Challenge Cup draw: Two all-Yorkshire quarter-final ties

A repeat of the 2016 Grand Final and a clash between the holders and the Super League leaders are the highlights of a mouth-watering Ladbrokes Challenge Cup quarter-final draw.
Rob Burow runs in a second try for Leeds.Rob Burow runs in a second try for Leeds.
Rob Burow runs in a second try for Leeds.

Hull, who made a convincing start to the defence of their trophy with a 62-0 rout of Catalans Dragons on Friday, will have another home tie but are guaranteed a sterner test against Castleford, who were 53-10 victors over St Helens.

The Black and Whites ran out 26-24 winners over the Tigers in the league last month and are just a point behind them in the table.

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Warrington, who were runners-up to Hull at Wembley last August, will have home advantage against record 19-times winners Wigan in what will be their fourth meeting in eight months.

Wigan followed up October’s Grand Final triumph with a 38-16 league victory at the DW Stadium in March and the local rivals will play each other on the opening day of the Magic Weekend in Newcastle next Saturday.

“We don’t get to play Wigan enough this year,” Wolves head coach Tony Smith quipped. “It’s going to be fun. We will know each other pretty well by then. We bring the best out in each other.

“We’re happy to be in the draw and it’s nice to be at home.

“We’ll see what sort of bodies Wigan have by then and we’ll see who we have. We’ve got another Easter before then which could decimate both teams.”

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Leeds, who have played League 1 opponents Doncaster and Barrow so far in the competition, will again have home advantage against part-time opposition after being paired with Championship high-fliers Featherstone, with whom they have a dual-registration agreement.

In the other tie, Salford will be at home for the third successive round, this time to Wakefield, who were semi-finalists in 2016.

All the ties, which will be played from June 15-18, will be televised live, split between the BBC and Sky Sports.