2015 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Number of teams78
Highest attendance80,140
Leeds v Hull Kingston Rovers (Final)
Lowest attendance87
Gloucestershire v Skirlaugh (3rd round)
Broadcast partnersBBC Sport
Sky Sports
Winners Leeds Rhinos
Runners-up Hull Kingston Rovers
Lance Todd Trophy Tom Briscoe

The 2015 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup[1] for sponsorship reasons) was the 114th staging of the rugby league tournament for teams in the Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.

The defending champions Leeds Rhinos[2] retained the trophy beating Hull Kingston Rovers 50–0 at Wembley Stadium on 29 August 2015.[3]

First round

The draw for the first round of the 2015 Challenge Cup was held on 8 January 2015 at Wembley Stadium and featured 40 amateur teams from around the United Kingdom including two student teams, all three armed services and the police. Home teams were drawn by Martin Offiah and the away teams drawn by Brian Noble.

Fixtures for the first round were mostly played over the weekend of the 31 January – 1 February 2015.[4] Three fixtures were postponed until the following weekend due to bad weather forcing the postponement on the original date.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
British Army 8 – 20 Wath Brow Hornets Saturday 31 January 2015, 13:30 Aldershot Military Stadium L Staveley
Royal Air Force 0 – 48 Siddal Saturday 31 January 2015, 13:30 RAF Cranwell J Smith
Walney Central 28 – 8 Hunslet Parkside Saturday 31 January 2015, 13:30 Central Drive R Webb
Loughborough University 16 – 42 Hunslet Warriors Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Loughborough University C Hancock
Oulton Raiders 60 – 6 Scarborough Pirates Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Oulton Community Sports Club C Straw
Normanton Knights 34 – 16 Myton Warriors Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Queen Elizabeth Drive L Moore
Royal Navy 32 – 14 Saddleworth Rangers Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 United Services Recreation Ground J Stearne
East Leeds 12 – 20 Kells Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Easy Road B Pearson
Egremont Rangers 28 – 0 Wigan St Judes Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Gillfoot Park J Callaghan
Widnes West Bank 14 – 10 South West London Chargers Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Ted Gleave Sports Ground A Mulligan
Hull Dockers 10 – 6 Leigh Miners Rangers Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 The Willows Club M Mannifield
Elland RLFC 26 – 0 Leeds Beckett University Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Greetland Community Centre T Hudson
Lock Lane 64 – 0 Sharlston Rovers Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Hickson's Arena A Bentham
Skirlaugh Bulls 27 – 20 Aberdeen Warriors Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 Eastside Community S&S Club S Race
West Hull 14 – 12 Thatto Heath Crusaders Saturday 31 January 2015, 14:00 West Hull Community Park G Dolan
Valley Cougars 27 – 22 Leicester Storm Sunday 1 February 2015, 14:00 Treharris RFC J Jones
Great Britain Police 0 – 38 Rochdale Mayfield Sunday 1 February 2015, 14:30 Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley T Grant
Nottingham Outlaws 4 – 50 Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C. Saturday 7 February 2015, 13:30 Nottingham University Sports Field C Etchells
Featherstone Lions 46 – 10 Queens RLFC Saturday 7 February 2015, 13:30 The Mill Pond Stadium S Ansell
Shaw Cross Sharks 18 – 16 York Acorn Saturday 7 February 2015, 14:00 Shaw Cross Club S Race
Source:[5]

Second round

The draw for the second round was made on Monday 2 February at the Oulton Raiders club. The draw was made by two players who played in the 2014 final. Home teams were drawn by players Ryan Hall of Leeds Rhinos and away teams by Oliver Holmes of Castleford Tigers.[6]

Following the conclusion of the first round ties; two clubs, Rochdale Mayfield and Hull Dockers, were reported to the Rugby Football League's Operational Rules Tribunal for each fielding an ineligible player. The Tribunal found both clubs guilty of the offence and disqualified them from the competition. The teams they defeated in the first round, Great Britain Police and Leigh Miners Rangers, were reinstated into the cup and played in the second round.[7]

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Skirlaugh 30 – 16 Royal Navy 14 February 2015, 13:00 Eastside Community S&S Club J Jones
Siddal 12 – 31 Featherstone Lions 14 February 2015, 13:30 Brighouse Rangers RFC L Moore
Hunslet Warriors 8 – 24 West Hull 14 February 2015, 14:00 The Oval B Pearson
Wath Brow Hornets 27 – 12 Lock Lane 14 February 2015, 14:00 Trumpet Road S Race
Leigh Miners Rangers 26 – 18 Walney Central 14 February 2015, 14:00 Leigh Miners Welfare S&S Club A Mulligan
Kells 52 – 6 Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C. 14 February 2015, 14:00 Old Arrowthwaite M Mannifield
Elland RLFC 16 – 4 Egremont Rangers 14 February 2015, 14:00 Greetland Community Centre G Dolan
Oulton Raiders 48 – 0 Valley Cougars 14 February 2015, 14:00 Oulton Community Sports Club J Smith
Widnes West Bank 38 – 16 Great Britain Police 14 February 2015, 14:00 Ted Gleave Sports Ground J Callaghan
Normanton Knights 12 – 4 Shaw Cross Sharks 14 February 2015, 14:00 Queen Elizabeth Drive L Staveley
Source:[8]

Third round

The draw for the third round was made on 17 February 2015 at Heritage Quay, University of Huddersfield. Round three saw the 14 Kingstone Press League 1 professional teams joining the competition to create a pool of 24 teams for the draw. The draw was made by previous Lance Todd Trophy winners Alex Murphy and Mal Reilly. Ties were played over the weekend of 7/8 March 2015.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Elland ARLFC 14 – 26 Featherstone Lions 7 March 2015, 14:00 Greetland Community Centre S Mikalauskas 350
Wath Brow Hornets ARLFC 4 – 26 Newcastle Thunder 7 March 2015, 14:00 The Clubhouse W Turley 400
Oulton Raiders 8 – 34 Normanton Knights 7 March 2015, 14:00 Oulton Community Sports Club J McMullen 1,200
Leigh Miners Rangers 32 – 28 West Hull 7 March 2015, 14:30 Leigh Miners Welfare S&S Club J Smith 350
London Skolars 4 – 86 Swinton Lions 7 March 2015, 15:00 New River Stadium A Gill 165
Kells 12 – 29 Rochdale Hornets 7 March 2015, 17:00 Recreation Ground (Whitehaven) T Grant 587
Barrow Raiders 36 – 22 Keighley Cougars 8 March 2015, 14:00 Craven Park G Hewer 929
South Wales Scorpions 4 – 20 York City Knights 8 March 2015, 14:00 Parc Dyffryn Pennar, Mountain Ash C Campbell 247
North Wales Crusaders 60 – 12 Widnes West Bank 8 March 2015, 14:30 Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium D Merrick 523
Hemel Stags 10 – 22 Oxford Rugby League 8 March 2015, 14:30 Pennine Way A Sweet 125
Oldham R.L.F.C. 46 – 6 Coventry Bears 8 March 2015, 15:00 Whitebank Stadium T Crashley 256
Gloucestershire All Golds 66 – 4 Skirlaugh 8 March 2015, 14:30 Prince of Wales Stadium J Roberts 87
Source:[9][10]

Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made on 10 March 2015 at the Provident Stadium, home of the Bradford Bulls. The draw was made by Leeds Rhinos' Jamie Peacock and Hull FC's Leon Pryce. The 12 winners of the third round ties were joined by the 12 Kingstone Press Championship teams. Ties were played over the weekend of 21/22 March 2015.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Featherstone Lions 8 – 58 York City Knights 20 March 2015, 20:00 Big Fellas Stadium S Mikalauskas 1,200
Leigh Centurions 64 – 12 London Broncos 20 March 2015, 20:00 Leigh Sports Village M Woodhead 2,448
Normanton Knights 6 – 78 Batley Bulldogs 21 March 2015, 14:00 Belle Vue A Gill 851
Leigh Miners Rangers 32 – 6 Oxford Rugby League 21 March 2015, 14:30 Leigh Sports Village C Campbell 787
Whitehaven 12 – 36 Featherstone Rovers 21 March 2015, 17:30 Recreation Ground C Kendall 525
Barrow Raiders 16 – 56 Halifax 22 March 2015, 14:00 Craven Park T Crashley 956
North Wales Crusaders 40 – 12 Doncaster 22 March 2015, 14:30 Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium W Turley 416
Dewsbury Rams 28 – 18 Newcastle Thunder 22 March 2015, 15:00 Tetley's Stadium D Merrick 703
Bradford Bulls 74 – 6 Workington Town 22 March 2015, 15:00 Provident Stadium C Leatherbarrow 2,412
Swinton Lions 30 – 12 Rochdale Hornets 22 March 2015, 15:00 Park Lane, Sedgley Park J Bloem 300
Sheffield Eagles 44 – 20 Oldham R.L.F.C. 22 March 2015, 15:00 Keepmoat Stadium A Sweet 484
Gloucestershire All Golds 10 – 28 Hunslet Hawks 22 March 2015, 15:00 Prince of Wales Stadium J Roberts 137
Source:[11][12]

Fifth round

The draw for the fifth round was made on Tuesday 24 March 2015 in Hull. The four clubs who finished the 2014 Super League season in 9th to 12th places; Hull Kingston Rovers, Salford Red Devils, Hull F.C. and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats respectively; joined the 12 winners from the fourth round in the draw. The draw was made by ex-players Johnny Whiteley (home teams) and Phil Lowe (away teams). Ties were played over the weekend 17–19 April.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 44 – 16 Halifax 17 April 2015, 19:30 BST Belle Vue J Cobb 2,062
Leigh Centurions 22 – 18 Salford Red Devils 18 April 2015, 14:35 BST Leigh Sports Village P Bentham 6,358
Leigh Miners Rangers 14 – 44 York City Knights 19 April 2015, 14:00 BST Leigh Sports Village G Hewer 1,191
North Wales Crusaders 12 – 38 Featherstone Rovers 19 April 2015, 14:30 BST Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium D Merrick 617
Hunslet Hawks 16 – 31 Dewsbury Rams 19 April 2015, 15:00 BST South Leeds Stadium C Leatherbarrow 536
Bradford Bulls 30 – 50 Hull Kingston Rovers 19 April 2015, 15:00 BST Provident Stadium M Thomason 4,538
Sheffield Eagles 12 – 34 Hull F.C. 19 April 2015, 15:00 BST Bramall Lane G Stokes 1,620
Batley Bulldogs 46 – 14 Swinton Lions 19 April 2015, 15:00 BST Fox's Biscuits Stadium C Kendall 443
Source:[13][14]

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round took place live on Sportsday on the BBC News channel on 20 April. The eight winners from this weekend's fifth round ties joined with the top eight First Utility Super League teams from 2014 in the draw to produce eight ties that will be played over the weekend of May 16–17. Home teams were drawn by Shaun Edwards and the away teams by Nathan McAvoy.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Dewsbury Rams 10 – 52 Warrington Wolves 15 May 2015, 20:00 BST Tetley's Stadium M Thomason 1,771
St. Helens 46 – 6 York City Knights 15 May 2015, 20:00 BST Langtree Park C Leatherbarrow 3,241
Wigan Warriors 12 – 16 Hull Kingston Rovers 15 May 2015, 20:05 BST Leigh Sports Village R Silverwood 4,677
Leeds Rhinos 48 – 16 Huddersfield Giants 16 May 2015, 14:30 BST Headingley Carnegie Stadium P Bentham[lower-alpha 1] 8,133
Hull F.C. 40 – 14 Castleford Tigers 16 May 2015, 15:00 BST KC Stadium J Child 6,750
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 30 – 36 Leigh Centurions 17 May 2015, 14:15 BST Belle Vue B Thaler 3,859
Widnes Vikings 26 – 22 Batley Bulldogs 17 May 2015, 15:30 BST Select Security Stadium J Cobb 3,866
Catalans Dragons 37 – 34 Featherstone Rovers 17 May 2015, 18:00 BST Stade Gilbert Brutus R Hicks 1,300
Source:[9][15]

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made live on BBC Two on 17 May after the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats v Leigh Centurions game. The four ties that will be played over 25–28 June. The draw was conducted by former players Neil Fox (Wakefield Trinity) and Tony Barrow (Leigh). Barrow drew the home teams and Fox, the away teams.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hull Kingston Rovers 32 – 26 Catalans Dragons 25 June 2015, 20:00 BST KC Lightstream Stadium P Bentham 6,073
Hull F.C. 6 – 24 Leeds Rhinos 26 June 2015, 20:00 BST KC Stadium J Child 9,261
Warrington Wolves 34 – 24 Leigh Centurions 27 June 2015, 15:00 BST Halliwell Jones Stadium R Silverwood 10,119
St. Helens 36 – 20 Widnes Vikings 28 June 2015, 16:00 BST Langtree Park R Hicks 8,806
Source:[16][17]

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made live on BBC Two on 28 June after the St. Helens v Widnes Vikings game. The two ties were played on 31 July and 1 August. The draw was conducted by former Great Britain and St Helens player Paul Sculthorpe and former footballer turned television presenter Chris Kamara.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Leeds Rhinos 24 – 14 St. Helens 31 July 2015, 20:00 BST Halliwell Jones Stadium B Thaler 11,107
Hull Kingston Rovers 26 – 18 Warrington Wolves 1 August 2015, 12:45 BST Headingley Carnegie Stadium R Silverwood 13,049
Source:[18]

Final

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Hull Kingston Rovers 0 – 50 Leeds Rhinos 29 August 2015, 15:15 BST Wembley Stadium B Thaler 80,140
Source:[3]

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on 29 August 2015, between the 1980 winners Hull Kingston Rovers, in their first final since 1986, and the 12-time winners and holders, the Leeds Rhinos.

Leeds' victory set a new record for the largest winning margin.[3] The Lance Todd Trophy winner was the Leeds' Tom Briscoe who scored five tries - the first player to achieve this feat at Wembley.[3]

Teams:

Hull Kingston Rovers: Kieran Dixon, Josh Mantellato, Kris Welham, Liam Salter, Ken Sio, Maurice Blair, Albert Kelly, Adam Walker, Shaun Lunt, Tony Puletua, Kevin Larroyer, Graeme Horne, Tyrone McCarthy (captain). Substitutes: John Boudebza, James Donaldson, Dane Tilse, Mitch Allgood.

Leeds Rhinos: Zak Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall, Kevin Sinfield (captain), Danny McGuire, Mitch Garbutt, Adam Cuthbertson, Jamie Peacock, Stevie Ward, Carl Ablett, Brett Delaney. Substitutes: Rob Burrow, Kylie Leuluai, Mitch Achurch, Brad Singleton.
Tries: Delaney (1), McGuire (1), Briscoe (5), Singleton (1), Burrow (1). Goals: Sinfield (7/9)[19]

UK broadcasting rights

The tournament was jointly televised by the BBC and Sky Sports on the fourth of their five-year contracts. This time, the BBC televised two sixth round match while Sky Sports televised a fifth round match and a sixth round match. Both channels televised two quarter-final matches with the BBC televising the semi-finals and the final.

Round Live match Date BBC channel
Sixth round Leeds Rhinos 48 - 16 Huddersfield Giants
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 30 - 36 Leigh Centurions		 16 May
17 May		 BBC One
BBC Two*
Quarter-finals Warrington Wolves 34 - 24 Leigh Centurions
St. Helens 36 - 20 Widnes Vikings		 27 June
28 June		 BBC One
BBC Two
Semi-finals Leeds Rhinos 24 - 14 St. Helens
Hull Kingston Rovers 26 - 18 Warrington Wolves		 31 July
1 August		 BBC Two
BBC One
Final Hull Kingston Rovers 0 - 50 Leeds Rhinos 29 August BBC One
  • Except Northern Ireland.

Sky Sports televised live the fifth round match between Leigh Centurions and Salford Red Devils on 18 April, the sixth round between Wigan Warriors and Hull Kingston Rovers on 15 May and the quarter-final matches between Hull Kingston Rovers and Catalans Dragons on 25 June and Hull F.C. versus Leeds Rhinos on 26 June.

Notes

  1. ↑ P Bentham withdrew at half time due to injury, replaced by J Roberts

References

  1. ↑ "Challenge Cup: Ladbrokes replace Tetley's as title sponsor". BBC Sport. 6 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  2. ↑ "Leeds lift Challenge Cup after Ryan Hall's double stuns Castleford". Guardian. 23 August 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Challenge Cup final: Hull KR 0-50 Leeds Rhinos". BBC Sport. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Challenge Cup: Home first round draw for NCL champions West Hull". BBC Sport. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2952. League Publications. 2 February 2015. p. 25.
  6. ↑ "Wembley heroes to conduct Ladbrokes Challenge Cup draw". Rugby Football League. 2 February 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Two clubs expelled from Challenge Cup". League Publications. 10 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2954. League Publications Ltd. 16 February 2015. p. 28.
  9. 1 2 "Results - Challenge Cup - Rugby League - BBC Sport". BBC Sport.
  10. ↑ "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup round three". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2957. League Publications Ltd. 9 March 2015. p. 39.
  11. ↑ "Ladbrokes Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  12. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2959. League Publications. 23 March 2015. p. 39.
  13. ↑ "Rugby League Results - Ladbrokes Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2963. League Publications. 20 April 2015. p. 35.
  15. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2967. League Publications. 18 May 2015. p. 35.
  16. ↑ "Rugby league Results - Ladbroke Challenge Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  17. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2973. League Publications. 29 June 2015. p. 35.
  18. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2978. 3 August 2015. p. 31.
  19. ↑ "Scoreboard". Rugby Leaguer & League Express. No. 2982. 31 August 2015. p. 31.
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