Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round Previews (From Warrington Guardian)

Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round Previews

THE ARMY V WEST BOWLING - Former BARLA International, Lee Innes, faces a dilemma in this Saturday's Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round clash between the Army and Bradford amateur club West Bowling!

Lee plays for both sides but as Corporal in the Royal Engineers with whom he has served for 17 years, it will be his employers, the Army, who have first call on his services for Cup matches.

It's a 'no win' situation for Lee.

If the Army succeed in winning the tie Lee will have helped put his Saturday team-mates out of the competition. But should the Army be beaten, Lee's day-job mates will be down hearted too. And as a goal kicker Lee could well be the man to send Bowling spiralling out of the Cup.

"I just could not believe the draw when I heard it," he said. "But I knew whose shirt I would be putting on. I have played with the Army since 1999 but travel back from my base in Cheltenham to West Yorkshire every weekend to play with West Bowling.

"Both are great sets of lads and the playing style of both teams is not dissimilar. Bowling were beaten by West Hull one week and the following weekend I was with the Army team who beat them in the Cup.

"It is really going to be difficult playing against your team mates but that will be my job on Saturday. I will just have to make sure I stay away from Phil Chatfield. I've seen what he does for the Bowling week-in, week out and he's not catching me if I can help it."

Bowling have plenty of talent in their ranks with player-coach Peter Simpson and Chatfield two of their leading players. The Army centre Narka Mavuto was devastating against West Hull scoring three tries and having a hand in several others while Fili Seru and prop Peter Cowburn are two other key players for the soldiers.

EAST HULL V WIGAN ST.PATRICKS

East Hull against Wigan St.Patricks is one of four all Premier Division National Conference League Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round clashes but it is distinguished by having former Powergen Challenge Cup winners Lee Radford, formerly of Bradford Bulls and his new Hull FC team-mate Paul Cooke, who will be trying to steer Easts to victory against a Wigan side coached by Salford City Reds captain and hooker Malcolm Alker.

The trio have had plenty of tussles in the engage Super League but they must plot the pitfalls for their charges from the sidelines.

"It is a lot tougher than playing" says Alker enthusiastically, "You always feel you can do something to help when you are in the thick of the action on the field. But when you're a coach and things start going wrong, all you can do is send on advice and hope the players take some notice.

"But it is great fun and it's a real buzz working with the players. Lee and Paul must feel the same way, especially because the standard of Rugby is so good and the commitment very strong. It will be a really cracking Cup tie."

East Hull have brothers Paul and Lee Roberts, former Hull prop Mike Docherty and three-quarter Jordan Precious to do the work on the field, while former BARLA Player-of-the-Year Terry Lynn is in outstanding form after joining the Easts from West Hull.

East Hull beat Swinton Lions 26-14 in 2004 and the clubs entering the competition in the Third Round will be keeping a wary eye on the East Yorkshire amateurs, should they get through.

St.Patricks beat the Royal Navy away from home in the first round and young talents Anthony Atherton, Aussie hooker Deon Duell and the robust Andy Rasburn are expected to lead the way for St Pats.

Another Alker, Malcolm's younger brother Melvin is at loose forward and there's a real family-likeness in the tackling style.

WARRINGTON WIZARDS V BRADFORD DUDLEY HILL

This all LHF League Three National Powergen Challenge Cup clash between the league champions of the past two seasons is set to be a cracker.

The tie will be staged at Wilderspool, the Wizards home ground, so the 2004 League Three titleholders will starts as favourites. Coached by former star players Eddie Harris and Clint Rylance, the Wizards team is packed full of young talent, the latest of which is outstanding teenage hooker Steven Smythe. The Wizards beat Bradford amateur club Clayton 32-24 in the First Round

Reigning champions Dudley Hill defeated Gateshead Storm 42-12 last time out. Full back Craig Tyman, veteran Richard Bingley and winger Jamie Brentley are key figures for the Hill but they face a major challenge from a Wizards team that includes three Serbian internationals in their ranks.

BARROW ISLAND V KELLS

This is a gripping all-Cumbrian clash with the North West Counties League leaders Barrow Island at home to a Kells side who are lying second in the Cumberland League. The Islanders took the Cumbria Cup when they beat Seaton Rangers in the Final just after Christmas. Kells had been beaten in the semi-finals.

Whitehaven assistant coach, Peter Smith, coaches Kells. They enjoyed a notable 33-12 First Round success at Wigan St.Judes but will start second favourites playing in Barrow where former Barrow professionals Ian Rawlinson and half back Darren Carter are the coaches of the home side. The Islanders beat Wakefield's Stanley Rangers 32-18 in Round One.

THE REST OF THE DRAW

There are nine more cracking ties in the Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round including another all-National Conference League First Division meeting between league-leaders Leigh Miners Rangers and fourth-placed Oulton Raiders from Leeds in a repeat of a league fixture from two weeks ago when the Miners won 30-16.

Hull amateurs Skirlaugh entertain Cumbrians Wath Brow Hornets, a side that has proved the scourge of professional clubs in the Third Round during recent years while Leigh East are at home to Dewsbury's Thornhill Trojans in a reverse of last Saturday's league clash.

Cumbrians Seaton Rangers, under the guidance of former Workington, Whitehaven and Carlisle prop, Colin 'Buck' Armstrong, travel to York Acorn for a Powergen Challenge Cup tie that will test them to the limit. Rangers are undefeated at the top of the Cumberland League and confident they can claim a success in York.

Hunslet Warriors entertain Halifax-based amateurs Siddal and they will be confident that they can take a second National Conference League Premier Division scalp after beating Eccles-Salford Juniors in the First Round. Siddal's league form has been of concern to the West Yorkshire side but their good win against the Royal Air Force in the last round could prove to be just the boost they need.

East Leeds saw off city rivals Milford Marlins last time out and they face a difficult task when Widnes St.Maries are their visitors while the winners of the game between struggling sides, Walney Central (Barrow) and Saddleworth Rangers (Oldham) will really set their disappointing seasons alight if they can win through to the Third Round.

Lancashire Cup winners Blackbrook from St Helens overcame the tricky trip to Gloucestershire Warriors in the First Round of the Powergen Challenge Cup and are on their travels again in the Second Round, this time to Halifax to face an Ovenden side, who will provide a stiffer test.

LHF League Three team, Bramley Buffaloes have had some uncomfortable Third Round Challenge Cup memories in a previous life when they were a professional club but they will see themselves as odds-on favourites to overcome Dewsbury amateurs Shaw Cross Sharks and reach the Third Round draw.

Powergen Challenge Cup Second Round Fixtures

Barrow Island v Kells

Bramley Buffaloes v Shaw Cross Sharks

East Leeds v Widnes St.Maries

East Hull v Wigan St.Patricks

Hunslet Warriors v Siddal

Leigh East v Thornhill Trojans

Leigh Miners Rangers v Oulton Raiders

Ovenden v Blackbrook

Skirlaugh v Wath Brow Hornets

The Army v West Bowling

Walney Central v Saddleworth Rangers

Warrington Wizards v Bradford Dudley Hill

York Acorn v Seaton Rangers