MATCH PREVIEW: SIDDAL (H) - CHALLENGE CUP SECOND ROUND

The Alexander Stadium: Home of the 2022 Commonwealth Games

Hurricanes welcome NCL powerhouses to The Alex

The oldest competition in rugby league will make its first appearance at The Alexander Stadium tomorrow as the Midlands Hurricanes welcome National Conference Premier side Siddal ARLFC to north Birmingham in the Second Round of the Betfred Challenge Cup.

The Hurricanes come into this season off the back of our best League One campaign to date in 2024, finishing fifth and earning a place in the promotion play-offs for the very first time. That history was compounded by a 24-22 Elimination Play-Off victory over Workington Town before that heart-breaking 18-14 defeat to eventual promotion winners Hunslet in the Elimination Semi-Final. With two more teams in the league and the return of the Super 8s format it will be tougher than ever to compete for promotion to the Championship, but we have no doubt the club aims to go from strength to strength this season.

Whilst Siddal compete below the Hurricanes at step 4 of the rugby league pyramid and are a community/amateur side, Head Coach Mark Dunning knows this will be a very tricky fixture for his lads in pink and blue. Siddal are known for being a formidable outfit and regularly feature in the play-offs to be crowned NCL Champions, with the 2024 side ending last season as the Premier League Leaders before falling short in the play-offs. Whilst fans will no doubt be pleased with the Canes 34-30 away victory over Championship outfit Batley Bulldogs last week, the home side will need to produce a professional performance and respect their opponents for the full 80 minutes.

The two sides have technically clashed before, with Siddal defeating then-National League Three side Coventry Bears 26-4 in 2005. This will, however, be the Hurricanes fifth Challenge Cup fixture against a community club since joining the professional ranks in 2015, having bested Distington ARLFC (42-12) and Pilkinton Recs (31-20) in 2018, as well as Hull Dockers (4-50) and Orrell St James (12-19) in 2023.

In addition to the usual drama of knockout rugby and advancing on the Road to Wembley, this game presents other opportunities for each side. For the Hurricanes, there is the opportunity to impress in front of the home faithful for the first time in 2025 after a long pre-season and off the back of a good away performance in West Yorkshire. For Siddal, this will be an opportunity to test themselves against League One opposition and potentially claim a scalp. For both teams, there is the prospect of hosting none other than Super League’s Salford Red Devils in what will be a mouth-watering tie for whoever emerges as winners after the final whistle.

For one family, the Second Round draw presents a conflicting moment as Hurricanes full-back Todd Horner - a product of Siddal during his youth - and Siddal prop Adam Horner will be on opposite sides of the field in Birmingham tomorrow. We dare not ask who mum and dad will be supporting on the day, or if they’ll simply be watching the game through their hands if the two brothers are forced to collide on the pitch! Todd is one of two Hurricanes players with ties to the Halifax-based club, with young forward Ellis Hobson being the second.

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 look forward to welcoming as many fans as possible to The Alex in what promises to be a great afternoon of rugby league for all involved. COME ON YOU CANES!

Squads:
Midlands Hurricanes RLFC
1 - Todd Horner (Sponsored by Yorkshire Ceiling Services)
2 - Matty Chrimes
3 - Ryan Johnson
4 - Ross Oakes (Sponsored by Geoff Hammond)
6 - Jake Sweeting (Sponsored by Anthony Hughes)
7 - Callum McLelland (C)
8 - Jon-Luke Kirby (VC)
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
15 - Aaron Willis
16 - Ellis Hobson (Sponsored by GLLEE UK Ltd)
17 - Kieran Moran
18 - Zeus Silk
19 - Marcus Green
20 - Elliott Morris
21 - Sullivan Medforth (Sponsored by Ideal Building Systems)
22 - Jose Kenga (Sponsored by Longbridge Taiho Jutsu)
24 - Matty Hanley (Sponsored by JGE Wholesale)

Siddal ARLFC
1 - Lewis Hosty
2 - Oli Lewis
3 - Harvey Williams
4 - Henry Turner
5 - Sam Walsh
6 - Harry Milnes
7 - Christian Ackroyd
8 - Josh Milnes
9 - Jamie Greenwood
10 - Adam Horner
11 - Conner MacCallum
12 - Dan Williams
13 - Danny Rushworth
14 - Dan May
15 - Mikey Holmes
16 - Canaan Smithies
17 - Harry Georgiou
18 - Liam Whitton