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I agree the Fev v Cas is the tie of the round. But if the ����ý had first pick of the ties to televise then why oh why are they at the Stobart Stadium on Saturday and not the KC Stadium for Hull FC v Huddersfield?

Great great article about a great club !! Come on the under dog.

Interesting article George about a club with a great RL pedigree. The tie should be a cracker.

Looking beyond this match, it will be interesting to see how Featherstone's next application to join SL will be received, especially as it has often been voiced that a 14 team Super League is too big and should be reduced to a 12 team competition. Looking at Widnes fortunes this season, would Fev be able to compete?

PS Given their poor form, what chance the Broncos get dumped out of the Challenge Cup?

@CONMEBalls:

I would guess that maybe the proximity of the Grand National to Widnes might have influenced the Beeb's decision about which game to televise? Unless the events are being run by two different production crews of course in which case I am way off base. Widnes and Saints both have histories in the Challenge Cup as well, of course, and so in principle the match looks like a good one. It might end up being a good one too as Saints' form is unpredictable, plus we have some injuries now, and Widnes have sprung one surprise this season already in defeating Wigan at the Stobart. I suppose we will have to wait and see. I'm not sure that a good crowd will turn up though as Widnes are charging £20 for advance booking. Some work needs to be done on the Challenge Cup by the RFL as it is getting lost.

@George

Good piece on the Featherstone-Cas clash. I do hope there is no repeat of the trouble among fans that occurred during the recent Wakey-Cas derby. Featherstone fans do have a bit of a reputation. Some had to be escorted out of the stadium last season when we played them at Widnes in the Challenge Cup but they were fighting among themselves at that point! (Hull KR seem to be good at that too for some reason)

Fans aside though the match promises to be tasty. I think Agent Millward sensed a possible banana skin and rested his key players for the Tigers' match against us on Easter Monday (although we still struggled to achieve a win there). I am very much looking forward to watching this match and it does have that aspect of what the Challenge Cup used to mean about it, ie a possible upset, and also there are the history and derby angles too.

@SaintDi

Di, this game is going to be little more than a training run for St Helens. Hull v Huddersfield has much more potential to be a classic, especially after their brutal encounter on Monday.

Also, I suspect after the record Easter crowds there will be some very poor turnouts this weekend. The experiment of giving SL Season Pass holders free entry into cup ties has now ended and the clubs are charging normal game day admission. Times are hard for people at the moment, a lot including myself, simply doesn't have the spare cash to go to watch my team on Sunday.

I wish I was as confident as you are CONMEBalls (great username!). We only scraped past Cas by a converted try and that was with some commendable goal line defence (28 consecutive tackles apparently). That was a very depleted Cas side too, with their main playmakers having a rest. I'm not remotely convinced the match against Widnes will be a training run; not at all.

But as you say, the Hull v Hudds match might have been better. I suppose that would depend on how Hull respond to their league defeat. They could just lie down for Hudds second time around. Who knows? Everything could turn on its head.

I'm only judging on the couple of times I have seen Widnes live and two off the box. They are a shocking side and an understrength Saints should still have plenty in the locker for them. Anyway, it isn't the Challenge Cup these days without Saints in the Semi Final.

The thing is with Hull on Monday, their big effort on Friday at the KC really hit home in the last quarter of the game while Huddersfield had a pretty easy afternoon at the office against Salford. With the extra rest, and the change of venue, it's quite easily the game of the weekend and one I wouldn't like to call.

Good piece, enjoyed reading it - as I went to kids school in Fev I always like them to do well - but was always a Cas fan at school in Leeds - I need SL class to show in the end!!

I don't think it will be as easy as a lot of Cas fans think and if Fev can keep it within 2 scores at the hour mark - In Fergie's terms there could be some squeaky bums!

I just hope on and off the field the clubs, teams and SUPPORTERS do themselves justice and the Challenge Cup is the talking point, nothing else.

C'mon Fev - RL & Super League needs clubs like you.

Well done Featherstone an excellent win! completely outplayed Castleford. Chase was shown up to be what he is. A player with one dimension? run across the field and pass inside. Castleford would actually be better off without him? Plus he should be on report for hitting Ropati with a cheap shot!