[quote="number 6":38nb0bsq]the 4th round draw live on bbc2 next saturday evening at half time of the Sts v Salford game, surely its an open draw from now?[/quote:38nb0bsq] Yes, just all balls in the pot now. Has it been successful? West Hull getting a big pay day, Fax pushing Catalans until the 60th minute, York Acorn scoring a try against a professional club, Bradford still with a chance of upsetting Cas, all been positive so far. The heavy defeats, the idea of playing clubs away not actually being allowed to happen, all a bit of a farce. I'm sure for those players from West Hull, York Acorn and Wests Warriors though, it'll be a day (and probably the night out after) they'll remember for a long time.

[quote="Faithful One":3pf04h4r]Yes, just all balls in the pot now. Has it been successful? West Hull getting a big pay day, Fax pushing Catalans until the 60th minute, York Acorn scoring a try against a professional club, Bradford still with a chance of upsetting Cas, all been positive so far. The heavy defeats, the idea of playing clubs away not actually being allowed to happen, all a bit of a farce. I'm sure for those players from West Hull, York Acorn and Wests Warriors though, it'll be a day (and probably the night out after) they'll remember for a long time.[/quote:3pf04h4r] I think on balance I like the idea, some of the execution hasn't been great (venues, West Hull and Hull FC playing at the same time etc) but it's given the amateur and semi pro clubs a bit of cash and a good experience, and I think most of the SL clubs will have got something out of it too. On balance I think it's been better than just giving them all a bye.

[quote="Mr. Zucchini Head":30gb1p45]I think on balance I like the idea, some of the execution hasn't been great (venues, West Hull and Hull FC playing at the same time etc) but it's given the amateur and semi pro clubs a bit of cash and a good experience, and I think most of the SL clubs will have got something out of it too. On balance I think it's been better than just giving them all a bye.[/quote:30gb1p45] I agree, and competitive games even with a gulf in quality still better than friendlies for preparation. An idea might be they book a neutral ground or two like Fev as a backup in case teams cant host at home. It took long to arrange the alternative arrangements, and seems for the West Hull game many got in free because Craven Park wasn't anticipating such a big crowd? Gates then had to be opened for safety reasons. West Hull are now asking for people to bank transfer them the ticket price if they didn't pay.