2007 Challenge Cup
The 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in February 2007. 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.
| Duration | 9 Rounds |
|---|---|
| Highest attendance | 84,241 |
| Broadcast partners | BBC Sport |
| Winners | St. Helens |
| Runners-up | Catalans Dragons |
| Biggest home win | Castleford Tigers 88–10 Castleford Lock Lane |
| Biggest away win | Normanton Knights 10–78 Widnes Vikings |
| Lance Todd Trophy | Paul Wellens Leon Pryce |
In 2007 the preliminary round was dropped, reducing the number of amateur clubs involved. Teams from the National League were given byes to round three, and teams from the Super League entered in round four. Teams from outside the UK were introduced at various stages.
St. Helens successfully defended their title after beating Catalans Dragons (who were the first French club ever to take part in the competition's final) 30 – 8 in the final at the new Wembley Stadium on 26 August.
Round 1
- (week ending 4 February)
Teams came from the National Conference League, Rugby League Conference, Student Rugby League, Pennine League, North West Counties, Yorkshire League, CARLA, Hull & District League and the Armed Forces. This round consisted entirely of amateur teams. Fife Lions, the only Scottish club in the tournament, were eliminated.
Round 2
- (week ending 25 February)
Russian team Kazan Arrows entered the competition. Castleford Lock Lane defeated Bradford Dudley Hill after extra time in the closest game of this round, which against consisted of amateur teams.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradford Dudley Hill | 26–28 | Castleford Lock Lane |
| 2 | East Hull | 50–4 | Dewsbury Celtic |
| 3 | Eccles & Salford | 40–28 | Egremont Rangers |
| 4 | Leigh East | 10–25 | Oulton Raiders |
| 5 | Leigh MR | 34–18 | Leeds Metro. University |
| 6 | Rochdale Mayfield | 50–0 | East Leeds |
| 7 | Royal Navy | 26–28 | Normanton |
| 8 | Saddleworth | 21–14 | Siddal |
| 9 | Thornhill | 38–20 | Kazan Arrows |
| 10 | West Hull | 23–16 | Skirlaugh |
| 11 | Widnes St Maries | 22–6 | Hull Isberg |
| 12 | Wigan St Judes | 22–30 | Drighlington |
Round 3
- (week ending 11 March)
Teams from National League Two, National League One entered at this stage, as did three teams from France and Lokomotiv Moscow from Russia.
Lokomotiv's defeat ended the competition for Russian teams. The Castleford derby was a highlight of the draw, though the professional Castleford Tigers defeated their amateur neighbours. 2005 semi-finalists Toulouse failed to win at York, though Pia's victory against Blackpool ensured that one team from the French Rugby League Championship progressed. All remaining amateur teams were eliminated.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | York City Knights | 54–28 | Toulouse Olympique |
| 2 | Hunslet Hawks | 40–22 | Rochdale Mayfield |
| 3 | Featherstone Rovers | 52–10 | Drighlington |
| 4 | Batley Bulldogs | 60–6 | Widnes St Maries |
| 5 | Whitehaven | 24–10 | Doncaster Lakers |
| 6 | Dewsbury Rams | 36–34 | Leigh Centurions |
| 7 | Normanton Knights | 10–78 | Widnes Vikings |
| 8 | Castleford Tigers | 88–10 | Castleford Lock Lane |
| 9 | Swinton Lions | 60–20 | Lokomotiv Moscow |
| 10 | Workington Town | 18–10 | Oulton Raiders |
| 11 | Keighley Cougars | 34–6 | Thornhill |
| 12 | Halifax | 86–12 | Eccles & Salford |
| 13 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 18–46 | Sheffield Eagles |
| 14 | West Hull | 18–70 | Barrow Raiders |
| 15 | Rochdale Hornets | 48–6 | Saddleworth |
| 16 | East Hull | 10–26 | Oldham R.L.F.C. |
| 17 | Blackpool Panthers | 18–42 | Pia |
| 18 | West Bowling | 8–24 | London Skolars |
| 19 | Celtic Crusaders | 50–10 | Eastmoor Dragons |
| 20 | Gateshead Thunder | 38–22 | Limoux Grizzlies |
Round 4
- (week ending 1 April)
This round saw the teams from the Super League enter. The only all-Super League match saw Warrington defeat Hull KR. Celtic Crusaders' defeat saw the final Welsh team leave the tournament. Once again, however, all games went to form, with no sides from lower leagues defeating a team from a higher league. Pia's defeat saw the French rugby league championship's exit from the Cup.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keighley Cougars | 10–20 | Oldham R.L.F.C. |
| 2 | Dewsbury Rams | 28–46 | Sheffield Eagles |
| 3 | Whitehaven | 36–8 | Halifax |
| 4 | Widnes Vikings | 24–34 | Wigan Warriors |
| 5 | Swinton Lions | 14–47 | Barrow Raiders |
| 6 | London Skolars | 4–52 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats |
| 7 | Rochdale Hornets | 20–16 | Celtic Crusaders |
| 8 | Huddersfield Giants | 74–4 | York City Knights |
| 9 | Hull F.C. | 78–0 | Hunslet Hawks |
| 10 | Pia | 8–64 | Harlequins |
| 11 | Catalans Dragons | 70–12 | Featherstone Rovers |
| 12 | Warrington Wolves | 38–10 | Hull Kingston Rovers |
| 13 | Bradford Bulls | 24–16 | Castleford Tigers |
| 14 | Leeds Rhinos | 72–10 | Workington Town |
| 15 | St. Helens | 78–14 | Batley Bulldogs |
| 16 | Gateshead Thunder | 4–64 | Salford City Reds |
Round 5
- (week ending 13 May)
No new teams enter at this stage with all matches scheduled to be played over 12 and 13 May. The remaining teams for the 5th round are made up with eleven teams from Super League, three from National League One and two from National League Two.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Whitehaven | 14–24 | Catalans Dragons |
| 2 | Warrington Wolves | 48–16 | Barrow Raiders |
| 3 | Leeds Rhinos | 18–22 | Wigan Warriors |
| 4 | Hull F.C. | 44–6 | Sheffield Eagles |
| 5 | Salford City Reds | 10–36 | Huddersfield Giants |
| 6 | St. Helens | 70–10 | Rochdale Hornets |
| 7 | Oldham R.L.F.C. | 6–66 | Harlequins |
| 8 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 4–14 | Bradford Bulls |
Quarter-finals
8 June 2007 |
| Wigan Warriors | 25–6 | Harlequins |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Ashton Richards Calderwood O'Loughlin Goal: Richards (4) Drop: Barrett | (Report) | Try: Bannister, Goal: Sykes |
9 June 2007 |
| St. Helens | 25–14 | Warrington Wolves |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Gilmour (2) 1', 60' Talau 42' Gardner 50' Roby 77' Goal: Wellens (2) Drop: Long 72' | (Report) | Try: Penny 28' Fa'afili 31' Goal: Briers (3) |
10 June 2007 |
| Bradford Bulls | 52–20 | Huddersfield Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Try: B. Harris (2) Solomona Ian Henderson St Hilaire Burgess Tupou (2) Newton Goal: Deacon (8) | (Report) | Try: Nero Lolesi Paul Hudson Goal: Drew (2) |
Semi-finals
28 July 2007 |
| Bradford Bulls | 14–35 | St. Helens |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Evans 16' m Tupou 55' m Vagana 67' c Goal: Deacon | (Report) | Try: Talau 4' c Meli 21' m Gidley 34' c Clough 58' c Pryce 69' c Bennett 75' c Goal: Long (4) Wellens Drop: Long 40' |
29 July 2007 |
| Wigan Warriors | 24–37 | Catalans Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Try: Leuluai 35' c Higham 54' c Goulding 64' c Calderwood 68' c Goal: Richards (4) Drop: | (Report) | Try: McGuire (2) 4' c, 8' c Mogg 12' c Duport (2) 17' m, 49' c Croker 72' c Goal: Jones (6) Drop: Jones 52' |
Final
25 August 2007 |
| St. Helens | 30–8 | Catalans Dragons |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Roby 33' Gardner (2) 40' and 78' Wellens 46' Clough 50' Goals: Long (5) | (Report) | Tries: Khattabi 35' Murphy 56' |
UK Broadcasting rights
The tournament was screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC.
| Round | BBC live match |
|---|---|
| Round 4 | |
| Round 5 | |
| Quarter-finals | |
| Semi-finals | Bradford Bulls v St. Helens Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons |
| Final | St. Helens v Catalans Dragons |
External links
- Rugby Football League