2011 Challenge Cup
The 2011 Challenge Cup (officially known as the 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was a rugby league football tournament which began its preliminary stages in January 2011. The Challenge Cup is the most competitive European rugby league tournament at club level and is open to teams from England, Wales, Scotland, France and Russia. Warrington Wolves were the reigning champions, following their victory over Leeds Rhinos in the 2010 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on 28 August 2010.[1] Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood reported that in 2011 Challenge Cup viewing figures on BBC Television had increased by 21.3 per cent compared to 2010 and are 26.8 per cent higher than they were in 2009.[2] Ultimately Wigan Warriors won the 2011 competition by beating Leeds Rhinos 28 – 18 on 27 August.
Contents |
Preliminary Round [edit]
The draws for the Preliminary and First Round was made on 7 December 2010. Ties were played on 8–10 January with some ties played on 15–16 January.[3]
Pool A [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Oulton Raiders | 23–22 | Normanton Knights | 15 January 2011 13:30 | Raider Park | D Sharpe | |||
| Ovendon | 26–28 | Rochdale Mayfield | 8 January 2011 13:30 | Four Fields | T Mahar | |||
| Millom | 8–12 | Egremont Rangers | 8 January 2011 13:30 | Coronation Field | A Smith | |||
| Eccles and Salford Juniors | 26–6 | Castleford Panthers | 8 January 2011 13:30 | Moat Hall | R Cowling | |||
| Yorkshire Cup winners | 0–0 | Drighlington | Match cancelled | B Robinson | ||||
| Shaw Cross Sharks ARLFC | 20–21 | Stanley Rangers | 8 January 2011 13:30 | Paul Hinchliffe Memorial | C Kendall | |||
| Bank Quay Bulls | 26–18 | Seaton Rangers | 15 January 2011 13:30 | Dallam Playing Fields | C Kendall | |||
Pool B [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| St Albans Centurions | 22–32 | British Police | 9 January 2011 14:00 | Pennine Way | S Davis | 50 | ||
| Loughborough University | 38–0 | Featherstone Lions | 16 January 2011 13:30 | Loughborough University | J Bloem | |||
| Northampton Demons | 46–10 | Gloucester University | 16 January 2011 13:30 | Rushmills | P Marklove | |||
Round 1 [edit]
First Round played weekend of 22 January with some ties played weekend of 29 January and 5 February. The match between Kells and Bradford Dudley Hill took place on 12 February.
Pool A [edit]
Pool B [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Loughborough University | 18–10 | Kippax Knights | 22 January 2011 13:30 | Loughborough University | P Stockman | |||
| Northampton Demons | 12–26 | Leeds Met University | 22 January 2011 13:30 | Rushmills | S Ansell | |||
| Nottingham Outlaws | 30–32 | RAF | 22 January 2011 13:30 | Highfields | R Webb | |||
| Warrington Wizards | 44–18 | Carluke Tigers | 23 January 2011 13:30 | Wilderspool Stadium | S Barrie | |||
| University of Central Lancashire | 12–20 | Northumbria University | 22 January 2011 13:30 | University of Central Lancashire | S Mikalauskas | |||
| Edge Hill University | 28–16 | Hull University | 2 February 2011 19:30 | Edge Hill University | J Bloem | |||
| The Royal Navy | 28–14 | British Police | 22 January 2011 13:30 | Torpoint | M Hague | |||
| Valley Cougars | 24–30 | The Army | 23 January 2011 13:30 | The Park Nelson | M Woodhead | |||
Round 2 [edit]
The draw for the Second Round was made on 24 January. Ties played weekend of 5 February with some ties played weekend of 12 February. The match between Fryston Warriors and Bradford Dudley Hill took place on 19 February.
Pool A [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| East Leeds | 4–64 | Hull Dockers | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Richmond Hill | T Crashley | |||
| Castleford Lock Lane | 18–16 | Stanley Rangers | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Lock Lane Sports Centre | C Kendall | |||
| Milford Marlins | 24–16 | Skirlaugh Bulls | 12 February 2011 14:00 | Milford Sports Club | S Ansell | |||
| Wigan St.Patricks | 16–18 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Harper Street | J Bloem | |||
| Hunslet Warriors | 22–16 | Wigan St Judes | 5 February 2011 13:30 | The Oval | A Gill | |||
| Fryston Warriors | 16–12 | Bradford Dudley Hill | 19 February 2011 14:00 | Askham Road | B Robinson | |||
| Rochdale Mayfield | 12–25 | Siddal | 12 February 2011 14:30 | Mayfield Sports Centre | T Mahar | |||
| East Hull | 31–22 | Myton Warriors | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Rosmead Sports Centre | C Halloran | |||
| Egremont Rangers | 22–10 | Wath Brow Hornets | 5 February 2011 13:30 | North Road | J Cobb | |||
| Leigh East | 16–18 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Ledgard Street | D Sharpe | |||
Pool B [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| The Army | 27–16 | RAF | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Aldershot Rugby Stadium | P Stockman | |||
| Loughborough University | 18–25 | Northumbria University | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Holywell Park | J Leahy | |||
| Warrington Wizards | 28–20 | Royal Navy | 6 February 2011 13:30 | Wilderspool Stadium | P Brooke | |||
| Leeds Metropolitan University | 44–14 | Hull University | 5 February 2011 13:30 | Leeds Metropolitan University | B Robinson | |||
Round 3 [edit]
Third Round draw was made on 15 February. Ties to be played on weekend of 5 March.
Round 4 [edit]
Fourth Round draw was made on 20 March. Ties to be played on weekend of 7 May.
Round 5 [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Leeds Rhinos | 40–20 | Harlequins | 20 May 2011 20:00 | Headingley Stadium | B Thaler | |||
| Salford City Reds | 0–25 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 20 May 2011 20:00 | The Willows | T Alibert | 2,087 | ||
| Warrington Wolves | 112–0 | Swinton Lions | 20 May 2011 20:00 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | T Roby | 4,440 | ||
| Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 18–20 | Castleford Tigers | 21 May 2011 14:30 | The Rapid Solicitors Stadium | R Silverwood | 6,604 | ||
| Widnes Vikings | 26–50 | Hull | 21 May 2011 15:00 | Stobart Stadium | R Hicks | ~3950 | ||
| Huddersfield Giants | 30–16 | Catalans Dragons | 22 May 2011 15:00 | Galpharm Stadium | P Bentham | 3,387 | ||
| St Helens | 70–0 | Featherstone Rovers | 22 May 2011 15:00 | Stobart Stadium | J Child | 2905 | ||
| Bradford Bulls | 22–26 | Wigan Warriors | 22 May 2011 15:30 | Grattan Stadium | S Ganson | ~6004 | ||
Quarter finals [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Warrington Wolves | 24–44 | Wigan Warriors | 23 July 2011 16:30 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | R Silverwood | 13,024 | ||
| Hull F.C. | 22–38 | Leeds Rhinos | 24 July 2011 15:30 | KC Stadium | S Ganson | 9,496 | ||
| Castleford Tigers | 22–18 | Huddersfield Giants | 24 July 2011 15:30 | PROBIZ Colliseum | P Bentham | 6,336 | ||
| St Helens | 54–6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 24 July 2011 15:00 | Stobart Stadium | B Thaler | 6,449 | ||
Semi finals [edit]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Wigan Warriors | 18–12 | St Helens | 6 August 2011 16:30 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | Richard Silverwood | 12,713 | ||
| Castleford Tigers | 8–10 aet | Leeds Rhinos | 7 August 2011 15:15 | Keepmoat Stadium | Phil Bentham | 13,158 | ||
Final [edit]
The two sides with the most Challenge Cup Final appearances had only met twice before, Wigan winning both times (1994 and 1995). Leeds had played in the previous year's Challenge Cup final loss, but it was the Wigan's Warriors' first visit to the new Wembley Stadium. Abide with me was sung by Rhydian Roberts.
| Saturday, 27 August 14:30 |
Leeds Rhinos | 18 - 28 | Wigan Warriors | Wembley Stadium, London  Attendance: 78,482[4] Referee/s: Phil Bentham Man of the Match: Jeff Lima  |
| Tries Ryan Hall (2) Ben Jones-Bishop Carl Ablett Goals |
Report | Tries Jeff Lima (2) Josh Charnley Joel Tomkins Thomas Leuluai Goals |
| Leeds Rhinos | Posit. | Wigan Warriors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Brent Webb | FB | 1 Sam Tomkins |
| 22 Ben Jones-Bishop | WG | 25 Josh Charnley |
| 19 Kallum Watkins | CE | 12 Joel Tomkins |
| 12 Carl Ablett | CE | 4 George Carmont |
| 5 Ryan Hall | WG | 5 Pat Richards |
| 13 Kevin Sinfield (c) | SO | 6 Paul Deacon |
| 6 Danny McGuire | SH | 17 Brett Finch |
| 8 Kylie Leuluai | PR | 10 Andy Coley |
| 9 Danny Buderus | HK | 7 Thomas Leuluai |
| 10 Jamie Peacock | PR | 15 Jeff Lima |
| 11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan | SR | 11 Harrison Hansen |
| 3 Brett Delaney | SR | 16 Ryan Hoffman |
| 20 Weller Hauraki | LF | 13 Sean O'Loughlin (c) |
| 7 Rob Burrow | Int. | 9 Mike McIlorum |
| 16 Ryan Bailey | Int. | 14 Paul Prescott |
| 17 Ian Kirke | Int. | 21 Lee Mossop |
| 21 Chris Clarkson | Int. | 22 Liam Farrell |
| Brian McDermott | Coach | Michael Maguire |
The game was broadcast by BBC with John Kear and Dave Woods commentating, as well as additional commentary from Tanya Arnold, Clare Balding, Jonathan Davies, Robbie Hunter-Paul, Justin Morgan and Brian Noble. The English national anthem was then sung before referee Phil Bentham, overseeing his first Challenge Cup final, blew time on and Leeds' captain Kevin Sinfield kicked off.
First half
The first points of the match came in the ninth minute when Wigan, having made their way into Leeds' half of the field, moved the ball through the hands to the right winger Josh Charnley, who side-stepped the defence and crashed over the line.[5] Pat Richards missed the attempted conversion so the score remained 0-4 in favour of the Warriors. Wigan were again attacking from fifteen metres out when their prop Jeff Lima ran onto Paul Prescott's short pass, and into a defensive gap to dive over near the goal posts just before the twenty-four-minute mark.[6] Richards' conversion was successful so Wigan were leading 0-10. In the twenty-eighth minute, Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins was returning the Leeds' kick from within his own ten metres, running across-field before passing the ball out to his brother, right centre Joel Tomkins.[7] Racing down the sideline, he palmed off one defender and had run seventy metres before he steped back inside and in between the converging Rhinos defenders, continuing on straight to the centre of the goal-line to dive over under the posts for what was described as one of the great Wembley tries.[8][9] Richards put the kick over so Wigan were in front 0-16.
It took until the thirty-fifth minute for Leeds to get on the scoreboard when, having worked the ball up to within the opposition ten-metre line, they kept the ball alive, moving it quickly though the hands out to left winger Ryan Hall who dived over untouched in the corner. Sinfield's difficult conversion attempt rebounded against the goal post back into the field so Wigan's lead remained 4-16.[10] Only two minutes later, Leeds had made their way back into opposition territory, again keeping the ball alive with deft passing, this time getting it out to right winger Ben Jones-Bishop who barged his way over the try-line to score.[11] Sinfield kicked the conversion successfully, bringing the half-time score to 10-16 in the Warriors' favour.[12]
Second Half
The first eighteen minutes of the second half saw a tight arm-wrestle between the two sides. Then Leeds, having won a scrum from Wigan's error inside their own ten-metre line, moved the ball right to centre Carl Ablett who muscled his way through the defence and onto the try-line. The video referee, Steve Ganson gave the try and Sinfield's goal-kick was wide, leaving the Rhinos trailing the Warriors 14-16.[13] Wigan, having gotten into an attacking position, scored again when Lee Mossop's controversial-looking short pass to Jeff Lima sent the prop forward again crashing over the try line beside the uprights just before the sixty-two minute mark.[14] Richards converted the try for Wigan to lead 14-22.
With nine minutes of the match remaining, Leeds were down at the opposition's end and on the fifth tackle moved the ball through the hands out to their left winger, Ryan Hall to barge through the defence and over the try-line.[15] Sinfield couldn't kick the sideline conversion so Leeds trailed 18-22. After receiving the kick-off, the Rhinos made a good break through right winger Ben Jones-Bishop, who kicked the ball ahead into the in-goal area where neither of the Leeds or Wigan chasers racing though could secure it.[16] With less than two and a half minutes remaining, the Warriors were on Leeds' ten-metre line when dummy-half Tommy Leuluai ran through some tired marker defence to get over the line. The video referee was called upon to rule that the ball was not lost in the attempted grounding and the try was awarded.[17] Richards converted successfully so the match ended in a Wigan 18-28 victory.[18]
Post-match
The Wigan Warriors had won the Challenge Cup for a record eighteenth time. The Lance Todd Trophy for man-of-the-match was awarded to Wigan prop forward Jeff Lima, who had scored two tries, becoming the fifth New Zealander (and first prop forward since 1980) to win the award.[19] Later, the Rugby Football League found Wigan fullback Sam Tomkins guilty of minor misconduct for an abusive gesture to Leeds fans during the match and fined him £1,000.[20]
References [edit]
- ^ "Wolves to face Wigan in Challenge Cup quarter-finals". BBC Sport. 23 May 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ rleague.com (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup continues to grow in stature". wiganwarriors.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "Carnegie Challenge Cup kicks off this weekend". Rugby Football League. Retrieved 6 January 2011.
- ^ "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Metcalfe, Nick (27 August 2012). "Blessed days like this Challenge Cup final can only help rugby league's cause". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ RICHARD Bott, Richard (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18 Wigan 28: Warriors claim victory in thrilling final to claim 18th Challenge Cup". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian (London).
- ^ therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "hallenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
- ^ bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
External links [edit]
- Challenge Cup on the Rugby Football League's website
- Official Website
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