The 2015 rugby league season kicked-off this weekend with the NRL Auckland Nines in New Zealand.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs – fresh from their NRL title triumph – put their new-found confidence to use, beating the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks in the final. The extra-time win continues Cronulla’s trophy drought, with only an Amco Cup to show for their almost 50 years in top-flight rugby league.
The tournament also served to unearth brilliant young talent such as Tuimoala Lolohea, Tom Trbojevic and Solomone Kata.
However, the NRL Auckland Nines wasn’t the only rugby league on this past weekend with Round 1 of the 2015 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup launching. In all, 17 matches were played across England over two days.
As to be expected with amateur rugby league, there were some thrillers and some absolute blow-outs.
Results
Hunslet Warriors 42 def Loughborough University 16
Oulton Raiders 62 def Scarborough Pirates 6
Normanton Knights 34 def Myton Warriors 16
Royal Navy 32 def Saddleworth Rangers 14
Kells 20 def East Leeds 12
Wath Brow Hornets 20 def British Army 8
Egremont Rangers 28 def Wigan St Judes 0
Widnes West Bank 14 def South West London Chargers 10
Siddal 48 def Royal Air Force 0
Hull Dockers 10 def Leigh Miners Rangers 6
Elland 26 def Leeds Beckett University 0
Lock Lane 64 def Sharlston Rovers 0
Walney Central 28 def Hunslet Club Parkside 8
Skirlaugh 27 def Aberdeen Warriors 20
West Hull 14 def Thatto Heath 12
Rochdale Mayfield 38 def Great Britain Police 0
Valley Cougars 27 def Leicester Storm 22Postponed
Nottingham Outlaws versus Blackbrook ARLFC
Featherstone Lions versus Queens RLFC
Shaw Cross Sharks versus York Acorn
Some of the better teams have dropped out of the Challenge Cup with Saddleworth, East Leeds, Wigan St Judes, Leigh Miners, Aberdeen and Thatto Heath being defeated.
It will be interesting to see what the second round of the Challenge Cup has in store.
The draw for the second round of the Challenge Cup will be conducted by Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos) and Oliver Holmes (Castleford Tigers) at Oulton Raiders on Tuesday, third February 6.30am (AEDT).
The second round will take place over the weekend of 21-22 February.
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