The 2004–05 European Challenge Cup (known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the European Challenge Cup, Europe's second-tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup. A total of 28 teams participated, representing seven countries.
The competition began with a series of matches on 23 October 2004 and culminated in the final at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on 21 May 2005.
As in the previous two seasons, the competition was organised in a knockout format. Teams played each other on a home and away basis, with the aggregate points winner proceeding to the next round. The final was a single leg. This was the final season with a pure knockout format; in subsequent seasons the competition reverted to a pool stage followed by a knockout.
For the third and final time, a third tier tournament was held - the European Shield. This was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup.[3] As there were only 28 teams involved, the 2 "best" 1st Round losers were reprieved and proceeded to the 2nd Round.
The defending champions, England'sNEC Harlequins, did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the Heineken Cup. Sale Sharks claimed a comfortable victory over Pau in the final and picked up their second piece of European Club silverware.
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The 2004 05 European Challenge Cup known as the Parker Pen Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons was the ninth season of the European Challenge Cup Europe s second tier club rugby union competition below the Heineken Cup A total of 28 teams participated representing seven countries 2004 05 European Challenge CupTournament detailsCountries England France Ireland Italy Portugal Scotland SpainTournament format s KnockoutDate23 October 2004 21 May 2005Tournament statisticsTeams28Matches played57Attendance177 521 3 114 per match Tries scored360 6 32 per match Top point scorer s Paul Warwick Connacht 97 points 1 Top try scorer s Mark Cueto Sale Sharks 9 tries 2 FinalVenueKassam Stadium OxfordAttendance7 230ChampionsSale Sharks 2nd title Runners upPau 2003 04 Previous Next 2005 06 The competition began with a series of matches on 23 October 2004 and culminated in the final at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on 21 May 2005 As in the previous two seasons the competition was organised in a knockout format Teams played each other on a home and away basis with the aggregate points winner proceeding to the next round The final was a single leg This was the final season with a pure knockout format in subsequent seasons the competition reverted to a pool stage followed by a knockout For the third and final time a third tier tournament was held the European Shield This was contested between the first round losers from the European Challenge Cup 3 As there were only 28 teams involved the 2 best 1st Round losers were reprieved and proceeded to the 2nd Round The defending champions England s NEC Harlequins did not have a chance to defend their crown because they qualified to play in the Heineken Cup Sale Sharks claimed a comfortable victory over Pau in the final and picked up their second piece of European Club silverware Contents 1 Teams 2 Matches 2 1 Round 1 2 1 1 1st leg 2 1 2 2nd leg 2 1 3 Aggregate Results 2 2 Round 2 2 2 1 1st leg 2 2 2 2nd leg 2 2 3 Aggregate Results 2 3 Quarter finals 2 3 1 1st leg 2 3 2 2nd leg 2 3 3 Aggregate Results 2 4 Semi finals 2 4 1 1st leg 2 4 2 2nd leg 2 4 3 Aggregate Results 2 5 Final 3 See also 4 ReferencesTeams editThe allocation of teams was as follows England 5 teams all teams from the Zurich Premiership that did not qualify for the 2004 05 Heineken Cup France 10 teams all teams from the Top 16 that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup Ireland 1 team the Irish team from the Celtic League that did not play in the Heineken Cup Italy 8 teams all the teams from the Super 10 that did not qualify for the Heineken Cup Portugal 1 team Scotland 1 team the Scottish team from the Celtic League that did not play in the Heineken Cup Spain 2 teams drawn from the Division de Honor de Rugby nbsp England nbsp France nbsp Ireland nbsp Italy nbsp Portugal nbsp Scotland nbsp SpainLeeds Tykes London Irish Sale Sharks Saracens Worcester Warriors Agen Auch Bayonne Beziers Brive Clermont Auvergne Grenoble Montpellier Narbonne Pau Connacht Catania Gran Parma L Aquila Leonessa Overmach Parma Petrarca Padova Rovigo Viadana AA Coimbra Borders El Salvador Valladolid RACMatches editAll kickoff times are local to the match location 4 Round 1 edit 1st leg edit 23 October 200414 00AA Coimbra nbsp 3 98 nbsp BordersReportEstadio Municipal Sergio Conceicao Attendance 400 23 October 200414 00Worcester Warriors nbsp 29 15 nbsp BriveReportSixways Stadium Attendance 4 036 23 October 200415 00Gran Parma nbsp 15 35 nbsp PauReportStadio Nando Capra Attendance 700 23 October 200415 00L Aquila nbsp 27 50 nbsp AgenReportStadio Tommaso Fattori Attendance 1 500 23 October 200415 30Rovigo nbsp 7 51 nbsp MontpellierReportStadio Comunale Mario Battaglini Attendance 500 23 October 200416 00Petrarca Padova nbsp 24 57 nbsp BeziersReportStadio Plebiscito Attendance 200 23 October 200416 30Valladolid RAC nbsp 3 88 nbsp ViadanaReportEstadio Pepe Rojo Attendance 2 000 23 October 200418 00Auch nbsp 18 20 nbsp London IrishReportStade Patrice Brocas Attendance 1 500 23 October 200419 00Bayonne nbsp 21 24 nbsp SaracensReportStade Jean Dauger Attendance 3 800 23 October 200419 30Grenoble nbsp 9 9 nbsp Leeds TykesReportStade Lesdiguieres Attendance 3 000 23 October 200419 30Narbonne nbsp 25 11 nbsp ConnachtReportParc des Sports et de l Amitie Attendance 3 000 23 October 200420 00Leonessa nbsp 0 65 nbsp Clermont AuvergneReportCampo Comunale di Rugby Attendance 400 24 October 200412 30El Salvador nbsp 36 12 nbsp Overmach ParmaReportEstadio Pepe Rojo Attendance 1 500 24 October 200415 00Catania nbsp 22 31 nbsp Sale SharksReportStadio Santa Maria Goretti Attendance 2 000 2nd leg edit 29 October 200419 30Borders nbsp 107 3 nbsp AA CoimbraReportNetherdale Attendance 1 450 29 October 200419 30Montpellier nbsp 59 3 nbsp RovigoReportStade Sabathe Attendance 1 500 29 October 200419 45Saracens nbsp 36 10 nbsp BayonneReportVicarage Road Attendance 4 906 29 October 200420 00Leeds Tykes nbsp 17 18 nbsp GrenobleReportHeadingley Stadium Attendance 2 805 30 October 200414 30Connacht nbsp 40 21 nbsp NarbonneReportGalway Sportsgrounds Attendance 2 000 30 October 200414 30Overmach Parma nbsp 36 10 nbsp El SalvadorReportStadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance 300 30 October 200415 00Beziers nbsp 69 18 nbsp Petrarca PadovaReportStade de la Mediterranee Attendance 800 30 October 200419 00Pau nbsp 31 22 nbsp Gran ParmaReportStade du Hameau Attendance 3 000 30 October 200419 30Agen nbsp 59 21 nbsp L AquilaReportStade Armandie Attendance 4 128 30 October 200419 30Brive nbsp 40 10 nbsp Worcester WarriorsReportStade Amedee Domenech Attendance 5 100 30 October 200419 30Clermont Auvergne nbsp 51 6 nbsp LeonessaReportStade Marcel Michelin Attendance 6 000 30 October 200419 30Viadana nbsp 59 7 nbsp Valladolid RACReportStadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance 500 31 October 200415 00London Irish nbsp 42 18 nbsp AuchReportMadejski Stadium Attendance 5 638 31 October 200415 00Sale Sharks nbsp 50 3 nbsp CataniaReportEdgeley Park Attendance 5 126 Aggregate Results edit Key to colours 14 winners and 2 best losers advance to 2nd Round 12 other teams to Shield Winners Match points Aggregate score Points margin LosersBorders nbsp 4 0 205 6 199 nbsp AA CoimbraViadana nbsp 4 0 147 10 137 nbsp Valladolid RACClermont Auvergne nbsp 4 0 116 6 110 nbsp LeonessaMontpellier nbsp 4 0 110 10 100 nbsp RovigoBeziers nbsp 4 0 126 42 84 nbsp Petrarca PadovaAgen nbsp 4 0 109 48 61 nbsp L AquilaSale Sharks nbsp 4 0 81 25 56 nbsp CataniaPau nbsp 4 0 66 37 29 nbsp BayonneSaracens nbsp 4 0 60 31 29 nbsp Gran ParmaLondon Irish nbsp 4 0 62 36 26 nbsp AuchGrenoble nbsp 3 1 27 26 1 nbsp Leeds TykesBrive nbsp 2 2 55 39 16 nbsp Worcester WarriorsConnacht nbsp 2 2 51 46 5 nbsp NarbonneOvermach Parma nbsp 2 2 48 46 2 nbsp El SalvadorRound 2 edit 1st leg edit 3 December 200419 30Beziers nbsp 12 27 nbsp GrenobleReportStade de la Mediterranee Attendance 2 100 4 December 200414 30Connacht nbsp 56 3 nbsp MontpellierReportGalway Sportsgrounds Attendance 2 200 4 December 200415 00Overmach Parma nbsp 19 18 nbsp SaracensReportStadio Sergio Lanfranchi Attendance 800 4 December 200418 30Narbonne nbsp 15 33 nbsp Sale SharksReportParc des Sports et de l Amitie Attendance 2 600 4 December 200419 00Pau nbsp 25 19 nbsp London IrishReportStade du Hameau Attendance 3 000 4 December 200419 30Agen nbsp 23 15 nbsp ViadanaReportStade Armandie Attendance 3 000 4 December 200419 30Brive nbsp 57 6 nbsp El SalvadorReportStade Amedee Domenech Attendance 6 329 5 December 200415 00Clermont Auvergne nbsp 44 14 nbsp BordersReportStade Marcel Michelin Attendance 6 892 2nd leg edit 10 December 200419 30Grenoble nbsp 38 26 nbsp BeziersReportStade Lesdiguieres Attendance 2 000 10 December 200419 30Montpellier nbsp 19 14 nbsp ConnachtReportStade Sabathe Attendance 1 000 10 December 200419 45Sale Sharks nbsp 25 10 nbsp NarbonneReportEdgeley Park Attendance 5 854 11 December 200414 30Viadana nbsp 22 17 nbsp AgenReportStadio Luigi Zaffanella Attendance 2 000 11 December 200416 30El Salvador nbsp 23 45 nbsp BriveReportEstadio Pepe Rojo Attendance 1 300 12 December 200414 00Borders nbsp 23 34 nbsp Clermont AuvergneReportNetherdale Attendance 1 400 12 December 200414 30London Irish nbsp 19 16 nbsp PauReportMadejski Stadium Attendance 5 391 12 December 200415 00Saracens nbsp 52 6 nbsp Overmach ParmaReportVicarage Road Attendance 5 391 Aggregate Results edit Proceed to Quarter final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competitionBrive nbsp 4 0 102 29 73 nbsp El SalvadorClermont Auvergne nbsp 4 0 78 37 41 nbsp BordersSale Sharks nbsp 4 0 58 25 33 nbsp NarbonneGrenoble nbsp 4 0 65 38 27 nbsp BeziersConnacht nbsp 2 2 70 22 48 nbsp MontpellierSaracens nbsp 2 2 70 25 45 nbsp Overmach ParmaPau nbsp 2 2 41 38 3 nbsp London IrishAgen nbsp 2 2 40 37 3 nbsp ViadanaQuarter finals edit 1st leg edit 7 January 200519 30Grenoble nbsp 21 26 nbsp ConnachtReportStade Lesdiguieres Attendance 2 700 7 January 200519 45Sale Sharks nbsp 34 18 nbsp AgenReportEdgeley Park Attendance 4 866 8 January 200519 30Pau nbsp 25 21 nbsp Clermont AuvergneReportStade du Hameau Attendance 3 000 9 January 200515 00Saracens nbsp 19 6 nbsp BriveReportVicarage Road Attendance 4 201 2nd leg edit 14 January 200519 30Clermont Auvergne nbsp 26 25 nbsp PauReportStade Marcel Michelin Attendance 5 222 15 January 200514 00Connacht nbsp 19 3 nbsp GrenobleReportGalway Sportsgrounds Attendance 2 500 15 January 200519 30Agen nbsp 17 15 nbsp Sale SharksReportStade Armandie Attendance 3 500 16 January 200515 00Brive nbsp 31 16 nbsp SaracensReportStade Amedee Domenech Attendance 6 000 Aggregate Results edit Proceed to Semi final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competitionConnacht nbsp 4 0 45 24 21 nbsp GrenobleSale Sharks nbsp 2 2 49 35 14 nbsp AgenPau nbsp 2 2 50 47 3 nbsp Clermont AuvergneBrive nbsp 2 2 37 35 2 nbsp SaracensSemi finals edit 1st leg edit 2 April 200513 00Connacht nbsp 18 25 nbsp Sale SharksReportGalway Sportsgrounds Attendance 5 800 3 April 200514 00Pau nbsp 37 16 nbsp BriveReportStade du Hameau Attendance 2 000 2nd leg edit 23 April 200519 15Brive nbsp 27 13 nbsp PauReportStade Amedee Domenech Attendance 5 000 24 April 200513 00Sale Sharks nbsp 59 9 nbsp ConnachtReportEdgeley Park Attendance 6 456 Aggregate Results edit Proceed to Final Match points Aggregate score Points margin Eliminated from competitionSale Sharks nbsp 4 0 84 27 57 nbsp ConnachtPau nbsp 2 2 50 43 7 nbsp BriveFinal edit 21 May 200512 45Sale Sharks nbsp 27 3 nbsp PauTry Hodgson 2 24 c 68 mTitterrell 36 cCueto 56 mCon Hodgson 2 4 Pen Hodgson 1 3 ReportPen Beauxis 1 30 Kassam Stadium Oxford Attendance 7 230Referee Alan Lewis Ireland See also edit2004 05 Heineken Cup European Challenge Cup 2004 05 European ShieldReferences edit Amlin Challenge Cup Points Scorers Retrieved 29 January 2013 permanent dead link Amlin Challenge Cup Try Scorers Retrieved 29 January 2013 permanent dead link Challenge Cup European Champions ERC Archived from the original on 6 May 2008 Retrieved 26 January 2013 Challenge Cup Fixtures ERC Retrieved 30 January 2013 permanent dead link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2004 05 European Challenge Cup amp oldid 1160425580, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
