RUGBY LEAGUE - ENGLISH CHALLENGE CUP
2021 TO 2030
2021
Quarter Final - Hull FC (20) v (10) Wigan Warriors - Hull FC scored a sensational upset of previously unbeaten Wigan to book a place in the Semi-Finals. Hull used a great defensive performance to keep Wigan at bay for the majority of the match but the game ended in high drama as Wigan, needing a try to tie the game, fumbled the ball close to the Hull try line with the game into injury time, and Hull sealed the win by picking up the fumble and running 80 metres to the game-clinching try. The Hull tries came from Tevita Satae and Adam Swift. The Wigan tries came from Jake Bibby and Dom Manfredi (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies/Kear, PAL)
Quarter Final - Castleford Tigers (19) v (18) Salford Red Devils - Castleford booked a place in the Semi-Finals with an extra-time win over Salford at Headingley. The Tigers looked to be going through in regulation time, but Salford scored with 18 seconds left, then kicked the conversion to force the extra period. The Tigers didn't waste any time sealing the win, though, as Gareth O'Brien kicked the winning drop goal 2 minutes in to send Castleford into the next round. The Castleford tries came from Daniel Smith, Peter Mata'utia and Michael Shenton. The Salford tries came from Harvey Livett (2) (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Newsum/Noble/Henderson, PAL)
Semi-Final - St.Helens Saints (33) v (18) Hull FC - St.Helens held on against Hull at the Leigh Sports Village to book a place in their first Challenge Cup Final since 2018. The Saints dominated the game for 50 minutes and led 20-2 with 30 minutes to go, before Hull scored 3 unanswered tries to pull within 3 points. But the Saints dramatically turned the game around with an interception returned the length of the field for a try, then capped the game off with another late try to finish off Hull. The Saints tries came from Regan Grace (2), Theo Fages, Jack Welsby and Lachlan Coote. The Hull tries came from Mahe Fonua, Danny Houghton and Cameron Scott (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies/Kear, PAL)
Semi-Final - Castleford Tigers (35) v (20) Warrington Wolves - Castleford booked a place in their first Challenge Cup Final since 2014 with a hard-fought win over the Wolves at the Leigh Sports Village. The Tigers had the better of the 1st half and took a 19-0 lead in at the break. The Wolves fought back in the 2nd half, but couldn't get any closer than 9 points and the Tigers closed the game out with a flurry of tries to seal victory. The Castleford tries came from Gareth O'Brien, Jordan Turner (3), Jesse Sene-Lefao and Paul McShane. The Warrington tries came from Ben Currie, Jake Mamo, Toby King and Josh Charnley (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Newsum/Noble/Hunter-Paul, PAL)
Final - Castleford Tigers (12) v (26) St.Helens Saints - At a baking hot Wembley Stadium, St Helens beat Castleford to claim their first Challenge Cup in 13 years. A tight, hard-fought 1st half went the way of the Tigers, and they took a 12-6 lead in at the half. But the Saints scored 20 unanswered points in the 2nd half, wearing down the Tigers with great tactical play, and eased home for the win. The Saints tries came from Theo Fages, James Roby, Tommy Makinson and Kyle Amor. The Castleford tries came from Niall Evalds and Jake Trueman. The game was the last as coach of Castleford for Daryl Powell before moving on to coach Warrington. The Lance Todd Trophy went to Castleford full-back Niall Evalds, only the 4th player from the losing team to ever win the award (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Davies/Kear, PAL)
2022
Round 6 - Castleford Tigers (40) @ (16) Leeds Rhinos - Castleford celebrated their first Challenge Cup win over Leeds since 1998 with a 7-try win at Headingly. Leeds were led by interim coach and former player Jamie Jones-Buchanan, but he couldn't stop the Tigers running out to a 28-0 lead at the half, and they coasted home in the 2nd half. The Castleford tries came from Jacob Trueman, Jake Mamo, Gareth O'Brien, Jordan Turner, George Lawler and Greg Eden (2). The Leeds tries came from Rhyse Martin (2) and Liam Sutcliffe (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Kear/J.Davies, PAL)
Semi-Final - Wigan Warriors (20) v (18) St.Helens Saints - In a game of 2 halves, Wigan booked a place in the Challenge Cup Final by knocking out the holders St.Helens in front of a boisterous crowd at Elland Road. The Warriors dominated the 1st half and went in at the break with a 14-0 lead. But the Saints came out in the 2nd half a different team and scored 18 unanswered points to take a sensational lead. The Saints looked favourites to win but a dropped pass was scooped up by Wigan and ran in from half-way for the game-winning try that sent the Warriors to the Final. The Wigan tries came from Liam Marshall (2), Cade Cust and Liam Farrell. The St.Helens tries came from Konrad Hurrell, Jonny Lomax and James Roby (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Kear/J.Davies, PAL)
Final - Huddersfield Giants (14) v (16) Wigan Warriors - Wigan dramatically claimed their 20th Challenge Cup win with a sensational late try at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The underdog Giants dominated possession and territory in the 1st half, but could only take a 10-6 lead in at the break. The 2nd half ebbed-and-flowed and the Giants found themselves up 14-12 with 4 minutes to play when Wigan finally managed to break through the Giants defense and score the game-winning try to break the Huddersfield fans hearts. The Wigan tries came from Harry Smith, Jai Field and Liam Marshall. The Huddersfield tries came from Ricky Leutele, Chris McQueen and Jermaine McGillvary. The Lance Todd Trophy went to Huddersfield's Chris McQueen (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/J.Davies/Noble, PAL)
2023
Final - Leigh Leopards (17) v (16) Hull Kingston Rovers - In a sensational final at Wembley, Leigh won their first Challenge Cup in 52 years with a stunning "golden point" win over Hull KR. Both teams were evenly matched but as the game wound down it was Leigh that looked on course for the win, holding a 16-10 lead as the game entered the final minute. But Hull KR sensationally scored on the games' final play to force "Golden Point" extra-time. Leigh held their nerve, though, and finally clinched the win with a drop-goal by coach's son, Lachlan Lam, setting off sensational scenes of celebration inside Wembley. The Leigh tries came from Lam and Tom Briscoe with Ben Reynolds kicking 4 points. The Hull KR tries came from Jez Litten and Matt Parcell with Brad Schneider kicking 4 points (9, 2 Discs, BBC - Woods/Kear/J.Davies, PAL)