Batley Bulldogs take on Featherstone Rovers in the fifth round of the Betfred Challenge Cup this afternoon, and you can watch every single minute of action live on The Sportsman. Our live and exclusive coverage starts at 2.45pm, with the game kicking off at 3pm.
The fifth round is always thrilling, with the competition on the cusp of welcoming the top eight Betfred Super League sides for the next stage. Batley and Featherstone will each be hoping they are in the hat to take on the big boys, but only one can reach a huge sixth round tie.
Batley Bulldogs coach Craig Lingard is entering into the spirit of knockout cup competition. Last season’s Betfred Championship Coach of the Year told The Sportsman, “We are the underdogs and it’s a free hit for us. All the pundits will write us off and all the fans will write us off, that’s just how we like it. We perform best when our backs are against the wall.”
The single-elimination nature of the cup, and the need to be on top of your game for a one-off 80 minutes, is also on the mind of Featherstone Rovers coach Brian McDermott. The four-time Super League-winning boss told us, “This week it’s the Challenge Cup and because you don’t get a second chance it just gives it a different feel. You have to get the job done there and then and can’t learn your lessons.”
This fascinating clash will play out live and exclusively on The Sportsman, as part of our ongoing commitment to bring you live rugby league excitement throughout the season. Tune in from 2.45pm for a superb afternoon of rugby.
TEAM NEWS:
Batley Bulldogs Squad: Luke Hooley, Perry Whiteley, Kieran Buchanan, Joshua Hodson, Ben White, Tom Gilmore, Adam Gledhill, Alistair Leak, Toby Everett, Dane Manning, Lucas Walshaw, James Meadows, Jack Blagbrough, Michael Ward, Luke Blake, George Senior, Louis Collinson, Ben Kaye, Connor Carr, Oliver Burton, Greg Johnson
Featherstone Rovers Squad: Pickersgill, Briscoe, Leilua, Hall, Gale, Holmes, Chisholm, Jones, Lockwood, Ferres, Bussey, Wildie, Davies, Moors, Hellewell, Smith, Cooper, Trout, McConnell, Cuthbertson, Jacks
