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Blackwood Bulldogs eye dream Welsh Cup clash

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

Welsh Conference Premier champions Blackwood Bulldogs are aiming to cause a big upset this Sunday when they face Co-operative Championship One side Oldham in the third round of the Carnegie Challenge Cup.

Blackwood know that a shock victory in the tie at Sedgley Park could set up a dream Carnegie Challenge Cup fourth round clash with Welsh Engage Super League team Crusaders RL.

Andrew Smith, Blackwood Bulldogs chairman, said: "Everyone in Blackwood is looking forward to Sunday's game.

“We know how tough it will be, Oldham are a professional side who have played five competitive games already this season while we’ll only be on our third game of the year with some of our lads maybe having to play rugby union the day before.

“But we'll have a strong side going up there as usual and we're once again determined to do Wales proud.

“We'll go out there full of confidence. Cup shocks have happened throughout the competition's history and who knows? We could pull off another one this Sunday if we play well. It would be fantastic to be drawn against the Crusaders in the fourth round."

The Bulldogs’ full-back David James scored a hat-trick of tries in the last round of the competition and has been training with new Neath-based semi-professional side South Wales Scorpions, with whom he will commence playing once Blackwood’s Cup run ends.

David James said: “It will be a really good experience to go up against Oldham this Sunday.

“We're fielding more or less the same team as in the earlier rounds so we know that we can do a good job.

“It'll also be good for me to see how Oldham play as hopefully I’ll be facing them again twice more this year when the Scorpions play them.”

Blackwood Bulldogs’ Carnegie Challenge Cup second round game was covered by the BBC’s Super League Show and the TV cameras are set to be there again for the Oldham match.

With all Co-operative Championship club season ticket holders guaranteed free entry to their club’s third round tie, a bumper crowd is expected at Sedgley Park when Oldham will hope the magic of the Challenge Cup weaves its spell in the right way.

The RFL are asking fans to nominate their greatest Challenge Cup giant-killing act of all time in a special poll to mark the 113^th anniversary of Rugby League’s oldest and most prestigious knockout competition.

Supporters are asked to send an e-mail with the subject ‘Greatest Challenge Cup Giant-Killing Act’ to john.ledger@rfl.uk.com stating the match, what year it was played and a 50-100 word explanation detailing why the tie was so special to them.

Everyone who submits their entry before the closing date of Friday April 9 will be entered into a draw to win a pair of tickets for the 2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final at Wembley on Saturday August 28.

Tickets for the 2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final are currently on sale, priced from just £21. Until Friday March 26, the RFL is offering complimentary upgrades on all ticket bands, with the exception of £76 tickets, for the Wembley showdown. For example, anyone purchasing a £31 ticket will automatically be upgraded to a £41 ticket.

To book your Wembley seat at the historic 2010 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final contact  the RFL ticket office on 0844 856 11 13 or visit www.carnegiechallengecup.co.uk