The 2014 Challenge Cup (also known as the Tetley's Challenge Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons) was the 113th staging of the rugby league tournament.

2014 Tetley's Challenge Cup
2014 Challenge Cup
Leeds Rhinos celebrating their 2014 Challenge Cup victory
Duration8 Rounds
Number of teams81
Highest attendance77,914
Castleford Tigers vs Leeds Rhinos (Final)
Lowest attendance213
South Wales Scorpions vs Hemel Stags (3rd Round)
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Winners Leeds Rhinos
Runners-up Castleford Tigers
Lance Todd Trophy Ryan Hall

The defending champions Wigan Warriors were knocked out in the quarter finals 4 - 16 at home to the Castleford Tigers, who went on to make the final, but lost 10 - 23 to the Leeds Rhinos.[2]

First round

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The draw for the first round of the 2014 Challenge Cup was held on 8 January 2014 and broadcast live from the studios of BBC Radio Humberside by current Hull F.C. prop forward Chris Green and former player Shaun Briscoe.[3]

The first round took place on the weekend of 1 and 2 February 2014, although three fixtures did not take place until the following Saturday - 8 February 2014.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hull Dockers 76 – 0 Bristol Sonics 1 February 2014 The Willows Club G Dolan
Lock Lane 14 – 15 Normanton Knights 1 February 2014 Lock Lane Sports Centre T Grant
Woolston Rovers 6 – 20 Elland RLFC 1 February 2014 Monk Sports Club J Callaghan
Wath Brow Hornets 18 – 0 Halton Simms Cross 1 February 2014 Trumpet Road J Smith
York Acorn 12 – 16 Siddal 1 February 2014 Acorn Sports & Social Club S Race
Pilkington Recs 46 – 4 Aberdeen Warriors 1 February 2014 Ruskin Park L Moore
Widnes St Maries 16 – 42 Wigan St Patricks 1 February 2014 Select Security Stadium I Scott
South West London Chargers 12 – 6 Torfaen Tigers 1 February 2014 Dukes Meadow, Chiswick RUFC C Kay
Myton Warriors 24 – 22 East Hull 1 February 2014 Marist Sporting Club B Robinson
Royal Navy 4 – 24 Walney Central 1 February 2014 United Services Sports Ground A Fazackerley
Askam RLFC 8 – 12 British Army 1 February 2014 Fallowfield Park C Campbell
Royal Air Force 38 – 10 Dewsbury Celtic 1 February 2014 RAF Cranwell A Tolley
Skirlaugh Bulls 10 – 16 Rochdale Mayfield 1 February 2014 Eastside Community Sports Club C Straw
Kells 24 – 16 Wigan St Judes 1 February 2014 Old Arrowthwaite A Bentham
Leigh Miners Rangers 12 – 10 Hunslet Warriors 1 February 2014 Leigh Miners Welfare Sports Club S Mikalauskas
Blackbrook Royals 4 – 10 Egremont Rangers 1 February 2014 Blackbrook Sports & Recreation Club T Hudson
Leeds Metropolitan University 44 – 16 Millom RLFC 1 February 2014 Beckett Park R Thompson
Underbank Rangers 30 – 34 East Leeds 1 February 2014 The Cross Grounds M Mannifield
Loughborough University 24 – 38 British Police 2 February 2014 Epinal Way R Webb
Saddleworth Rangers 18 – 28 Milford Marlins 8 February 2014 Shaw Hall Bank Road J McMullen
Oulton Raiders 16 – 22 West Hull 8 February 2014 Oulton Community Sports Club G Evans
Shaw Cross Sharks 13 – 16 Thatto Heath Crusaders 8 February 2014 Shaw Cross Club J Roberts
Source:[4][5]

Second round

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The draw for the second round took place on 6 February 2014 and was drawn by former Wigan Warriors player Kris Radlinski and the owner of Salford Red Devils, Marwan Koukash.[6]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
East Leeds 28 – 16 Leeds Metropolitan University 22 February 2014, 14:00 Richmond Hill S Mikalauskas
Hull Dockers 42 – 8 Siddal 22 February 2014, 14:00 The Willows Club T Grant
Normanton Knights 44 – 10 Royal Air Force 22 February 2014, 14:00 Queen Elizabeth Drive C Campbell
Pilkington Recs 38 – 0 Myton Warriors 22 February 2014, 14:00 Ruskin Park T Hudson
South West London Chargers 6 – 24 Milford Marlins 22 February 2014, 14:00 Dukes Meadow, Chiswick RUFC A Bentham
Walney Central 16 – 28 Egremont Rangers 22 February 2014, 14:00 The Old Police House, Central Drive J Roberts
Wath Brow Hornets 12 – 6 Elland RLFC 22 February 2014, 14:00 Trumpet Road J Callaghan
West Hull 28 – 18 Thatto Heath Crusaders 22 February 2014, 14:00 West Hull Community Park I Scott
Kells 26 – 12 Leigh Miners Rangers 22 February 2014, 14:30 Old Arrowthwaite L Moore
Rochdale Mayfield 28 – 36 Wigan St Patricks 22 February 2014, 14:30 Mayfield Sports Centre C Straw
British Police 30 – 34 British Army 23 February 2014, 14:00 Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley ARLFC S Race
Source:[7][8]

Third round

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The draw for the third round took place on 24 February 2014 and was made at the University of Gloucestershire's Park Campus in Cheltenham by the university's pro vice-chancellor Maxine Melling and Kevan Blackadder, the editor of the Gloucestershire Echo.[9]

The third-round fixtures were drawn from two pools. Pool A comprised the 14 Championship teams plus four Championship 1 teams drawn at random. From this pool two teams were drawn and awarded a bye into the fourth round, the two teams drawn were Featherstone Rovers and London Skolars. The need to award byes came from the decision by the French teams invited into the competition to withdraw at a late stage.[10]

The remaining five Championship 1 sides and the 11 winners of second-round matches formed Pool B. All the third round fixtures comprised a team from Pool A vs a team from Pool B. The team with home advantage was also determined randomly for each fixture.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
  Leigh Centurions 74 – 6 Wigan St Patricks 14 March 2014, 19:30 Leigh Sports Village M Woodhead 994
  Batley Bulldogs 52 – 4 Kells 15 March 2014, 14:00 LoveRugbyLeague.com Stadium J Bloem 365
Normanton Knights 12 – 38   Workington Town 15 March 2014, 14:00 The Big Fellas Stadium P Brooke 713
  Keighley Cougars 42 – 0 Wath Brow Hornets 15 March 2014, 15:00 Cougar Park D Sharpe 488
Egremont Rangers 24 – 42   Oldham 15 March 2014, 15:00 Copeland Stadium A Sweet 340
Milford Marlins 10 – 18   Barrow Raiders 16 March 2014, 14:00 Headingley Carnegie Stadium C Campbell 1,000
  Sheffield Eagles 54 – 0 East Leeds 16 March 2014, 14:00 Owlerton Stadium D Merrick 619
Hull Dockers 6 – 70   Halifax 16 March 2014, 14:00 KC Lightstream Stadium T Grant 600
  North Wales Crusaders 58 – 18 Pilkington Recs 16 March 2014, 14:00 Glyndŵr University Racecourse Ground J Callaghan 544
  Rochdale Hornets 76 – 4   Gloucestershire All Golds 16 March 2014, 15:00 Spotland Stadium J Cobb 307
  Dewsbury Rams 76 – 10 West Hull 16 March 2014, 15:00 Tetley's Stadium A Gill 433
British Army 12 – 62   Doncaster 16 March 2014, 15:00 Aldershot Military Stadium C Kendall 357
  South Wales Scorpions 12 – 38   Hemel Stags 16 March 2014, 15:00 Llynfi Road, Maesteg W Turley 213
  York City Knights 34 – 32   Whitehaven 16 March 2014, 15:00 Huntington Stadium T Crashley 403
  Swinton Lions 66 – 6   Gateshead Thunder 16 March 2014, 15:00 Leigh Sports Village G Hewer 249
  Hunslet Hawks 68 – 6   Oxford Rugby League 16 March 2014, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium M Thomason 278
Source:[11][12]

Fourth round

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The draw for the fourth round took take place at 3:45 pm on 18 March 2014 from Quay House, MediaCityUK, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Leeds and BBC Radio Humberside. The fourth round saw the entry of the 14 First Utility Super League clubs, including holders Wigan Warriors, who joined the 16 winners of the third-round ties along with Featherstone Rovers and London Skolars, who received byes in the third round.

The home teams were drawn by the Mayor of Wigan, Councillor Billy Rotherham; the away teams by David Barker, representing sponsors Tetley's.[13]

The fourth round of the Tetley's Challenge Cup was played over April 3–6.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
  Hull F.C. 36 – 37   Salford Red Devils 3 April 2014, 20:00 KC Stadium B Thaler 5,963
  Dewsbury Rams 6 – 58   Wigan Warriors 4 April 2014, 20:00 Tetley's Stadium J Cobb 3,054
  Catalans Dragons 40 – 24   London Broncos 4 April 2014, 20:00 Stade Gilbert Brutus R Hicks 3,834
  Sheffield Eagles 70 – 28   London Skolars 5 April 2014, 14:00 Owlerton Stadium P Brooke 505
  Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 6 – 60   Leeds Rhinos 6 April 2014, 14:00 Rapid Solicitors Stadium J Child 4,482
  Rochdale Hornets 22 – 28   Leigh Centurions 6 April 2014, 14:00 Spotland Stadium D Sharpe 1,007
  Batley Bulldogs 10 – 48   Castleford Tigers 6 April 2014, 14:00 LoveRugbyLeague.comStadium G Stokes 2,482
  Doncaster 68 – 18   Hemel Stags 6 April 2014, 14:00 Keepmoat Stadium C Kendall 348
  Keighley Cougars 54 – 28   Barrow Raiders 6 April 2014, 14:00 Cougar Park D Merrick 823
  Featherstone Rovers 66 – 0   North Wales Crusaders 6 April 2014, 14:00 The Big Fellas Stadium G Hewer 1,312
  Hull Kingston Rovers 24 – 28   Warrington Wolves 6 April 2014, 14:00 KC Lightstream Stadium R Silverwood 4,911
  Bradford Bulls 60 – 6   Oldham 6 April 2014, 14:00 Provident Stadium C Leatherbarrow 2,788
  Hunslet Hawks 27 – 10   Workington Town 6 April 2014, 14:00 South Leeds Stadium W Turley 504
  Halifax 10 – 34   Widnes Vikings 6 April 2014, 14:00 The Shay M Thomason 2,271
  Swinton Lions 31 – 28   York City Knights 6 April 2014, 14:00 Leigh Sports Village J Bloem 427
  Huddersfield Giants 16 – 17   St. Helens 6 April 2014, 14:15 John Smith's Stadium P Bentham 7,150
Source:[14][15]

Fifth round

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The fifth round draw took place live on BBC TV after the end of the 4th round match between Huddersfield Giants and St Helens. Home teams were drawn by Alex Murphy and away teams by Garry Schofield. Fixtures were played over the weekend of 26–27 April 2014. BBC TV broadcast the game between Leeds Rhinos and St Helens on Saturday 26 April.[16]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
  Leeds Rhinos 32 – 12   St. Helens 26 April 2014, 14:30 Headingley Carnegie Stadium R Silverwood 12,194
  Swinton Lions 20 – 33   Keighley Cougars 26 April 2014, 15:00 Leigh Sports Village T Roby 465
  Wigan Warriors 52 – 8   Hunslet Hawks 27 April 2014, 15:00 DW Stadium G Stokes 4,390
  Leigh Centurions 26 – 16   Featherstone Rovers 27 April 2014, 15:00 Leigh Sports Village B Thaler 3,664
  Bradford Bulls 33 – 20   Catalans Dragons 27 April 2014, 15:00 Provident Stadium J Child 2,341
  Salford Red Devils 20 – 30   Widnes Vikings 27 April 2014, 15:00 AJ Bell Stadium P Bentham 2,630
  Warrington Wolves 68 – 0   Doncaster 27 April 2014, 15:00 Halliwell Jones Stadium M Thomason 3,002
  Castleford Tigers 60 – 16   Sheffield Eagles 27 April 2014, 15:30 The Mend A Hose Jungle R Hicks 4,648
Source:[17]

Quarter-finals

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The draw for the quarter-finals was held on Monday 28 April 2014 at 18:30 and televised on the BBC News channel. The home teams were drawn by Jason Robinson and the away teams by Paul Sculthorpe. Ties were played between June 5–8, 2014.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
  Widnes Vikings 56 – 6   Keighley Cougars 5 June 2014, 20:00 Select Security Stadium J Child 5,252
  Leeds Rhinos 25 – 12   Leigh Centurions 6 June 2014, 20:00 Headingley Carnegie Stadium B Thaler 7,145
  Wigan Warriors 4 – 16   Castleford Tigers 7 June 2014, 14:30 DW Stadium R Silverwood 8,736
  Bradford Bulls 10 – 46   Warrington Wolves 8 June 2014, 15:30 Provident Stadium P Bentham 5,046
Source:[18][19]

Semi-finals

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The draw for the semi-finals was held on Sunday 8 June 2014 following the Bradford/Warrington game, which was televised on BBC Two. The draw was conducted by Eorl Crabtree and Brian Noble. The ties were played on the weekend of 9–10 August 2014.

[20]

9 August 2014
14:30
Leeds Rhinos 24 – 16 Warrington Wolves
Langtree Park
Attendance: 12,132
Referee: Phil Bentham

10 August 2014
15:00
Widnes Vikings 6 – 28 Castleford Tigers
Leigh Sports Village
Attendance: 12,005
Referee: Richard Silverwood

Final

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Leeds and Castleford battle it out in the final.

The final of the 2014 Challenge Cup took place on 23 August 2014 at Wembley Stadium[21] with the match kicking off at 15:00 BST. The match was shown live on BBC One. Leeds Rhinos won the game 23–10.

23 August
15:00 BST
  Castleford Tigers 10 – 23   Leeds Rhinos
Tries
Clark 1
Holmes 1
Goals
Finn 1
Tries
2 Hall
1 Briscoe
1 McGuire
Goals
3 Sinfield
Field Goal
1 McGuire
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 77,914
Referee: Phil Bentham
Player of the Match: Hall (Leeds Rhinos)

Teams

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Castleford Tigers: Luke Dorn; Kirk Dixon, Jake Webster, Michael Shenton, Justin Carney; Marc Sneyd, Liam Finn; Andy Lynch, Daryl Clark, Craig Huby, Oliver Holmes, Weller Hauraki, Nathan Massey. Substitutes: Frankie Mariano, Scott Wheeldon, Jamie Ellis, Lee Jewitt.

Leeds Rhinos: Zak Hardaker; Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall; Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire; Kylie Leuluai, Rob Burrow, Jamie Peacock, Brett Delaney, Carl Ablett, Jamie Jones-Buchanan. Substitutes: Paul Aiton, Ryan Bailey, Ian Kirke, Liam Sutcliffe.

UK Broadcasting rights

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The tournament was jointly televised by the BBC and Sky Sports on the third of their five-year contracts. The BBC screened, live, one match from each of the fourth and fifth rounds, two from the quarter-finals, both semi-finals and the final. Sky screened the two quarter-final games not being shown by the BBC.

Round Live match Date BBC channel
Fourth round Huddersfield Giants 16-17 St. Helens April 6, 2014 BBC Two
Fifth round Leeds Rhinos 32 - 12 St. Helens April 26, 2014 BBC One
Quarter finals Wigan Warriors 4 - 16 Castleford Tigers
Bradford Bulls 10 - 46 Warrington Wolves
June 7, 2014
June 8, 2014
BBC One
BBC Two
Semi finals Leeds Rhinos 24 - 16 Warrington Wolves
Widnes Vikings 6 - 22 Castleford Tigers
August 9, 2014
August 10, 2014
Final Castleford Tigers 10 - 23 Leeds Rhinos August 23 BBC One

Sky Sports televised the other two quarter final matches live. The first was Widnes Vikings and Keighley Cougars and the second was Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Centurions

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References

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  1. ^ "Challenge Cup: Tetley's announced as new sponsor". BBC Sport. 22 January 2013. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  2. ^ "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
  3. ^ "Tetley's Challenge Cup draw produces compelling ties". Rugby Football League. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-16.
  4. ^ "Results - Challenge Cup - Rugby League - BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
  5. ^ "Results". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Challenge Cup second round draw". 7 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Results - Challenge Cup - Rugby League - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  8. ^ "Results". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 9 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  9. ^ "Challenge Cup third round draw". 23 February 2014. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  10. ^ "Challenge Cup third round draw". loverugbyleage. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  11. ^ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2906. 17 March 2014. p. 39.
  12. ^ "Results". Rugby Football League. Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
  13. ^ "Challenge Cup fourth round draw". 14 March 2014. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
  14. ^ "Results - Challenge Cup - Rugby League - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  15. ^ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2909. 7 April 2014. p. 39.
  16. ^ "Rhinos and Saints to take centre stage". Rugby Football League. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 2015-02-23. Retrieved 2014-04-08.
  17. ^ "Results - Challenge Cup - Rugby League - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  18. ^ "Challenge Cup Results - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  19. ^ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2918. 9 June 2014. p. 35.
  20. ^ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2927. 11 August 2014. p. 35.
  21. ^ "2014 Round Schedule". RFL. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.