2016 Challenge Cup Explained

2016 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup
Duration:9 Rounds
No Of Teams:75
Highest Attendance:76,235 (Final)
Lowest Attendance:55 Oxford vs Lock Lane
(3rd Round)[1]
Tv:BBC Sport
Sky Sports
Biggest Home Win: Halifax 80 – 4 Lock Lane
(5th round)
Biggest Away Win:Pilkington Recs 0–78 Halifax
(4th round)
Season:2016
Season Champs:Hull
Season Champ Name:Winners
Second Place:Warrington Wolves
Mvp: Marc Sneyd
Mvp Link:Lance Todd Trophy
Prevseason Link:2015 Challenge Cup
Prevseason Year:2015
Nextseason Link:2017 Challenge Cup
Nextseason Year:2017

The 2016 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup[2] for sponsorship reasons) was the 115th 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 cup was won by Hull F.C. who beat Warrington Wolves 12–10 in the final at Wembley Stadium on 27 August 2016.

The defending champions, Leeds Rhinos who were looking to win the trophy three times in a row were defeated by Huddersfield Giants in the sixth round.[3]

The format of the competition is eight knock-out rounds followed by a final. The first two rounds are composed entirely of amateur teams. The nine winners of the second round ties are joined in round 3 by the 15 Championship 1 teams. For the fourth round the 12 Championship teams are included in the draw. Starting in 2015 and continuing for the 2016 competition round 5 sees four Super League teams entering the competition. These are the four teams that finished in the bottom four positions of the 2015 Super League and are; Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers, Salford Red Devils, and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. These are the same four teams that joined at this stage in the 2015 competition. The remaining eight Super League teams join in round 6.

First round

The draw for the first round of the 2016 Challenge Cup was held on 7 January 2016 at Wembley Stadium and featured 36 amateur teams from around the United Kingdom including two student teams, all three armed services and the police. Home teams were drawn by Tom Briscoe and the away teams drawn by Lizzie Jones.

Fixtures for the first round were played over the weekend of the 30–31 January 2016.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Thatto Heath Crusaders16 – 23Hunslet Club Parkside30 January 2016, 13:30Hattons Solicitors Crusader ParkM Griffiths
York Acorn36 – 10Sharlston Rovers31 January 2016, 13:30Acorn Sports & Social ClubH Neville
London Chargers14 – 22Shaw Cross Sharks30 January 2016, 14:00Old Blues RFCG Dolan
Aberdeen Warriors16 – 42Northumbria University30 January 2016, 14:00Rubislaw Playing FieldsP Marklove
Normanton Knights18 – 31Distington30 January 2016, 14:00Queen Elizabeth DriveA Haigh
West Bowling0 – 16Lock Lane30 January 2016, 14:00Odsal Recreation GroundM Rossleigh
Royal Navy18 – 20Featherstone Lions30 January 2016, 14:00United Services Recreation GroundG Evans
Hull Dockers8 – 6Thornhill Trojans30 January 2016, 14:00The Willows Sports & Social ClubC Campbell
Kells30 – 0Nottingham Outlaws30 January 2016, 14:00Old ArrowthwaiteJ Stearne
East Leeds0 – 32Oulton Raiders30 January 2016, 14:00Richmond HillS Ellis
Millom32 – 14University of Hull30 January 2016, 13:30Coronation FieldC Braithwaite
Widnes West Bank20 – 38Rochdale Mayfield30 January 2016, 14:00Ted Gleave Sports GroundN Bennett
Leigh Miners Rangers14 – 20Underbank Rangers30 January 2016, 13:30Twist LaneJ Jones
Wath Brow Hornets26 – 4Royal Air Force30 January 2016, 14:30Cleator ClubB Pearson
Stanningley16 – 28Pilkington Recs30 January 2016, 14:30Arthur Miller StadiumL Staveley
Egremont Rangers64 – 0Blue Bulls30 January 2016, 15:30Gillfoot ParkJ McMullen
West Hull36 – 4Great Britain Police31 January 2016, 14:00West Hull Community ParkK Moore
British Army4 – 30Siddal31 January 2016, 14:30Aldershot Military StadiumL Moore
Source:[4]

Second round

The draw for the second round was held at RAF Coningsby on 2 February 2016 and the teams were drawn by Sheffield Eagles coach Mark Aston and Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear.

Ties were played on 13 February.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Millom12 – 46Pilkington Recs13 February 2016, 14:00Coronation FieldN Bennett
Shaw Cross Sharks6 – 40Lock Lane13 February 2016, 14:00Shaw Cross ClubB Pearson
Hunslet Club Parkside18 – 19West Hull13 February 2016, 14:00Hillidge RoadS Race
York Acorn28 – 10Distington13 February 2016, 14:00Acorn Sports & Social ClubP Marklove
Hull Dockers12 – 14Featherstone Lions13 February 2016, 14:00The Willows Sports & Social ClubM Griffiths
Egremont Rangers22 – 26Rochdale Mayfield13 February 2016, 14:00Gillfoot ParkM Mannifield
Siddal18 – 16Northumbria University13 February 2016, 14:00Siddal Sport & Community CentreM Rossleigh
Kells42 – 6Underbank Rangers13 February 2016, 14:30Old ArrowthwaiteG Dolan
Wath Brow Hornets30 – 4Oulton Raiders13 February 2016, 14:30Cleator ClubJ Jones
Source:[5]

Third round

The third round draw was held on 16 February at North Wales Crusaders ground, the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham. The draw was made by Paul Rowley and Lee Briers. The 12 ties were played over the last weekend of February.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Siddal RLFC30 – 4 Newcastle Thunder27 February 2016, 14:00Reactiv ParkB Pearson405
Rochdale Mayfield14 - 40 Rochdale Hornets27 February 2016, 14:00Mayfield Sports CentreG Hewer937
Pilkington Recs13 – 0 London Skolars27 February 2016, 14:30Ruskin DriveL Moore500 (estimated)
Kells ARLFC12 – 6 Hemel Stags27 February 2016, 14:30Copeland Athletics ClubJ Callaghan250 (estimated)
Featherstone Lions37 – 20 South Wales Scorpions27 February 2016, 15:00Mill Pond StadiumS Mikalauskas400 (estimated)
Wath Brow Hornets14 – 32 Toulouse Olympique27 February 2016, 15:00Cleator MoorD Merrick400 (estimated)
West Hull0 – 54 Doncaster28 February 2016, 14:00West Hull Community ParkT Crashley268
North Wales Crusaders36 – 40 Gloucestershire All Golds28 February 2016, 14:30Glyndŵr University Racecourse StadiumJ Bloem324
Oxford22 – 37Lock Lane28 February 2016, 14:30Maidenhead RFCB Robinson55
York City Knights66 – 0York Acorn28 February 2016, 15:00Bootham CrescentA Sweet2,293
Hunslet Hawks46 – 12 Barrow Raiders28 February 2016, 15:00South Leeds StadiumT Grant354
Keighley Cougars54 – 28 Coventry Bears28 February 2016, 15:00Cougar ParkJ Roberts421
Source:[6]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made on 1 March at the White Lion pub in Swinton. The draw was made by retired players Adrian Morley and Paul Wellens.[7] The 24 teams in the draw comprise the 7 Championship 1 teams and 5 National Conference League teams who won through from the third round and the 12 teams of the Championship.

Ties were played over the weekend of 18–20 March.[7]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Hunslet Hawks48 – 6 Doncaster18 March 2016, 19:30South Leeds StadiumA Sweet337
Dewsbury Rams31 – 30 Bradford Bulls18 March 2016, 20:00Tetley's StadiumC Campbell2,021
Featherstone Lions16 – 30Lock Lane19 March 2016, 14:00The Big Fellas StadiumC Straw1,738
Pilkington Recs0 – 78 Halifax19 March 2016, 14:30Langtree ParkT Crashley837
Batley Bulldogs37 – 36 Whitehaven19 March 2016, 15:00Mount PleasantJ Cobb457
Sheffield Eagles32 – 28 Swinton Lions19 March 2016, 15:30SHU Sports ParkT Grant412
Toulouse Olympique62 – 28 Gloucestershire All Golds19 March 2016, 15:30Stade Ernest-ArgelèsM Woodhead1,053
Leigh Centurions68 – 14 Workington Town19 March 2016, 18:00Leigh Sports VillageC Kendall2,049
London Broncos26 – 48 Featherstone Rovers19 March 2016, 20:00Trailfinders Sports GroundS Ansell294
Oldham40 – 6Kells20 March 2016, 15:00Bower FoldJ Bloem385
Rochdale Hornets48 – 20Siddal RLFC20 March 2016, 15:00Spotland StadiumW Turley653
York City Knights20 – 12 Keighley Cougars20 March 2016, 15:00Bootham CrescentJ Roberts624
Source:[8]

Fifth round

The fifth round draw was made on Tuesday 22 March. This round sees the first entry of Super League clubs when the teams that finished 9th – 12th in the 2015 season are in the draw. The draw was made by Sam Tomkins and Chris Hill (Hill was a late replacement for Sean Long). Ties were played over the weekend of 15–17 April.[9]

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats44 – 10 Sheffield Eagles15 April 2016, 20:00Rapid Solicitors StadiumBen Thaler2,257
Dewsbury Rams30 – 16 York City Knights15 April 2016, 20;00Tetley's StadiumAndy Sweet707
Hull Kingston Rovers22 – 36 Oldham16 April 2016, 14:00KC Lightstream StadiumSam Ansell3,056
Toulouse Olympique10 – 8 Leigh Centurions16 April 2016 16:00Stade Ernest-ArgelèsChris Kendall2,133
Batley Bulldogs28 – 10 Featherstone Rovers16 April 2016 17:00Mount PleasantGareth Hewer1,461
Rochdale Hornets6 – 62 Widnes Vikings17 April 2016, 15:00Spotland StadiumJames Child1,242
Hunslet Hawks14 – 50 Salford Red Devils17 April 2016, 15:00South Leeds StadiumChris Campbell834
Halifax80 – 4Lock Lane17 April 2016, 15:00The MBi ShayJamie Bloem1,108
Source:[10]

The tie between Batley and Featherstone was shown live on Sky Sports 5.[11]

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made on 21 April 2016 live on BBC Radio 4 Today programme. The teams were drawn by Today presenter John Humphrys and former England and Great Britain international player Martin Offiah.[12] Ties were played over 6–8 May 2016.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Batley Bulldogs4 – 40 Catalans Dragons6 May 2016, 20:00Fox's Biscuits StadiumGareth Hewer1,249
Huddersfield Giants36 – 22 Leeds Rhinos6 May 2016, 20:00John Smith's StadiumBen Thaler4,979
Castleford Tigers32 – 18 Salford Red Devils7 May 2016, 14:30Wheldon RoadJames Child3,317
Oldham10 – 70 Warrington Wolves7 May 2016, 15:00Bower FoldJonathan Roberts2,394
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats40 – 22 Toulouse Olympique8 May 2016, 14:00Belle VueChris Kendall2,539
Dewsbury Rams4 – 54 Wigan Warriors8 May 2016, 15:00Tetley's StadiumChris Campbell3,102
Halifax18 – 28 Widnes Vikings8 May 2016, 15:00The MBi ShayMichael Woodhead2,032
St. Helens18 – 47 Hull8 May 2016, 16:30Langtree ParkRichard Silverwood7,094
Source:[13]

Sky televised the Batley v Catalans game on Friday 6 May. The BBC broadcast Castleford v Salford on Saturday 7 May and St Helens v Hull on Sunday 8 May.[14]

Quarter finals

The quarter final draw was made after the conclusion of the St Helens vs Hull game, live on BBC 2. The home teams were drawn by Linzi Prescott (widows of Steve Prescott) and the away teams by Tommy Martyn. Ties will be played over the weekend of 23–25 June.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Huddersfield Giants16 – 28 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats23 June 2016, 20:00Galpharm StadiumGareth Hewer3,289
Warrington Wolves20 – 1824 June 2016, 20:00Halliwell Jones StadiumJames Child7,773
Hull22 – 8 Catalans Dragons25 June 2016, 13:30KC StadiumBen Thaler9,639
Wigan Warriors26 – 12 Castleford Tigers25 June 2016, 17:30DW StadiumChris Campbell8,010
Source:[15]

All four matches were broadcast live. The games at Huddersfield and Hull were shown on Sky Sports and the other two games by BBC Sport.

Semi finals

The semi-final draw was made immediately after the Wigan v Castleford quarter final game. The draw was made by Castleford and Leigh player Bob Beardmore and Ian Gildart who played for Wigan, Wakefield Trinity and Oldham.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Wigan Warriors12 – 16 Hull29 July 2016, 20:00Keepmoat StadiumBen Thaler10,488
Warrington Wolves56 – 12 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats30 July 2016, 14:30Leigh Sports VillageGareth Hewer10,358
Source:[16] [17]

Final

See main article: 2016 Challenge Cup Final. The final was played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016. Hull were seeking a first ever Challenge Cup victory at Wembley while Warrington were looking for their first win since 2012.

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
width=17%Date and Timewidth=22%Venuewidth=10%Refereewidth=7%Attendance
Hull12 – 10 Warrington Wolves27 August 2016, 15:00Wembley StadiumGareth Hewer76,235
Source:[18]

In a close fought game Hull came from 10–0 down with only 20 minutes left to play to win 12–10. Hull, Marc Sneyd was voted the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.[19]

Teams:

Hull: Jamie Shaul, Stevie Michaels, Mahe Fonua, Kirk Yeaman, Fetuli Talanoa, Carlos Tuimavave, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Liam Watts, Sika Manu, Mark Minichiello, Gareth Ellis (captain). Substitutes (all used): Josh Bowden, Frank Pritchard, Danny Washbrook, Chris Green.[19]
Tries: Fonua (1), Shaul (1). Goals: Sneyd (2/2).[19]

Warrington Wolves: Stefan Ratchford, Matty Russell, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans, Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow, Chris Hill (captain), Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Currie, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman. Substitutes (all used): George King, Brad Dwyer, Ben Westwood, Ryan Bailey.[19]
Tries: Russell (1), Currie (1). Goals: Gidley (1/3).[19]

Notes and References

  1. Attendances for 1st and 2nd rounds are not recorded, the 3rd round attendances are the first that are verified
  2. News: Challenge Cup: Ladbrokes replace Tetley's as title sponsor. 7 January 2016. BBC Sport. 6 January 2015.
  3. News: Huddersfield Giants 36 - 22 Leeds Rhinos . BBC Sport . 6 May 2016 . 6 May 2016.
  4. News: Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard . . 3004 . 1 February 2016 . 29 . League Publications.
  5. News: Round Two scoreboard . . 3006 . 15 February 2016 . 30 . League Publications.
  6. News: Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard . . 3008 . 29 February 2016 . 40 . League Publications.
  7. Web site: Morley and Wellens to conduct fourth round draw . 28 February 2016 . 28 February 2016.
  8. News: Scoreboard . . 3011 . 21 March 2016 . 39 . League Publications.
  9. News: Challenge Cup: League leaders Widnes draw Rochdale . 22 March 2016 . 22 March 2016 . BBC Sport.
  10. News: Scoreboard . . 3015 . 18 April 2016 . 39 . League Publications.
  11. Web site: Batley v Featherstone to be shown live on Sky . loverugbyleague.com . 24 March 2016 . 17 April 2016.
  12. Web site: BBC Radio 4's Today programme to host sixth round draw . rugby-league.com . 13 April 2016 . 30 November 2023.
  13. News: Scoreboard . . 3018 . 9 May 2016 . 40 . League Publications.
  14. Web site: Televised Challenge Cup games revealed . 22 April 2016 . 22 April 2016 .
  15. News: Scoreboard . . 3025 . 27 June 2016 . 39 . League Publications.
  16. Web site: Wigan Warriors vs Hull FC . 29 July 2016 . 27 August 2016.
  17. Web site: Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Wildcats . 30 July 2016 . 27 August 2016.
  18. News: Scoreboard . . 3034 . 29 August 2016 . 31.
  19. News: Hull celebrate historic Wembley win . . 3034 . 29 August 2016 . 16–17.

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