Rhinos star Hall returns to Oulton for Cup draw

LEEDS RHINOS winger Ryan Hall returned to his former club Oulton Raiders last night to help make the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup second round draw.
Leeds Rhinos' Ryan Hall and Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes made the Challenge Cup draw.Leeds Rhinos' Ryan Hall and Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes made the Challenge Cup draw.
Leeds Rhinos' Ryan Hall and Castleford Tigers' Oliver Holmes made the Challenge Cup draw.

Hall, who won the Lance Todd Trophy for his two-try performance as Leeds beat Castleford Tigers in last season’s Wembley final, admitted: “It was an honour to be part of this.

“It’s good that the Oulton club remember me and invite me down on their behalf.

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“I started my Challenge Cup career with them away against Leigh Miners back in 2006.

“To start at that point and go on to taste success with Leeds is such an amazing feeling.”

The England international drew the National Conference Premier Division side out at home to face Valley Cougars.

Castleford Tigers second-row Oli Holmes, an ex-Normanton Knights junior, drew out the away sides with his former club hosting Shaw Cross or York Acorn.

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He said: “It was a great experience to be at Oulton tonight having never seen a cup draw live before. All the fans were so passionate.

“I was praying for Ryan to pull the Normanton home ball out and he did.

“I remember them playing Shaw Cross a few years ago as the Knights battled for promotion so it’ll be good to see them play again.”

A total of 22 clubs drawn from the community game and Armed Forces will now look to progress to the third round when all 14 League 1 teams enter the competition.

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Second round draw (to be played over weekend of February 14/15): Hunslet Warriors v West Hull, Wath Brow Hornets v Lock Lane, Hull Dockers v Walney Central, Kells v Nottingham Outlaws / Blackbrook, Elland v Egremont Rangers, Oulton Raiders v Valley Cougars, Widnes West Bank v Rochdale Mayfield, Siddal v Featherstone Lions / Queens, Normanton Knights v Shaw Cross Sharks / York Acorn, Skirlaugh v Royal Navy