Pitch inspection ahead of York Knights’ Challenge Cup tie at Barrow

With standing water currently on areas of the Craven Park pitch, an inspection will take place at 11am ahead of the third-round tie, which is scheduled to kick-off at 6pm.

Should the tie be unable to go ahead tomorrow, Sunday is set aside as a contingency day, when it is hoped that the weather in Cumbria will improve.

A statement from Barrow Raiders on X read: “Please be aware that there will be a pitch inspection at 11am tomorrow to determine whether our Betfred Challenge Cup third round tie against York RLFC can go ahead as planned.

“Both sides and the RFL are keen for the game to go ahead, to avoid congestion in the fixture calendar.

“Should the pitch be deemed unplayable on Saturday, Sunday has been set aside as a contingency day, with the forecast set to improve slightly.”

The match marks a first competitive outing of 2026 for Mark Applegarth’s side as they prepare for their first-ever Super League season, and their final run out ahead of next Thursday’s mouth-watering clash at home to reigning champions Hull KR.

York’s only hit out so far this year saw them fall to a 22-4 defeat at Huddersfield Giants in Matty English’s testimonial last month, with 2025 top-scorer Ben Jones-Bishop scoring the visitors’ only try.

The Knights won both their Championship fixtures against Barrow last year, earning a 36-12 victory in Cumbria in March before a 26-12 triumph at the LNER Community Stadium in July.

The sides last met in the Challenge Cup in 2019, with York running out 32-16 victors.