Whitehaven and Barrow Raiders are flexing their muscles ahead of Challenge Cup showdowns with Super League sides this week-end.

The west Cumbrians must wait until Monday night at the JJB Stadium for their clash with Wigan Warriors (7-30pm).
Barrow are in action on Sunday at Craven Park at home to Wakefield Wildcats (3pm).

Coach Ged Stokes will need no reminding that Whitehaven suffered a club record 98-4 defeat when they visited Wigan Warriors in the fourth round of 2000.

They have never appeared in the Challenge Cup Final, while Wigan have been finalists a record 28 times and won the trophy a record 17 times.

Wigan have won the last eight Cup and League meetings spread out over 26 years. Whitehaven last defeated Wigan in 1982 when they scraped an 8-5 home win.

Their only away win was back in 1972 at the old Central Park ground in the last season of the old one league system. Neither side scored a try as Whitehaven edged home 8-6.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings -  1958 (1) Wigan 39 Whitehaven 10; 1966 (2) Wigan 40 Whitehaven 6;  2000 (4) Wigan 98 Whitehaven 4;  2005 (4) Wigan 42 Whitehaven 4.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats’ belief that this could be their Cup year is enhanced by the fact that on the last two occasions they met Barrow in the competition they went on to Wembley, albeit losing in the finals of 1968 and 1979.

Barrow’s 1979 defeat was the last time they reached the quarter finals.

The clubs have had widely contrasting fortunes in the last two decades and have not met since Barrow were last in the top division, in 1989-90.

Wakefield won 30-16 at home to complete a league double. But Barrow won the previous encounter, 32-16 at home in the old Second Division in 1987-88.

Previous RL Challenge Cup meetings -  1915 (1) Barrow 15 Wakefield 8; 1956 (3) Wakefield 10 Barrow 14; 1968 (1) Barrow 4 Wakefield 8; 1979 (3) Wakefield 8 Barrow 5.

The other fifth round ties are: Saturday -  St. Helens V Warrington Wolves.

Sunday - Hull Kingston Rovers V Huddersfield Giants; Dewsbury Rams V Oldham; Bradford Bulls V Catalans Dragons;  Widnes Vikings V Hull FC ; Harlequins RL V Leeds Rhinos.

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