2008 Challenge Cup

The 2008 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in February 2008. 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.

Teams from the National League were given byes to round three, and teams from the Super League entered in round four. Teams from outside of the UK were introduced at various stages.

The final was held on 30 August at Wembley Stadium. It was contested by defending champions St. Helens and fellow Super League club Hull. St Helens won the trophy with a 28-16 victory.

Round 1

(week ending 3 February, 3 fixtures played Saturday 9th February (indicated with *), 1 on Saturday 16th February (indicated with **))

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Askham	12 – 20	West Bowling
2*	Bradford Dudley Hill	72 – 0	Dewsbury Celtic
3	Bramley Buffaloes	24 – 16	Castleford Panthers
4	British Army	34 – 12	Thatto Heath
5	Castleford Lock Lane	18 – 32	Royal Navy
6*	Drighlington	10 – 20	Bank Quay Bulls
7	East Hull	54 – 6	Royal Air Force
8*	Eastmoor	10 – 23	Queens
9	Eccles & Salford	10 – 28	Leigh East
10	Ellenbrough Rangers	17 – 1	Saddleworth Rangers
11	Hull Wyke	18 – 14	York Acorn
12	Ince Rose Bridge	28 – 6 ***	Hunslet Old Boys
13	Leigh Miners Rangers	24 – 18	Halton Simms Cross
14	Mayfield	48 – 4	Crosfields
15	Millom	38 – 0	Milford Marlins
16	Normanton Knights	38 – 8	Edinburgh Eagles
17	Oulton Raiders	48 – 4	Oldham St Annes
18	Seaton Rangers	6 – 38	Featherstone Lions
19	Siddal	62 – 6	Egremont Rangers
20	Skirlaugh	46 – 14	Waterhead
21	St Albans	16 – 42	Hull Dockers
22	St Marys	22 – 30	Warrington Wizards
23	Stanningley	16 – 10	Shaw Cross Sharks
24	Thornhill	20 – 26	Leeds Met
25	Wath Brow Hornets	58 – 4	Heworth
26*	West Hull	48 – 14	Widnes St Maries
27	Wigan St Patricks	44 – 14	Ovenden

*** - Match abandoned after Hunslet Old Boys had 4 players sent off. Hunslet Old Boys were subsequently thrown out of the competition.

Round 2

(weekend of 23rd – 24th February)

Russian team Vereya joined in this round. Vereya were runners-up in the Russian Championship to Lokomotiv Moscow. Lokomotiv Moscow will join in the third round.

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Bank Quay Bulls	29 – 0	Millom
2	Bramley Buffaloes	16 – 26	Wigan St Patricks
3	Hull Dockers	14 – 19	Skirlaugh
4	Ince Rose Bridge	25 – 26	British Army
5	Leeds Met Uni	20 – 8	Leigh East
6	Leigh Miners Rangers	64 – 12	Vereya
7	Normanton	18 – 38	East Hull
8	Oulton Raiders	18 – 14	West Hull
9	Royal Navy	6 – 36	Rochdale Mayfield
10	Siddal	6 – 17	Queens
11	Warrington Wizards	26 – 10	Stanningley
12	Wath Brow Hornets	8 – 6	Ellenborough Rangers
13	West Bowling	16 – 34	Featherstone Lions
14	York Acorn	14 – 6	Bradford Dudley Hill

Round 3

(weekend of 8th – 9th March)

The National Leagues teams, together with Lokomotiv Moscow, Pia, Lezignan and Toulouse joined in this round. The Super League teams will join in Round 4.

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Bank Quay Bulls	6 – 36	Hunslet
2	Batley	42 – 10	East Hull
3	Blackpool	16 – 23	Featherstone Rovers
4	British Army	10 – 56	Oldham
5	Celtic Crusaders	58 – 10	Lokomotiv Moscow
6	Gateshead	24 – 26	Pia
7	Keighley	14 – 17	Toulouse
8	Leeds Met Uni	16 – 44	Doncaster
9	Leigh Centurions	66 – 0	Featherstone Lions
10	Leigh MR	14 – 40	Whitehaven
11	London Skolars	20 – 8	Queens
12	Rochdale Mayfield	10 – 30	Barrow
13	Oulton Raiders	24 – 54	Dewsbury
14	Rochdale	50 – 8	York Acorn
15	Salford	66 – 10	Warrington Wizards
16	Sheffield Eagles	22 – 37	Lezignan
17	Wath Brow Hornets	14 – 40	Swinton
18	Widnes	60 – 18	Skirlaugh
19	Wigan St Pats	14 – 50	Workington
20	York City Nights	12 – 34	Halifax

Round 4

(Weekend of 18th – 20th April)

The Super League teams joined in Round 4. From Round 4 onwards, the competition is a straightforward knock-out, with no more teams joining.

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Batley Bulldogs	12 – 26	Dewsbury Rams
2	Leigh Centurions	16 – 28	Warrington Wolves
3	Workington Town	12 – 68	Hull KR
4	Harlequins RL	44 – 14	Castleford Tigers
5	Doncaster	12 – 38	Widnes Vikings
6	Featherstone Rovers	12 – 22	Catalans Dragons
7	Barrow Raiders	48 – 16	Hunslet Hawks
8	Salford City Reds	8 – 38	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
9	Leeds Rhinos	38 – 16	Celtic Crusaders
10	Swinton Lions	8 – 20	Oldham Roughyeds
11	Bradford Bulls	98 – 6	Toulouse Olympique
12	Halifax	24 – 42	Huddersfield Giants
13	Whitehaven	46 – 6	Lézignan Sangliers
14	St. Helens	56 – 0	London Skolars
15	Rochdale Hornets	5 – 42	Hull F.C.
16	Wigan Warriors	74 – 4	Pia Donkeys

All fixtures taken from BBC SPORT

Round 5

(weekend of 9th – 12th May)

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team
1	Hull KR	42 – 22	Huddersfield Giants
2	Barrow Raiders	6 – 58	Wakefield
3	Dewsbury Rams	12 – 58	Oldham
4	Bradford Bulls	46 – 16	Catalans Dragons
5	Wigan Warriors	106 – 8	Whitehaven
6	Widnes Vikings	18 – 32*	Hull
7	Harlequins RL	26 – 36	Leeds Rhinos
8	St. Helens	40 – 34	Warrington

Quarter finals

1 June 2008	Bradford Bulls	16 – 22	Hull	Odsal Stadium, Bradford Referee/s: Steve Ganson
	Try: Tupou 54' c Sykes 78' m Goal: Harris (4)	(Preview)	Try: Sing 31' c, 43' c Byrne 39' c Goal: Tickle (5)

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1 June 2008	Hull Kingston Rovers	18 – 24	St. Helens	Craven Park, Kingston-upon-Hull Referee/s: Ashley Klein
	Try: Cooke Fitzhenry Webster Goal: Cooke (3)	(Preview)	Try: Talau Fa'asavalu Long Gardner Goal: Long (4)

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31 May 2008	Leeds Rhinos	23 – 16	Wigan Warriors	Headingley Stadium, Leeds Referee/s: Richard Silverwood
	Try: Diskin 5' c Burrow 28' c Webb 57' c Donald 76' c Goal: Sinfield (3) Drop: Sinfield 80'	(Report)	Try: Calderwood 38' c T. Leuluai 66' c Goal: Richards (4)

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1 June 2008	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	46 – 4	Oldham Roughyeds	Belle Vue, Wakefield Referee/s: Ben Thaler
	Try: Gleeson (2) Blanch Wilkes Drew Rooney (2) Brough Martin Goal: Brough (5)	(Preview)	Try: Onyango

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Semi finals

26 July 2008	Leeds Rhinos	16 v 26	St. Helens	Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield Referee/s: Ashley Klein

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27 July 2008	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	24 v 32	Hull	Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Referee/s: Richard Silverwood

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Final

Main article: 2008 Challenge Cup Final

30 August 2008	St. Helens	28 v 16	Hull	Wembley Stadium, London

External links

• Rugby Football League