# 1971–72 Challenge Cup

The 1971–72 Challenge Cup was the 71st staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. The final was contested by St. Helens and Leeds at Wembley.

## First round

| Date | Team one | Team two | Score |
| 29 Jan | Bramley | Pilkington Recs | 19-5 |
| 29 Jan | Dewsbury Celtic | Featherstone Rovers | 2-34 |
| 29 Jan | Doncaster | Wakefield Trinity | 3-5 |
| 29 Jan | Huyton | Halifax | 4-7 |
| 29 Jan | Leeds | Widnes | 17-8 |
| 29 Jan | Leigh | Workington Town | 19-4 |
| 29 Jan | Oldham | St Helens | 6-8 |
| 29 Jan | Swinton | Blackpool | 33-12 |
| 29 Jan | Whitehaven | Castleford | 0-17 |
| 30 Jan | Barrow | Hunslet | 24-6 |
| 30 Jan | Bradford Northern | Keighley | 17-2 |
| 30 Jan | Dewsbury | Huddersfield | 4-17 |
| 30 Jan | Salford | Wigan | 12-16 |
| 30 Jan | Warrington | Batley | 30-7 |
| 30 Jan | York | Rochdale Hornets | 13-5 |
| 03 Feb | Hull FC | Hull Kingston Rovers | 7-5 |

## Second round

| Date | Team one | Team two | Score |
| 19 Feb | Castleford | Warrington | 8-8 |
| 19 Feb | Halifax | Featherstone Rovers | 11-5 |
| 20 Feb | Barrow | York | 9-9 |
| 20 Feb | Bramley | Bradford Northern | 8-5 |
| 20 Feb | Hull FC | Leeds | 5-16 |
| 20 Feb | Leigh | Swinton | 3-4 |
| 20 Feb | St Helens | Huddersfield | 32-9 |
| 20 Feb | Wakefield Trinity | Wigan | 6-5 |
| 23 Feb - replay | Warrington | Castleford | 11-5 |
| 23 Feb - replay | York | Barrow | 15-3 |

## Quarter-finals

| Date | Team one | Team two | Score |
| 04 Mar | Bramley | Warrington | 7-14 |
| 04 Mar | York | St Helens | 5-32 |
| 05 Mar | Halifax | Swinton | 9-8 |
| 05 Mar | Leeds | Wakefield Trinity | 11-5 |

## Semi-finals

| Date | Team one | Team two | Score |
| 08 Apr | Leeds | Halifax | 16-3 |
| 15 Apr | St Helens | Warrington | 10-10 |
| 19 Apr - replay | St Helens | Warrington | 10-6 |

## Final

The final was played on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495. After leading 12-6 at half time, St Helens beat Leeds 16-13.
The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was Saints’ Kel Coslett.
St Helens scorers were Les Jones (1 try), Graham Rees (1 try), and Kel Coslett (5 goals).
This was St Helens’ fourth Cup final win in eight Final appearances.
* 13 May 1972
| St Helens | 16 – 13 | Leeds |
| Try Rees, Jones Goals Coslett (4) DG Coslett | | Try Cookson Goals Clawson (5) |
* Wembley, London Attendance: 89,495 Referee: Eric Lawrinson (Warrington) Player of the Match: Kel Coslett
| | 1 | Geoff Pimblett |
| | 2 | Les Jones |
| | 3 | Billy Benyon |
| | 4 | Johnny Walsh |
| | 5 | Frank Wilson |
| | 6 | Ken Kelly |
| | 7 | Jeff Heaton |
| | 8 | Graham Rees |
| | 9 | Les Greenall |
| | 10 | John Stephens |
| | 11 | John Mantle |
| | 12 | Eric Chisnall |
| | 13 | Kel Coslett (c) |
| Substitutes: ||
| | 14 | Alan Whittle (unused) |
| | 15 | Kelvin Earl (unused) |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Challinor ||
| | 1 | John Holmes |
| | 2 | Alan Smith |
| | 3 | Syd Hynes |
| | 4 | Les Dyl |
| | 5 | John Atkinson |
| | 6 | Alan Hardisty (c) |
| | 7 | Keith Hepworth |
| | 8 | Terry Clawson |
| | 9 | Tony Fisher |
| | 10 | Bill Ramsey |
| | 11 | Bob Haigh |
| | 12 | Phil Cookson |
| | 13 | Ray Batten |
| Substitutes: ||
| | 14 | John Langley |
| | 15 | Graham Eccles (unused) |
| Coach: ||
| Derek Turner ||