2014 Challenge Cup

The 2014 Challenge Cup (also known as the Tetley's Challenge Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons) was the 113th staging of the rugby league tournament.

2014 Tetley's Challenge Cup
2014 Challenge Cup
Leeds Rhinos celebrating their 2014 Challenge Cup victory
Duration8 Rounds
Number of teams81
Highest attendance77,914
Castleford Tigers vs Leeds Rhinos (Final)
Lowest attendance213
South Wales Scorpions vs Hemel Stags (3rd Round)
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Winners Leeds Rhinos
Runners-up Castleford Tigers
Lance Todd Trophy Ryan Hall

The defending champions Wigan Warriors were knocked out in the quarter finals 4 - 16 at home to the Castleford Tigers, who went on to make the final, but lost 10 - 23 to the Leeds Rhinos.[2]

First round

The draw for the first round of the 2014 Challenge Cup was held on 8 January 2014 and broadcast live from the studios of BBC Radio Humberside by current Hull F.C. prop forward Chris Green and former player Shaun Briscoe.[3]

The first round took place on the weekend of 1 and 2 February 2014, although three fixtures did not take place until the following Saturday - 8 February 2014.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Hull Dockers76 – 0Bristol Sonics1 February 2014The Willows ClubG Dolan
Lock Lane14 – 15Normanton Knights1 February 2014Lock Lane Sports CentreT Grant
Woolston Rovers6 – 20Elland RLFC1 February 2014Monk Sports ClubJ Callaghan
Wath Brow Hornets18 – 0Halton Simms Cross1 February 2014Trumpet RoadJ Smith
York Acorn12 – 16Siddal1 February 2014Acorn Sports & Social ClubS Race
Pilkington Recs46 – 4Aberdeen Warriors1 February 2014Ruskin ParkL Moore
Widnes St Maries16 – 42Wigan St Patricks1 February 2014Select Security StadiumI Scott
South West London Chargers12 – 6Torfaen Tigers1 February 2014Dukes Meadow, Chiswick RUFCC Kay
Myton Warriors24 – 22East Hull1 February 2014Marist Sporting ClubB Robinson
Royal Navy4 – 24Walney Central1 February 2014United Services Sports GroundA Fazackerley
Askam RLFC8 – 12British Army1 February 2014Fallowfield ParkC Campbell
Royal Air Force38 – 10Dewsbury Celtic1 February 2014RAF CranwellA Tolley
Skirlaugh Bulls10 – 16Rochdale Mayfield1 February 2014Eastside Community Sports ClubC Straw
Kells24 – 16Wigan St Judes1 February 2014Old ArrowthwaiteA Bentham
Leigh Miners Rangers12 – 10Hunslet Warriors1 February 2014Leigh Miners Welfare Sports ClubS Mikalauskas
Blackbrook Royals4 – 10Egremont Rangers1 February 2014Blackbrook Sports & Recreation ClubT Hudson
Leeds Metropolitan University44 – 16Millom RLFC1 February 2014Beckett ParkR Thompson
Underbank Rangers30 – 34East Leeds1 February 2014The Cross GroundsM Mannifield
Loughborough University24 – 38British Police2 February 2014Epinal WayR Webb
Saddleworth Rangers18 – 28Milford Marlins8 February 2014Shaw Hall Bank RoadJ McMullen
Oulton Raiders16 – 22West Hull8 February 2014Oulton Community Sports ClubG Evans
Shaw Cross Sharks13 – 16Thatto Heath Crusaders8 February 2014Shaw Cross ClubJ Roberts
Source:[4][5]

Second round

The draw for the second round took place on 6 February 2014 and was drawn by former Wigan Warriors player Kris Radlinski and the owner of Salford Red Devils, Marwan Koukash.[6]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
East Leeds28 – 16Leeds Metropolitan University22 February 2014, 14:00Richmond HillS Mikalauskas
Hull Dockers42 – 8Siddal22 February 2014, 14:00The Willows ClubT Grant
Normanton Knights44 – 10Royal Air Force22 February 2014, 14:00Queen Elizabeth DriveC Campbell
Pilkington Recs38 – 0Myton Warriors22 February 2014, 14:00Ruskin ParkT Hudson
South West London Chargers6 – 24Milford Marlins22 February 2014, 14:00Dukes Meadow, Chiswick RUFCA Bentham
Walney Central16 – 28Egremont Rangers22 February 2014, 14:00The Old Police House, Central DriveJ Roberts
Wath Brow Hornets12 – 6Elland RLFC22 February 2014, 14:00Trumpet RoadJ Callaghan
West Hull28 – 18Thatto Heath Crusaders22 February 2014, 14:00West Hull Community ParkI Scott
Kells26 – 12Leigh Miners Rangers22 February 2014, 14:30Old ArrowthwaiteL Moore
Rochdale Mayfield28 – 36Wigan St Patricks22 February 2014, 14:30Mayfield Sports CentreC Straw
British Police30 – 34British Army23 February 2014, 14:00Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley ARLFCS Race
Source:[7][8]

Third round

The draw for the third round took place on 24 February 2014 and was made at the University of Gloucestershire's Park Campus in Cheltenham by the university's pro vice-chancellor Maxine Melling and Kevan Blackadder, the editor of the Gloucestershire Echo.[9]

The third-round fixtures were drawn from two pools. Pool A comprised the 14 Championship teams plus four Championship 1 teams drawn at random. From this pool two teams were drawn and awarded a bye into the fourth round, the two teams drawn were Featherstone Rovers and London Skolars. The need to award byes came from the decision by the French teams invited into the competition to withdraw at a late stage.[10]

The remaining five Championship 1 sides and the 11 winners of second-round matches formed Pool B. All the third round fixtures comprised a team from Pool A vs a team from Pool B. The team with home advantage was also determined randomly for each fixture.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Leigh Centurions74 – 6Wigan St Patricks14 March 2014, 19:30Leigh Sports VillageM Woodhead994
Batley Bulldogs52 – 4Kells15 March 2014, 14:00LoveRugbyLeague.com StadiumJ Bloem365
Normanton Knights12 – 38 Workington Town15 March 2014, 14:00The Big Fellas StadiumP Brooke713
Keighley Cougars42 – 0Wath Brow Hornets15 March 2014, 15:00Cougar ParkD Sharpe488
Egremont Rangers24 – 42 Oldham15 March 2014, 15:00Copeland StadiumA Sweet340
Milford Marlins10 – 18 Barrow Raiders16 March 2014, 14:00Headingley Carnegie StadiumC Campbell1,000
Sheffield Eagles54 – 0East Leeds16 March 2014, 14:00Owlerton StadiumD Merrick619
Hull Dockers6 – 70 Halifax16 March 2014, 14:00KC Lightstream StadiumT Grant600
North Wales Crusaders58 – 18Pilkington Recs16 March 2014, 14:00Glyndŵr University Racecourse GroundJ Callaghan544
Rochdale Hornets76 – 4 Gloucestershire All Golds16 March 2014, 15:00Spotland StadiumJ Cobb307
Dewsbury Rams76 – 10West Hull16 March 2014, 15:00Tetley's StadiumA Gill433
British Army12 – 62 Doncaster16 March 2014, 15:00Aldershot Military StadiumC Kendall357
South Wales Scorpions12 – 38 Hemel Stags16 March 2014, 15:00Llynfi Road, MaestegW Turley213
York City Knights34 – 32 Whitehaven16 March 2014, 15:00Huntington StadiumT Crashley403
Swinton Lions66 – 6 Gateshead Thunder16 March 2014, 15:00Leigh Sports VillageG Hewer249
Hunslet Hawks68 – 6 Oxford Rugby League16 March 2014, 15:00South Leeds StadiumM Thomason278
Source:[11][12]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round took take place at 3:45 pm on 18 March 2014 from Quay House, MediaCityUK, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Humberside. The fourth round saw the entry of the 14 First Utility Super League clubs, including holders Wigan Warriors, who joined the 16 winners of the third-round ties along with Featherstone Rovers and London Skolars, who received byes in the third round.

The home teams were drawn by the Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Billy Rotherham; the away teams by David Barker, representing sponsors Tetley's.[13]

The fourth round of the Tetley's Challenge Cup was played over April 3–6.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Hull F.C.36 – 37 Salford Red Devils3 April 2014, 20:00KC StadiumB Thaler5,963
Dewsbury Rams6 – 58 Wigan Warriors4 April 2014, 20:00Tetley's StadiumJ Cobb3,054
Catalans Dragons40 – 24 London Broncos4 April 2014, 20:00Stade Gilbert BrutusR Hicks3,834
Sheffield Eagles70 – 28 London Skolars5 April 2014, 14:00Owlerton StadiumP Brooke505
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats6 – 60 Leeds Rhinos6 April 2014, 14:00Rapid Solicitors StadiumJ Child4,482
Rochdale Hornets22 – 28 Leigh Centurions6 April 2014, 14:00Spotland StadiumD Sharpe1,007
Batley Bulldogs10 – 48 Castleford Tigers6 April 2014, 14:00LoveRugbyLeague.comStadiumG Stokes2,482
Doncaster68 – 18 Hemel Stags6 April 2014, 14:00Keepmoat StadiumC Kendall348
Keighley Cougars54 – 28 Barrow Raiders6 April 2014, 14:00Cougar ParkD Merrick823
Featherstone Rovers66 – 0 North Wales Crusaders6 April 2014, 14:00The Big Fellas StadiumG Hewer1,312
Hull Kingston Rovers24 – 28 Warrington Wolves6 April 2014, 14:00KC Lightstream StadiumR Silverwood4,911
Bradford Bulls60 – 6 Oldham6 April 2014, 14:00Provident StadiumC Leatherbarrow2,788
Hunslet Hawks27 – 10 Workington Town6 April 2014, 14:00South Leeds StadiumW Turley504
Halifax10 – 34 Widnes Vikings6 April 2014, 14:00The ShayM Thomason2,271
Swinton Lions31 – 28 York City Knights6 April 2014, 14:00Leigh Sports VillageJ Bloem427
Huddersfield Giants16 – 17 St. Helens6 April 2014, 14:15John Smith's StadiumP Bentham7,150
Source:[14][15]

Fifth round

The fifth round draw took place live on BBC TV after the end of the 4th round match between Huddersfield Giants and St Helens. Home teams were drawn by Alex Murphy and away teams by Garry Schofield. Fixtures were played over the weekend of 26–27 April 2014. BBC TV broadcast the game between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens on Saturday 26 April.[16]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Leeds Rhinos32 – 12 St. Helens26 April 2014, 14:30Headingley Carnegie StadiumR Silverwood12,194
Swinton Lions20 – 33 Keighley Cougars26 April 2014, 15:00Leigh Sports VillageT Roby465
Wigan Warriors52 – 8 Hunslet Hawks27 April 2014, 15:00DW StadiumG Stokes4,390
Leigh Centurions26 – 16 Featherstone Rovers27 April 2014, 15:00Leigh Sports VillageB Thaler3,664
Bradford Bulls33 – 20 Catalans Dragons27 April 2014, 15:00Provident StadiumJ Child2,341
Salford Red Devils20 – 30 Widnes Vikings27 April 2014, 15:00AJ Bell StadiumP Bentham2,630
Warrington Wolves68 – 0 Doncaster27 April 2014, 15:00Halliwell Jones StadiumM Thomason3,002
Castleford Tigers60 – 16 Sheffield Eagles27 April 2014, 15:30The Mend A Hose JungleR Hicks4,648
Source:[17]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was held on Monday 28 April 2014 at 18:30 and televised on the BBC News channel. The home teams were drawn by Jason Robinson and the away teams by Paul Sculthorpe. Ties were played between June 5–8, 2014.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Widnes Vikings56 – 6 Keighley Cougars5 June 2014, 20:00Select Security StadiumJ Child5,252
Leeds Rhinos25 – 12 Leigh Centurions6 June 2014, 20:00Headingley Carnegie StadiumB Thaler7,145
Wigan Warriors4 – 16 Castleford Tigers7 June 2014, 14:30DW StadiumR Silverwood8,736
Bradford Bulls10 – 46 Warrington Wolves8 June 2014, 15:30Provident StadiumP Bentham5,046
Source:[18][19]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was held on Sunday 8 June 2014 following the Bradford/Warrington game, which was televised on BBC Two. The draw was conducted by Eorl Crabtree and Brian Noble. The ties were played on the weekend of 9–10 August 2014.

[20]

9 August 2014
14:30
Leeds Rhinos24 – 16Warrington Wolves
Langtree Park
Attendance: 12,132
Referee: Phil Bentham

10 August 2014
15:00
Widnes Vikings6 – 28Castleford Tigers
Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: 12,005
Referee: Richard Silverwood

Final

Leeds and Castleford battle it out in the final.

The final of the 2014 Challenge Cup took place on 23 August 2014 at Wembley Stadium[21] with the match kicking off at 15:00 BST. The match was shown live on BBC One. Leeds Rhinos won the game 23–10.

23 August
15:00 BST
Castleford Tigers10 – 23 Leeds Rhinos
Tries
Clark 1
Holmes 1
Goals
Finn 1
Tries
2 Hall
1 Briscoe
1 McGuire
Goals
3 Sinfield
Field Goal
1 McGuire
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 77,914
Referee: Phil Bentham
Player of the Match: Hall (Leeds Rhinos)

Teams

Castleford Tigers: Luke Dorn; Kirk Dixon, Jake Webster, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney; Marc Sneyd, Liam Finn; Andy Lynch, Daryl Clark, Craig Huby, Oliver Holmes, Weller Hauraki, Nathan Massey.Substitutes: Frankie Mariano, Scott Wheeldon, Jamie Ellis, Lee Jewitt.

Leeds Rhinos: Zak Hardaker; Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall; Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire; Kylie Leuluai, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock, Brett Delaney, Carl Ablett, Jamie Jones-Buchanan.Substitutes: Paul Aiton, Ryan Bailey, Ian Kirke, Liam Sutcliffe.

UK Broadcasting rights

The tournament was jointly televised by the BBC and Sky Sports on the third of their five-year contracts. The BBC screened, live, one match from each of the fourth and fifth rounds, two from the quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final. Sky screened the two quarter-final games not being shown by the BBC.

RoundLive matchDateBBC channel
Fourth roundHuddersfield Giants 16-17 St. HelensApril 6, 2014BBC Two
Fifth roundLeeds Rhinos 32 - 12 St. HelensApril 26, 2014BBC One
Quarter finalsWigan Warriors 4 - 16 Castleford Tigers
Bradford Bulls 10 - 46 Warrington Wolves
June 7, 2014
June 8, 2014
BBC One
BBC Two
Semi finalsLeeds Rhinos 24 - 16 Warrington Wolves
Widnes Vikings 6 - 22 Castleford Tigers
August 9, 2014
August 10, 2014
FinalCastleford Tigers 10 - 23 Leeds RhinosAugust 23BBC One

Sky Sports televised the other two quarter final matches live. The first was Widnes Vikings and Keighley Cougars and the second was Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Centurions

External links

References