by MATTHEW CHAMBERS

TEN years after the pair masterminded the biggest Challenge Cup upset of all time, Steve Deakin is to go head-to-head with John Kear when Oldham travel to face Super League side Wakefield in the quarter-finals.

Deakin was Kear’s coaching assistant back in 1998 when Sheffield Eagles beat Wigan 17-8 in the Wembley final, a result which sent shockwaves throughout the sporting world.

Now the Roughyeds coach will attempt to upset the odds to an even greater magnitude against his old friend, in a tie which, though clearly not as lucrative as the club had hoped, he believes may end up being financially positive for the rank outsiders for the competition.

“It is ironic that I am up against John Kear, given that it is 10 years since the Sheffield Eagles win at Wembley,” said Deakin, who is now faced with his fourth away tie on the trot in the competition this year.

“I spoke to him last night and said that in terms of finance, it was probably the worst draw we could have had. But he disagreed, pointing out that they took a good number of supporters up to Barrow.

“They have played good football in recent years without a lot of success in the Challenge Cup and believe this is a good opportunity to go all the way to the final, and hopefully that will attract good numbers to the game.

“All in all, we are up against a Super League team on a decent stage and hopefully we will get the media attention we deserve.”

A date for the Belle Vue tie will be confirmed today and is likely to take place on Sunday, June 1, necessitating the postponement of the Roughyeds’ scheduled league clash at Doncaster on the previous Friday.

The rest of the draw sees Wigan — who thrashed Whitehaven 106-8 last night — away at Leeds, Hull KR at home to St Helens and Bradford hosting Hull FC.

Oldham, the National Leagues’ only representative left in the Challenge Cup, face Swinton Lions on Sunday in the last game at Boundary Park before the annual work on the playing surface, before travelling to Batley for a Northern Rail Cup quarter-final the weekend after.     

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