1998 Challenge Cup


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. The Lance Todd Trophy was won by Mark Aston.

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. Additionally, Dublin Blues became the first ever Irish team to take part in the cup. Matches were played on 5–6 December 1997, with the replay being played on 13 December 1997.

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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway team
1Charleston8–34Saddleworth Rangers
2Eastmoor Dragons40–8Leeds University
3Worth Village4–52Thornhill
4Moldgreen22–20Siddal
5Redhill14–19Castleford Lock Lane
6Folly Lane37–14Askam
7Hunslet Warriors14–6Millom
8BRK20–18Leigh East
9Walney Central12–12Leigh Miners Rangers
ReplayLeigh Miners Rangers46–4Walney Central
10Woolston Rovers22–0Oldham St Annes
11Haydock11–0Waterhead
12Stanningley10–37Farnworth
13Wigan Rose Bridge8–37West Hull
14Myton Warriors0–52Norland
15Ellenborough Rangers28–22Queensbury
16Dudley Hill14–42Skirlaugh Bulls
17Queens42–18Beverley
18Heworth12–4Clayton
19Ovenden30–22Wigan St Patricks
20Dewsbury Moor8–27Oulton Raiders
21Rochdale Mayfield4–28Featherstone Lions
22Egremont Rangers22–12Hull 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 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. The match took place on 18 January 1998.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Oldham R.L.F.C.36–14Heworth2,943

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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Keighley Cougars66–16Saddleworth Rangers3,116
2York37–5Norland965
3Rochdale Hornets44–4Leigh Miners Rangers737
4Doncaster Dragons18–23Featherstone Lions1,012
5Wakefield Trinity44–6BRK1,369
6Swinton Lions74–6Folly Lane2,425
7Widnes Vikings48–8Oldham R.L.F.C.4,500
8Dewsbury Rams40–2Thornhill2,355
9Hull Kingston Rovers34–16Queens1,584
10Lancashire Lynx46–0West Hull488
11Workington Town12–8Haydock1,139
12Bramley10–16Ellenborough Rangers500
13Featherstone Rovers56–0Woolston Rovers1,126
14Batley Bulldogs44–2Oulton Raiders849
15Hunslet Hawks44–12Skirlaugh Bulls830
16Barrow52–8Farnworth927
17Leigh Centurions44–4Hunslet Warriors1,259
18Whitehaven Warriors48–7Castleford Lock Lane830
19Eastmoor Dragons14–20Egremont Rangers600
20Mold Green10–20Ovenden900

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.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Egremont Rangers18–0Workington Town3,054
2Barrow22–36Widnes Vikings2,415
3Lancashire Lynx28–28Dewsbury Rams756
ReplayDewsbury Rams31–14Lancashire Lynx850
4Halifax Blue Sox28–8Huddersfield Giants5,862
5Leeds Rhinos12–15Castleford Tigers7,067
6Batley Bulldogs20–44London Broncos956
7Leigh Centurions11–66Sheffield Eagles1,391
8Wakefield Trinity6–42Warrington Wolves2,844
9Featherstone Lions20–56Hull Kingston Rovers1,913
10Ellenborough Rangers14–12Hunslet Hawks1,338
11Rochdale Hornets10–48Bradford Bulls5,466
12Swinton Lions39–21York780
13Ovenden0–74Salford Reds1,415
14Whitehaven Warriors12–26Hull Sharks2,030
15Keighley Cougars0–76Wigan Warriors4,700
16Featherstone Rovers24–56St. Helens2,759

Fifth round

Matches were played on 28 February and 1 March 1998.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Hull Sharks78–0Ellenborough Rangers3,013
2Dewsbury Rams0–56Wigan Warriors3,350
3Widnes Vikings6–48Salford Reds5,000
4St. Helens35–22Warrington Wolves8,499
5London Broncos21–18Halifax Blue Sox3,092
6Sheffield Eagles84–6Egremont Rangers2,500
7Hull Kingston Rovers46–24Swinton Lions2,551
8Castleford Tigers26–21Bradford Bulls10,283

Quarter final

Matches were played on 14–15 March 1998.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1London Broncos46–18Hull Kingston Rovers4,111
2Salford Reds41–10Hull Sharks6,210
3Castleford Tigers22–32Sheffield Eagles7,467
4Wigan Warriors22–10St. Helens17,179

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. Wigan Warriors won 38–8 in a one-sided game against London Broncos.
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Final