Wath Brow were the unwelcome centre of attraction at last night’s draw for the third round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

A re-draw was required when the Wath Brow ball drawn from Pool B was accidentally put back into the bag rather than on public display.

This ball was later re-drawn, making the draw void. The error was immediately spotted and the draw re-done. Both draws were subject to full public scrutiny by the assembled crowd at the Metro Centre.

In fact Wath Brow were the last team out of the hat in the re-draw and face a tough trip to Leigh Centurions.

Workington Town’s older fans will have had memories stirred by their draw against Featherstone Rovers. That was the team they beat to lift the trophy for the only time back in 1952.

But the modern-day Town face a touch task in travelling to Post Office Road to take on the 21st century Rovers who play a level higher in the Championship.

Whitehaven are also on the road, but they will face amateur opposition in Leigh Miners Rangers, currently fifth in the National Conference Premier Division.

Barrow Raiders will have amateur opposition at Craven Park in the shape of Hunslet Warriors.

Batley Bulldogs, the first winners of the Challenge Cup in 1897, will play Leeds Metropolitan University, the team of sponsors Carnegie.

Leeds Met, who reached the third round with victory over the Police, are the last remaining student team in the competition and will head to Mount Pleasant on the weekend of March 6 and 7.

The draw produced some intriguing pairings, including a match between the Royal Navy and Blackpool Panthers, winners of last year’s inaugural Northern Rail 9’s, and a derby battle between the professionals of Halifax RLFC and community club Ovenden.

Blackwood  Bulldogs, the Welsh champions, face a trip to Oldham; Keighley Cougars have again drawn French opposition in Co-operative Championship side Toulouse Olympique.

The draw for the third round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup in full is as follows:

Widnes Vikings v Wigan St Jude’s
Oldham v Blackwood Bulldogs
Gateshead Thunder v York City Knights
London Skolars v Limoux
Doncaster v Siddal
Rochdale Hornets v Lezignan
Drighlington v Dewsbury Rams
Batley Bulldogs v Leeds Metropolitan University
Royal Navy v Blackpool Panthers
Featherstone Rovers v Workington Town
Warrington Wizards v Swinton Lions
Leigh Miners Rangers v Whitehaven
Sheffield Eagles v Thatto Heath
Ovenden v Halifax
Barrow Raiders v Hunslet Warriors
Keighley Cougars v Toulouse Olympique
Leigh East v Hunslet Hawks
Leigh Centurions v Wath Brow Hornets

Ties to be played over the weekend of March 6 and 7.

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