1947–48 Challenge Cup

1948 Challenge Cup
Duration	5 Rounds
Number of teams	32
Broadcast partners	BBC TV
Winners	Wigan
Runners-up	Bradford Northern
Lance Todd Trophy	Frank Whitcombe
	← 1947; 1949 →;

The 1948 Challenge Cup was the 47th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. The final was contested by Wigan and Bradford Northern at Wembley Stadium, and was the first ever rugby league match to be televised.^[1] Wigan won the match 8–3, with Bradford's Frank Whitcombe receiving the Lance Todd Trophy – the first time the trophy had been awarded to a player on the losing team.

Semi finals

3 April 1948

Hunslet	7 – 14	Bradford Northern

Headingley, Leeds

3 April 1948

Rochdale Hornets	0 – 11	Wigan
	Report

Station Road, Swinton

Final

1 May 1948

Wigan	8 – 3	Bradford Northern
Try: Hilton, Barton Goal: Ward	Report	Try: Edwards

Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 91,465
Referee: George Phillips (Widnes)^[2]
Player of the Match: Frank Whitcombe^[3]


FB	1	Martin Ryan
RW	2	Gordon Ratcliffe
RC	3	Ted Ward
LC	4	Ernie Ashcroft
LW	5	Jack Hilton
SO	6	Cec Mountford
SH	7	Tommy Bradshaw
PR	8	Ken Gee
HK	9	Joe Egan (c)
PR	10	Frank Barton
SR	11	Les White
SR	12	Billy Blan
LF	13	Bill Hudson
Coach:
Jim Sullivan


FB	1	Billy Leake
RW	2	Eric Batten
RC	3	Des Case
LC	4	Ernest Ward (c)
LW	5	Alan Edwards
SO	6	Willie Davies
SH	7	Donald Ward
PR	8	Frank Whitcombe
HK	9	Vic Darlison
PR	10	Herbert Smith
SR	11	Barry Tyler
SR	12	Trevor Foster
LF	13	Ken Traill
Coach:
Dai Rees

References

^ "Key Dates & Anniversaries". The Rugby Football League. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
^ "1st May 1948: Wigan 8 Bradford Northern 3 (1948 Challenge Cup Final)". cherryandwhite.co.uk. RLFANS.COM. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
^ "Wigan's Challenge Cup Victory: Bradford Beat Themselves in Game of Many Errors Wigan 8, Bradford 3". The Manchester Guardian. 3 May 1948. p. 6.

External links

Challenge Cup official website
Challenge Cup 1947/48 results at Rugby League Project

[1] "Key Dates & Anniversaries". The Rugby Football League. Retrieved 12 July 2015.

[2] "1st May 1948: Wigan 8 Bradford Northern 3 (1948 Challenge Cup Final)". cherryandwhite.co.uk. RLFANS.COM. Retrieved 12 July 2015.

[3] "Wigan's Challenge Cup Victory: Bradford Beat Themselves in Game of Many Errors Wigan 8, Bradford 3". The Manchester Guardian. 3 May 1948. p. 6.

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[3]

v t e Challenge Cup
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