A repeat of last season's cup heroics will be on the minds of York Wasps tonight when the draw is made for the third round of rugby league's premier competition.

The Wasps reached the fifth round last year before bowing out to Super League side Castleford Tigers on a memorable night at Wheldon Road.

That followed a thrilling extra-time victory at Rochdale Hornets in the fourth round and an impressive defeat of amateurs Egremont Rangers at the opening stage.

York chief executive Ann Garvey would be more than happy if they can emulate that achievement this year but knows they can take nothing for granted.

All Northern Ford Premiership clubs, with the exeption of champions Hunslet Hawks who have a bye, join French teams Saint Gauden and Villeneuve and the remaining amateur sides in the 36-team draw. All the NFP teams are guaranteed a home tie.

Also in the hat are New Earswick All Blacks who do not play their delayed second round tie against Featherstone Lions until Saturday.

Garvey said: "Looking at who is left there are a lot of very good amateur teams. I'm just hoping we get an amateur side that has a good following and I've no doubts we will win that. I'd like a fairly easy home draw in the next round then I hope we get the big one - a good Super League side away."

The Wasps are among the NFP clubs celebrating a successful return to winter rugby after a bumper festive period on the terraces. Attendances for the opening two weekends rocketed by nearly 70% and York are expecting that trend to continue at home to Sheffield Eagles on Sunday.

Fans planning to attend the match are being advised to arrive early as officials of the new Sheffield team claim they will be bringing several hundred followers.

That should ensure a crowd to rival the 1,554 which watched the Boxing Day opener against Doncaster.

Garvey said: "We're not sure how many they'll be bringing but they took 600 to Lancashire Lynx for the first game so it should take the crowd to over 1,000."

More than 40,000 fans attended the NFP holiday fixtures at an average of 2,354, compared with 1,396 for the first two rounds of the 1999 summer season. That included almost 2,500 at Cougar Park on Sunday to see York defeated by Keighley.

Although Bank Holiday fixtures traditionally draw bumper crowds, officials believe the encouraging figures vindicate their bold decision to bring the season forward two months.

"The weather was far from kind over Christmas and New Year and people still went to the matches and that proves there is a need for rugby league even outside the Super League season," said Bob McDermott, chairman of the Association of Premiership Clubs.

"Obviously we will not get carried away but there's no doubt it's a step in the right direction. The real test will come over the next three weekends."

That view was echoed by Garvey who added: "Both out first home game and the one at Keighley had delayed kick-offs which is a good sign but how long is it going to last?

"Both those games were over the holiday period. A lot of people have nothing else to do on a Sunday at the moment but I think we'll know better come May."

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