Warrington and Saints pitted together

5:47pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

RUGBY LEAGUE: Defending champions St Helens will face fellow Super League side Warrington in the fifth round of the Challenge Cup.

Wigan host National League Division One side Whitehaven, while world champions Leeds visit Harlequins, while Bradford will host last year's beaten finalists Catalan Dragons.

Hull Kingston Rovers host Huddersfield in a fourth all top-flight contest, while city rivals Hull play Widnes.

Relative outsiders Barrow Raiders and Dewsbury Rams are rewarded with home ties against Wakefield and Oldham. Games will be played on May 10 and 11 Saints enjoyed home advantage all the way through to the semi-finals in each of the last two years when they went on to lift the Cup.

It is more than three years since they were drawn away from home.

Warrington lost at Knowsley Road in the quarter-finals last season and host Saints in a Super League game at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium tomorrow.

They are a high-quality side and know their way to the final after being there last year St Helens coach Daniel Anderson said: "Warrington will be no different to this week, they are a very dangerous team."

Wolves lost 30-22 away to Saints in the second round of Super League and go into tomorrow's game on the back of three successive league defeats.

"The next month is massive for us," said coach Paul Cullen. "It goes without saying, now is the time to hit form."

Quins lost to Leeds in the quarter-finals in 2006 and were hammered 48-0 in the league at Headingley this year.

But Rhinos coach Brian McClennan said: "We will be expecting a tough test down at Harlequins.

"Being drawn away to another Super League club is always one of the toughest draws, but we have got four games before then and will hopefully go there in good form."

Bradford coach Steve McNamara said the in-form Dragons were a tough tie for the Bulls.

"They are a high-quality side and know their way to the final after being there last year." he said. "It will be tough but we are looking forward to it."

Full draw: Hull KR v Huddersfield; Barrow Raiders v Wakefield Trinity; Dewsbury Rams v Oldham; Bradford v Catalan Dragons; Wigan Warriors v Whitehaven; Widnes Vikings v Hull FC; Harlequins v Leeds Rhinos; St Helens v Warrington.