2009 Challenge Cup - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 2009 Carnegie Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....

began in January 2009. The Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in European rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

. Teams from England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia are included in the tournament.

Teams from the Co-operative Championship received byes into round three along with four teams from France, and the winner of the Russian Championship. Teams from the Super League

Super League

Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...

enter in round four.

The final was held on 29 August 2009 and Warrington Wolves beat Huddersfield Giants 25-16.

For 2009, the early stages of the competition have been revamped. As the competition has expanded, there is now a preliminary round before the first round, and teams have been placed into two 'pools' for the preliminary, first and second rounds.

Pools

Pool A features 48 teams, made up as follows:

The 40 teams from the National Conference League
National Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
The winners of the five major BARLA
British Amateur Rugby League Association
The British Amateur Rugby League Association is the governing body for social and recreational rugby league in the United Kingdom...

Regional Leagues
The winners of the three major BARLA Regional Cup Competitions - Yorkshire, North West & Cumberland

Pool B features 16 teams, which is a mixed bag of Rugby League Conference

Rugby League Conference

The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...

teams (including representatives from Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

and Wales

Wales

Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...

), armed forces representative teams and University teams.

Pool A

All matches were due to be played on 3–4 January, however, winter weather forced the postponement of most of these fixtures due to frozen pitches. The round is divided into two pools, with several teams receiving a bye to the First Round:

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1 ^†	Eccles and Salford Juniors	6-22	Saddleworth Rangers
2 ^†	Egremont Rangers	14–8	Thornhill Trojans
3 ^†	Ovenden	22–20	Oulton Raiders
4	Skirlaugh	56–4	Heworth
5 ^†	Wath Brow Hornets	18–14	Millom
6	Siddal	30–12	Normanton Knights
7 ^†	Stanningley	16–18	Hull Dockers
8 ^†	Halifax Irish	10–22	Bradford Dudley Hill
9 ^†	Rochdale Mayfield	12–36	Leigh East
10	Halton Simms Cross	46–12	York Acorn
11 ^†	Ellenborough	4–20	Wigan St Patricks
12 ^†	Bank Quay Bulls	6–19	Queens
13 ^†	Oldham St Annes	16–30	Wigan St Judes
14 ^†	Widnes St Maries	22–8	Ince Rose Bridge
15	Shaw Cross Sharks	16–21	Castleford Lock Lane
16	Stanley Rangers Stanley Rangers Stanley Rangers is an amateur rugby league club situated in the village of Stanley near Wakefield.Players range from 8-years old and receive training in all aspects of the sport...	12–40	Leigh Miners Rangers

†: fixtures rearranged due to frozen pitches. New dates varied between teams, depending on clashes with league fixtures and weather.

Pool B

Fixtures played 17-18 January:

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Bristol Sonics	8–52	Leeds Met Carnegie
2	University of Wales Institute	18–20	Valley Cougars
3	Loughborough University	26–16	Nottingham Outlaws
4	West London Sharks	10–22	The Army

Pool A Byes: West Hull, Thatto Heath Crusaders, Myton Warriors, Orchard Park and Greenwood, Eastmoor Dragons, East Hull, Sharlston Rovers, Kells, Hull Isberg, East Leeds, Pilkington Recs, West Bowling, Milford Marlins, Crossfields, Waterhead, Castleford Panthers

Pool B Byes: St Mary's University College, RAF, Warrington Wizards, Featherstone Lions, Hull University, Edinburgh Eagles, Northumbria University, Royal Navy

Round 1

All matches played on 24–25 January. The round is divided into two pools, with the teams that received a bye in the last round entering.

Pool A

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Kells	26–14	Eastmoor Dragons
2	West Hull	56–0	East Leeds
3	West Bowling	32–6	East Hull
4	Milford Marlins	14–24	Pilkington Recs
5 ^†	Hull Dockers	34–4	Ovenden
6 ^†	Castleford Panthers	12–26	Leigh Miners Rangers
7	Waterhead	14–16	Castleford Lock Lane
8 ^†	Siddal	36–12	Thatto Heath
9 ^†	Crosfields	10–36	Sharlston Rovers
10	Wigan St Patricks	24–18	Skirlaugh
11	Egremont Rangers	0–42	Wath Brow Hornets
12	Leigh East	68–0	Orchard Park and Greenwood
13	Hull Isberg	12–36	Saddleworth Rangers
14	Queens	13–0	Halton Simms Cross
15	Wigan St Judes	34–20	Myton Warriors
16	Bradford Dudley Hill	19–24	Widnes St Maries

†: fixtures rearranged for 31 January due to flooded pitches.

Pool B

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Featherstone Lions	18–12	Hull University
2	RAF	16–18	Edinburgh Eagles
3	Loughborough University	40–12	St Mary's University College
4	Leeds Met Carnegie	36–6	Warrington Wizards
5	The Navy	38–28	Valley Cougars
6	The Army	72–0	Northumbria University

Round 2

Draw hosted by Wath Brow Hornets on 27 January, as the winners of the Cumbrian derby in the first round. Matches to be played 14–15 February.

Pool A

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Wigan St Patricks	20–16	West Hull
2	Widnes St Maries	8–15	Queens
3	Wath Brow Hornets	40–22	Hull Dockers
4	Kells	31–22	Leigh Miners Rangers
5	Wigan St Judes	24–28	Pilkington Recs
6	Siddal	34–10	West Bowling
7	Sharlston Rovers	20–10	Leigh East
8	Saddleworth	20–16	Castleford Lock Lane

Pool B

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Loughborough University	20–18	The Navy
2	Leeds Met Carnegie	20–6	Edinburgh Eagles
3	Featherstone Lions	12–30	The Army

Round 3

Draw was made live on BBC Radio Manchester

BBC Radio Manchester

BBC Radio Manchester is a BBC Local Radio station broadcasting to Greater Manchester in North West England. It broadcasts 24 hours a day from studios at MediaCityUK in Salford Quays via a transmitter at Holme Moss, with a small repeater at Saddleworth covering Tameside and Saddleworth...

on 17 February. All twenty Co-operative Championship teams were added into the competition in this round, as well as four teams from the French Elite One Championship

Elite One Championship

The Elite One Championship is the top tier French professional domestic rugby league competition....

, and winners of the 2008 Russian Championship, RC Lokomotiv Moscow

RC Lokomotiv Moscow

RC Lokomotiv Moscow is a professional Russian rugby football club based in Moscow, which from 2010 will field teams in both rugby league and rugby union. The club is one of the oldest in Russia. Originally a club for those who worked on the railways, they participated in the first USSR rugby union...

. The matches were played on 7–8 March.

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Siddal	6–10	Swinton Lions Swinton Lions Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
2	York City Knights York City Knights York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...	50–10	Wigan St Patricks
3	Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...	94–2	The Army
4¹	Queens	A–A	Doncaster
5	Pilkington Recs	24–34	Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...
6	Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....	44–12	Blackpool Panthers Blackpool Panthers Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
7	Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...	42–38	Whitehaven Whitehaven RLFC Whitehaven RLFC is a rugby league club playing in Whitehaven in West Cumbria. They play in Co-operative Championship. Their stadium is called the Recreation Ground...
8	Workington Town Workington Town Workington Town is a professional rugby league club playing in Workington in West Cumbria. They play in the Championship 1. Their stadium is called Derwent Park, which they share with Workington Comets, a speedway team....	6–18	Lézignan Sangliers Lézignan Sangliers Football Club de Lézignan are a professional rugby league football club based in Lézignan-Corbières in the départment of Aude in the south of France...
9	Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...	82–6	RC Lokomotiv Moscow RC Lokomotiv Moscow RC Lokomotiv Moscow is a professional Russian rugby football club based in Moscow, which from 2010 will field teams in both rugby league and rugby union. The club is one of the oldest in Russia. Originally a club for those who worked on the railways, they participated in the first USSR rugby union...
10	Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....	26–8	Sharlston
11	Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....	22–6	Toulouse Olympique Toulouse Olympique Toulouse Olympique are a French professional rugby league team from Toulouse, in the southwest of France. They were founded on 22 October, in 1937 two years after the founding of the French Rugby League Federation. Between 1995 and 2002 the club were known as Spacers de Toulouse, due to links with...
12	Leeds Met Carnegie	24–38	Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
13	Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...	88–0	Saddleworth
14	Wath Brow Hornets	14–12	London Skolars London Skolars London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
15	Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...	30–24	Pia Donkeys
16²	Kells	12–22	Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
17	Halifax Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...	80–16	Loughborough University
18	Dewsbury Rams Dewsbury Rams Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...	18–6	AS Carcassonne AS Carcassonne AS Carcassonne are a professional rugby league football club based in Carcassonne in the south of France. They play in the French rugby league championship and are one of the most successful clubs in French rugby league, having won a total of ten French Championship titles and eleven Lord Derby Cups...

¹: Match was abandoned on 61st minute due to crowd trouble. Doncaster went through due to them being ahead at the time. The RFL upheld the decision after an investigation. It was the first time a rugby league game has been abandoned in England due to crowd trouble in over 70 years.
²: Match postponed due to waterlogged pitch.

Round 4

The draw for round 4 was made live on 9 March on BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live

BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...

. The sixteen victorious Co-operative Championship teams from round 3 were joined by all fourteen Super League XIV

Super League XIV

The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...

teams, as well as Wath Brow Hornets, the competition's only amateur club remaining at this stage, and Lezignan, making this the Round of 32. From this point, no more teams are added to the competition.

All ties were played 3–5 April.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Swinton Lions Swinton Lions Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...	22 – 28	Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...	3 April, 19:30 BST British Summer Time Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...	Park Lane Park Lane (stadium) Park Lane is a rugby stadium in Whitefield near Bury, England. It is the home of Sedgley Park R.U.F.C. and, from 2003–10 Swinton rugby league club....	Peter Brooke	525
Halifax Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...	20 – 16	Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...	3 April, 20:00 BST	Shay Stadium The Shay The Shay is a multi-use sports stadium in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England near Shaw Hill. FC Halifax Town and Halifax both play their home games at the Shay....	Richard Silverwood	3,204
Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...	32 – 6	Crusaders	3 April, 20:00 BST	New Craven Park	Thierry Alibert	7,104
Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....	28 – 18	Dewsbury Rams Dewsbury Rams Dewsbury Rams RLFC is a professional rugby league club based in the West Yorkshire town of Dewsbury. They are arguably most famous for becoming Champions in 1972-73 after finishing the regular season in 8th place. In the playoffs they beat Featherstone away, Warrington away, and then Leeds in the...	3 April, 20:00 BST	Don Valley Stadium Don Valley Stadium The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...	Robert Hicks	597
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...	54 – 0	Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...	3 April, 20:00 BST	Belle Vue Belle Vue (Wakefield) Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...	Gareth Hewer	2,637
Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....	56 – 10	York City Knights York City Knights York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...	4 April, 14:00 BST	Halliwell Jones Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium Halliwell Jones Stadium is a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England that is the home ground of Warrington Wolves. It has also staged Challenge Cup semi-finals, the European Nations Final and the National League Grand Finals' Day....	James Child	6,000
Harlequins RL	16 – 42	Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....	4 April, 15:00 BST	The Twickenham Stoop The Stoop Twickenham Stoop is a sports stadium located in the western suburbs of London, England. The stadium is home to Harlequins rugby union team, who play in the Aviva Premiership, and tenants London Broncos, who play in the Super League...	Ben Thaler	2,500
Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...	28 – 24	Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...	5 April, 14:00 BST	Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant, Batley Mount Pleasant is a rugby league stadium in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Batley RLFC.Renowned for its famous slope, Mount Pleasant is situated at the top of the hill that overlooks the town of Batley. The end of the ground at the top of the hill is surrounded by three...	Dave Merrick	633
Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...	54 – 16	Wath Brow Hornets	5 April, 14:00 BST	Chris Moyles Stadium Post Office Road Post Office Road, currently styled as the Bigfellas Stadium for sponsorship purposes , is a rugby league ground in Featherstone, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England...	Greg Dolan	1,180
Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....	60 – 30	Lézignan Sangliers Lézignan Sangliers Football Club de Lézignan are a professional rugby league football club based in Lézignan-Corbières in the départment of Aude in the south of France...	5 April, 14:00 BST	Boundary Park Boundary Park Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park....	Ronnie Laughton	863
Catalans Dragons Catalans Dragons The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...	40 – 38	Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....	5 April, 14:30 BST	Stade Gilbert Brutus Stade Gilbert Brutus Stade Gilbert Brutus is a rugby league stadium located in Perpignan, in the south of France. Even though the stadium currently has around 9,000 seats installed, it can accommodate around 1,000 fans more due to standing room...	Steve Ganson	6,450
Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....	20 – 32	Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....	5 April, 15:00 BST	Craven Park Craven Park (Barrow) Craven Park is a rugby league stadium in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England. It is the home of Barrow Raiders rugby league team.Craven Park was built in 1931, largely as a result of the efforts of supporters of Barrow RLFC, 500 of whom volunteered to construct the ground...	Jamie Leahy	6,275
Doncaster	18 – 32	Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...	5 April, 15:00 BST	Keepmoat Stadium	Craig Halloran	458
Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars Keighley Cougars are a professional rugby league club from Keighley in West Yorkshire, England. As of 2012 they will play in Co-operative Championship having won the Co-operative Championship 1 play off final 32-12 against Workington...	20 – 64	Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...	5 April, 15:00 BST	Cougar Park Cougar Park Cougar Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Keighley, England. It is used mostly for rugby league matches, as the home stadium of Keighley Cougars and football as the new home of Silsden F.C.. Its capacity is 7,800 people. It also hosted a match during the 1995 Rugby League World Cup...	Matthew Thomason	3,255
Hull F.C.	18 – 22	Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...	5 April, 15:15 BST	KC Stadium KC Stadium The KC Stadium, often shortened to the KC, is a multi-purpose facility in the city of Kingston upon Hull , England. Conceived as early as the late 1990s, it was completed in 2002 at a cost of approximately £44 million. It is named after the stadium's sponsors, telecommunications provider KC,...	Ian Smith	8,945
Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...	18 – 22	St. Helens	5 April, 16:30 BST	Headingley Stadium Headingley Stadium Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....	Phil Bentham	17,689

Round 5

The sixteen teams remaining after Round 4 were randomly paired against each other, in a draw held at RAF Leeming

RAF Leeming

RAF Leeming is a Royal Air Force station in North Yorkshire, UK.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Leeming. The Station Commander is Group Captain Anthony Innes....

on 7 April involving AVM

Air Vice-Marshal

Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...

Chris Davison, Director of the RAF

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

Sports Board, and Barrie McDermott

Barrie McDermott

Barrie McDermott is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative , he played his club football at Oldham, Wigan Warriors, Leeds Rhinos , Bramley and Widnes.McDermott later became the Head of Youth Development with...

, former Leeds

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...

and Great Britain and Ireland

Great Britain national rugby league team

The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....

player.

All matches will be played on 9–10 May. The match between Gateshead Thunder and Oldham Roughyeds was due to be played at the Gateshead International Stadium

Gateshead International Stadium

Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a...

, since Gateshead were the home team, however the match was rearranged to be played at the Darlington Arena due to a fixture clash between a playoff match for Gateshead F.C.

Gateshead F.C.

Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....

, who share the stadium with the rugby league side, and an athletics meeting. This is the first ever professional rugby league match to be held inside County Durham

County Durham

County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...

.

The first match of this round was a repeat of a Super League

Super League

fixture only thirteen days earlier. Wakefield

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...

took the initial lead, scoring ten points in six minutes, before Wigan

Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....

levelled the game by the 24th minute. An early drop goal by Danny Brough

Danny Brough

Danny Brough is a Dewsbury born English international rugby league footballer.Danny Brough plays for the Huddersfield Giants in Super League. He has also played for the Scotland...

edged Wakefield ahead by one point before Wigan scored their third try to lead 11–16 going into half time, following a successful conversion by Pat Richards

Pat Richards

Pat Richards is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League. An Ireland and Exiles international representative winger, he previously played in the National Rugby League for Sydney clubs the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers, winning the 2005...

. Wakefield scored their only try of the second half after 51 minutes, before Wigan scored two more tries to win the game by a margin of eleven points.

Oldham

Oldham Roughyeds

Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....

also started off taking the initial lead before losing to the Gateshead Thunder

Gateshead Thunder

Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...

. Tommy Goulden gave the visitors a lead of six points following a successful conversion, and this gave them a 4–6 lead at half time following a Gateshead try which was unsuccessfully converted. Four tries and three goals from Gateshead after the break handed them a twenty-two point lead, and two tries and a goal from Oldham were not enough to restore the deficit. A final Gateshead try ended the game with a firm 18 point margin in favour of Gateshead.

The first game ever to be concluded via the golden point

Golden point

The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...

rule was played at The Jungle

The Jungle (Wheldon Road)

The Jungle is the former name of Wheldon Road, a stadium in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England. This is the home of the Castleford Tigers rugby league team....

. Halifax

Halifax RLFC

Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...

earned a ten point lead through a try and two goals, one of which a penalty. Castleford

Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...

replied with a converted try, before Halifax kicked another penalty goal to lead 6–12. The home side again scored a try, which was converted, before Halifax kicked another penalty goal before half time. Halifax scored first with a try after the break, before Castleford scored another of their own. Another try for Halifax was countered with three Castleford tries, one of which was successfully converted to give them a 30–22 lead. Two converted Halifax tries put them into the lead by four points with ten minutes to play, but a try from Brent Sherwin

Brent Sherwin

Brent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...

on the 74th minute levelled the game at full time. Sherwin also scored the drop goal three minutes into extra time to send Castleford through after an historic fixture.

Huddersfield

Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....

won their early morning kick-off against Rochdale

Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...

despite two late tries from the away side. Luke Robinson

Luke Robinson

Luke Robinson is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Huddersfield Giants of Super League...

opened up the scoring on six minutes to score the first of five first-half tries for Huddersfield, to which Rochdale had no reply. Huddersfield scored again after 44 minutes to put themselves 32 points to nil ahead, before two converted Rochdale tries lowered the deficit to twenty points. Shaun Lunt

Shaun Lunt

Shaun Lunt is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Huddersfield Giants of Super League. A hooker, he has played his entire top-level career to date with Huddersfield....

finished the game off five minutes from full time with a try that was successfully converted to provide himself with a hat-trick, and to give Huddersfield a comfortable win.

Like Oldham and Wakefield had done the day before, Featherstone

Featherstone Rovers

Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...

took the initiative before losing to the opposition. Featherstone took a four point lead thanks to a try which was unsuccessfully converted before Warrington

Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....

scored twenty unanswered first-half points with four tries and two conversions. Chris Hicks converted his own try shortly after the break to put Warrington 4–26 into the lead before Featherstone replied with what was to be their final try. Warrington proceeded to run in five tries before full time, all of which were converted by Hicks, to win the game by almost a half-century of points.

Salford

Salford City Reds

Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...

had lost three of their previous matches prior to this round's fixture, but this did not stop eight Salford players touching down for tries as they delivered the widest winning margin of the round away to Batley

Batley Bulldogs

Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...

. Eight tries and eight goals, seven of which made up John Wilshere's

John Wilshere

John Wilshere is a Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer who recently left Salford City Reds at the end of the 2009 season.-Playing career:He is a household name in Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is the national sport...

ten goal match tally, scored by Salford went unanswered as Batley went into half-time fighting a 48-point deficit. Two further converted tries from Salford, including Mark Henry's

Mark Henry (rugby league)

Mark Henry is an Australian professional rugby league player.He joined European Super League side Salford City Reds for the 2009 season.-Point Scoring Summary - North Queensland Cowboys:...

fourth try, came before Batley's only try of the afternoon, which was not converted. Luke Adamson

Luke Adamson

Luke Adamson is a rugby league player for the Salford City Reds in Super League. He plays in the second-row.A powerful young forward tipped for a very big future in the professional game...

touched down two minutes from full time to give a winning margin of 62 in favour of Salford.

Of the four Co-operative Championship sides facing Super League opposition on the Sunday, Sheffield

Sheffield Eagles

Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....

came closest to winning, with Hull Kingston Rovers

Hull Kingston Rovers

Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...

having to regalvanise themselves to prevent a Sheffield come-from-behind victory. Sheffield only scored one converted try in the first forty minutes compared to the Rovers' four tries and three goals which had given them a sixteen-point advantage going into half time, but Sheffield struck back quickly after the break with a converted try in the 41st minute. Sheffield scored again fifteen minutes later with a converted try to put them only four points behind, before Shaun Briscoe

Shaun Briscoe

Shaun Briscoe is an English professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Widnes Vikings of Super League. An England international representative outside back, he has played club football for Wigan, Hull, and Hull Kingston Rovers....

went over the try-line and Michael Dobson converted to restore a ten-point advantage. Sheffield scored another try to lower the gap to four points again, but a late Rovers try in the 77th minute ended the game to advance them through to the quarterfinals instead of Sheffield.

In a repeat of the 2007 Challenge Cup Final

2007 Challenge Cup Final

The 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup featured teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. The final was played by the holders St Helens and Catalans Dragons at the new Wembley Stadium on the 25 August 2007. The Dragons were the first French club ever to take part in...

, St. Helens overcame French opposition in the outfit of the Catalans Dragons

Catalans Dragons

The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...

to reach the quarterfinals and maintain their four year unbeaten cup run. Two tries within ten minutes gave an eight-point advantage to the home side before Thomas Bosc

Thomas Bosc

Thomas Bosc is a French professional rugby league footballer for the Catalan Dragons of Super League...

kicked a penalty to reduce the lead to 8–2. Catalans scored a converted try in the 21st minute to level game, before two tries and a goal for St Helens meant an 18–8 half time scoreline. Catalans failed to score at all in the second half, whilst to the contrary, St Helens ran in four tries, two of which were scored by Paul Wellens

Paul Wellens

Paul Simon Wellens is an English multi-award–winning rugby league footballer. Wellens plays for St. Helens in the European Super League. Wellens is a Great Britain and England international...

. All of the second half tries were converted by Sean Long

Sean Long

Sean Long is an English former professional rugby league and current rugby union footballer with Preston Grasshoppers. He has played for Wigan, Widnes and Hull but is best known for playing for St Helens in the Super League. Internationally he has represented England and Great Britain at /...

to give the home side a winning margin of 34 points.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts...	17 – 28	Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....	9 May, 14:30 BST	Belle Vue Belle Vue (Wakefield) Belle Vue is a rugby league stadium in Wakefield, England. It is the home stadium of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. It is located beside the A638 Doncaster Road, approximately one mile south of Wakefield City Centre.- Description :Currently, the East stand has a covered stand with seating, with some...	Phil Bentham	4,883
Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...	34 – 16	Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895....	9 May, 15:00 BST	The Darlington Arena The Darlington Arena The Darlington Arena is a football stadium in England that hosts Darlington Football Club's home fixtures.-History:...	James Child	929
Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...	34 – 34	Halifax Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town...	9 May, 18:00 BST	The Jungle The Jungle (Wheldon Road) The Jungle is the former name of Wheldon Road, a stadium in Castleford, West Yorkshire, England. This is the home of the Castleford Tigers rugby league team....	Steve Ganson	5,595
Castleford win 35-34 in extra time via the golden point Golden point The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:... rule.
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....	38 – 12	Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...	10 May, 11:30 BST	Galpharm Stadium Galpharm Stadium The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...	Gareth Hewer	2,859
Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...	8 – 56	Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....	10 May, 13:30 BST	Chris Moyles Stadium Post Office Road Post Office Road, currently styled as the Bigfellas Stadium for sponsorship purposes , is a rugby league ground in Featherstone, near Pontefract, West Yorkshire, England...	Ian Smith	3,127
Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...	4 – 66	Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...	10 May, 15:00 BST	Mount Pleasant Mount Pleasant, Batley Mount Pleasant is a rugby league stadium in Batley, West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Batley RLFC.Renowned for its famous slope, Mount Pleasant is situated at the top of the hill that overlooks the town of Batley. The end of the ground at the top of the hill is surrounded by three...	Jamie Leahy	1,298
Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...	34 – 24	Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles Sheffield Eagles RLFC are an English rugby league club based in the South Yorkshire city of Sheffield. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Their home games are played at Bramall Lane after leaving Don Valley Stadium in late 2009....	10 May, 15:00 BST	New Craven Park	Thierry Alibert	4,955
St. Helens	42 – 8	Catalans Dragons Catalans Dragons The Catalans Dragons are a French professional rugby league club based in Perpignan, Pyrénées-Orientales. They currently play in the Super League, and are the only team in the competition from outside of the United Kingdom...	10 May, 15:15 BST	GPW Recruitment Stadium Knowsley Road Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...	Ben Thaler	7,176

Finals

The Gateshead Thunder

Gateshead Thunder

entered their first ever Challenge Cup quarterfinal thanks to their victory over the Oldham Roughyeds

Oldham Roughyeds

. The nature of that fixture meant that a Co-operative Championship team was guaranteed to be present in the quarterfinals stage of the tournament. No other Championship team won their respective match against top-flight opposition, and so the rest of the remaining teams at this point were from the Super League

Super League

. This round contained two Super League teams less than the previous round – the Catalans Dragons

Catalans Dragons

, who lost their fifth round tie against the Cup holders St. Helens, and Wakefield

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

, who lost to Wigan

Wigan Warriors

Tournament bracket: Round 5 onwards
Note that a new draw takes place before each round. Note A: Castleford won 35–34 in extra time via golden point Golden point The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:... rule. Note B: Warrington won 24–25 in extra time via golden point Golden point The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:... rule.

Quarterfinals

The sixth round of the Challenge Cup involves the eight teams who won their respective matches in the previous round. This is the final round where home field advantage is given, due to the requirement that all semifinal matches must be played at a neutral venue.

The draw was made live on BBC Two

BBC Two

BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...

at the GPW Recruitment Stadium

Knowsley Road

Knowsley Road was a stadium located in Eccleston, St Helens, Merseyside. It was the home of St Helens RLFC from 1890 until its closure in 2010. St Helens Town FC played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road from 2002 until 2010. For a period, the venue also hosted Liverpool FC Reserves...

on 10 May. Chris Joynt

Chris Joynt

Chris M. Joynt is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative , and /, he played his club football with St...

, four times winner of the Challenge Cup with St. Helens drew the home sides, while Andy Farrell OBE

Order of the British Empire

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...

, four times winner with the Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors

, drew the away sides.

The matches were played on 29–31 May, during the hottest weekend of the year so far temperature-wise.

A sunny Friday evening at the JJB Stadium

JJB Stadium

The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....

provided host to the round's first match, between the Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors

and Salford City Reds

Salford City Reds

. Salford were victorious in their last three games going into this match, with Wigan hoping to get back to winning ways after a defeat to Warrington

Warrington Wolves

at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

Halliwell Jones Stadium

Halliwell Jones Stadium is a rugby league stadium in Warrington, England that is the home ground of Warrington Wolves. It has also staged Challenge Cup semi-finals, the European Nations Final and the National League Grand Finals' Day....

. Both players were also missing a player, Wigan's Stuart Fielden

Stuart Fielden

Stuart Fielden is an English professional rugby league footballer for Wigan of Super League...

for disciplinary reasons, and Darrell Goulding

Darrell Goulding

Darrell Goulding is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of Super League. He plays as either a centre or on the wing and has spent his whole professional career to date at Wigan, with whom he won the 2010 Super League Championship.-Early life:Goulding is a former...

for Salford, on loan from Wigan, who was cup-tied for playing against Barrow Raiders

Barrow Raiders

Barrow Raiders are an English professional rugby league team from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, who are coached by Dave Clark. Formed in 1875 as Barrow Football Club, the club is the oldest of the current professional sports teams in Cumbria....

earlier on in the competition. A line break from Gareth Hock

Gareth Hock

Gareth Hock is an English rugby league player who currently plays for English club Wigan Warriors in the Super League competition. His primary position is as a second-row forward.-Early Years:...

gave the home side a six point lead after two minutes, following a successful conversion from Pat Richards

Pat Richards

. Salford replied nine minutes later with a line break of their own, eventually resulting in a try for Luke Adamson

Luke Adamson

Luke Adamson is a rugby league player for the Salford City Reds in Super League. He plays in the second-row.A powerful young forward tipped for a very big future in the professional game...

, converted by John Wilshere

John Wilshere

. It was to be the only Salford score of the match, but Wigan failed to take full control after forty minutes in only scoring one further try from Pat Richards on the wing to make the score 10–6 on the half-time hooter. However, Wigan scored eighteen unanswered points in the second half, with Pat Richards kicking a goal on the 49th minute, and scoring two more tries on the 59th and 70th minute to complete his hat-trick, the latter of which was converted. Hock scored another try of his own after 76 minutes, with Richards kicking the conversion to bring his individual total for the match to twenty, booking Wigan's place in the semifinals for the first time since 2007

2007 Challenge Cup

The 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in February 2007. The Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of rugby league, featuring teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia....

.

A Lee Briers

Lee Briers

Lee Briers is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for Warrington Wolves in the Super League. He previously played for St Helens, and at international level he won 23 caps for Wales, many of those as captain...

drop goal in extra-time was all that separated Hull Kingston Rovers

Hull Kingston Rovers

and Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves

at "New" Craven Park on the Saturday in a closely fought game. Both sides were in winning form, with Warrington having assembled three wins in a row, and Hull KR having won their previous six matches. The two sides had recent history in the competition, when in 2006, Warrington were knocked-out by Hull KR, who were then in National League One. The home side were first on the scoresheet after centre Kris Welham

Kris Welham

Kris Welham is an English rugby league player who currently plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in the Super League competition. His usual position is centre....

crossed the line in the 3rd minute. The conversion attempt was successful from Michael Dobson, before Vinnie Anderson

Vinnie Anderson

Vinnie Anderson is a professional rugby league footballer for the Salford City Reds of Europe's Super League competition. A New Zealand international representative loose-forward or stand-off, he previously played for St. Helens, the Warrington Wolves and NRL side, the New Zealand Warriors...

replied for Warrington on the 17th minute to put the scores level following a Briers conversion. In spite of attacking play from both sides, the game ended at half time 6–6. Warrington seized the initiative four minutes after the break thanks to a converted Jon Clarke

Jon Clarke

Jon Clarke is a hooker for Super League rugby league club Widnes Vikings. He has previously played for Wigan Warriors, London Broncos & Warrington Wolves....

try, however, Hull KR levelled the game again five minutes later when Clint Newton

Clint Newton

Clint Newton is an American born professional rugby league footballer who plays for Hull Kingston Rovers in Super League. He previously played for Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League competition...

crossed over the tryline. The home side pressed a ten-point advantage with two 53rd and 60th minute tries from Ben Galea

Ben Galea

Ben Galea is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for Hull Kingston Rovers in the European Super League. He previously played for the Balmain Tigers and Wests Tigers...

and Jake Webster

Jake Webster

Jake Webster is a New Zealand National rugby league player. He plays the position of Centre and Wing for Hull Kingston Rovers Rugby League Club.-Australia:...

respectively, the latter of which was the only unsuccessful conversion of the match. Warrington matched Hull KR with two tries of their own in five minutes from Matt King and Chris Bridge

Chris Bridge

Chris Bridge is an English professional rugby league footballer who plays for Warrington Wolves and has also represented Ireland and has also been called up the England squad.-Playing career:...

, to put them two points ahead with ten minutes left to play. A penalty conceded to the side of Warrington's left upright was kicked by Hull KR's Dobson three minutes from full-time to force the game into a golden point

Golden point

The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:...

situation, the score being 24–24 at the final hooter. Hull KR did not gain enough territory to allow Dobson a chance at a drop goal, whilst conversely Briers missed three attempts, once to the right side facing him and twice to the left side of the uprights, before landing his fourth attempt five minutes into extra time.

In contrast, the match at the Gateshead International Stadium

Gateshead International Stadium

could barely have been more one-sided, with St. Helens running out eventual winners against the Gateshead Thunder

Gateshead Thunder

. St Helens scored twice in the first five minutes, with tries from Matthew Gidley

Matthew Gidley

Matthew "Matt" Gidley is an Australian rugby league administrator and retired professional footballer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Gidley represented New South Wales and Australia. He is the currently CEO of Football Operations at the Newcastle Knights...

and James Roby

James Roby

James Roby is an English professional rugby league footballer for St. Helens of Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative hooker, he has played his entire professional career to date at St Helens, winning the 2006 Super League XI Championship with them.-Career:Roby...

, both conversions missed. A brief lull in the game was ended with another St Helens try after 21 minutes from fullback Paul Wellens

Paul Wellens

Paul Simon Wellens is an English multi-award–winning rugby league footballer. Wellens plays for St. Helens in the European Super League. Wellens is a Great Britain and England international...

, and this was converted by Sean Long

Sean Long

. Chris Flannery scored in the 25th minute, before a barrage of three St Helens tries in five minutes from Maurie Fa'asavalu

Maurie Fa'asavalu

Maurie Fa'asavalu is a Samoan rugby union player who formerly played rugby league for St Helens. He was recently picked in the Great Britain rugby league squad after living in England for 4 years...

, Kyle Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond is a professional rugby union footballer who currently plays for Bath, and has played for St. Helens in Super League and internationally for England. Eastmond has been compared to Australian international Scott Prince, because of his darting runs to the line and a good kicking game....

and Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce

Leon Pryce is an English professional rugby league footballer of Jamaican descent for the St. Helens club of Super League...

respectively put the visitors 0–36 ahead following three conversions from Eastmond. Gateshead scored their solitary try before half-time when Ben McAlpine scored, and Nick Youngquest

Nick Youngquest

Nick Youngquest is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Castleford Tigers club of Europe's Super League. He previously played for Crusaders RL, Gateshead Thunder, Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and Bulldogs...

converted. The second half saw thirty unanswered points from St Helens with five tries in the 51st, 54th, 57th, 64th and 72nd minutes, all of which were successively converted by Eastmond to continue St Helens' four-year unbeaten cup run, finish the score at 6–66, and end any chance of a Co-operative Championship team reaching Wembley

Wembley Stadium

The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...

this year.

The local derby between Huddersfield

Huddersfield Giants

and Castleford

Castleford Tigers

was the solitary game on the Sunday, due to BBC coverage. Huddersfield were fresh from a 48-point winning margin over Wakefield

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

from the Super League round the week before, whilst Castleford had not won a match during regular time in four games. Despite the form book, it was Castleford who gained the early advantage thanks to an aerial take from Michael Shenton

Michael Shenton

Michael Shenton , is an English professional rugby league footballer currently playing for St. Helens in the Super League. An England international representative , he previously played for the Castleford Tigers before moving to St...

following Rangi Chase's

Rangi Chase

Rangi Chase is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays in the Super League competition for the Castleford Tigers. He attended famous Maori school Te Aute College in 1999 before moving to Australia where he attended Keebra Park State High School...

kick, before crashing over the tryline on the way back down to give Castleford a 0–4 lead after three minutes. Several passages later, Kevin Brown dummied his way for a try in front of the uprights which was successfully converted by Brett Hodgson

Brett Hodgson

Brett Hodgson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Super League...

. Huddersfield had a disallowed try before Castleford kicked a penalty two minutes before half-time to make a 6–6 scoreline at the break. Huddersfield again had a try disallowed for a forward pass, before Brett Ferres

Brett Ferres

Brett Ferres is an English professional rugby league footballer who is currently contracted to English club Castleford Tigers of the European Super League competition. He plays at either as a loose forward/Lock or a second row.Ferres was a member of the England Academy side that toured Australia...

scored his only try, and two Kirk Dixon

Kirk Dixon

Kirk Dixon born in England is a rugby league player for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League competition.Kirk Dixon's position of choice is as a Centre but he can also play on the Wing....

goals gave the visitors a 6–14 lead after fifty minutes. Huddersfield did not concede again, and following a twenty minute lull, scored a try thanks to Stephen Wild

Stephen Wild

Stephen Wild is a professional rugby league player for Huddersfield Giants.Wild signed for Wigan Warriors from local amateurs Wigan St. Patrick's. He joined Wigan's first team after progressing through the lower ranks at the club, making his debut in 2001. He made his first representative...

, which was successfully converted. Determined Castleford defending kept Huddersfield out for nine further minutes, before Danny Kirmond

Danny Kirmond

Danny Kirmond is an English professional rugby league player for the Huddersfield Giants, and was on loan to the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats for the majority of the 2010 season...

scored the match winning try in the 77th minute to send Huddersfield through to the semifinal stage.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011....	28 – 6	Salford City Reds Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...	29 May, 20:00 BST	JJB Stadium JJB Stadium The DW Stadium is a sports stadium in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, that is home to Wigan Athletic football club and Wigan Warriors rugby league club....	Thierry Alibert	9,466
Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...	24 – 25	Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....	30 May, 17:30 BST	New Craven Park	Phil Bentham	7,671
Warrington win by golden point Golden point The golden point, a sudden death overtime system, is used to resolve drawn rugby league football matches. The term is borrowed from soccer's now defunct golden goal.-Australasia:... in extra time after the game was tied 24-24 after 80 minutes.
Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder Gateshead Thunder is a professional rugby league club based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear in England. They currently play in the Championship 1 competition, the third tier of rugby league in the United Kingdom...	6 – 66	St. Helens	30 May, 18:00 BST	The 'Thunderdome' Gateshead International Stadium Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a...	Ian Smith	4,325
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....	16 – 14	Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...	31 May, 15:30 BST	Galpharm Stadium Galpharm Stadium The Galpharm Stadium, formerly the Alfred McAlpine Stadium, is a multi-use sports in Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England. Since 1994, it has been the home ground of Huddersfield Town and Super League side, Huddersfield Giants.-The Stadium:...	Richard Silverwood	6,359

Semifinals

The four teams remaining play against each other for straight access into the Final. All matches in this round are played on a neutral venue. The draw was made live on BBC Two

BBC Two

following coverage of the quarterfinal match between Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants

and Castleford Tigers

Castleford Tigers

on 31 May. Only nine days after losing their Super League XIV

Super League XIV

The 2009 Super League season is the fourteenth season of rugby league since the Super League format was introduced in 1996...

tie at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

Halliwell Jones Stadium

, Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors

were drawn against the Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves

, whilst a repeat of the 2006 Challenge Cup Final was made with St. Helens versus Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants

.

One match is played on Saturday 8 August, the other is played the day after. The dates and venues were confirmed on 2 June, with Wigan Warriors vs Warrington Wolves being played in Widnes

Widnes

Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...

at the Stobart Stadium Halton

Halton Stadium

The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...

on the Saturday, and St Helens vs Huddersfield being played on the Sunday at the Halliwell Jones Stadium

Halliwell Jones Stadium

in Warrington

Warrington

Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...

Wigan vs Warrington

A Matt King hat-trick ended Wigan's dreams of going to Wembley

Wembley Stadium

in 2009, putting Warrington into their first Challenge Cup final since 1990, despite the return of Wigan's captain Sean O'Loughlin

Sean O'Loughlin

Sean O'Loughlin is an English professional rugby league footballer who captains the Wigan Warriors of Europe's Super League. A Great Britain and England international representative , and /, he has played his entire career to date with Wigan, with whom he won the 2010 Super League XV...

following a knee injury. The video referee declined a Warrington try from Ben Westwood

Ben Westwood

Ben Westwood is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League. An England international representative forward, he previously played for the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats before moving to Warrington in 2002 and winning the 2009 Challenge Cup with...

on grounds of obstruction, and Wigan also had a disallowed try from winger Pat Richards

Pat Richards

, but it was Wigan who took the initiative thanks to a side-step from Phil Bailey

Phil Bailey

Phil Bailey is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the European Super League competition. Bailey is a former player for New South Wales and Australia. He previously played for the Cronulla Sharks, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Northern Eagles...

after seven minutes; the try was successfully converted by Richards. Two further points were added to Wigan's tally following a penalty, to give an 8–0 lead. Warrington rallied to score twenty-four unanswered points by the half-time break, with two tries from King as well as tries from Louis Anderson

Louis Anderson

Louis Anderson is a professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for Warrington Wolves of Super League. A New Zealand international representative forward, he previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League competition...

, Lee Briers

Lee Briers

and Michael Cooper, before King completed his hat-trick in the 48th minute to give the Wolves a 24-point lead. Sam Tomkins

Sam Tomkins

A pre-season unofficial friendly match provided Tomkins his first experience against top-flight opposition as he came off the bench during Lee Briers' testimonial match in a 30–22 loss to Warrington Wolves. Noble followed this up by providing Tomkins, aged 19, with his first team debut on 12 May...

, in his first season of first-team rugby, started a Wigan fightback as he caught an offload from the right wing by George Carmont

George Carmont

George Carmont is a professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors of the Super League competition...

before grounding the ball beneath the sticks. Chris Riley

Chris Riley (rugby league)

Chris Riley is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Europe's Super League.-Playing career:...

was stretchered off for concussion and whiplash after colliding with Joel Tomkins

Joel Tomkins

Joel Tomkins is an English professional rugby league footballer for the Wigan Warriors in the European Super League. An England international representative second-row forward, he has played his whole career to date at Wigan, winning the 2010 Super League Grand Final and 2011 Challenge Cup with...

' knee, and Wigan took advantage of this with two further tries from Andy Coley

Andy Coley

Andy Coley is a rugby league player who plays for Wigan Warriors. He previously played at Salford City Reds before transferring after six years at the club...

and Thomas Leuluai

Thomas Leuluai

Thomas Leuluai is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Wigan Warriors in the Super League. His position is at half-back...

which were both converted to reduce Wigan's arrears to six points. Briers kicked a drop goal the set afterwards to give Warrington safety, before the game was sealed with a Chris Hicks try to give the full-time score of 26–39.

St Helens vs Huddersfield

A Francis Meli

Francis Meli

Francis Meli is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for St. Helens in the Super League competition. Meli has represented both New Zealand and Samoa in internationals. His usual position is on the wing....

hat-trick was not enough to extend St Helens' four-year unbeaten run in the Challenge Cup with a victory in Warrington. Man of the match Brett Hodgson

Brett Hodgson

Brett Hodgson is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Warrington Wolves of Super League...

opened up the points tally with a try in the fifth minute, although he failed to convert it. Meli scored on the wing five minutes later to level the game following another missed conversion from Kyle Eastmond

Kyle Eastmond

. Stephen Wild

Stephen Wild

scored the only other try of the first-half following a line break from Kevin Brown, which was converted to give Huddersfield a 4–10 lead. Huddersfield extended the advantage further, scoring two tries from Leroy Cudjoe

Leroy Cudjoe

Leroy Cudjoe is an English professional rugby league footballer with the Huddersfield Giants of Super League.Leroy attended Newsome High School and Sports College. Leroy's previous club is the Newsome Panthers...

and Brown in the first ten minutes of the second half, although Brett Hodgson again missed both. Meli cross the line again on the wing to bring the score to 10–18. A strong defensive performance from Huddersfield prevented another St Helens score, and Wild's second try three minutes from full-time gave the Giants a 14-point advantage. St Helens' solitary try-scorer Meli scored on the wing straight from the kick-off to complete his hat-trick, but there was not enough time for a comeback.

Final

The Carnegie 2009 Challenge Cup Final was played on 29 August, eight rounds and almost eight months after the tournament started in its preliminary stages. Following tradition, the match was held in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

at Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium

. The game finished with Warrington Wolves

Warrington Wolves

defeating the Huddersfield Giants

Huddersfield Giants

16-25 following two controversial disallowed tries for the Giants, which if awarded would have won them the game if at least one conversion attempt was good.

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date and Time	Venue	Referee	Attendance
Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....	16-25	Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....	29 August	Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...	Steve Ganson Steve Ganson Steve Ganson is a rugby league referee. He is the second professional referee from the town as Premier League referee Chris Foy also hails from St Helens.- First games :...	76,560

External links

Challenge Cup at the Rugby Football League's
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...

website
Official Challenge Cup website

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