Valley Cougars

The Sharks were part of the National Conference League setup last year but under the new Rugby League restructure will compete in National Conference Two in 2012 – meaning that the Cougars’ first outing of the season will be against higher level opposition.

Cardiff Demons lost 56-12 to Shaw Cross at this stage in 2002 but the Cougars will take no notice of that after winning five out of nine games away from home in the league in 2011.

The victors will be handed a home tie in round 1, where they will face the winners of the tie between York Acorn and Norland Sharks.

22 preliminary round ties to be played on the weekend of February 4 and 5

Nottingham Outlaws V Yorkshire Cup Winners
Egremont Rangers V Bank Quay Bulls
York Acorn V Norland Sharks
Rochdale Mayfield V University of Gloucestershire All Golds
Normanton Knights V Milford Marlins
Loughborough University V Hunslet Warriors
Bradford Dudley Hill V Castleford Panthers
Warrington Wizards V East Leeds
Castleford Lock Lane V Elland
Wigan St Cuthbert's V Northumbria University
Kells V Widnes West Bank
Sharlston Rovers V Edge Hill University
Shaw Cross Sharks V Valley Cougars
University of Hull V Waterhead
Eastmoor Dragons V Wigan St Jude's
Millom V British Police
Oldham St Annes V Bentley Good Companions
Featherstone Lions V Askham
Seaton Rangers V Huddersfield Underbank Rangers
Blackbrook V Eccles and Salford Juniors
Leeds Metropolitan University V Ovenden
Stanley Rangers V Edinburgh Eagles

11 first round ties to be played on the weekend of February 18 and 19

Castleford Lock Lane OR Elland V Sharlston Rovers OR Edge Hill University
Shaw Cross Sharks OR Valley Cougars V York Acorn OR Norland Sharks
Egremont OR Bank Quay Bulls V Leeds Metropolitan University OR Ovenden
Wigan St Cuthbert's OR Northumbria University V Eastmoor Dragons OR Wigan St Judes
Loughborough University OR Hunslet Warriors V Oldham St Annes OR Bentley Good Companions
Nottingham Outlaws OR Yorkshire Cup Winners V University of Hull OR Waterhead
Seaton Rangers OR Huddersfield Underbank Rangers V Stanley Rangers OR Edinburgh Eagles
Blackbrook OR Eccles and Salford Juniors V Warrington Wizards OR East Leeds
Millom OR British Police V Rochdale Mayfield OR University of Gloucestershire All Golds
Kells OR Widnes West Bank V Normanton Knights OR Milford Marlins
Bradford Dudley Hill OR Castleford Panthers V Featherstone Lions OR Askam

For more information about the Carnegie Challenge Cup visit www.carnegiechallengecup.co.uk