RUGBY LEAGUE - ENGLISH CHALLENGE CUP
2000 TO 2009
2000
Semi-Final - Bradford Bulls (44) v (20) Warrington Wolves - Bradford booked their place in the Final with a big win over the Wolves. The Bulls scored 7 tries from 7 different players (Scott Naylor, Robbie Paul, Stuart Spruce, Michael Withers, Justin Brooker, Henry Paul and Jamie Peacock) after a shaky start that saw them 14-8 down. But, guided by the play of Henry and Robbie Paul, the Bulls dominated the 2nd half to run out winners. Bradford also featured Leon Pryce, Paul Anderson and Stuart Fielden. Warrington were led by Allan Langer and also featured Tawera Nikau, Steve McCurrie and Lee Briers (8, 1 Disc, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
2003
Semi-Final - Leeds Rhino (33) v (26) St.Helens Saints - In the battle for a berth in the Challenge Cup Final, both teams played out the longest Semi-Final game in the Cups history. Both teams matched each other for scores but St.Helens held a 26-20 lead entering the final 2 minutes of the game and seemed assured of the win. But Kevin Sinfield made a break and off-loaded to Danny Maguire to score in the corner. With the last kick of the game, Sinfield converted from the touch-line to send the game into extra-time. Leeds were re-energised by the late heroics and a drop goal from Sinfield and another try from Maguire sent Leeds through. St.Helens also featured Paul Sculthorpe, Paul Wellens and Sean Long off the bench. Leeds also featured Mark Calderwood, Keith Senior, Barrie McDermott and Francis Cummins (8, 1 Disc, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
2005
Final - Hull FC (25) v (24) Leeds Rhinos - Hull upset the Rhinos with a try in the last minute in a wild, back and forth game with plenty of momentum swings. The Hull win gave them their 1st trophy in 23 years (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
2006
4th Round - Wigan Warriors (32) @ (22) Wakefield Wildcats - Both teams produced good attacking rugby with Wakefield building a 22-12 lead before Wigan scored 20 unanswered points to advance to the next round (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Kear, PAL)
Quarter Final - Warrington Wolves (36) @ (40) Hull KR Robins - National League Hull KR were the underdogs against the 5th placed Super League side. But in a wild offensive game, the Robins twice cameback from 10 point deficits and scored 8 tries to the Wolves 7 tries to record a famous win (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Kear, PAL)
2007
Semi-Final - Bradford Bulls (14) v (35) St.Helens Saints - St.Helens played sensational attacking and defensive rugby to book a place in the final. The Saints ran in 6 tries although Keiron Cunningham, playing his 400th game, didn't get on the score sheet but he did earn Man-of-the-Match honours (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
Semi-Final - Wigan Warriors (24) v (37) Catalans Dragons - Catalan scored a major upset by beating a strong Wigan team to become the 1st French team to reach the Challenge Cup Final. Catalan raced out to a 24-6 half-time lead with great attacking rugby and strong defence and then had to withstand a ferocious fight-back by Wigan. Catalan's Stacey Jones had a hand in the fight-back after being sin-binned, allowing Wigan to score 2 tries, but on his return, and with his 1st touch, he set up the clnching try (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies, PAL)
Final - Catalans Dragons (8) v (30) St.Helens Saints - St.Helens upset Catalans chance of a shock win with a strong 2nd half that wore down the French side. Catalans were missing the injured Casey McGuire and his creativity and kicking was missed as the Saints, led by Keiron Cunningham and Paul Wellens, secured their 11th Challenge Cup win (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
2008
5th Round - Warrington Wolves (34) @ (40) St.Helens Saints - The current Challenge Cup holders were tested in a great game of attacking Rugby. Both teams scored a combined 13 tries with Kevin Penney scoring a sensational length-of-the-field try. Willie Talau scored 2 tries for St.Helens and Sean Long added 12 points with the boot (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
Final - St.Helens Saints (28) v (16) Hull FC - On the occasion of St.Helens coach Daniel Anderson's last game, the Saints sent him off with a win, their 3rd Challenge Cup victory in a row. The favoured Saints were down 12-10 with 15 minutes to go through 2 tries from Kirk Yeaman, 1 of which was an 80 yard interception, but the Saints finished strongly with tries from Francis Meli, John Wilkin and Leon Pryce to claim the cup (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
2009
4th Round - Bradford Bulls (38) @ (40) Catalans Dragons - In a game of 2 halves, the Dragons fought their way back from a 28-0 deficit in the 2nd half to upset the Bulls and advance to the next round. The Bulls raced out to a 20-0 lead at the half with tries from Paul Sykes, Rikki Sheriffe, Matt Cook and Chris Nero and extended their lead after the break with a try from Steve Menzies. But the Dragons roared back, out-scoring the Bulls 7 tries to 1 to sensationally win the game. The Dragons tries came from Olivier Elima (2), Clint Greenshields, Thomas Bosc (2), Jean-Philippe Gossard and Cyril Baile (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
Semi-Final - Warrington Wolves (39) v (26) Wigan Warriors - Warrington advanced to their 1st Challenge Cup Final since 1990 with a big win over Wigan. The Wolves were up 32-8 early in the 2nd half thanks to tries from Matt King (3), Louis Anderson, Lee Briers and Chris Bridge but Wigan staged a big comeback to pull within 6 points. A late drop-goal and a try from Chris Hicks sealed the win for the Wolves. Wigan featured Paul Prescott, Thomas Leuluai Sam Tomkins and Andy Coley (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies, PAL)
Semi-Final - St.Helens Saints (14) v (24) Huddersfield Giants - Huddersfield shocked the holders with a big defensive effort and booked their place in the Cup Final. St.Helens were riding an 18 game unbeaten streak in the competition but struggled to break through the dogged Giants defense, although Francis Melli claimed 3 tries. The Giants tries came from Man-of-the-match Brett Hodgson, Leroy Cudjoe, Stephen Wild (2) and Kevin Brown. The Saints were starting Kyle Eastmond in place of injured Sean Long (10, 2 Discs, BBC - French/Davies, PAL)
Final - Huddersfield Giants (16) v (25) Warrington Wolves - Warrington won the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1974, building on an 18-10 lead at the half to claim the win. Tries from Richie Mathers, Michael Monaghan, Chris Hicks and Vinnie Anderson did the damage but the stars for the Wolves were Lee Briers and Lance Todd winner, Michael Monaghan. The Giants put up a good fight with tries from Shaun Lunt, Brett Hodgson and David Hodgson but had 2 tries disallowed and gave up 8 penalties which hampered any chance they had of winning the game (10, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies, PAL)