Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup

The Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup (abbreviated as NLCC) is the premier senior men's soccer competition in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is held annually from May until August and was contested for the first time in 1967. The winner represents Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canadian National Challenge Cup. The competition is governed and organized by the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association. Holy Cross are reigning champions as of the 2010 season. The St. Lawrence Laurentians and Holy Cross have traditionally dominated the competition, having won a combined total of 36 Cups out of 43 times that the Challenge has been contested. The competition tends to have difficulty retaining clubs, as only Holy Cross, St. Lawrence Laurentians, and Feildians have consistently competed for the Cup. Many other clubs tend to have problems with financing or player availability and end up folding or taking a hiatus to re-organize.

Contents 1 Format 2 Champions 3 Seasons 3.1 2011 3.1.1 Standings 3.1.2 Top Scorers 3.1.3 Playoffs 3.2 2010 3.2.1 Standings 3.2.2 Top Scorers 3.2.3 Playoffs 3.3 2009 3.3.1 Standings 3.3.2 Top Scorers 3.3.3 Playoffs 4 Records 5 References

Format

The Newfoundland Challenge Cup consists of Newfoundland-based men's senior amateur soccer clubs. The teams first compete to qualify for a playoff round in a league format, where each team usually plays each other team 4 times (2 home, 2 away). At the end of the league phase, the 4 clubs with the most points qualify for the playoffs (3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point is awarded for a draw, and none for a loss), if there is a tie in the standings, the team with the greatest goal difference is given precedence.^[1] The playoff round of the NLCC was formerly a Page Playoff format until the 2011 season where a regular 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 system. It takes place at one location over 2 days, with one round being played each day. It consists of two single-game knockout rounds: in the 1st round, the first seed plays the fourth seed and the second seed plays the third seed; the winners of those matches advance to the Challenge Cup Final. The winner of the final is crowned Challenge Cup Champions and qualify for the Canadian National Challenge Cup, representing Newfoundland and Labrador.^[2]

Champions

as of the 2010 season^[3]

Club	# of Challenge Cups	Years
St. Lawrence Laurentians	23	1967-68, 1971-72, 1975-78, 1980, 1982, 1993, 1995-2002, 2005-08
Holy Cross	13	1973, 1979, 1981, 1983-86, 1988-89, 1992, 1994, 2009-10
Burin	2	1990-91
Feildians	1	1969
Grand Bank	1	1974
Lawn	1	1987
Marystown United	1	2004
Mount Pearl	1	2003
Newfoundland All Stars	1	1970

Seasons

2011

The 2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup began on May 13th. It is the 44th time that the Cup has been contested. It featured 5 teams competing for the Cup and the St. John's U-18s who played on an exhibition basis only, although points gained from matches against them counted towards the final standings. Western United FC did not compete in the 2011 competition. ^[4][5]

Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup

Matches played	60
Goals scored	211 (3.52 per match)
Average goals/game	3.52
Top goalscorer	Jon Hawco (16)
Biggest home win	Holy Cross Kirby 10-0 St. John's U-18s (27 July, 2011)
Biggest away win	Corner Brook Auto Strikers 0-8 Holy Cross Kirby (5 June, 2011)
Highest scoring	Holy Cross Kirby 10-0 St. John's U-18s (27 July, 2011)
Longest winning run	15 games- Holy Cross Kirby
Longest unbeaten run	15 games- Holy Cross Kirby
Longest winless run	6 games- Feildians, CB Auto Stikers
Longest losing run	6 games- Feildians

Standings

Pos	Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points	Clinch Qualification for Playoffs	Clinch League Champion
1	Holy Cross Kirby Group	20	18	1	1	79	10	+69	55	Y	Y
2	Mount Pearl Molson	20	13	3	4	50	20	+30	42	Y	-
3	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	20	9	2	9	27	30	-3	29	Y	-
4	Feildians E&Y Orenda	20	7	2	11	19	35	-16	23	Y	-
5	Conception Bay Auto Strikers	20	6	4	10	29	33	-4	22	-	-

St. John's U-18s playing on exhibition basis only

Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points
St. John's U-18s	20	0	2	18	7	74	-67	2

Top Scorers

Pos.	Name	Club	Goals
1	Jon Hawco	Holy Cross	16
2	Justin Pickford	Mt. Pearl	12
3	Jay Babstock	Feildians	10
3	Jake Warren	Holy Cross	10
5	Mike Dunn	Holy Cross	8
5	Rudy Norman	Mount Pearl	8
5	Paul Slaney	St. Lawrence	8
8	Mike Brushett	Holy Cross	7
8	Sean Drew	Mount Pearl	7
8	Corey Moore	Holy Cross	7
8	Zack Wade	Holy Cross	7

as of 2011-08-25

Playoffs

1 v. 4 Semi-Final
2 September 2011 (2011-09-02) 18:30 (UTC-03:30) Semi-Finals	Holy Cross Kirby Group	1 - 0	Feildians Ernest & Young Orenda	King George V Park
	Jon Hawco  79'

2 v. 3 Semi-Final
2 September 2011 (2011-09-02) 20:30 (UTC-03:30) Semi-Finals	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	3 - 1 (a.e.t.)	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	King George V Park
	Justin Pickford  13' (109) Kevin Oram  107'		Sean Edwards  75'

2011 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup Final
4 September 2011 (2011-09-04) 15:00 (UTC-03:30) Final	Holy Cross Kirby Group	1 - 1 (a.e.t.)	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	King George V Park
	Ryan Yetman  107'		Sean Manning  92'
		Penalties
		4 - 3

Holy Cross are 2011 Newfoundland Challenge Cup Champions and qualify for the 2011 Canadian Challenge Trophy tournament

2010

The 2010 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup began on June 5th and the final was held on September 5th. It was the 43rd time the Challenge Cup was contested. The St. John's U-18s competed on an exhibition basis only*. Holy Cross won the final against Mount Pearl 3-1 on the Burin Peninsula and represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2010 Canadian National Challenge Cup, finishing last (10th) in the tournament. ^[6]

Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup

Matches played	78
Goals scored	291 (3.73 per match)
Average goals/game	3.73
Top goalscorer	Mike Howlett- 19 (St. Lawrence)
Biggest home win	St. Lawrence 9-0 Western Utd. FC (15 August, 2010) (9)
Biggest away win	Feildians 1-7 St. Lawrence (3 September, 2010) (6)
Highest scoring	Feildians 6-3 Western Utd. FC (26 June, 2010) St. Lawrence Laurentians 9-0 Western Utd. FC (15 August, 2010) (9)
Longest winning run	7 games- Holy Cross
Longest unbeaten run	11 games- Holy Cross 11 games- Holy Cross
Longest winless run	12 games- Western Utd. FC
Longest losing run	12 games- Western Utd. FC

• see 2011 season

Standings

Pos	Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points	Clinch Qualification for Playoffs	Clinch League Champion
1	Holy Cross Kirby Group	23	17	5	1	67	16	+51	56	Y	Y
2	Mount Pearl Molson	23	15	6	2	53	14	+39	51	Y	-
3	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	23	15	4	4	62	19	+43	49	Y	-
4	Feildians E&Y Orenda	23	8	3	12	44	48	-4	27	Y	-
5	Conception Bay Auto Strikers	23	4	3	16	20	63	-43	15	-	-
6	Rugged Edge Western United FC	23	3	1	19	20	76	-56	10	-	-

Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points
St. John's U-18s	23	4	2	12	25	55	-30	14

Top Scorers

Pos	Name	Club	Goals
1	Mike Howlett	St. Lawrence	19
2	Zach Wade	Holy Cross	14
3	Scott Woodfine	Holy Cross	12
4	Justin Pickford	Mount Pearl	11
5	Matthew Wilkins	Feildians	10
6	Zach Hynes	Feildians	8
6	Rudy Norman	St. Lawrence	8
6	Paul Slaney	St. Lawrence	8
9	Matthew Breen	Holy Cross	7
9	Matt Foote	CB Strikers	7
9	Matthew Hamlyn	Mount Pearl	7

Playoffs

3rd v. 4th Match
3 September 2010 (2010-09-03) 1st Round	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	7 - 1	Feildians Ernest & Young Orenda	Centennial Field
	Caines Caines Edwards Grant Slaney Turpin Howlett		Zack Hynes

1st v. 2nd Match
3 September 2010 (2010-09-03) 1st Round	Holy Cross Kirby Group	1 - 0	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	Centennial Field
	Hawco  63'

Semi-Final
4 September 2010 (2010-09-04) Semi-Final	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	1 - 1 (a.e.t.)	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	Centennial Field
	Kelly  92'		McLeod  112'
		Penalties
		Mount Pearl Win

2010 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup Final
5 September 2010 (2010-09-05) Final	Holy Cross Kirby Group	3 - 1	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	Centennial Field
	Anstey Breen Wade		McLeod

Holy Cross are 2010 Newfoundland Challenge Cup Champions and qualify for the 2010 Canadian Challenge Trophy tournament

2009

The 2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup began on June 13th and the final was held on September 6th. It was the 42rd time the Challenge Cup was contested. The Newfoundland and Labrador Canada Games Team (U-18s) competed on an exhibition basis only*. Holy Cross won the final against Mount Pearl 1-0 and represented Newfoundland and Labrador at the 2009 Canadian National Challenge Cup, finishing 6th out of 10.^[7][8]

Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup

Matches played	50
Goals scored	173 (3.46 per match)
Average goals/game	3.46
Top goalscorer	Zack Wade- 12 (Holy Cross)
Biggest home win	Mount Pearl 5-1 Feildians (9 August, 2009), St. Lawrence 4-0 Western Utd. FC (20 June, 2009), Holy Cross 5-1 NL Canada Games (9 August, 2009), Holy Cross 5-1 Feildians (16 August, 2009) (4)
Biggest away win	NL Canada Games 0-4 Mount Pearl (19 July, 2009) Mount Pearl 0-4 Holy Cross (4) (23 August, 2009)
Highest scoring	St. Lawrence 4-4 Feildians (8) (27 August, 2009)
Longest winning run	6 games- Holy Cross
Longest unbeaten run	8 games- Holy Cross
Longest winless run	15 games- Feildians
Longest losing run	9 games- Feildians

see 2011 season*

Standings

Pos	Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points	Clinch Qualification for Playoffs	Clinch League Champion
1	Holy Cross The Dock	18	13	3	2	47	19	+28	48	Y	Y
2	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	18	10	5	3	36	39	+14	51	Y	-
3	Mount Pearl Molsons	18	8	5	5	33	24	+9	33	Y	-
4	Rugged Edge Western United FC	10	1	4	5	10	23	-13	14†	Y	-
5	Feildians E&Y Orenda	18	1	5	12	24	48	-25	8	-	-

†as Western Utd. FC didn't complete a full season, it's points were adjusted to the value of 18 matches

Team	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Diff.	Points
Canada Games Team NFLD U-18	18	5	3	10	23	36	-13	18

Top Scorers

Pos	Name	Club	Goals
1	Zach Wade	Holy Cross	12
2	Corey Moore	Holy Cross	10
3	Paul Slaney	St. Lawrence	9
4	Rudy Norman	St. Lawrence	8
4	Justin Pickford	Mount Pearl	8
6	Ryan Caines	Mount Pearl	7
7	Aaron Anstey	Holy Cross	6
8	Albert Anstey	Canada Games	5
8	John Hawco	Holy Cross	5
8	Zack Hynes	Feildians	5

Playoffs

3rd v. 4th Match
4 September 2009 (2009-09-04) 1st Round	Mount Pearl That Pro Look Molsons	3 - 3 (a.e.t.)	Rugged Edge Western United FC	Referee: Mike Howlett
	Caines  22' Caines  89' Pickford  107'		Park  73' Bennett  88' Oram  117'
		Penalties
		4 - 3

1st v. 2nd Match
4 September 2009 (2009-09-04) 1st Round	Holy Cross Kirby Group	1 - 2	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	Referee: Damian Masterson
	54'		Norman  33' Edwards  81'

Semi-Final
5 September 2009 (2009-09-05) Semi-Final	Holy Cross Kirby Group	3 - 1 (a.e.t.)	Mount Pearl Ernest & Young Orenda	Referee: Shannon Tobin
	Babstock  6' Wade  104' Moore  107'		Caines  24'

2009 Newfoundland and Labrador Challenge Cup Final
6 September 2009 (2009-09-06) Final	St. Lawrence Labatt Laurentians	0 - 1 (a.e.t.)	Holy Cross Kirby Group	Referee: Mike Edmunds
			Anstey  110'

Holy Cross are 2009 Newfoundland Challenge Cup Champions and qualify for the 2009 Canadian Challenge Trophy tournament

Records

Record	Club	#
Most total Cups	St. Lawrence Laurentians	23
Most consecutive Cups	St. Lawrence Laurentians	8; 1995-2002

References

• [1]