OLDHAM RLFC were in luck in the draws for the first and second rounds of the Betfred Challenge Cup.

They were drawn at home to Barrow Raiders, one of the three Betfred League 1 sides in the hat, in the first round, to be played over the weekend of March 20 and 21.

The winners of that tie will be away to the winners of the Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder tie in round two, to be played over the weekend of March 27 and 28.

To be drawn at home in the first round with the potential of a derby clash at Swinton Lions in round two will be regarded as a good draw by the Roughyeds.

The meeting with the Raiders will also mark their return to action after more than 12 months on the sidelines due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Elsewhere, West Wales Raiders were handed a dream tie against Widnes.

The League 1 Raiders have made two eye-catching signings in the former Wales rugby union international Gavin Henson and the former England league international Rangi Chase.

Both could now make their Raiders debut next month against Widnes, seven-times Challenge Cup winners who also have strong links with Wales through the many rugby union internationals who came north to play for the club, such as Jonathan Davies, John Devereux and Paul Moriarty.

Two old West Yorkshire rivals with considerable Challenge Cup pedigree, Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Bulls, were drawn to play each other in the heavyweight tie of the round by Jon Wilkin, the former England and Great Britain international and four-times Cup winner with St Helens, who made the draw which was screened live by BBC Sport.

The winners of the Featherstone-Bradford tie will face further West Yorkshire opposition in the second round, as they were drawn at home to the winners of another local derby between the renamed Halifax Panthers and Batley Bulldogs.

The winners of the West Wales versus Widnes tie will be at home to the winners of the first round tie between Whitehaven and Dewsbury Rams.

The other League 1 side Keighley Cougars will head south to face London Broncos.

The winners will be at home to the winners of another attractive tie between Sheffield Eagles and York City Knights.

The winners of the four second round ties will join the 12 Betfred Super League clubs in the third round in April – and will earn a second attempt to reach Wembley as they will also qualify for the semi finals of the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup in June.

Days and times for kick-offs for the eight first round ties will be confirmed as soon as possible, following discussions about broadcast and streaming schedules.

First round: London Broncos v Keighley Cougars, Whitehaven v Dewsbury Rams, Oldham v Barrow Raiders, West Wales Raiders v Widnes Vikings, Swinton Lions v Newcastle Thunder, Halifax Panthers v Batley Bulldogs, Sheffield Eagles v York City Knights, Featherstone Rovers v Bradford Bulls.

Second round: Swinton or Newcastle v Oldham or Barrow, Featherstone or Bradford v Halifax or Batley, London or Keighley v Sheffield or York, West Wales or Widnes v Whitehaven or Dewsbury.