2016 Challenge Cup

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.

2016 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams75
Highest attendance76,235 (Final)
Lowest attendance55 Oxford vs Lock Lane
(3rd Round)[1][note 1]
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
WinnersHull
Runners-upWarrington Wolves
Biggest home win Halifax 80 – 4 Lock Lane
(5th round)
Biggest away winPilkington Recs 0–78 Halifax
(4th round)
Lance Todd Trophy Marc Sneyd

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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Thatto Heath Crusaders 16 – 23 Hunslet Club Parkside 30 January 2016, 13:30 Hattons Solicitors Crusader Park M Griffiths
York Acorn 36 – 10 Sharlston Rovers 31 January 2016, 13:30 Acorn Sports & Social Club H Neville
London Chargers 14 – 22 Shaw Cross Sharks 30 January 2016, 14:00 Old Blues RFC G Dolan
Aberdeen Warriors 16 – 42 Northumbria University 30 January 2016, 14:00 Rubislaw Playing Fields P Marklove
Normanton Knights 18 – 31 Distington 30 January 2016, 14:00 Queen Elizabeth Drive A Haigh
West Bowling 0 – 16 Lock Lane 30 January 2016, 14:00 Odsal Recreation Ground M Rossleigh
Royal Navy 18 – 20 Featherstone Lions 30 January 2016, 14:00 United Services Recreation Ground G Evans
Hull Dockers 8 – 6 Thornhill Trojans 30 January 2016, 14:00 The Willows Sports & Social Club C Campbell
Kells 30 – 0 Nottingham Outlaws 30 January 2016, 14:00 Old Arrowthwaite J Stearne
East Leeds 0 – 32 Oulton Raiders 30 January 2016, 14:00 Richmond Hill S Ellis
Millom 32 – 14 University of Hull 30 January 2016, 13:30 Coronation Field C Braithwaite
Widnes West Bank 20 – 38 Rochdale Mayfield 30 January 2016, 14:00 Ted Gleave Sports Ground N Bennett
Leigh Miners Rangers 14 – 20 Underbank Rangers 30 January 2016, 13:30 Twist Lane J Jones
Wath Brow Hornets 26 – 4 Royal Air Force 30 January 2016, 14:30 Cleator Club B Pearson
Stanningley 16 – 28 Pilkington Recs 30 January 2016, 14:30 Arthur Miller Stadium L Staveley
Egremont Rangers 64 – 0 Blue Bulls 30 January 2016, 15:30 Gillfoot Park J McMullen
West Hull 36 – 4 Great Britain Police 31 January 2016, 14:00 West Hull Community Park K Moore
British Army 4 – 30 Siddal 31 January 2016, 14:30 Aldershot Military Stadium L 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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Millom 12 – 46 Pilkington Recs 13 February 2016, 14:00 Coronation Field N Bennett
Shaw Cross Sharks 6 – 40 Lock Lane 13 February 2016, 14:00 Shaw Cross Club B Pearson
Hunslet Club Parkside 18 – 19 West Hull 13 February 2016, 14:00 Hillidge Road S Race
York Acorn 28 – 10 Distington 13 February 2016, 14:00 Acorn Sports & Social Club P Marklove
Hull Dockers 12 – 14 Featherstone Lions 13 February 2016, 14:00 The Willows Sports & Social Club M Griffiths
Egremont Rangers 22 – 26 Rochdale Mayfield 13 February 2016, 14:00 Gillfoot Park M Mannifield
Siddal 18 – 16 Northumbria University 13 February 2016, 14:00 Siddal Sport & Community Centre M Rossleigh
Kells 42 – 6 Underbank Rangers 13 February 2016, 14:30 Old Arrowthwaite G Dolan
Wath Brow Hornets 30 – 4 Oulton Raiders 13 February 2016, 14:30 Cleator Club J 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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Siddal RLFC 30 – 4 Newcastle Thunder 27 February 2016, 14:00 Reactiv Park B Pearson 405
Rochdale Mayfield 14 - 40 Rochdale Hornets 27 February 2016, 14:00 Mayfield Sports Centre G Hewer 937
Pilkington Recs 13 – 0 London Skolars 27 February 2016, 14:30 Ruskin Drive L Moore 500 (estimated)
Kells ARLFC 12 – 6 Hemel Stags 27 February 2016, 14:30 Copeland Athletics Club J Callaghan 250 (estimated)
Featherstone Lions 37 – 20 South Wales Scorpions 27 February 2016, 15:00 Mill Pond Stadium S Mikalauskas 400 (estimated)
Wath Brow Hornets 14 – 32 Toulouse Olympique 27 February 2016, 15:00 Cleator Moor D Merrick 400 (estimated)
West Hull 0 – 54 Doncaster 28 February 2016, 14:00 West Hull Community Park T Crashley 268
North Wales Crusaders 36 – 40 Gloucestershire All Golds 28 February 2016, 14:30 Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium J Bloem 324
Oxford 22 – 37 Lock Lane 28 February 2016, 14:30 Maidenhead RFC B Robinson 55
York City Knights 66 – 0 York Acorn 28 February 2016, 15:00 Bootham Crescent A Sweet 2,293
Hunslet Hawks 46 – 12 Barrow Raiders 28 February 2016, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium T Grant 354
Keighley Cougars 54 – 28 Coventry Bears 28 February 2016, 15:00 Cougar Park J Roberts 421
Source:[1]

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.[6] 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.[6]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hunslet Hawks 48 – 6 Doncaster 18 March 2016, 19:30 South Leeds Stadium A Sweet 337
Dewsbury Rams 31 – 30 Bradford Bulls 18 March 2016, 20:00 Tetley's Stadium C Campbell 2,021
Featherstone Lions 16 – 30 Lock Lane 19 March 2016, 14:00 The Big Fellas Stadium C Straw 1,738
Pilkington Recs 0 – 78 Halifax 19 March 2016, 14:30 Langtree Park T Crashley 837
Batley Bulldogs 37 – 36 Whitehaven 19 March 2016, 15:00 Mount Pleasant J Cobb 457
Sheffield Eagles 32 – 28 Swinton Lions 19 March 2016, 15:30 SHU Sports Park T Grant 412
Toulouse Olympique 62 – 28 Gloucestershire All Golds 19 March 2016, 15:30 Stade Ernest-Argelès M Woodhead 1,053
Leigh Centurions 68 – 14 Workington Town 19 March 2016, 18:00 Leigh Sports Village C Kendall 2,049
London Broncos 26 – 48 Featherstone Rovers 19 March 2016, 20:00 Trailfinders Sports Ground S Ansell 294
Oldham 40 – 6 Kells 20 March 2016, 15:00 Bower Fold J Bloem 385
Rochdale Hornets 48 – 20 Siddal RLFC 20 March 2016, 15:00 Spotland Stadium W Turley 653
York City Knights 20 – 12 Keighley Cougars 20 March 2016, 15:00 Bootham Crescent J Roberts 624
Source:[7]

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.[8]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 44 – 10 Sheffield Eagles 15 April 2016, 20:00 Rapid Solicitors Stadium Ben Thaler 2,257
Dewsbury Rams 30 – 16 York City Knights 15 April 2016, 20;00 Tetley's Stadium Andy Sweet 707
Hull Kingston Rovers 22 – 36 Oldham 16 April 2016, 14:00 KC Lightstream Stadium Sam Ansell 3,056
Toulouse Olympique 10 – 8 Leigh Centurions 16 April 2016 16:00 Stade Ernest-Argelès Chris Kendall 2,133
Batley Bulldogs 28 – 10 Featherstone Rovers 16 April 2016 17:00 Mount Pleasant Gareth Hewer 1,461
Rochdale Hornets 6 – 62 Widnes Vikings 17 April 2016, 15:00 Spotland Stadium James Child 1,242
Hunslet Hawks 14 – 50 Salford Red Devils 17 April 2016, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium Chris Campbell 834
Halifax 80 – 4 Lock Lane 17 April 2016, 15:00 The MBi Shay Jamie Bloem 1,108
Source:[9]

The tie between Batley and Featherstone was shown live on Sky Sports 5.[10]

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.[11] Ties were played over 6–8 May 2016.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Batley Bulldogs 4 – 40 Catalans Dragons 6 May 2016, 20:00 Fox's Biscuits Stadium Gareth Hewer 1,249
Huddersfield Giants 36 – 22 Leeds Rhinos 6 May 2016, 20:00 John Smith's Stadium Ben Thaler 4,979
Castleford Tigers 32 – 18 Salford Red Devils 7 May 2016, 14:30 Wheldon Road James Child 3,317
Oldham 10 – 70 Warrington Wolves 7 May 2016, 15:00 Bower Fold Jonathan Roberts 2,394
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 40 – 22 Toulouse Olympique 8 May 2016, 14:00 Belle Vue Chris Kendall 2.539
Dewsbury Rams 4 – 54 Wigan Warriors 8 May 2016, 15:00 Tetley's Stadium Chris Campbell 3,102
Halifax 18 – 28 Widnes Vikings 8 May 2016, 15:00 The MBi Shay Michael Woodhead 2,032
St. Helens 18 – 47 Hull 8 May 2016, 16:30 Langtree Park Richard Silverwood 7,094
Source:[12]

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.[13]

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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Huddersfield Giants 16 – 28 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 23 June 2016, 20:00 Galpharm Stadium Gareth Hewer 3,289
Warrington Wolves 20 – 18 Widnes Vikings 24 June 2016, 20:00 Halliwell Jones Stadium James Child 7,773
Hull 22 – 80 Catalans Dragons 25 June 2016, 13:30 KC Stadium Ben Thaler 9,639
Wigan Warriors 26 – 12 Castleford Tigers 25 June 2016, 17:30 DW Stadium Chris Campbell 8,010
Source:[14]

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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Wigan Warriors 12 – 16 Hull 29 July 2016, 20:00 Keepmoat Stadium Ben Thaler 10,488
Warrington Wolves 56 – 12 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 30 July 2016, 14:30 Leigh Sports Village Gareth Hewer 10,358
Source:[15][16]

Final
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.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hull 12 – 10 Warrington Wolves 27 August 2016, 15:00 Wembley Stadium Gareth Hewer 76,235
Source:[17]

In a close fought game Hull came from 10–0 down with only 20 minutes left to play to win 12–10. Hull Scrum-half, Marc Sneyd was voted the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.[18]

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.[18]
Tries: Fonua (1), Shaul (1). Goals: Sneyd (2/2).[18]

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.[18]
Tries: Russell (1), Currie (1). Goals: Gidley (1/3).[18]

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gollark: Memetics.
gollark: Moonscript you?!
gollark: I don't really mind it. I could write urn (lisp) or amulet (ML) too.
gollark: No. Not portable and annoying.

References
  1. "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3008). League Publications. 29 February 2016. p. 40.
  2. "Challenge Cup: Ladbrokes replace Tetley's as title sponsor". BBC Sport. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
  3. "Huddersfield Giants 36 - 22 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  4. "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3004). League Publications. 1 February 2016. p. 29.
  5. "Round Two scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3006). League Publications. 15 February 2016. p. 30.
  6. "Morley and Wellens to conduct fourth round draw". 28 February 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  7. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3011). League Publications. 21 March 2016. p. 39.
  8. "Challenge Cup: League leaders Widnes draw Rochdale". BBC Sport. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  9. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3015). League Publications. 18 April 2016. p. 39.
  10. "Batley v Featherstone to be shown live on Sky". loverugbyleague.com. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  11. "BBC Radio 4's Today programme to host sixth round draw". rugby-league.com. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  12. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3018). League Publications. 9 May 2016. p. 40.
  13. "Televised Challenge Cup games revealed". 22 April 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  14. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3025). League Publications. 27 June 2016. p. 39.
  15. "Wigan Warriors vs Hull FC". 29 July 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  16. "Warrington Wolves vs Wakefield Wildcats". 30 July 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
  17. "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3034). 29 August 2016. p. 31.
  18. "Hull celebrate historic Wembley win". Rugby Leaguer & League Express (3034). 29 August 2016. pp. 16–17.

Notes
  1. Attendances for 1st and 2nd rounds are not recorded, the 3rd round attendances are the first that are verified
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