Championship rugby for 2025 was at stake for the Swinton Lions and Hunslet as they met in the promotion/relegation play off for an eighty-minute showdown to determine whether the home side would maintain their status or whether the side from West Yorkshire would replace them.

The gulf between the second and third tiers of British rugby league meant that the Lions were strong favourites for the win, it would take a Herculean effort from Hunslet to upset the Championship side and take the prize.

A Sunday evening game, under the glare of the floodlights, promised plenty of needle and an exciting encounter.

A relegation play off against the Swinton Lions awaited the victory of a League One play off match between the Keighley Cougars and Hunslet in a West Yorkshire to derby to earn the chance to join Oldham and be playing their rugby in the Championship in the 2025 season.

The home side were big favourites with the bookies to win the game, but Hunslet have sprung a few surprises in 2024 including a win at Cougar Park in May by 26-18.

What was certain was that neither side would die wondering.

After defeating the British Police and Pilkington Recs in the opening two rounds, Conference League Premier Division Siddal had their sights set on a Betfred Challenge Cup upset as they travelled to Hunslet to take on the Parksiders from Betfred Championship One, in front of the BBC cameras and with a fourth-round game away at either the Swinton Lions or North Wales Crusaders as the prize on offer.

With entry just a fiver on the gate, the home side were hoping for a bumper crowd to cheer them to victory on the road to Tottenham as they looked to avoid slipping on a proverbial banana skin, and avoiding a cup upset.

Hunslet are twice winners, the last time in 1934, but Siddal have never made it past the fourth-round.

It wouldn’t be a Challenge Cup final weekend without the now traditional Friday Night Lights encounter at London Skolars, this season the opposition being Betfred League One fourth placed side Hunslet.

The 4G pitch at the New River Stadium in Wood Green, a ten mile drive around the North Circular, always attracts a good following of diehard Rugby League supporters down in the nationals capital to make a weekend of it.

But two important league points were up for grabs as Hunslet looked to cement their play-off spot while a loss would spell the end of the Skolars chase for the play-offs and the second promotion spot for another season.

Eight Betfred Championship league one teams kicked off the opening round of the inaugral 1896 Cup, which will culminate in a Wembley final on Challenge Cup Final day, the 24th August.

They will be joined by the twelve English Championship sides for round two to be played over the first weekend in June.

The South Leeds Stadium was the venue as Hunslet faced a Workington Town side under the new custodianship of Chris Thorman, who was only appointed towards the end of last week following the sacking of Leon Pryce.

Workington reportedly travelled to Hunslet with a squad of just fourteen players and the home side were clear favourites, currently sitting in second place in the league ladder.

It was third against fourth in the fourth round of the Betfred Championship Division One as the Bradford Bulls welcomed Hunslet to Odsal Stadium.

Both sides came into the game with two wins from their two outings so far and it promised to be a close game.

It was the Bulls first home league game for 189 days and they hoped to build on their big win against Keighley a fortnight ago.

The sun was out to welcome John Kears side back home and the expectation of the home supporters was high.