2017 Challenge Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(
Hull F.C. vs 
Wigan Warriors) (Final)(
Gloucestershire All Golds vs 
North Wales Crusaders) (3rd round)| Duration | 9 Rounds |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 72 |
| Highest attendance | 68,525 ( Hull F.C. vs Wigan Warriors) (Final) |
| Lowest attendance | 87[A] ( Gloucestershire All Golds vs North Wales Crusaders) (3rd round) |
| Aggregate attendance | 184,212 |
| Broadcast partners | BBC Sport Sky Sports |
| Winners | Hull |
| Runners-up | Wigan Warriors |
| Biggest home win | London Chargers 116 – 0 Bridgend Blue Bulls (1st Round) |
| Biggest away win | Aberdeen Warriors 8 – 62 Pilkington Recs (1st Round) |
| Lance Todd Trophy | Marc Sneyd |
| Top point-scorer(s) | 46 Liam Sutcliffe Leeds Rhinos[1] |
| Top try-scorer(s) | 6 Kieran Cross Doncaster[1] |
The 2017 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup[2] for sponsorship reasons) was the 116th staging of the Challenge Cup the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.
The defending champions were Hull F.C. who beat Warrington Wolves 12–10 in the 2016 final at Wembley Stadium.[3] Hull F.C. retained the trophy beating Wigan Warriors 18–14 at Wembley on 26 August 2017.[4]
The format of the competition was eight knock-out rounds followed by a final. The first two rounds were composed entirely of 32 amateur teams. The eight winners of the second round ties were joined in round 3 by the 16 League 1 teams including for the first time a Canadian team, the Toronto Wolfpack. For the fourth round the 12 Championship teams were included in the draw. Round 5 saw four Super League teams entering the competition. These are the four teams that finished in the top four positions of the 2016 Qualifiers and are Huddersfield Giants, Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Centurions and Salford Red Devils. The remaining eight Super League teams joined in round 6.
First round
The draw for the first round of the 2017 Challenge Cup was held on 5 January 2017 at the Deep to celebrate the city being named 2017 UK City of Culture and Hull's efforts in 2016 and featured 32 amateur teams from around the United Kingdom including one student team, all three armed services and the police. Home teams were drawn by Lee Radford and the away teams drawn by Dean Andrew, President of the RFL and The RAF.
Fixtures for the first round were played over the weekend of the 28–29 January 2017.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
| London Chargers | 116–0 | Bridgend Blue Bulls | 28 January 2017, 13:00 | New River Stadium | S. Ellis | ||||||
| Leigh Miners Rangers | 12–16 | Wigan St Patricks | 28 January 2017, 13:00 | Leigh Miners Welfare Sports & Social Club | S. Mikalauskas | ||||||
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 30–10 | Skirlaugh | 28 January 2017, 13:30 | Hattons Solicitors Crusader Park | H. Neville | ||||||
| Aberdeen Warriors | 8–62 | Pilkington Recs | 28 January 2017, 13:30 | Woodside Sports Complex | B. Milligan | ||||||
| University of Hull | 12–22 | Rochdale Mayfield | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Hull University Sports & Fitness Centre | J. Stearne | ||||||
| West Bowling | 0–12 | Kells ARLFC | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Emsley Recreation Ground | J. Barr | ||||||
| RAF | 12–30 | York Acorn | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | RAF College Cranwell | J. Jones | ||||||
| Fryston Warriors | 33–10 | Normanton Knights | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Fryston Welfare Club | L. Staveley | ||||||
| Royal Navy | 34–38 | Myton Warriors | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | US Sports Ground | S. Houghton | ||||||
| Siddal ARLFC | 16–4 | Milford Marlins | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Siddal Sports & Community Centre | C. Worsley | ||||||
| Egremont Rangers | 24–14 | British Army | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Gilfoot Park | C. Astbury | ||||||
| West Hull | 24–10 | Hull Dockers | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | West Hull Community Park | N. Woodward | ||||||
| Thornhill Trojans | 32–18 | Lock Lane | 28 January 2017, 14:00 | Thornhill Sports & Community Centre | S. Chromiak | ||||||
| Featherstone Lions | 29–28 | Distington ARLFC | 28 January 2017, 14:30 | The Mill Pond Stadium | K. Moore | ||||||
| Wath Brow Hornets | 4–17 | Haydock ARLFC | 28 January 2017, 14:30 | Cleator Sports & Social Club | J. Turner | ||||||
| Wests Warriors | 40–22 | Great Britain Police | 28 January 2017, 17:00 | New River Stadium | M. Griffiths | ||||||
| Source:[7] | |||||||||||
Second round
Third round
The draw for the third round as made on 14 February 2017. The draw was conducted by Super League players Stefan Ratchford and Ryan Brierley. Ties were played 25–26 February 2017.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
| Siddal ARLFC | 6–14 |  Toronto Wolfpack |
25 February 2017, 13:00 | Siddal Sports & Community Centre | T. Grant | 1,053 | |||||
| West Hull | 16–18 |  Whitehaven |
25 February 2017, 14:00 | West Hull Community Park | P. Marklove | 150 | |||||
| Wests Warriors | 12–26 | Haydock ARLFC | 25 February 2017, 14:30 | New River Stadium | M. Rossleigh | 430 | |||||
| Fryston Warriors | 32–50 |  Keighley Cougars |
25 February 2017, 15:00 | The Big Fellas Stadium | J. McMullen | 739 | |||||
 Newcastle Thunder |
18–16 |  Workington Town |
25 February 2017, 17:00 | Kingston Park | M. Mannifield | 400 | |||||
 Barrow Raiders |
60–6 | Rochdale Mayfield | 26 February 2017, 14:00 | Craven Park | M. Griffiths | 500 | |||||
| Gloucestershire All Golds |
36–18 | North Wales Crusaders |
26 February 2017, 14:00 | Prince of Wales Stadium | G. Dolan | 87 | |||||
 Hemel Stags |
12–22 |  London Skolars |
26 February 2017, 14:30 | Pennine Way Stadium | S. Race | 112 | |||||
 Doncaster |
34–6 | Myton Warriors | 26 February 2017, 15:00 | Keepmoat Stadium | L. Moore | 366 | |||||
 York City Knights |
48–8 | Egremont Rangers | 26 February 2017, 15:00 | Bootham Crescent | L. Staveley | 635 | |||||
 South Wales Ironmen |
4–18 |  Oxford Rugby League |
26 February 2017, 15:00 | The Wern | N. Bennett | 115 | |||||
 Hunslet |
34–0 |  Coventry Bears |
26 February 2017, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | S. Mikalauskas | 249 | |||||
| Source:[10] | |||||||||||
Fourth round
Fifth round
The fifth round draw sees the entry of four Super League clubs, these being those that finished the top of the 2016 Qualifiers. The draw was made live on the BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast show on Tuesday 21 March at 7-45 am. The draw was made by show host, Rachel Burden, and former international player, at both codes, Jason Robinson.[13]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
 Leeds Rhinos |
64–28 | Doncaster |
21 April 2017, 20:00 | Headingley Carnegie Stadium | C. Campbell | 5,097 | |||||
 Leigh Centurions |
10–23 |  Hull Kingston Rovers |
22 April 2017, 15:00 | Leigh Sports Village | J. Child | 3,880 | |||||
 Salford Red Devils |
29–22 | Toronto Wolfpack |
23 April 2017, 12:15 | AJ Bell Stadium | J. Smith | 1,318 | |||||
 Huddersfield Giants |
24–28 |  Swinton Lions |
23 April 2017, 12:30 | John Smith's Stadium | S. Mikalauskas | 1,292 | |||||
 Featherstone Rovers |
30–4 |  Oldham |
23 April 2017, 15:00 | The Big Fellas Stadium | T. Grant | 1,408 | |||||
 Dewsbury Rams |
23–22 |  Batley Bulldogs |
23 April 2017, 15:00 | Tetley's Stadium | J. Roberts | 962 | |||||
| Whitehaven |
12–36 |  Halifax |
23 April 2017, 15:00 | Recreation Ground | L. Moore | 636 | |||||
| York City Knights |
28–50 | Barrow Raiders |
23 April 2017, 15:00 | Bootham Crescent | J. McMullen | 904 | |||||
| Source:[14] | |||||||||||
Sixth round
The draw for the sixth round was made on Tuesday 25 April live on the BBC News channel during the 6-30pm Sportsday programme. The draw was made by former players Chris Joynt and Keith Senior.[15]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | ||||||||
| Featherstone Rovers |
24–12 | Halifax |
11 May 2017, 20:00 | The Big Fellas Stadium | C. Campbell | 1,736 | |||||
| Salford Red Devils |
24–14 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
12 May 2017, 20:00 | AJ Bell Stadium | R. Hicks | 3,100 | |||||
| Dewsbury Rams |
6–54 |  Wakefield Trinity |
12 May 2017, 20:00 | Tetley's Stadium | S. Mikalauskas | 2,125 | |||||
| Hull |
62–0 |  Catalans Dragons |
12 May 2017, 20:00 | KCOM Stadium | B. Thaler | 6,470 | |||||
 Castleford Tigers |
53–10 |  St. Helens |
13 May 2017, 14:30 | Mend-A-Hose Jungle | P. Bentham | 5,216 | |||||
| Leeds Rhinos |
72–10 | Barrow Raiders |
14 May 2017, 15:00 | Headingley | J. Smith | 5,226 | |||||
| Swinton Lions |
12–42 | Wigan Warriors |
14 May 2017, 15:00 | Heywood Road | C. Kendall | 2,003 | |||||
 Warrington Wolves |
34–20 |  Widnes Vikings |
14 May 2017, 15:00 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | J. Child | 5,971 | |||||
| Source:[16] | |||||||||||
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter finals was made immediately after the conclusion of the last sixth round match. Home teams were drawn by former Welsh international Iestyn Harris and away teams by Leigh captain Micky Higham.[17]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Salford Red Devils |
30–6 | Wakefield Trinity |
15 June, 20:00 | AJ Bell Stadium | R. Hicks | 2,820 | ||
| Leeds Rhinos |
58–0 | Featherstone Rovers |
16 June, 20:00 | Headingley | C. Kendall | 6,181 | ||
| Warrington Wolves |
26–27 | Wigan Warriors |
17 June, 15:00 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | B. Thaler | 7,312 | ||
| Hull |
32–24 | Castleford Tigers |
18 June, 15:00 | KCOM Stadium | P. Bentham | 11,944 | ||
Semi-final
The semi-final draw was conducted on BBC 2 immediately after Hull's 32–24 victory over Castleford Tigers. Conducting the draw were two Challenge Cup winning team members; Danny Brough (2005) and Barry Johnson (1986).[18] The ties were played at neutral venues; after the draw these were announced as Doncaster and Warrington.[19]
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Hull |
43–24 | Leeds Rhinos |
29 July 2017, 14:30 | Keepmoat Stadium | P. Bentham | 14,526 | ||
| Wigan Warriors |
27–14 | Salford Red Devils |
30 July 2017, 14:30 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | J. Child | 10,796 | ||
Final
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance | |||||
| Hull |
18–14 | Wigan Warriors |
26 August 2017, 15:00 | Wembley Stadium | Phil Bentham | 68,525 | ||
Teams:
Hull: Jamie Shaul, Mahe Fonua, Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave, Fetuli Talanoa, Albert Kelly, Marc Sneyd, Liam Watts, Danny Houghton, Scott Taylor, Sika Manu, Mark Minichiello, Gareth Ellis (captain).
Substitutes (all used): Chris Green, Danny Washbrook, Josh Bowden, Jake Connor.
Tries: Talanoa (1), Fonua (2). Goals: Sneyd (3/3).
Wigan Warriors: Sam Tomkins, Liam Marshall, Anthony Gelling, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, George Williams, Thomas Leuluai, Frank Paul Nuuausala, Michael McIlorum, Tony Clubb, John Bateman, Liam Farrell, Sean O'Loughlin (captain).
Substitutes (all used): Willie Isa, Ryan Sutton, Sam Powell, Taulima Tautai.
Tries: Bateman (1), Gildart (1), Burgess (1). Goals: Williams (1/3).
Lance Todd Trophy Winner: Marc Sneyd