New Earswick All Blacks will make rugby league history on Sunday as they become the first team to face Silk Cut Challenge Cup opposition from Northern Ireland.

The All Blacks have been drawn to entertain Bangor Vikings in the first round of the competition, and the match might even receive television coverage.

Originally scheduled for Saturday, the tie has been switched to Sunday (ko 1.30pm) at the request of the Irish team, who have chartered a small aircraft to make the trip.

The All Blacks had offered to put on a post-match Saturday bash for their visitors, but the Vikings had to turn it down as some of their team play rugby union on Saturdays and would not have been able to make the trip.

New Earswick spokesman Eddie Loftus was hopeful his side could progress in the competition and finally get to play a professional side in the later rounds for the first time in the club's history.

"I don't really know much about them, but I wouldn't imagine them being a really strong side, but you never know. We can't do much homework on them because nobody knows anything about them," he said.

New Earswick hope to put out the same team that beat neighbours York Acorn 12-4 last week, could get some inside information on their Irish opponents from their cross-city rivals, who played Bangor in Portrush during a short tour to the Emerald Isle earlier this year.

Bangor won 38-32, but, according to Acorn spokesman Paul Lumby, that is unlikely to be a true indication of what is to come.

"We were pretty understrength for that game and I don't think the side they put out then will be the one playing All Blacks. But they were a well-built, fit side."

sport@ycp.co.uk