HEAD coach James Ford reckons York City Knights have been given a "reasonable draw" in the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup third round - despite being sent on one of the longest journeys in domestic rugby league.

The Knights have been paired at League One rivals South Wales Scorpions, with the match to be played over the weekend of March 7-8.

It means the club - currently homeless after being sidelined from the community stadium project - avoid the issue of where to play a home tie, but it sends them on a 500-mile round trip to the Scorpions' Parc Dyffryn Pennar home in Mountain Ash.

It will follow another long trek to London Skolars for the season opener in the League Cup a week earlier, with neither fixture likely to be lucrative.

Ford said: "The travelling and conditions there will make it tough but it's a positive for us as the long trip will allow the lads to enjoy each other's company.

"It's maybe not the most attractive tie for the supporters or the board but it's not a terrible one for us. It gives us a chance to work on a few things in a competitive situation.

"I'm reasonably satisfied with the draw - it could have been worse."

The Knights won the league match in South Wales 48-10 last year, following on from a 76-0 thumping in the reverse fixture, but Ford did not expect an easy run this time.

"South Wales will be a much-improved team and it will be a more difficult task than it was last year," he said.

"But hopefully we'll spend a fair bit of time in possession and develop some fluidity and cohesion for the games to come. It's about progressing the cup and I'm reasonably confident we'll have a good chance."

The third round involves the 10 qualifiers from the community game and the 14 League One clubs. Championship clubs this year enter in round four, with Super League sides entering in round five.

Challenge Cup round 3 draw: North Wales Crusaders v Widnes West Bank, Elland v Featherstone Lions, Wath Brow Hornets v Newcastle Thunder, Hemel Stags v Oxford RLFC, Oulton Raiders v Normanton Knights, Leigh Miners Rangers v West Hull, Oldham v Coventry Bears, Kells v Rochdale Hornets, London Skolars v Swinton Lions, Barrow Raiders v Keighley Cougars, South Wales Scorpions v York City Knights, University of Gloucester All Golds v Skirlaugh. Ties to be played over the weekend of March 7-8.