Renowned battlers Dudley Hill have the chance to pull off another Silk Cut Challenge Cup upset after landing a third round tie at Barrow Braves.

Hill, who knocked out York at the same stage in 1997, are pressing for promotion back to the Conference Premier Division and will not be overawed by a visit to Craven Park, where the Braves struggled near the foot of Division Two last season.

Hill have so far disposed of Leeds University and Wigan St Patricks, and will be out to set up a date with a Super League club. They enter at the fourth round stage on the weekend of February 14.

Meanwhile, Keighley Cougars will start their campaign with a visit from Conference First Division outfit Rochdale Mayfield.

Their opponents are near the foot of the table, and it should provide a simple passage into the fourth round - and a possible big tie - for Lee Crooks' men.

Cougars have enjoyed points feasts at this stage for the last two seasons, beating Saddleworth Rangers 66-16 last term and Castleford-based Redhill 62-4 in 1997.

Amateur giants Featherstone Lions, who beat professional opposition in last season's Challenge Cup, have been handed a glorious opportunity to reach the last 32 for the second successive season.

The Lions, who won 23-18 at Doncaster last year before falling to Hull KR in the fourth round, will be involved in the only all-amateur tie of this season's third round after being paired with Hemel Stags.

All 18 First Division clubs were handed home ties in last night's draw. Last season there were four victories by amateur teams over professional opposition at this stage.

Third round: Barrow v Dudley Hill, Batley v Castleford Lock Lane, Bramley v Leigh Miners Rangers, Dewsbury v Siddal, Doncaster v Oldham St Annes, Featherstone v Thornhill, Hemel Stags v Featherstone Lions, Hull KR v Wath Brow Hornets, Hunslet v Townville, Keighley Cougars v Rochdale Mayfield, Lancashire Lynx v Askam, Leigh v Norland, Oldham v Eccles, Rochdale v Wigan St Judes, Swinton v Moldgreen, Whitehaven v Saddleworth, Widnes v West Hull, Workington v Skirlaugh, York v Egremont.

Ties to be played on January 30-31.

l Super League new boys Wakefield Trinity have signed centre Vince Fawcett, a much-travelled former Great Britain Under-21 international, to take their number of close-season recruits to 12.

Fawcett has Super League experience with Workington, Oldham and Warrington and previously played with Leeds and Australian outfit Parramatta.

Trinity staved off competition from Salford and Hull to land the 28-year-old on a 12-month contract.

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