Holders to start at home

Rhinos to meet Hull FC in pick of last 32 clashes

Last updated: 8th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Holders to start at home

Warrington celebrate at Wembley last August

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Holders Warrington will kick off the defence of their Carnegie Challenge Cup crown with a home clash against Championship club Featherstone Rovers.

The Wolves, who won the trophy for the sixth time in their history when they beat Huddersfield at Wembley last August, will take on Featherstone on the weekend of April 16-18.

Warrington coach Tony Smith insisted his side would not be taking their lower-league opponents lightly, stating: "That's a tough draw, tougher than most people would think.

"They are one of the favourites from the division below so it will be a tough

fixture for us."

However, he insisted his charges were determined to go on another successful run in the competition adding: "The will to go back and do it again is great from all of us. For the fans, players and coaches, that would be fantastic.

"It's a new year and you have to start all over again. Just by having the experience doesn't necessarily mean you are going to go back there again.

"It gives you a taste of what it's like and Wembley is certainly a special place. We'll be fighting to go back again."

The most intriguing clash of the last 32 sees Super League champions Leeds Rhinos travel to face Hull FC at the KC Stadium - a repeat of the 2005 final which was won by the Black and Whites.

"It's a tough draw," Leeds coach Brian McClennan said of the fixture. "We'll have to perform very well to beat Hull on their ground."

Exciting draw

"It's part of the drama of the Challenge Cup that there are some tight encounters and exciting draws.

"We'll take it one game at a time and that's all you can do. It's one hell of a challenge, going to Hull and playing them at their ground.

"We won't be looking any further than the first minute of that game and making sure we're in there competing and putting in a good performance and if we don't we'll be out."

The Leeds-Hull showdown is one of four all-Super League contests with last year's beaten finalists Huddersfield at home to Hull KR, Harlequins hosting Wakefield and Salford travelling to the Catalan Dragons.

Elsewhere, Wigan meet Sheffield Eagles in a repeat of the famous 1998 Wembley final, while St Helens, who won the trophy four times in a row up to 2008, are at home to Championship club Toulouse, one of four French clubs in the last 32.

"It's fair to say it's a favourable draw," declared Saints full-back Paul Wellens.

Leigh must travel to Limoux while Widnes will be at home to Lezignan providing they overcome amateurs Wigan St Judes in a delayed third-round tie on Tuesday night.

Siddal, the only amateur club definitely in the fourth round, have landed a home tie against Batley.

Draw for the fourth round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup:

York v Crusaders
Hunslet v Oldham
Swinton v Halifax
Limoux v Leigh
Harlequins v Wakefield
St Helens v Toulouse
Widnes or Wigan St Judes v Lezignan
Catalans v Salford
Sheffield Eagles v Wigan
Siddal v Batley
Hull v Leeds
Castleford v Barrow
Warrington v Featherstone
Blackpool v Whitehaven
Huddersfield v Hull KR
Dewsbury v Bradford

Ties to be played on the weekend of April 16-18.

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