York Wasps have been handed an ideal opportunity to progress into the Silk Cut Challenge Cup fifth round after being paired with amateurs Thornhill Trojans.

The National Conference premier division strugglers will travel to Huntington Stadium on the back of a shock 16-14 defeat of former winners Sheffield Eagles at Don Valley Stadium.

But the Wasps will be confident of sending the Dewsbury outfit the same way as Dudley Hill and moving into the fifth round for the second successive season.

Assistant coach John Paterson said: "The players are quite happy that we have Thornhill at Huntington Stadium and it is another chance for our players to build confidence for our league games.

"A home draw in the cup is always very welcome and, while we respect what Thornhill achieved in beating Sheffield, we will be quietly confident of progressing to the next round and maybe then gaining a lucrative draw against a Super League club."

Thornhill had been hoping for a glamour tie as reward for beating Sheffield and were less than enthusiastic at meeting York.

Their coach Johnny Harpin said: "It isn't the draw we wanted. My own personal choice would have been Dewsbury or Wakefield.

"It would have been nice to get a Super League team and make some cash but we could come to York and upset them."

His thoughts were echoed by their chairman Bob Taylor who added: "We would have liked a Super League club or maybe someone a little more local as we had a good game against Dewsbury two years ago and we would have liked a repeat performance.

"But the way we played on Sunday if we adopt the same approach then anything in this game is a possibility.

"As with any sport it is about what happens on the day and if our players show the same determination and application that they did against Sheffield then we might just do it again.

"To be honest you need a bit of luck and we had that at Sheffield when the ball went to ground when try scoring chances were on the cards, but we just want to go to York and give a good display and I am sure that York are well aware that they will have to be on their game to beat us."

Their victory over Sheffield was their first success against professional opposition in five attempts in the Challenge Cup.

York's dramatic cup run last year, which included a fourth round extra-time win at Rochdale, eventually came to an end against their great rivals Castleford.

And as last night's draw reached its conclusion a repeat of that tie was on the cards.

York, Hull FC, Hull KR and Castleford were all among the last eight teams in the hat and the Wasps must have been hoping for a money-spinning 'derby' clash.

But that dream soon fell by the wayside as first Hull FC were drawn at home to Lancashire Lynx and then York's name was followed by that of Thornhill.

Castleford were last out the hat and found themselves facing a trip to the competition's other giant-killers, Oldham St Annes. They won 10-0 at Batley in the third round.

Other key ties see Bradford entertain Huddersfield-Sheffield, Featherstone at home to Leeds and an intriguing clash between form Northern Ford Premiership sides Dewsbury and Widnes.

The remaining French club Villeneuve were drawn at home to Keighley but that match is expected to be switched to Cougar Park.

Full draw: Hunslet v Warrington, Rochdale v Oldham or Wigan St Judes, Doncaster v Workington, London Broncos v Wath Brow Hornets, Bradford v Huddersfield-Sheffield, Featherstone v Leeds Rhinos, Swinton or Waterhead v St Helens, Wigan v Whitehaven, Leigh v Wakefield, Barrow v Salford, Dewsbury v Widnes, Villeneuve v Keighley, Hull FC v Lancashire Lynx, York v Thornhill, Halifax v Hull KR, Oldham St Annes v Castleford.

Ties to be played weekend of February 12/13.

CATTERICK-based army recruit Kevin Agnew has been called into the BARLA Great Britain and Ireland Young Lions squad to face French opposition in April.

BARLA will face the Federation Francais Select at Pia on April 25 and they will meet France Juniors at St Esteve on April 27.

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