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1998 Challenge Cup#Final

{{short description|Rugby league competition}}

{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup

|title = 1998 Silk Cut Challenge Cup

|league =

|logo =

|pixels =

|duration = 8 Rounds

|no_of_teams =

|highest_attendance = 60,669

|lowest_attendance =

|avg_attendance =

|TV = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} BBC Sport

|biggest_home_win =

|biggest_away_win =

|season = 1998

|season_champs = {{leagueicon|sheffield|16px}} Sheffield Eagles

|season_champ_name = Winners

|league_leaders =

|league_leaders_name =

|second_place = {{leagueicon|wigan|16px}} Wigan Warriors

|MVP = {{leagueicon|sheffield|16px}} Mark Aston

|MVP_link = Lance Todd Trophy

|top_scorer =

|prevseason_link = 1997 Challenge Cup

|prevseason_year = 1997

|nextseason_link = 1999 Challenge Cup

|nextseason_year = 1999

}}

The 1998 Challenge Cup, known as the Silk Cut Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 97th staging of the Challenge Cup, a rugby league cup competition.

The competition ended with the final on 2 May 1998, which was played at Wembley Stadium.

The tournament was won by Sheffield Eagles, who beat Wigan Warriors 17–8 in the final, and is generally considered to be one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Challenge Cup final.{{cite web|title=Challenge Cup final: Sky Sports classics looks at finals gone by|url=http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12028/8884870/challenge-cup-final-sky-sports-classics-looks-at-finals-gone-by|work=Sky Sports|access-date=27 January 2014|date=23 August 2013}}{{cite web|title=What is the biggest Challenge Cup upset?|url=http://www.thechallengecup.com/news_video/article/24665/what-is-the-biggest-challenge|access-date=27 January 2014|date=23 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201204059/http://www.thechallengecup.com/news_video/article/24665/what-is-the-biggest-challenge|archive-date=1 February 2014|url-status=dead}} The Lance Todd Trophy was won by Mark Aston.{{cite web|last=Davies|first=Jonathan|title=Rugby League: A game plan to beat the best|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-a-game-plan-to-beat-the-best-1161590.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-a-game-plan-to-beat-the-best-1161590.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription|work=The Independent|access-date=27 January 2014|date=3 May 1998}}{{cbignore}}

First round

The first round consisted of 60 teams, including clubs in National Conference Division 1 and Division 2, and other amateur clubs from around the country.{{cite web|title=Rugby League Challenge Cup|url=http://www.rugby-league-world.com/1998/Results/ChallengeCup/Cup.html|website=Rugby League World|access-date=15 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010126011800/http://www.rugby-league-world.com/1998/Results/ChallengeCup/Cup.html|archive-date=2001-01-26|url-status=dead}} Additionally, Dublin Blues became the first ever Irish team to take part in the cup.{{cite web|last1=Hadfield|first1=Dave|title=Rugby League: Arnold becomes a Giant|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/rugby-league-arnold-becomes-a-giant-1287150.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/rugby-league-arnold-becomes-a-giant-1287150.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription|website=The Independent|access-date=16 August 2014|date=6 December 1997}}{{cbignore}} Matches were played on 5–6 December 1997, with the replay being played on 13 December 1997.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

1

| Worth Village

| 32–4

| Fulham Travellers

2

| Charleston

| w/o

| West London Colonials

colspan=4|Walkover for Charleston – West London Colonials withdrew
3

| West Bowling

| 18–24

| Thornhill

4

| Redhill

| 36–12

| Wigan St Judes

5

| Oulton

| 36–16

| Loughborough University

6

| Wigan Rose Bridge

| w/o

| Kells

colspan=4|Walkover for Wigan Rose Bridge – Kells withdrew
7

| Normanton

| 14–14

| Folly Lane

Replay

| Folly Lane

| 22–15

| Normanton

8

| Leigh East

| 18–4

| East Hull

9

| Skirlaugh

| w/o

| Blackpool Gladiators

colspan=4|Walkover for Skirlaugh – Blackpool Gladiators withdrew
10

| Moldgreen

| 18–8

| Barrow Island

11

| Blackbrook

| 17–23

| Haydock

12

| Dewsbury Moor

| 32–7

| Dublin Blues

13

| Teesside Steelers

| 10–48

| Leeds University

14

| New Earswick All Blacks

| 6–34

| BRK

15

| Milford

| 6–16

| Queens

16

| London Skolars

| 10–12

| Myton

17

| Ideal ABI

| 5–30

| Hunslet Warriors

18

| Ellenborough

| 40–14

| Crosfields

19

| Siddal

| 40–6

| Lindley Swifts

20

| Eccles

| 12–26

| Featherstone Lions

21

| Broughton Red Rose

| 14–24

| Hull Dockers

22

| Millom

| 22–2

| York Acorn

23

| Ovenden

| 18–16

| Dodworth

24

| Waterhead

| 28–4

| Westgate Redoubt

25

| Stanningley

| 50–16

| Nottingham Crusaders

26

| Shaw Cross

| 0–20

| Clayton

27

| Farnworth

| 26–12

| Lowca

28

| Queensbury

| 24–16

| East Leeds

29

| John Moores Univ

| 16–40

| Eastmoor

30

| Norland

| w/o

| Westfield

colspan=4|Walkover for Norland – Westfield withdrew

Second round

The 30 winners of the previous round were joined by an additional 14 clubs from the National Conference Premier Division. Matches were played on 20–21 December 1997, with the replay and postponed matches being played on 27–28 December 1997.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

1

| Charleston

| 8–34

| Saddleworth Rangers

2

| Eastmoor Dragons

| 40–8

| Leeds University

3

| Worth Village

| 4–52

| Thornhill

4

| Moldgreen

| 22–20

| Siddal

5

| Redhill

| 14–19

| Castleford Lock Lane

6

| Folly Lane

| 37–14

| Askam

7

| Hunslet Warriors

| 14–6

| Millom

8

| BRK

| 20–18

| Leigh East

9

| Walney Central

| 12–12

| Leigh Miners Rangers

Replay

| Leigh Miners Rangers

| 46–4

| Walney Central

10

| Woolston Rovers

| 22–0

| Oldham St Annes

11

| Haydock

| 11–0

| Waterhead

12

| Stanningley

| 10–37

| Farnworth

13

| Wigan Rose Bridge

| 8–37

| West Hull

14

| Myton Warriors

| 0–52

| Norland

15

| Ellenborough Rangers

| 28–22

| Queensbury

16

| Dudley Hill

| 14–42

| Skirlaugh Bulls

17

| Queens

| 42–18

| Beverley

18

| Heworth

| 12–4

| Clayton

19

| Ovenden

| 30–22

| Wigan St Patricks

20

| Dewsbury Moor

| 8–27

| Oulton Raiders

21

| Rochdale Mayfield

| 4–28

| Featherstone Lions

22

| Egremont Rangers

| 22–12

| Hull Dockers

=Play-off=

An additional play-off match between Oldham R.L.F.C. and one of the winners of the second round took place before the next round. This was due to Oldham being originally excluded from the cup, as the original club had been liquidated at the end of the previous season, but the Rugby Football League (RFL) later allowed the club to enter the competition following an appeal, with several of the remaining amateur clubs in the competition offering to play Oldham for a place in the next round.{{cite web|last1=Hadfield|first1=Dave|title=Rugby League: Oldham pray for a long run|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-oldham-pray-for-a-long-run-1139408.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-oldham-pray-for-a-long-run-1139408.html |archive-date=2022-05-01 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|access-date=17 August 2014|date=18 January 1998}}{{cbignore}} The match took place on 18 January 1998.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

!Attendance

1

| Oldham R.L.F.C.

| 36–14

| Heworth

| 2,943

Third round

The 22 winners of the previous round were joined by an additional 18 clubs from the First Division and Second Division. Matches were played on 31 January and 1 February 1998.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

!Attendance

1

| Keighley Cougars

| 66–16

| Saddleworth Rangers

| 3,116

2

| York

| 37–5

| Norland

| 965

3

| Rochdale Hornets

| 44–4

| Leigh Miners Rangers

| 737

4

| Doncaster Dragons

| 18–23

| Featherstone Lions

| 1,012

5

| Wakefield Trinity

| 44–6

| BRK

| 1,369

6

| Swinton Lions

| 74–6

| Folly Lane

| 2,425

7

| Widnes Vikings

| 48–8

| Oldham R.L.F.C.

| 4,500

8

| Dewsbury Rams

| 40–2

| Thornhill

| 2,355

9

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 34–16

| Queens

| 1,584

10

| Lancashire Lynx

| 46–0

| West Hull

| 488

11

| Workington Town

| 12–8

| Haydock

| 1,139

12

| Bramley

| 10–16

| Ellenborough Rangers

| 500

13

| Featherstone Rovers

| 56–0

| Woolston Rovers

| 1,126

14

| Batley Bulldogs

| 44–2

| Oulton Raiders

| 849

15

| Hunslet Hawks

| 44–12

| Skirlaugh Bulls

| 830

16

| Barrow

| 52–8

| Farnworth

| 927

17

| Leigh Centurions

| 44–4

| Hunslet Warriors

| 1,259

18

| Whitehaven Warriors

| 48–7

| Castleford Lock Lane

| 830

19

| Eastmoor Dragons

| 14–20

| Egremont Rangers

| 600

20

| Mold Green

| 10–20

| Ovenden

| 900

Fourth round

The 20 winners of the previous round were joined by an additional 12 clubs from the Super League. Matches were played on 14–15 February 1998, with the replay being played on 18 February 1998.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

!Attendance

1

| Egremont Rangers

| 18–0

| Workington Town

| 3,054

2

| Barrow

| 22–36

| Widnes Vikings

| 2,415

3

| Lancashire Lynx

| 28–28

| Dewsbury Rams

| 756

Replay

| Dewsbury Rams

| 31–14

| Lancashire Lynx

| 850

4

| Halifax Blue Sox

| 28–8

| Huddersfield Giants

| 5,862

5

| Leeds Rhinos

| 12–15

| Castleford Tigers

| 7,067

6

| Batley Bulldogs

| 20–44

| London Broncos

| 956

7

| Leigh Centurions

| 11–66

| Sheffield Eagles

| 1,391

8

| Wakefield Trinity

| 6–42

| Warrington Wolves

| 2,844

9

| Featherstone Lions

| 20–56

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 1,913

10

| Ellenborough Rangers

| 14–12

| Hunslet Hawks

| 1,338

11

| Rochdale Hornets

| 10–48

| Bradford Bulls

| 5,466

12

| Swinton Lions

| 39–21

| York

| 780

13

| Ovenden

| 0–74

| Salford Reds

| 1,415

14

| Whitehaven Warriors

| 12–26

| Hull Sharks

| 2,030

15

| Keighley Cougars

| 0–76

| Wigan Warriors

| 4,700

16

| Featherstone Rovers

| 24–56

| St. Helens

| 2,759

Fifth round

Matches were played on 28 February and 1 March 1998.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

!Attendance

1

| Hull Sharks

| 78–0

| Ellenborough Rangers

| 3,013

2

| Dewsbury Rams

| 0–56

| Wigan Warriors

| 3,350

3

| Widnes Vikings

| 6–48

| Salford Reds

| 5,000

4

| St. Helens

| 35–22

| Warrington Wolves

| 8,499

5

| London Broncos

| 21–18

| Halifax Blue Sox

| 3,092

6

| Sheffield Eagles

| 84–6

| Egremont Rangers

| 2,500

7

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 46–24

| Swinton Lions

| 2,551

8

| Castleford Tigers

| 26–21

| Bradford Bulls

| 10,283

Quarter finals

Matches were played on 14–15 March 1998.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Tie no

!Home team

!Score

!Away team

!Attendance

1

| London Broncos

| 46–18

| Hull Kingston Rovers

| 4,111

2

| Salford Reds

| 41–10

| Hull Sharks

| 6,210

3

| Castleford Tigers

| 22–32

| Sheffield Eagles

| 7,467

4

| Wigan Warriors

| 22–10

| St. Helens

| 17,179

Semi finals

The semi finals were played at neutral venues on 28 and 29 March 1998. Sheffield Eagles won 22–18 against Salford Reds, reaching the Challenge Cup final for the first time in their history, but the match was overshadowed when a man invaded the pitch and attacked referee Stuart Cummings immediately after the end of the game.{{cite web|title=Violence mars weekend sport|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/71117.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=27 January 2014|date=29 March 1998}} Wigan Warriors won 38–8 in a one-sided game against London Broncos.

{{rugbyleaguebox

| date = 28 March 1998

| time =

| team1 = Sheffield Eagles

| score = 22 – 18

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/challenge-cup-1998/semi-final/sheffield-eagles-vs-salford/summary.html Report]

| team2 = Salford Reds

| points1 = Tries: Taewa, Jackson, Aston, Laughton
Goals: Aston (3)

| points2 = Tries: Rogers, White, Edwards
Goals: Blakeley (2)
Drop goals: Crompton, Blakeley

| stadium = Headingley, Leeds

| attendance = 6,961

| referee = Stuart Cummings

| manofmatch =

}}

----

{{rugbyleaguebox

| date = 29 March 1998

| time =

| team1 = London Broncos

| score = 8 – 38

| report = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/competitions/challenge-cup-1998/semi-final/london-vs-wigan/summary.html Report]

| team2 = Wigan Warriors

| points1 = Tries: Fatnowna, Mardon

| points2 = Tries: Moore (2), Radlinski (2), Bell, Robinson
Goals: Farrell (7)

| stadium = Alfred McAlpine Stadium, Huddersfield

| attendance = 11,058

| referee = Russell Smith

| manofmatch =

}}

Final

{{rugbyleaguebox

| date = 2 May 1998

| time =

| team1 = Sheffield Eagles

| score = 17 – 8

| report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_league/87046.stm Report]

| team2 = Wigan Warriors

| points1 = Tries: Pinkney, Crowther, Turner
Goals: Aston (2)
Drop goals: Aston

| points2 = Tries: Bell
Goals: Farrell (2)

| stadium = Wembley Stadium, London

| attendance = 60,669

| referee = Stuart Cummings

| manofmatch =

}}

width="100%"

|valign="top" width="50%"|

{| style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"

width="25"|width="25"|
FB1Waisale Sovatabua
RW2Nick Pinkney
RC3Whetu Taewa
LC4Keith Senior
LW6Matt Crowther
SO22Dave Watson
SH7Mark Aston
PR8Paul Broadbent (c)
HK9Johnny Lawless
PR10Dale Laughton
SR11Paul Carr
SR12Darren Shaw
LF19Rod Doyle
colspan=3|Substitutions:
IC24Martin Wood
IC25Lynton Stott
IC15Darren Turner
IC17Michael Jackson
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"| John Kear

|valign="top" width="50%"|

style="font-size: 90%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"
width="25"|width="25"|
FB1Kris Radlinski
RW5Mark Bell
RC4Gary Connolly
LC3Danny Moore
LW2Jason Robinson
SO6Henry Paul
SH7Tony Smith
PR10Tony Mestrov
HK9Robbie McCormack
PR17Stephen Holgate
SR11Denis Betts
SR12Simon Haughton
LF13Andy Farrell (c)
colspan=3|Substitutions:
IC8Neil Cowie
IC20Lee Gilmour
IC16Terry O'Connor
IC14Mick Cassidy
colspan=3|Coach:
colspan="4"| John Monie

|}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.thechallengecup.com/ Challenge Cup official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122043124/http://www.thechallengecup.com/ |date=2014-01-22 }}

{{Sheffield Eagles - 1998 Challenge Cup Final winners}}

{{Sheffield Eagles}}

{{Challenge Cup}}

{{1998 in rugby league}}

Category:Challenge Cup

Challenge Cup

Category:1998 in Irish sport