A bit more info
http://www.nationalleagues.co.uk/story.php?id=12454Next season’s Northern Rail Cup competition will have a fresh new look with the 20 competing teams from The Co-operative Championships playing in an intensive opening group stage format thus providing a more streamlined and exciting start to the tournament.
All the English based Co-operative Championship and Championship 1 clubs have been divided equally into two pools for the group stages with five teams from each division in each pool. Each team will play two home games and two away games against teams in their pool.
The pick of the first round of group matches sees last year’s Northern Rail Cup finalists Doncaster travelling to fellow The Co-operative Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs whilst Featherstone host Leigh Centurions in another all Championship clash.
Elsewhere Sheffield Eagles will play at home against Hunslet, Whitehaven will travel to York City Knights, fellow Cumbrian team Workington are away ay Swinton Lions, Dewsbury Rams will travel down to play London Skolars and Keighley will host Gateshead.
Newly promoted Barrow host Widnes Vikings, Oldham will play Rochdale Hornets and Halifax will welcome Blackpool to The Shay.
Emma Rosewarne, RFL Operations Director said: “We are pleased to introduce this new format and we believe that having a more streamlined group stage will increase the intensity of the competition and provide even more excitement.”
The two pools are split by division so that each club will play an equal number of The Co-operative Championship and The Co-operative Championship 1 clubs. The top four teams in each pool following the conclusion of the group stage fixtures will then progress into an open draw for the knock out quarter final stage.
The quarter finals will be played on the weekend of 6/7 June with the semi finals being played on 20/21 June. The Northern Rail Cup Final will be held at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on Sunday July 12.
Meanwhile the 18 teams not involved in the Northern Rail Cup Final will participate in the inaugural Northern Rail 9’s celebration weekend which will also take place in Blackpool over the Northern Rail Cup Final weekend.
The draw for this exciting weekend celebration of Rugby League by the sea in Blackpool will take place in June once the Northern Rail Cup finalists are confirmed.
Heidi Mottram, Managing Director, Northern Rail said: “We fully support the new format for the Northern Rail Cup and can’t wait for the start of the competition in February.
“We’re looking forward to seeing fans from every club supporting their team in Blackpool at the Northern Rail 9’s celebration weekend for what should be a spectacular event.”
Trust in Widnes
Author