NORTHERN RAIL CUP (From Warrington Guardian)

NORTHERN RAIL CUP

THE competition for clubs outside Super League began as the Buddies National League Cup in 2002. It became the Arriva Trains Cup the following year before changing to the Northern Rail Cup last season.

The winners of the Cup have all gone on to be promoted to Super League: Huddersfield Giants (2002), Salford City Reds (2003), Leigh Centurions (2004) and Castleford Tigers (2005).

The record crowd for the competition is 9,400 at last year's final between Castleford Tigers and Hull Kingston Rovers at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, on 17 July. The biggest outside the final is 7,333 for last year's Group Four match between Castleford Tigers v Featherstone Rovers on Good Friday 25 March.