York Knights can confirm that our AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi-Final against Batley Bulldogs will take place at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday 23rd July (12pm).
The Knights booked their place in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi-Finals after a 22-18 win over Newcastle Thunder in April while Batley secured their spot in the final four after a 34-16 triumph over Keighley Cougars.
In the other AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi-Final, London Broncos face Halifax Panthers at Rosslyn Park FC on Saturday 22nd July (5pm).
Ticket details for York Knights' AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi-Final clash against Batley Bulldogs will be released in due course. Broadcast details for both Semi-Finals will be confirmed next week.
That means there will be a bumper weekend of six Semi-Finals, also including the Betfred Challenge Cups – three on Sunday and three on Saturday, kicking off with York Valkyrie taking on St Helens in the first Semi-Final of the Betfred Women’s Challenge Cup at 11.45am.
The AB Sundecks 1895 Cup is guaranteed to have a fourth winner in its fourth year, since it was launched in 2019 to give non-Betfred Super League clubs a second and more realistic chance of making it to Challenge Cup Finals Day.
Leigh are the holders, having beaten Featherstone Rovers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last summer.
Featherstone were the 2021 winners, beating York at Wembley, and Sheffield Eagles won the first Final against Widnes Vikings in 2019, also at Wembley – with the competition cancelled in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2021 Final was York’s first Wembley appearance since they lost to Halifax in the Challenge Cup Final in 1931 – but they are now 80 minutes away from a second appearance in three seasons.
Halifax have the strongest Wembley pedigree of this year’s 1895 Cup Semi Finalists, with the last three of their five Challenge Cup wins coming at the national stadium, in 1931, 1939 and most recently 1987 against St Helens – in addition to four losing Final appearances, the latest in 1988 against Wigan.
London Broncos made their single Wembley appearance in the Challenge Cup Final in 1999, losing to Leeds Rhinos, leaving Batley as the only one of this year’s AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi Finalists who are aiming for their first Wembley appearance.
The Gallant Youths, as they were then known, were the first winners of the Challenge Cup in 1897, retained the trophy the following year, and won it for a third time in 1901 – but those matches were all played at Headingley, well before the bold decision to take the Final to Wembley in 1929.
AB Sundecks 1895 Cup Semi Finals:
Saturday 22nd July – London Broncos v Halifax Panthers (5pm, Rosslyn Park)
Sunday 23rd July – York Knights v Batley Bulldogs (12pm, LNER Community Stadium)
York Knights resume their Betfred Championship campaign against league leaders Featherstone Rovers at the LNER Community Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
General admission Adult tickets are priced at £20, Concession tickets at £15 and Under-16s are FREE.
General admission tickets can be purchased HERE.
To book your Hospitality tickets, please email info@yorkrlfc.com.
