British Army and Royal Navy progress in Challenge Cup

The 2025 Challenge Cup has been reduced from nine rounds to seven

The British Army and Royal Navy are both one win away from facing Super League opposition after coming through their respective Challenge Cup opening round ties.

A 22-16 win over the RAF moved the Army a step closer to a tie with 14-time winners Leeds Rhinos, while the Navy could face Leigh Leopards in round three after beating Mirfield 26-20.

Victory against Workington Town for the Army and Wests Warriors for the Navy next weekend will set up the ties in February.

The most exciting finish of the day saw Waterhead Warriors beat Leigh Miners Rangers 12-8 in golden point extra time.

Elsewhere on Saturday, there were wins for National Conference League sides Hunslet ARLFC and West Hull, who will face off to set up a clash with St Helens in the third round.

There were big wins for West Hull and Crosfields, who defeated Edinburgh Eagles and Maryport without conceding a point, 90-0 and 52-0 respectively.

But Midlands Premier Division champions Telford United bowed out as they went down 64-16 at Rochdale Mayfield.

The Challenge Cup has been reduced from nine rounds to seven for 2025, meaning the biggest teams in the country will enter earlier, and all 12 Super League sides will play away from home when they join the competition.

On Sunday, York Acorn thrashed GB Police 52-4 to set up a home tie with Oulton Raiders, while Thatto Heath Crusaders edged out Orrell St James 28-24 and will now travel to Halifax Panthers.

Saturday's first round results:

Waterhead Warriors 12-8 Leigh Miners Rangers (after extra time)

West Hull 90-0 Edinburgh Eagles

Dewsbury Moor 20-12 Haresfinch

London Chargers 12-28 Oulton Raiders

Longhorns 12-56 Ince Rose Bridge

Lock Lane 50-10 Doncaster Toll Bar

Mirfield 20-26 Royal Navy

Crosfields 52-0 Maryport

British Army 22-16 RAF

Stanley Rangers 20-24 Hunslet ARLFC

Rochdale Mayfield 64-16 Telford Raiders

West Bowling 48-16 Cutsyke Raiders

Sunday fixtures

GB Police 4-52 York Acorn

Thatto Heath Crusaders 28-24 Orrell St James

Revised second round draw:

York Acorn v Oulton Raiders (winners play Hull FC)

Halifax Panthers v Thatto Heath (winners play Catalans Dragons)

Dewsbury Moor v Dewsbury Rams

Barrow Raiders v Crosfields

Royal Navy v Workington Town (winners play Leigh Leopards)

London Broncos v Goole Vikings (winners play Wakefield Trinity)

Lock Lane v Hunslet RLFC (winners play Huddersfield Giants)

Waterhead Warriors v Featherstone Rovers

Wests Warriors v British Army (winners play Leeds Rhinos)

Whitehaven v Swinton Lions (winners play Warrington Wolves)

Hunslet ARLFC v West Hull (winners play St Helens)

Rochdale Hornets v Widnes Vikings

Oldham v Rochdale Mayfield

Keighley Cougars v York Knights (winners play Hull KR)

Sheffield Eagles v West Bowling (winners play Wigan Warriors)

Bradford Bulls v Doncaster (winners play Castleford Tigers)

Blackbrook v Ince Rose Bridge

Midlands Hurricanes v Siddal (winners play Salford Red Devils)

Cornwall v North Wales Crusaders

Newcastle Thunder v Batley Bulldogs