MATCH PREVIEW: WHITEHAVEN RLFC (H) - 1895 CUP FIRST PRELIMINARY ROUND

The Alexander Stadium, the home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Hurricanes to host Haven in 1895 Cup action

Last week the oldest competition in rugby league graced the Alexander Stadium as the Canes battled to a professional 46-0 victory over Siddal ARLFC. Tomorrow, the newest competition in rugby league will grace the Alexander Stadium for just the third time (albeit the first time in the main stadium rather than the warm-up track) as the Midlands Hurricanes welcome Cumbrian outfit Whitehaven to Birmingham for the First Preliminary Round of the 1895 Cup.

After a special format for the 1895 Cup last season that saw all 21 eligible clubs split into seven groups of three to determine the quarter-finalists, the competition has adopted a new format that sees the 11 League One clubs whittled down to four in two Preliminary Round fixtures before they join the 12 English Championship clubs in the First Round Proper. Six of those clubs - including the Canes - were drawn into the First Preliminary Round with the remaining five receiving a bye into the Second Preliminary Round.

The Canes have had a strong pre-season so far, shown by a 34-30 away victory over Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs in a friendly at Mount Pleasant and followed up with last Sunday’s comprehensive victory over Siddal. However, tomorrow’s clash with the Cumbrians will represent a serious test of Mark Dunning’s men and against fellow League One opposition who will be keen to continue some momentum of their own.

To say our opponents had a turbulent 2024 season would be an understatement, and the Championship is a tough enough league without having to deal with a depleted squad through injury, financial troubles during a crucial point of the season and the threat of relegation looming throughout (which eventually materialised in the final weeks of the season). Despite starting pre-season with just one of the players from the previous year, Whitehaven have done an incredible rebuild by encouraging players from Cumbrian rivals Workington Town to make the switch, as well as giving a host of youngsters from the community game the chance to shine with nothing to lose. That strategy appears to have paid dividends already, with the plucky Cumbrians defeating Town 18-12 in the Ike Southward Memorial Trophy fixture, as well as turning over a 12-point deficit to defeat Swinton Lions 24-12 in the Second Round of the Challenge Cup.

Both teams performances in the Second Round last week earned them home ties against Super League opposition, with the Canes hosting Salford Red Devils next Sunday (9 February) at 2pm and Whitehaven hosting Warrington Wolves next Saturday (8 February). With both teams reporting strong sales and interest in their respective Third Round home clashes, it appears some of the criticism levied against the decision to introduce Super League teams in the Third Round may be misplaced.

The Canes and Whitehaven have yet to face each other before, however Whitehaven and Coventry Bears competed five times between 2017 and 2019 (with Haven emerging victorious each time). After beating Workington three times last season - including once at Derwent Park - we’re sure Head Coach Mark Dunning will be keen to see if he can earn another Cumbrian scalp on Sunday.

With the draws for the next two rounds already done, the winners of tomorrow’s clash know they face an away trip to Keighley Cougars in the Second Preliminary Round, with the winners of that fixture then travelling to Post Office Road to face Championship side Featherstone Rovers in the First Round Proper.

Today is your last chance to save money on ticket prices for tomorrow’s fixture, with prices to rise by £2 (£1 for U16s) for those paying on the gate. Advanced ticket prices are:

£10 Adults
£8 Concessions (O65/17-21)
£5 Student
£1 U16

We hope to see as many fans as possible to cheer on the Canes as they aim for back-to-back cup wins. COME ON YOU CANES!

Squads:
Midlands Hurricanes RLFC
1 - Todd Horner (Sponsored by Yorkshire Ceiling Services)
2 - Matty Chrimes (Sponsored by Lowry Recruitment)
3 - Ryan Johnson (Sponsored by Crypto Construction)
4 - Ross Oakes (Sponsored by Geoff Hammond)
5 - Travis Corion
6 - Jake Sweeting (Sponsored by Anthony Hughes)
7 - Callum McLelland (C)
8 - Jon-Luke Kirby (VC) (Sponsored by EJ Interiors Ltd)
9 - Danny Barcoe (Sponsored by St Catherine’s Carpets)
10 - Sam Bowring (Sponsored by Midlands Hurricanes Supporters Club)
11 - Tom Wilkinson (Sponsored by JW Visual)
13 - Mikey Wood (Sponsored by MG Electrical Contractors Ltd)
14 - Aiden Roden (Sponsored by Enjoy Travel Group)
15 - Aaron Willis
17 - Kieran Moran
18 - Zeus Silk
20 - Elliott Morris (Sponsored by GLR Energy Ltd)
21 - Sullivan Medforth (Sponsored by Ideal Building Systems)
22 - Jose Kenga (Sponsored by Longbridge Taiho Jutsu)
24 - Matty Hanley (Sponsored by JGE Wholesale)
26 - Ethan Newboult (Sponsored by Leeds Golf Club)

Whitehaven RLFC
Jordan Burns
Ethan Bickerdike
Kieran Tyrer
Jack Newbegin
Jordan Thomson
Clarke Chambers
Jack Kellett
Luke Collins
Mason Lewthwaite
Brad Brennan
Karl Garner
Aaron Turnbull
Rio McQuistan
Ellis Nixon
Max Anderson-Moore
Tom Farren
Josh Blinkhorn
Mitchell Todd
Aaron Burns
Scott Egan