shaw Cross Sharks in the preliminary round with Adam Spears and Colin Handford the try scorers and Dan Huby a prolific goal-kicker. Full back Jason Derevierre and scrum half Dave Horner plus loose forward Steve Handford are always a threat in a well drilled side.

Hull Dockers v Dudley Hill

This is the third season in charge for Dockers Coach Glen Brewer and Hull KR forward Des Harrison, who steered the club to Premier division status last season.

Half backs Scott Yeaman and Chris Stephenson are real talents, with second row Craig Henry, hooker Steve Sellars and loose forward Andy Taylor prominent in their pack.

Bradford Dudley Hill used to be in the elite amateur competition, the National Conference, but switched to play summer Rugby League last season. They have former Great Britain international Graeme Hallas returning to his original club to begin his coaching career alongside ex-BARLA international Stuart Tighe, and hopes are high for one of the proudest names in amateur rugby.

A number of their players now ply their trade in the professional ranks, including Ritchie Barnet at Hull, while former Welsh international Jason Lee has just returned from the paid ranks. Their most significant signing for 2005 is Paul Gleadhill, the former Leeds, Featherstone and Hunslet three quarter.

Hill have beaten professional opposition on more than one occasion, defeating York in 1997, and last year they overcame West Yorkshire neighbours Keighley Cougars.

Illingworth v Stanley Rangers

Illingworth from Halifax saw off Warrington club Crosfields 22-10 in the preliminary round in their first-ever appearance in the Powergen Challenge Cup. Player-Coach is Dave Roberts centre Daley Williams, Graham Dobson and Andy Greenway, one of the fastest props in the game are the key players for the Pennine League Premier League table toppers.

But Wakefield-based Stanley Rangers are a team with National Conference ambitions and they have a team that includes such quality players as Gareth Dobson, Gareth Whitehead, Danny Duce, Mark Robinson, David Baxby and Scott Holt.

Coached by former Castleford Tigers prop Dean Sampson, who was on the losing side in the 1992 Cup Final against Wigan, they will fancy their chances of winning this one.

Milford Marlins v Huddersfield Underbank Rangers

Leeds-club Milford Marlins are jointly coached by former Keighley man Mark Butterill and Jim Shuttleworth. The Marlins have the capable Moran brothers, Mick and Andy while young hooker James Blakey was the 2003 Conference Second Division 'Player of the Year'. Milford also have former Bramley half back, Marc Gibson, plus the vastly experienced Eugene Currie to lead their side. Against professional clubs in the Challenge Cup they were beaten 42-0 by York Wasps at home in the 2002 tournament's Third Round.

Huddersfield Underbank Raiders are one of the games oldest clubs - official records show that the club was established in 1884 - and they produced an impressive list of Rugby League greats including the legendary 'Prince of Centres' Harold Wagstaff (1891-1939).

Wagstaff signed professionally for Huddersfield when he was 15 years old for five gold sovereigns. At the age of 18 he played in a Test match at Fartown where England beat the Australians and went on to captain England in a further four Ashes series. In 1988 he was inducted into the sport's 'Hall of Fame'.

Head coach Damon Scholes, a former professional with Huddersfield, will be assisted in 2005 by Darren Turner who captured a Challenge Cup winner's medal in 1998 at Wembley with Sheffield Eagles, scoring a try in their shock defeat of Wigan.

Queens v Millom

Queens from Leeds are the reigning Yorkshire League champions and will be a side fancied to progress through to a third round clash with a professional club. Beaten 34-16 at Hull KR in 1998, they have Paul Darnborough and Ryan Robinson as a lively half back pairing while Matt Gomersall and Martin Richardson add steel to their pack and Steve Morton is strong in the centre.

Cumbrian-club Millom are the oldest club in Rugby League having been in existence for 127 years. After a couple of disappointing seasons they are enjoying a resurgence under coach Steve 'Biff' Mossop, the former Barrow front row man. Half back Paul Evans is one of their leading lights while Graham and Paul Lupton continue a family tradition of playing at the club with the Thompson and Ruddy brothers also going well.

Royal Navy v Normanton Knights

The Royal Navy will play this Powergen Challenge Cup tie at Portsmouth The Naval team go into this match with players like Mark Ives, Scott Partiss and 'Whiskey' Walker, featuring along with Combined Services Representative players Martin Johnson at centre and second row forwards Chris Richards and Jordan James.

Normanton Knights know that they have a serious challenge to face but Coach Tony Wright is in charge of a strong side that has been improving week-by-week throughout the season.

Half back Ben Cockayne has come out of the Army and has been a revelation scoring a load of points while second rows Ian Booth and young Ryan Tilford are other players likely to make an impression.

Normanton beat Featherstone Lions 21-16 in the preliminary round and back in 1912; Normanton held Warrington to a 6-6 draw but were beaten 75-0 in the replay. They would settle for a clash with any professional side if they can reach the third round.

St.Albans Centurions v Thatto Heath

St.Albans Centurions will fancy their chances against Thatto Heath from St Helens who are sitting at the foot of the National Conference League Premier Division.

Established in 1996, St.Albans entered the London League Division Two and then applied successfully to become part of the Rugby League Conference. Three years ago they joined the newly established National League Three and moved into the newly developed, state-of-the-art The Woollams ground.

The club has set down solid roots in the local community and is looking to build for the future. Colin Baker has returned as head coach from North London and has already recruited Brad Smith, Chris Jackson, Steve Scanlon, Allen Wheeler, Tim O'Shea and Shane Rampling for the 2005 campaign.

Thatto Heath are struggling in their second season in the NCL Premier Division. Coached by Darren Kenny, former Swinton wing Mike Woods is regularly among their try scorers.

The Heath beat professional club Chorley Borough 8-4 in the Cup in 1996, but were narrowly beaten 26-12 by high flying Whitehaven in 2004. Club Chairman Chris Honey used to play with Barrow while one-time Swinton half back Barry Ashall is also on their books.

Stanningley v Walney Central kick off 2.30pm

Stanningley were newcomers to the National Conference League at the start of the season and have settled down well. Coached by Gary Sidebottom they have top line players in half backs Scott Hargreaves and Stuart McGill, while Chris Roose, Ian Summers and Andrew Agar lead the pack. The Leeds area club beat Huddersfield Sharks 19-14 after extra time in the preliminary round

Walney Central from Barrow are not good travellers but, coached by Paul Crarey, they have former Whitehaven men Michael Whitehead and Ian Devlin in top form to lead their pack while Andy Herbert and Brad Nichols are two lively half backs and Jamie Finch and Sam Costa are tough to stop in the backs.

Walney were beaten 18-6 by professional club Lancashire Lynx in the 2000 competition Third Round.

Warrington Wizards v Sharlston Rovers

Warrington Wizards will relish a pop at last year's Powergen Challenge Cup giant killers Sharlston Rovers from Wakefield in a tie that will be played at Wilderspool.

The Wizards, were previously Woolston Rovers and during the first two hugely successful seasons of National League Three they emerged as inaugural champions in 2003 and beaten Grand Finalist in 2004.

Among their new signings for 2005 are brothers Darren and Shaun Geritas both of whom played professionally for Warrington Wolves.

Sharlston are in the Powergen Challenge Cup for a third successive season and last year they stole all the headlines by beating Dewsbury Rams 30-28 in the Third Round. Inspired by 1998 Sheffield Eagles Challenge Cup winner Martin Wood, they then gave Oldham plenty of problems before losing 24-4 in the Fourth Round.

It was the second time they had beaten professionals in the Cup having defeating Workington 12-7 when they made an appearance in 1946. That was in the first of two legs but they lost the second leg at Derwent Park to go out of the competition.

One of their players, Ian Lingard's granddad, Benny Lingard, played in that Post War game. Former Bramley duo Gordon Long and Dean Blankley are Sharlston's player-coaches and their strong side also includes former professionals Dave Lee (Dewsbury), Stuart Bailey (Doncaster/Huddersfield), and Gareth Davies (Bradford). Rovers are currently challenging for the top the Yorkshire League Premier division.

Waterhead v Askam

Waterhead from Oldham are coached by Ian Spence and have Lee Sculthorpe, brother of St Helens and Great Britain forward Paul and Wigan Warriors prop Danny in their line-up. Ex-Oldham professional forward Paul Lord is a key player as are Nick Wood and Lee Charlesworth at half back. Waterhead lost 74-1 to Swinton Lions in the Third Round in 2000.

Barrow-based Askam don't travel well but under the control of their coach former Hull player, Russ Walker they have developed into a useful side that has Mike Wilson and Matty Parkinson as a pair of more than useful half backs. Craig Regan and 'Bluey' Kavanagh (ex-Barrow) are other key players. They last played against professional opposition in 2000 when went down 40-16 in dream tie against neighbours Barrow.

West Bowling v Leigh East

West Bowling and Leigh East are involved in a tough relegation battle in the National Conference League.

Bowling have their ground right next door to Odsal, the home of Super League club Bradford Bulls and their player-coach is former Bradford hooker Glenn Barraclough. Their goal-kicking winger Lee Innes is a BARLA International and also plays for the Army. Forward Nigel Halmshaw is a former BARLA Captain while Steve Illingworth and the vastly experienced Shaun Fallon are top-class half backs. They were beaten 34-12 by professional club Batley Bulldogs in 2003.

Coach Jimmy Taylor switched from Wigan St.Patricks to join Leigh East after 30 years with the Wigan side just two years ago. Former Leigh Centurions half back John Gunning and ex Halifax half back Craig Dean provide the experience on the field and they link superbly with 21-year-old BARLA Internationals Danny Kilshaw and Lee Wingfield. John Woods (son of Leigh legend of the same name) is the current National Conference League 'Player of the Year' and is both a prolific goal kicker and try scorer.

Westgate Redoubt v Eccles and Salford Juniors

Westgate Redoubt from Wakefield are a powerhouse side in which tries abound from Mark and Carl Riley while others such as Jamie Beckett, Jamie Golling and Aaron Hammond are players capable of winning any game.

But Eccles and Salford Juniors are enjoying their best ever season as they push for promotion in the National Conference League first division.

Coached by former Swinton Lion Paul Viller, the club, which is the result of a close-season merger between Eccles and Salford Juniors, has developed strongly in the last few months. Their team includes BARLA international full back Dave Hedgecock and centre Steve Morley, the brother of Great Britain pack star, Adrian Morley and Welsh international Chris Morley. Former St Helens half back John McAtee makes things tick on the field for the Juniors. Eccles lost 56-0 at Featherstone Rovers in 2001.

West Hull v The Army kick off 2.00pm

Incredibly West Hull, who won the Championship for four successive years, are involved in a bitter fight to avoid relegation from the National Conference League Premier Division,

They were runners up Conference Championship Grand Final for the second successive season last May and are coached by former Hull FC half back, Phil Windley. Twice BARLA Player of the Year Scott Fletcher is back with the club after a spell at York and they have former Doncaster centre Chris Verity among their many BARLA Internationals, who also include second row Brian Newby and scrum-half Terry Lynn, the BARLA 'Player of the Year' in 2003.

Against professional clubs West Hull were drawn at Widnes in the Third Round in both 1999 and 2000 losing 34-4 and 76-8. They were beaten 28-5 at Leigh Centurions in 2001, 38-4 by Oldham in 2002 and then lost 28-6 at Doncaster in 2004.

The Army playing for the seventh time in the Powergen Challenge Cup will be looking to emulate their 2000 campaign when they booted amateur opponents Dewsbury Celtic and Oulton Raiders out of the competition to reach the Third Round only to lose 66-6 in the Fourth Round at Rochdale Hornets.

Former prop Wayne Bradock has turned his hand to coaching and he has winger Mark Pocock, centre Richie Yeomans (ex Heworth), Lee Inness - a fully fledged BARLA International - and ex-Leigh half back Sean Fanning to do the business on the field.

Wigan St. Judes v Embassy kick off 2.30pm

Wigan St.Judes are coached by former Warrington and Great Britain centre Ronnie Dootson. Available to him he has BARLA international centre Gavin Corfield, international scrum half John McMullen plus former Leigh forward Sean Hilton. Former Chorley forward Brendan Barr is in there too in a young side that has taken the Premier division by storm since winning promotion last season. Against professional sides in the Cup, 34-20 at Gateshead Thunder in 2001.

Embassy are a tough side from the Hull and District League and led by player-coach Andy Spencely, they have Liam Elvin as a more than able goal kicker at full back and scrum half Dean Knaggs who knows his way to the try-line.

They beat rivals Hull Wyke 36-30 after extra time in the preliminary round and made Challenge Cup history two years ago by defeating Russian side Strela Kazan 24-22 in the Third Round before losing to Barrow.

Wigan St.Patricks v Hensingham kick off 2.30pm

Hensingham must be sick of the sight of St Pats having been in Wigan three weekends out of four in cup competitions. Wigan St.Patricks will start as favourites having beaten the Cumbrians two weeks ago in the BARLA National Cup.

Coached by Salford City Reds captain Malcolm Alker and former Salford three-quarter, Dave Ruddy, St. Pats have a young side in which former Oldham and Wakefield winger Dave Jones is joined by talents such as Anthony Atherton, Aussie hooker Deon Duell, and the robust Andy Rasburn.

Wigan St Patrick's have faced professional opposition in the Cup in recent seasons. They lost 64-6 at Featherstone Rovers in 2000; 70-2 at Widnes in 2001 and 28-4 at home to Dewsbury Rams in 2002.

Hensingham are coached by ex-Whitehaven man Gordon Cottier and they are back in the Powergen Challenge Cup for the second successive season after a thrilling 16-14 win at Ince Rosebridge.

Second row man Steve Holgate played for Wigan at Wembley in the 1998 Cup Final defeat by Sheffield Eagles and half back Carl Hewer (ex Whitehaven) is the only other ex-professional in the side.

Craig and Scott McAvoy are BARLA Internationals in a strong side that has full back Dave Cartmell outstanding this season along with Graham Broach, Stuart Miller and Andrew Jones. Five Under 18's play in the Hensingham first team while Kyle Amor and Lewis Salmon are attracting the professional scouts.

Sunday 6th February

Bramley Buffaloes v Thornhill Trojans KO 2.30 pm

Bramley Buffaloes were one of the success stories of last season's National League Three campaign. Formerly one of the code's most historic clubs, the re-formed Bramley playing out of Stanningley's hugely impressive facilities came within an ace of reaching the Grand Final in their first season back in operation.

The Buffaloes are coached by former Bradford Bulls centre Phil Hellawell and have averaged home crowds of over 600. Despite losing Tim Orr and Paul Cummins to professionals Hunslet Hawks, Bramley look set to build on last season's success.

But they face tough opposition in high-flying National Conference Premiers Thornhill Trojans who showed their quality by beating Sheffield Eagles 16-14 in 2000 to reach the Fourth Round where they lost to York.

Led by the experienced former Dewsbury Ram Scott Dyson at hooker and Matty Roberts in the second row, as well as ex-Hunslet Hawk, Jason Firth plus BARLA second row Anthony Broadhead, they have long serving James Ratcliffe is the Coach.

The Trojans lost 33-10 when they faced professionals Keighley Cougars in 2003.

Royal Air Force v Castleford Lock Lane kick off 1.30pm

Sgt. Damion Clayton is a leading light in a Royal Air Force side that also includes Combined Service Rep Scott Andrews, free-scoring full back Keiron Kavanagh, Martin Wood and 'Spider' Le Marr. The team is pulled together with players who serve in units from all over the globe.

Castleford Lock Lane will have a lot to do to quell the RAF, but with former Sheffield Eagles 1998 Challenge Cup winner, Matt Crowther in charge they should have the know how to push through.

Full back Karl Robinson, half back Paul Couch, loose forward Lee Hughes and prop Kalem Senior always go well in a very competent side. Four years ago they reached the Challenge Cup third round and just lost out to French side Villenueve 26-16, but they were hammered 96-0 in the third round of last season's Powergen Challenge Cup at Featherstone Rovers.