Championship Talk: Cup full of storylines

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Cup full of storylines

THE story of Brad and Perry Singleton facing each other for the first time in this year’s Coral Challenge Cup is the kind of storyline knock-out competitions thrive on.

Print deadlines mean that some of this round’s matches may have been played by the time you read this, but it’s the tales behind the matches that often catch the eye most when Davids meet Goliaths in the Challenge Cup.

       

The Singleton brothers is a prime example.

While elder brother Brad took the Super League academy route and has won trophies with Leeds Rhinos, Perry chose to do an apprenticeship and was a relative late comer to the professional game, joining Workington two years ago.

       

This year’s Challenge Cup has brought them together on the same field for opposing sides for the first time in their careers - they did line up alongside each other for Barrow Island in the 2009 Barrow District final against Askam.

       

There are storylines across the matches in the fifth round.

       

Hull KR drew Leigh Centurions, with a host of players having turned out for both clubs in recent years, including Craig Hall, Ben Crooks, Josh Drinkwater, Joe Cator and Iain Thornley. Robins fullback Will Dagger also finished last season on loan at the Centurions.

       

There are also plenty of links between Salford and Rochdale, with coaches Ian Watson and Carl Forster facing their former clubs.

       

Red Devils’ prop Adam Lawton has impressed on loan at Hornets this year and the two squads have held opposed training sessions against each other.

       

Halifax and London Broncos are also well accustomed to each other following a host of Championship clashes in recent years.

       

Elsewhere, it wasn’t exactly a dream tie for the last remaining amateur club Thatto Heath Crusaders to draw Dewsbury, but being drawn at home is a boost against a Rams team starting to find its feet now under Lee Greenwood.

       

Crusaders halfback Bobbie Goulding will take on his former club.

       

Two past winners were drawn together in Bradford Bulls and Featherstone Rovers - when the sides met on the opening day of the campaign, a Dane Chisholm drop goal proved decisive for John Kear’s man in a 17-16 win.

       

In another all-Championship tie, Widnes Vikings host York City Knights in a meeting of two of the most consistent teams - and brightest young coaches - in the competition to date.

       

The other remaining League One club Doncaster host a Batley Bulldogs side at the bottom end of the Championship at the moment in what should be a fascinating clash.

       

The eight winners will be joined by the top eight from last season’s Super League in the sixth round draw on Monday April 15.