{"id":363805,"date":"2026-01-11T03:27:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T03:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/363805\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T03:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T03:27:12","slug":"oldham-st-annes-mark-their-return-to-the-challenge-cup-and-are-more-than-motivated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/363805\/","title":{"rendered":"Oldham St Annes mark their return to the Challenge Cup \u2013 and are more than motivated"},"content":{"rendered":"

Oldham St Annes are excited for Sunday as they make their comeback to the famous\u00a0Challenge Cup<\/a> competition for the first time since 2012.<\/p>\n

The community club have enjoyed recent success where the domestic league is concerned and will now embark on their first Challenge Cup journey in 14 years.<\/p>\n

A victory for St Annes in their opening tie would see a historic clash with Betfred Championship side Oldham RLFC in the Second Round \u2013 and that would be the biggest prize of all for this proud rugby league club.<\/p>\n

But first they must overcome a strong Orrell St James.<\/p>\n

Their head coach, Neil Cherryholme, gave his thoughts ahead of Sunday\u2019s tie:<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m buzzing for the club to be back in the Challenge Cup. It\u2019s massive for our club. I\u2019ve been the coach now for four seasons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust thinking about how special the Challenge Cup is to me personally – it\u2019s a competition that I\u2019ve followed and I\u2019ve played in, but as a club it\u2019s a big thing for us too.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are lots of stories in the club about some memorable times in the Challenge Cup \u2013 playing Whitehaven and Batley, for example, and to have the opportunity to play in the competition and get to play those kinds of teams is massive for the club.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s big day for us to go to Orrell and we\u2019re thankful we got the chance to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

While confident of putting in a top performance, Cherryholme is under no illusions on how tough the task will be to overcome Orrell on the road:<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re expecting a really big challenge. Looking at the leagues and us being relatively successful in the NCL and going well Division 1, you\u2019d be looking to say we\u2019ve got a good chance.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re really hopeful, but we aren\u2019t underestimating Orrell; the level they\u2019ve been playing at for a number of years is great. I\u2019ve watched them many times in the Challenge Cup and I\u2019ve coached against them before too. They are a really positive club, have really good players and a lot of ability.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a tough away game, especially in the conditions for January. But we\u2019re ready and happy it\u2019s going to be tough.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the rare chance of getting to play a professional Oldham outfit in the next round if they were to win this weekend, Cherryholme expressed how special this would be:<\/p>\n

\u201cTo have the possibility to play against Oldham at Boundary Park would be incredible,\u201d said Cherryholme.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know there are massive differences in level and abilities, but to go against a number of ex-Super League players in our hometown for lots of our lads and to take all our juniors there to watch, would be absolutely phenomenal.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s such a driving force for us this week and it\u2019s helping us prepare \u2013 that\u2019s if we did need any more motivation than we already have.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a massive motivation to try and get the club to have a really good day away at Oldham.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it\u2019s going to be tough at Orrell first. Hopefully it\u2019s a really good game, both sets of lad put in a decent shift and for our part, we hope we\u2019re on the end of a good win and an opportunity to play at Oldham.<\/p>\n

\u201cBest of luck to both teams!\u201d<\/p>\n

Will it see a magical Challenge Cup year for the Saints?<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

It’s Betfred Challenge Cup Finals Day at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2026. Book your tickets\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0today and enjoy our early bird prices!<\/p>\n

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