Challenge Cup quarter-finals draw features Hull derby
Hull FC will face city rivals Hull KR in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals following their sensational comeback win against holders Wigan Warriors.John Cartwright's side trailed 16-0 at half-time but roared back in the second half to beat the 21-time champions 26-22.They will face Hull KR in the last eight at MKM Stadium, after Willie Peters' team cruised past second second-tier Oldham.The pair last met in the Challenge Cup in 1986, with their only other previous meeting in the famous Wembley final of 1980.Last year's beaten finalists Warrington Wolves will host St Helens after beating Widnes Vikings, while 2023 champions Leigh Leopards will face Wakefield Trinity.2018 winners Catalans Dragons will start as heavy favourites when they host Super League strugglers Salford in Perpignan.All ties will be played across the weekend of 5 and 6 April.
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Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Sam Burgess and Willie Peters seeking swift redemption in Challenge Cup
Redemption would be swift for Burgess if he can inspire a side riddled with injury concerns to see off the current Super League leaders and erase the memory of last year's miserable 18-8 final defeat to Wigan. Meanwhile Peters has the lingering memories of Rovers' heartbreaking 2023 final loss to Leigh to erase, not to mention a 40-year trophyless streak to explode as his side look to live up to their deserved billing as heavy favourites. Warrington captain George Williams will be back at Wembley after beating an ankle injury (Bradley Collyer/PA) For Burgess, the current campaign has come in stark contrast to his successful debut season as a Super League coach, with injuries ravaging the Wolves spine and inconsistency leaving them languishing in eighth place in the table, but it has presented a challenge he has relished. 'This year has been enjoyable because I've learned a lot more,' said Burgess, who has resisted speculation that he is set for a swift return to Australia's NRL, insisting he is committed to seeing out his current contract with Warrington which expires in 2026. 'This year has been different to the first year. The first year was smooth sailing, but this year has been challenging with a number of things on and off the field. 'I've had to make some hard decisions and lost some key players at key times, and really had to think about coaching and different strategies. I think the group has learned a little bit more together as well, and this weekend is another chance for us to go as a group.' Hull KR came up short in the 2023 Challenge Cup final (Nigel French/PA) Captain George Williams has declared himself fit to return less than eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, but the respective absences through injury of hooker Danny Walker and winger Matty Ashton represent a major blow to Warrington's hopes of clinching a first title since 2019. Mindful of the way in which his side fell flat in last year's showpiece, Burgess is coy about the changes he has made in a bid to get his hands on the trophy for the first time as either a coach or a player, having fallen short of Wembley in his early-career stint with Bradford Bulls. 'I've changed a couple of things that I learned from last year,' said Burgess, who also refused to be drawn on what it would mean for him to add a Challenge Cup success to his CV at a relatively early stage in his coaching career. 'There's a lot of work to be done between now and the final whistle, so I try not to live that fantasy life,' said Burgess. 'I try and stay in the present. It's probably best asking what it means after the game. But any chance of winning silverware is important.' Hull KR head coach Willie Peters is desperate for his side to end 40 trophyless years (Richard Sellers/PA) Rovers boss Peters has told his players to embrace the weight of expectation that comes with being the domestic game's pre-eminent force, with the club having scarcely looked back since Lachlan Lam's drop-goal denied them their long-awaited triumph in 2023. East Hull has been awash with reminders that it is four decades since the Robins last lifted major honours, and Peters, who has immersed himself in the club and its community since he arrived as a relatively little-known head coach in 2023, is under no illusions about what a win would mean. 'I don't think about what it would mean for me, but I think it about the effect it will have on our club,' said Peters. 'The people involved can be legends of this club for a long time, so that excites me. What would excite me would be being in a WhatsApp group for the next 30 or 40 years with the guys who won a Challenge Cup, and being able to come back and meet up. 'We are a community club. I have always said our sole aim is to make our community proud, and we have got the chance to do that this weekend.' Peters admitted glancing back at certain aspects of the 2023 final but has resisted plunging into the negative emotions that followed that loss, pointing out his side's ability to shrug it off almost immediately and finish their domestic campaign on a high. 'I've watched some segments of the (2023) final because I know what I want to use this week, not so much about the emotions but around different actions in the game,' added Peters. 'If you talk about where you want to go, I believe that's a stronger emotion, so that's what I will be tapping into.'
Press and Journal
3 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Starting XI: Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart on the Rangers and Celtic players who were his toughest opponents
Former Caley Thistle midfielder Richie Hart starred for four seasons in the SPL before playing for Ross County then Dundee. Hart's career kicked off as a youth with the Staggies, and he also played for Brora Rangers twice, Dundee and Maltese side Hibernians and Ostersunds in Sweden. His best days were with ICT where he won the Division One title in 2004 as well as the Challenge Cup, and made 164 Inverness appearances, scoring 16 goals. My first senior debut was with Ross County under Neale Cooper away to Forfar Athletic (on February 8, 1997 in Division Three, now League Two). I was still at school and came of the bench late and managed to score the winner. I have been fortunate to have some amazing moments in football, but winning the First Division with Caley Thistle which got us promoted to the Scottish Premier League (SPL) was the best and a real pivotal moment for the club. That's a really tough question so I'm going to name a few. In my younger years, Billy Ferries (Ross County) and Alan Hercher (Brora Rangers) both played a huge part in me going to Caley Thistle. In my Caley Thistle years, it would have to be Dennis Wyness. We struck up a great understanding right from the off. On his day, he was unplayable and scored some unreal goals. Off his day, you were a man down! Seriously though, what a fantastic player. Another tough question, so I'll go for two. I played against (Rangers') Barry Ferguson at youth level and senior level and I couldn't get near him. He always seemed to have so much time and space. And (ex-Celtic winger) Shaun Maloney was such a talented footballer. He had that low centre of gravity, and was difficult to knock off the ball and so sharp. A top player. The only one that really springs to mind is Richie Britain – only because like of Martin 'Jimmy' Scott and Steven Craig used to slaughter him! As a player, hopefully it would be hard-working strong, fast – and someone they could depend upon. As a young lad on loan to Brora from Ross County, I remember tenacious midfielder and top guy Jocky Mackay saying to me one time that he thought I was a good player, but didn't play with enough desire. That instantly struck a chord with me and literally from that moment changed me in how I played the game from then on. Tynecastle always gets a mention and rightly so, but it's got to be Celtic Park for me. I managed to score there (in March 2006 in a 2-1 defeat) and it was the first game there since Jimmy Johnstone had passed away. The atmosphere was incredible. My favourite goal has to be my free-kick against Ross County for Caley Thistle (in a 2-0 win in Dingwall in March 2003). I still wind up County goalkeeper Tony Bullock about it and ask why he even attempted to dive for it. I also remember Paul Ritchie scoring an unbelievable volley down at Alloa (in a 6-0 win in Division One in March 2002). It was Van Basten-esque! Dennis Wyness and Paul both scored hat-tricks. This is the easiest question for me – Liam Keogh without shadow of a doubt. There wouldn't be much to do there, but there is no doubt Liam would keep the spirits high with his story telling. Plus, he would be very handy in fending off any wild animals. In the early days of Caley Thistle, we would all go for lunch together, have coffee or play snooker or golf. As time went by and things evolved, new managers, double sessions and the like, recovery became even more important. When I played in Malta though, we didn't train until the evenings due to the heat, so I could spend some time on the beach in the morning, get a sleep in the afternoon and then train in the evening – much to the annoyance of my wife Lisa, who was working all day! Graeme Stewart on title joy with Buckie and early days at Caley Thistle Clachnacuddin boss Conor Gethins on facing Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie Caley Thistle legend Ross Tokely on Barry Robson's shocking attire, 'absolute madman' team-mate and country music Former Aberdeen captain Russell Anderson on the day the Dons painted Glasgow red Steven Ferguson on Dunfermline captain's tragic death, Ross County boss Neale Cooper's 11 Kenny Gilberts quip and 'absolute genius' Paul Gascoigne Ex-Caley Thistle full-back Richard Hastings on facing Luis Figo and vital golden goal on way to Canada's Gold Cup glory Aberdeen FC Gothenburg Great Neil Simpson on the night he claimed Michel Platini's jersey Peterhead co-manager Ryan Strachan on his toughest opponent and favourite away ground
Leader Live
6 hours ago
- Leader Live
Sam Burgess and Willie Peters seeking swift redemption in Challenge Cup
Redemption would be swift for Burgess if he can inspire a side riddled with injury concerns to see off the current Super League leaders and erase the memory of last year's miserable 18-8 final defeat to Wigan. Meanwhile Peters has the lingering memories of Rovers' heartbreaking 2023 final loss to Leigh to erase, not to mention a 40-year trophyless streak to explode as his side look to live up to their deserved billing as heavy favourites. For Burgess, the current campaign has come in stark contrast to his successful debut season as a Super League coach, with injuries ravaging the Wolves spine and inconsistency leaving them languishing in eighth place in the table, but it has presented a challenge he has relished. 'This year has been enjoyable because I've learned a lot more,' said Burgess, who has resisted speculation that he is set for a swift return to Australia's NRL, insisting he is committed to seeing out his current contract with Warrington which expires in 2026. 'This year has been different to the first year. The first year was smooth sailing, but this year has been challenging with a number of things on and off the field. 'I've had to make some hard decisions and lost some key players at key times, and really had to think about coaching and different strategies. I think the group has learned a little bit more together as well, and this weekend is another chance for us to go as a group.' Captain George Williams has declared himself fit to return less than eight weeks after undergoing ankle surgery, but the respective absences through injury of hooker Danny Walker and winger Matty Ashton represent a major blow to Warrington's hopes of clinching a first title since 2019. Mindful of the way in which his side fell flat in last year's showpiece, Burgess is coy about the changes he has made in a bid to get his hands on the trophy for the first time as either a coach or a player, having fallen short of Wembley in his early-career stint with Bradford Bulls. 'I've changed a couple of things that I learned from last year,' said Burgess, who also refused to be drawn on what it would mean for him to add a Challenge Cup success to his CV at a relatively early stage in his coaching career. 'There's a lot of work to be done between now and the final whistle, so I try not to live that fantasy life,' said Burgess. 'I try and stay in the present. It's probably best asking what it means after the game. But any chance of winning silverware is important.' Rovers boss Peters has told his players to embrace the weight of expectation that comes with being the domestic game's pre-eminent force, with the club having scarcely looked back since Lachlan Lam's drop-goal denied them their long-awaited triumph in 2023. East Hull has been awash with reminders that it is four decades since the Robins last lifted major honours, and Peters, who has immersed himself in the club and its community since he arrived as a relatively little-known head coach in 2023, is under no illusions about what a win would mean. 'I don't think about what it would mean for me, but I think it about the effect it will have on our club,' said Peters. 'The people involved can be legends of this club for a long time, so that excites me. What would excite me would be being in a WhatsApp group for the next 30 or 40 years with the guys who won a Challenge Cup, and being able to come back and meet up. 'We are a community club. I have always said our sole aim is to make our community proud, and we have got the chance to do that this weekend.' Peters admitted glancing back at certain aspects of the 2023 final but has resisted plunging into the negative emotions that followed that loss, pointing out his side's ability to shrug it off almost immediately and finish their domestic campaign on a high. 'I've watched some segments of the (2023) final because I know what I want to use this week, not so much about the emotions but around different actions in the game,' added Peters. 'If you talk about where you want to go, I believe that's a stronger emotion, so that's what I will be tapping into.'
