# 2016 Challenge Cup

The 2016 Challenge Cup, (also known as the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 115th staging of the Challenge Cup the main rugby league knockout tournament for teams in the Super League, the British National Leagues and a number of invited amateur clubs.
The cup was won by Hull F.C. who beat Warrington Wolves 12–10 in the final at Wembley Stadium on 27 August 2016.
The defending champions, Leeds Rhinos who were looking to win the trophy three times in a row were defeated by Huddersfield Giants in the sixth round.
The format of the competition is eight knock-out rounds followed by a final. The first two rounds are composed entirely of amateur teams. The nine winners of the second round ties are joined in round 3 by the 15 Championship 1 teams. For the fourth round the 12 Championship teams are included in the draw. Starting in 2015 and continuing for the 2016 competition round 5 sees four Super League teams entering the competition. These are the four teams that finished in the bottom four positions of the 2015 Super League and are; Widnes Vikings, Hull Kingston Rovers, Salford Red Devils, and Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. These are the same four teams that joined at this stage in the 2015 competition. The remaining eight Super League teams join in round 6.

## First round

The draw for the first round of the 2016 Challenge Cup was held on 7 January 2016 at Wembley Stadium and featured 36 amateur teams from around the United Kingdom including two student teams, all three armed services and the police. Home teams were drawn by Tom Briscoe and the away teams drawn by Lizzie Jones.
Fixtures for the first round were played over the weekend of the 30–31 January 2016.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Thatto Heath Crusaders | 16 – 23 | Hunslet Club Parkside | 30 January 2016, 13:30 | Hattons Solicitors Crusader Park | M Griffiths | |
| York Acorn | 36 – 10 | Sharlston Rovers | 31 January 2016, 13:30 | Acorn Sports & Social Club | H Neville | |
| London Chargers | 14 – 22 | Shaw Cross Sharks | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Old Blues RFC | G Dolan | |
| Aberdeen Warriors | 16 – 42 | Northumbria University | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Rubislaw Playing Fields | P Marklove | |
| Normanton Knights | 18 – 31 | Distington | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Queen Elizabeth Drive | A Haigh | |
| West Bowling | 0 – 16 | Lock Lane | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Odsal Recreation Ground | M Rossleigh | |
| Royal Navy | 18 – 20 | Featherstone Lions | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | United Services Recreation Ground | G Evans | |
| Hull Dockers | 8 – 6 | Thornhill Trojans | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | The Willows Sports & Social Club | C Campbell | |
| Kells | 30 – 0 | Nottingham Outlaws | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Old Arrowthwaite | J Stearne | |
| East Leeds | 0 – 32 | Oulton Raiders | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Richmond Hill | S Ellis | |
| Millom | 32 – 14 | University of Hull | 30 January 2016, 13:30 | Coronation Field | C Braithwaite | |
| Widnes West Bank | 20 – 38 | Rochdale Mayfield | 30 January 2016, 14:00 | Ted Gleave Sports Ground | N Bennett | |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | 14 – 20 | Underbank Rangers | 30 January 2016, 13:30 | Twist Lane | J Jones | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 26 – 4 | Royal Air Force | 30 January 2016, 14:30 | Cleator Club | B Pearson | |
| Stanningley | 16 – 28 | Pilkington Recs | 30 January 2016, 14:30 | Arthur Miller Stadium | L Staveley | |
| Egremont Rangers | 64 – 0 | Blue Bulls | 30 January 2016, 15:30 | Gillfoot Park | J McMullen | |
| West Hull | 36 – 4 | Great Britain Police | 31 January 2016, 14:00 | West Hull Community Park | K Moore | |
| British Army | 4 – 30 | Siddal | 31 January 2016, 14:30 | Aldershot Military Stadium | L Moore | |
| Source: |||||||||

## Second round

The draw for the second round was held at RAF Coningsby on 2 February 2016 and the teams were drawn by Sheffield Eagles coach Mark Aston and Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear.
Ties were played on 13 February.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Millom | 12 – 46 | Pilkington Recs | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Coronation Field | N Bennett | |
| Shaw Cross Sharks | 6 – 40 | Lock Lane | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Shaw Cross Club | B Pearson | |
| Hunslet Club Parkside | 18 – 19 | West Hull | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Hillidge Road | S Race | |
| York Acorn | 28 – 10 | Distington | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Acorn Sports & Social Club | P Marklove | |
| Hull Dockers | 12 – 14 | Featherstone Lions | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | The Willows Sports & Social Club | M Griffiths | |
| Egremont Rangers | 22 – 26 | Rochdale Mayfield | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Gillfoot Park | M Mannifield | |
| Siddal | 18 – 16 | Northumbria University | 13 February 2016, 14:00 | Siddal Sport & Community Centre | M Rossleigh | |
| Kells | 42 – 6 | Underbank Rangers | 13 February 2016, 14:30 | Old Arrowthwaite | G Dolan | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 30 – 4 | Oulton Raiders | 13 February 2016, 14:30 | Cleator Club | J Jones | |
| Source: |||||||||

## Third round

The third round draw was held on 16 February at North Wales Crusaders ground, the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham. The draw was made by Paul Rowley and Lee Briers. The 12 ties were played over the last weekend of February.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Siddal RLFC | 30 – 4 | Newcastle Thunder | 27 February 2016, 14:00 | Reactiv Park | B Pearson | 405 |
| Rochdale Mayfield | 14 - 40 | Rochdale Hornets | 27 February 2016, 14:00 | Mayfield Sports Centre | G Hewer | 937 |
| Pilkington Recs | 13 – 0 | London Skolars | 27 February 2016, 14:30 | Ruskin Drive | L Moore | 500 (estimated) |
| Kells ARLFC | 12 – 6 | Hemel Stags | 27 February 2016, 14:30 | Copeland Athletics Club | J Callaghan | 250 (estimated) |
| Featherstone Lions | 37 – 20 | South Wales Scorpions | 27 February 2016, 15:00 | Mill Pond Stadium | S Mikalauskas | 400 (estimated) |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 14 – 32 | Toulouse Olympique | 27 February 2016, 15:00 | Cleator Moor | D Merrick | 400 (estimated) |
| West Hull | 0 – 54 | Doncaster | 28 February 2016, 14:00 | West Hull Community Park | T Crashley | 268 |
| North Wales Crusaders | 36 – 40 | Gloucestershire All Golds | 28 February 2016, 14:30 | Glyndŵr University Racecourse Stadium | J Bloem | 324 |
| Oxford | 22 – 37 | Lock Lane | 28 February 2016, 14:30 | Maidenhead RFC | B Robinson | 55 |
| York City Knights | 66 – 0 | York Acorn | 28 February 2016, 15:00 | Bootham Crescent | A Sweet | 2,293 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 46 – 12 | Barrow Raiders | 28 February 2016, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | T Grant | 354 |
| Keighley Cougars | 54 – 28 | Coventry Bears | 28 February 2016, 15:00 | Cougar Park | J Roberts | 421 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Fourth round

The draw for the fourth round was made on 1 March at the White Lion pub in Swinton. The draw was made by retired players Adrian Morley and Paul Wellens. The 24 teams in the draw comprise the 7 Championship 1 teams and 5 National Conference League teams who won through from the third round and the 12 teams of the Championship.
Ties were played over the weekend of 18–20 March.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Hunslet Hawks | 48 – 6 | Doncaster | 18 March 2016, 19:30 | South Leeds Stadium | A Sweet | 337 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 31 – 30 | Bradford Bulls | 18 March 2016, 20:00 | Tetley's Stadium | C Campbell | 2,021 |
| Featherstone Lions | 16 – 30 | Lock Lane | 19 March 2016, 14:00 | The Big Fellas Stadium | C Straw | 1,738 |
| Pilkington Recs | 0 – 78 | Halifax | 19 March 2016, 14:30 | Langtree Park | T Crashley | 837 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 37 – 36 | Whitehaven | 19 March 2016, 15:00 | Mount Pleasant | J Cobb | 457 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 32 – 28 | Swinton Lions | 19 March 2016, 15:30 | SHU Sports Park | T Grant | 412 |
| Toulouse Olympique | 62 – 28 | Gloucestershire All Golds | 19 March 2016, 15:30 | Stade Ernest-Argelès | M Woodhead | 1,053 |
| Leigh Centurions | 68 – 14 | Workington Town | 19 March 2016, 18:00 | Leigh Sports Village | C Kendall | 2,049 |
| London Broncos | 26 – 48 | Featherstone Rovers | 19 March 2016, 20:00 | Trailfinders Sports Ground | S Ansell | 294 |
| Oldham | 40 – 6 | Kells | 20 March 2016, 15:00 | Bower Fold | J Bloem | 385 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 48 – 20 | Siddal RLFC | 20 March 2016, 15:00 | Spotland Stadium | W Turley | 653 |
| York City Knights | 20 – 12 | Keighley Cougars | 20 March 2016, 15:00 | Bootham Crescent | J Roberts | 624 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Fifth round

The fifth round draw was made on Tuesday 22 March. This round sees the first entry of Super League clubs when the teams that finished 9th – 12th in the 2015 season are in the draw. The draw was made by Sam Tomkins and Chris Hill (Hill was a late replacement for Sean Long). Ties were played over the weekend of 15–17 April.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 44 – 10 | Sheffield Eagles | 15 April 2016, 20:00 | Rapid Solicitors Stadium | Ben Thaler | 2,257 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 30 – 16 | York City Knights | 15 April 2016, 20;00 | Tetley's Stadium | Andy Sweet | 707 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | 22 – 36 | Oldham | 16 April 2016, 14:00 | KC Lightstream Stadium | Sam Ansell | 3,056 |
| Toulouse Olympique | 10 – 8 | Leigh Centurions | 16 April 2016 16:00 | Stade Ernest-Argelès | Chris Kendall | 2,133 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 28 – 10 | Featherstone Rovers | 16 April 2016 17:00 | Mount Pleasant | Gareth Hewer | 1,461 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 6 – 62 | Widnes Vikings | 17 April 2016, 15:00 | Spotland Stadium | James Child | 1,242 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 14 – 50 | Salford Red Devils | 17 April 2016, 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | Chris Campbell | 834 |
| Halifax | 80 – 4 | Lock Lane | 17 April 2016, 15:00 | The MBi Shay | Jamie Bloem | 1,108 |
| Source: |||||||||
The tie between Batley and Featherstone was shown live on Sky Sports 5.

## Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made on 21 April 2016 live on BBC Radio 4 Today programme. The teams were drawn by Today presenter John Humphrys and former England and Great Britain international player Martin Offiah. Ties were played over 6–8 May 2016.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Batley Bulldogs | 4 – 40 | Catalans Dragons | 6 May 2016, 20:00 | Fox's Biscuits Stadium | Gareth Hewer | 1,249 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 36 – 22 | Leeds Rhinos | 6 May 2016, 20:00 | John Smith's Stadium | Ben Thaler | 4,979 |
| Castleford Tigers | 32 – 18 | Salford Red Devils | 7 May 2016, 14:30 | Wheldon Road | James Child | 3,317 |
| Oldham | 10 – 70 | Warrington Wolves | 7 May 2016, 15:00 | Bower Fold | Jonathan Roberts | 2,394 |
| Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 40 – 22 | Toulouse Olympique | 8 May 2016, 14:00 | Belle Vue | Chris Kendall | 2,539 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 4 – 54 | Wigan Warriors | 8 May 2016, 15:00 | Tetley's Stadium | Chris Campbell | 3,102 |
| Halifax | 18 – 28 | Widnes Vikings | 8 May 2016, 15:00 | The MBi Shay | Michael Woodhead | 2,032 |
| St. Helens | 18 – 47 | Hull | 8 May 2016, 16:30 | Langtree Park | Richard Silverwood | 7,094 |
| Source: |||||||||
Sky televised the Batley v Catalans game on Friday 6 May. The BBC broadcast Castleford v Salford on Saturday 7 May and St Helens v Hull on Sunday 8 May.

## Quarter finals

The quarter final draw was made after the conclusion of the St Helens vs Hull game, live on BBC 2. The home teams were drawn by Linzi Prescott (widows of Steve Prescott) and the away teams by Tommy Martyn. Ties will be played over the weekend of 23–25 June.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Huddersfield Giants | 16 – 28 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 23 June 2016, 20:00 | Galpharm Stadium | Gareth Hewer | 3,289 |
| Warrington Wolves | 20 – 18 | Widnes Vikings | 24 June 2016, 20:00 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | James Child | 7,773 |
| Hull | 22 – 80 | Catalans Dragons | 25 June 2016, 13:30 | KC Stadium | Ben Thaler | 9,639 |
| Wigan Warriors | 26 – 12 | Castleford Tigers | 25 June 2016, 17:30 | DW Stadium | Chris Campbell | 8,010 |
| Source: |||||||||
All four matches were broadcast live. The games at Huddersfield and Hull were shown on Sky Sports and the other two games by BBC Sport.

## Semi finals

The semi-final draw was made immediately after the Wigan v Castleford quarter final game. The draw was made by Castleford and Leigh player Bob Beardmore and Ian Gildart who played for Wigan, Wakefield Trinity and Oldham.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Wigan Warriors | 12 – 16 | Hull | 29 July 2016, 20:00 | Keepmoat Stadium | Ben Thaler | 10,488 |
| Warrington Wolves | 56 – 12 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 30 July 2016, 14:30 | Leigh Sports Village | Gareth Hewer | 10,358 |
| Source: |||||||||

## Final

The final was played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 27 August 2016. Hull were seeking a first ever Challenge Cup victory at Wembley while Warrington were looking for their first win since 2012.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Hull | 12 – 10 | Warrington Wolves | 27 August 2016, 15:00 | Wembley Stadium | Gareth Hewer | 76,235 |
| Source: |||||||||
In a close fought game Hull came from 10–0 down with only 20 minutes left to play to win 12–10. Hull Scrum-half, Marc Sneyd was voted the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.
Teams:
Hull: Jamie Shaul, Stevie Michaels, Mahe Fonua, Kirk Yeaman, Fetuli Talanoa, Carlos Tuimavave, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Liam Watts, Sika Manu, Mark Minichiello, Gareth Ellis (captain). Substitutes (all used): Josh Bowden, Frank Pritchard, Danny Washbrook, Chris Green. Tries: Fonua (1), Shaul (1). Goals: Sneyd (2/2).
Warrington Wolves: Stefan Ratchford, Matty Russell, Toby King, Ryan Atkins, Rhys Evans, Kurt Gidley, Chris Sandow, Chris Hill (captain), Daryl Clark, Ashton Sims, Ben Currie, Jack Hughes, Joe Westerman. Substitutes (all used): George King, Brad Dwyer, Ben Westwood, Ryan Bailey. Tries: Russell (1), Currie (1). Goals: Gidley (1/3).