2006 Challenge Cup

The Powergen Rugby League Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of Rugby League. It features teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. In 2006 the competition started in January with the preliminary round where the Gloucestershire Warriors from the Rugby League Conference surprised an established Pennine League team in Illingworth. The final was scheduled to be played at the new Wembley Stadium but in March 2006 it became apparent that the stadium would not be ready for the final on August 26 so it was switched to Twickenham.

In the final St. Helens proved too strong for the Huddersfield Giants, winning by 42 points to 12. It was Huddersfield's first final since 1953, when they also faced St Helens.

Contents

Round 1

(week ending 5th February)

Sees the introduction of the major amateur clubs from the National Conference League and the teams from National League 3

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Thornhill Trojans 30-12 Eastmoor Dragons
2 West Bowling 15–14 Halton Simms Cross
3 Bramley Buffaloes 30-12 Thatto Heath Crusaders
4 Clayton 24-32 Warrington Wizards
5 Royal Navy 16-38 Wigan St Patricks
6 Eccles & Salford 10-12 Hunslet Warriors
7 Leigh East 86-10 Askam
8 Shaw Cross Sharks 32-22 Oldham St Annes
9 Skirlaugh 12-8 Normanton Knights
10 East Leeds 28-12 Milford Marlins
11 Ovenden 32-28 Bank Quay Bulls
12 Bradford Dudley Hill 42-12 Gateshead Storm
13 York Acorn 29-22 Ince Rose Bridge
14 Royal Air Force 13-42 Siddal
15 Wigan St Judes 12-33 Kells
16 Walney Central 18-0 Ideal Isberg
17 East Hull 46-0 Lock Lane
18 Leigh Miners 76-0 Bransholme
19 Gloucestershire Warriors 20-36 Blackbrook
20 Seaton Rangers 34-4 Rochdale Mayfield
21 Barrow Island 32-18 Stanley Rangers
22 Crosfields 20-28 Oulton Raiders
23 Saddleworth Rangers 33-32 Hull Dockers
24 Widnes St Maries 40-12 St Albans Centurions
25 The Army 38-18 West Hull

Round 2

(week ending 19th February)
Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Leigh Miners 38-26 Oulton Raiders
2 Warrington Wizards 20-22 Bradford Dudley Hill
3 East Hull 10-8 Wigan St Patricks
4 Hunslet Warriors 30-18 Siddal
5 East Leeds 22-46 Widnes St Maries
6 York Acorn 35-16 Seaton Rangers
7 Walney Central 0-28 Saddleworth Rangers
8 Ovenden 38-24 Blackbrook
9 Skirlaugh 25-12 Wath Brow Hornets
10 Bramley Buffaloes 22-28 Shaw Cross Sharks
11 Barrow Island 18-28 Kells
12 The Army 14-20 West Bowling
13 Leigh East 14-32 Thornhill Trojans

Round 3

(week ending 12th March)

Round 3 sees the introduction of the National League 1 and 2 teams and teams from France and Russia. Amateurs Thornhill Trojans provided the first surprise result by beating national 2 team Workington Town. Late season snow caused a number of postponements on the Sunday.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Leigh Miners 6-34 Rochdale Hornets
2 Whitehaven 72-0 Pia
3 Thornhill Trojans 16-12 Workington Town
4 London Skolars 20-10 Gateshead Thunder
5 Batley Bulldogs 24-10 Limoux Grizzlies
6 Blackpool Panthers 10-18 Toulouse Olympique
7 Celtic Crusaders 64-4 Lokomotiv Moscow
8 Dewsbury Rams 68-0 Bradford Dudley Hill
9 Doncaster Lakers 34-18 Shaw Cross Sharks
10 East Hull 2-20 Hunslet Hawks
11 Hull Kingston Rovers 62-1 York Acorn
12 Hunslet Warriors 0-38 Widnes Vikings
13 Leigh Centurions 80-0 Kazan Arrows
14 Oldham Roughyeds 34-10 Saddleworth Rangers
15 Skirlaugh 14-36 Featherstone Rovers
16 Swinton Lions 42-18 Sheffield Eagles
17 Kells 6-26 Halifax
18 Ovenden 10-50 York City Knights
19 West Bowling 0-34 Keighley Cougars
20 Widnes St Maries 14-30 Barrow Raiders

Round 4

(week ending 2nd April)

Round 4 sees the introduction of the Super League teams. Some matches are now televised live by the BBC. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Bradford and Wakefield.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 St. Helens 56-6 Doncaster Lakers
2 Bradford Bulls 23-12 Hull
3 Catalans Dragons 66-0 Thornhill
4 Rochdale Hornets 32-8 Celtic Crusaders
5 Barrow Raiders 40-8 Oldham Roughyeds
6 Batley Bulldogs 16-28 Whitehaven
7 Featherstone Rovers 44-10 Keighley Cougars
8 Halifax 8-40 Huddersfield Giants
9 Harlequins 48-6 Toulouse Olympique
10 Hunslet Hawks 0-22 Hull Kingston Rovers
11 Leigh Centurions 12-36 Leeds Rhinos
12 Salford City Reds 32-4 Dewsbury Rams
13 Swinton Lions 18-20 York City Knights
14 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 22-32 Wigan Warriors
15 Warrington Wolves 56-0 London Skolars
16 Widnes Vikings 14-4 Castleford Tigers

Round 5

(week ending 21st May)

No new teams enter at this stage. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at St Helens and Widnes.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Salford City Reds 16-4 Wigan Warriors
2 Huddersfield Giants 38-4 York City Knights
3 Widnes Vikings 16-34 Catalans Dragons
4 Leeds Rhinos 66-0 Rochdale Hornets
5 Hull Kingston Rovers 44-12 Featherstone Rovers
6 Harlequins 82-8 Barrow Raiders
7 Warrington Wolves 46-2 Whitehaven
8 St. Helens 42-18 Bradford Bulls

Quarter-finals

(week ending 4th June)

In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Hull KR and Leeds. Hull KR pulled off a major surprise when they beat Superleague team Warrington Wolves.

June 4, 2006 Leeds Rhinos 36–18 Harlequins Headingley, Leeds
Referee/s: Karl Kirkpatrick
Danny Williams (12), Scott Donald (8), Kevin Sinfield (8), Danny McGuire (4), Willie Poching (4) (Report) Luke Dorn (4), Tyrone Smith (4), Pat Weisner (4), Michael Worrincy (4), Rob Purdham (2)
June 4, 2006 Hull Kingston Rovers 40–36 Warrington Wolves Craven Park, Hull
Referee/s: Steve Ganson
Byron Ford (12), Gareth Morton (12), Makali Aizue (4), Dwayne Barker (4), Ben Cockayne (4), Jon Goddard (4) (Report) Chris Bridge (8), Henry Fa'afili (8), Logan Swann (8), Martin Gleeson (4), Stuart Reardon (4), Michael Sullivan (4)
June 4, 2006 Huddersfield Giants 44–14 Salford City Reds Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Referee/s: Ashley Klein
Michael De Vere (12), Paul March (8), Chris Nero (8), Robbie Paul (8), Martin Aspinwall (4), Brad Drew (4) (Report) David Hodgson (10), Aaron Moule (4)
June 3, 2006 St. Helens 56–10 Catalans Dragons Knowsley Road, St. Helens
Referee/s: Richard Silverwood
Ade Gardner (12), Paul Anderson (8), Vinnie Anderson (4), Sean Long (4), Jamie Lyon (4), Leon Pryce (4), Jon Wilkin (4) (Report) Stacey Jones (4), Justin Murphy (4), Laurent Frayssinous (2)

Semi-finals

(week ending 30th July)

Unlike earlier rounds, matches from now on will be played on neutral grounds. Huddersfield have the chance to win the Cup for the first time in 1953 when they beat this year's final opponents St Helens.

July 29, 2006 St. Helens 50–0 Hull Kingston Rovers Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 12,868
Referee/s: Karl Kirkpatrick
Jamie Lyon (18), Willie Talau (8), Jon Wilkin (8), Vinnie Anderson (4), Ade Gardner (4), Sean Long (4), Paul Wellens (4) (Report)
July 30, 2006 Leeds Rhinos 12–30 Huddersfield Giants Odsal Stadium, Bradford
Attendance: 12,574
Scott Donald (4), Willie Poching (4), Kevin Sinfield (2) (Report) Michael De Vere (14), Stuart Donlan (8), Chris Nero (8)

Final

The final was originally scheduled to be played at Wembley Stadium though because of the construction delay was alternatively held at Twickenham Stadium, London, attracting a large attendance.

August 26, 2006 St. Helens 42–12 Huddersfield Giants Twickenham Stadium, London
Attendance: 65,187
Referee/s: Richard Silverwood
Jamie Lyon (18), Jon Wilkin (8), Jason Cayless (4), Maurie Fa'asavalu (4), Sean Long (4), Willie Talau (4) (Report) Martin Aspinwall (4), Michael De Vere (4), Robbie Paul (4)

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A.G.F claims to be a Huddersfield Giants supporter, however he only ever watches them from his arm chair, non fanatic.