# 2010 Challenge Cup

The 2010 Challenge Cup (also known as the Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 109th staging of the most competitive European rugby league tournament at club level and was open to teams from England, Wales, Scotland, France and Russia. It began its preliminary stages on 2 January 2010.
Warrington Wolves successfully defended their title after beating Leeds Rhinos 30 - 6 in the final.

## Preliminary round

The draw for the preliminary round was divided into two pools, separating amateur teams from university, police, Armed Services and regional champion teams. Lee Briers and Michael Monaghan, who both played for the Warrington Wolves team which won the 2009 Challenge Cup Final, made the draw at Leeds Metropolitan University.

### Pool A

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | 26-14 | Millom RLFC | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| York Acorn | 18-12 | Skirlaugh | 17 January 2010 | | | |
| Orchard Park & Greenwood | 0-72 | Wath Brow Hornets | 16 January 2010 | | | |
| Waterhead ARLFC | 10-32 | Drighlington ARLFC | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Egremont Rangers | 8-36 | Oulton Raiders | 17 January 2010 | | | |
| Widnes St Maries | 24-43 | Myton Warriors ARLFC | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Sharlston Rovers | 12-20 | Leigh East | 17 January 2010 | | Tony Mahar | |
| Oldham St Annes | 12-13 | Wigan St Judes ARLFC | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| West Bowling ARLFC | 12-20 | Normanton Knights | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Wigan St Patricks | 28-6 | Broughton Red Rose | 23 January 2010 | | | |
* An additional twenty-six teams were granted byes into the first round as a result of the draw.

### Pool B

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Nottingham Outlaws | 34-20 | Hull University | 24 Jan 2010 13:30 | | | |
| Warrington Wizards | 46-4 | Birmingham University | 24 Jan 2010 15:00 | Wilderspool Stadium | | |
| Leeds Metropolitan University | 18-0 | St Mary's University | Match cancelled | | | |
* An additional ten teams were granted byes into the first round as a result of the draw.

## Round 1

The draw for Round 1 was made immediately after the draw for the preliminary round. Ties were played on 23 & 24 January 2010.

### Pool A

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 14-6 | Kells | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Stanningley ARLFC | 0-22 | Wigan St Judes | 6 February 2010 | | | |
| Bradford Dudley Hill | 18-20 | Castleford Panthers | 23 January 2010 | Neil Hunt Memorial Ground | | |
| Castleford Lock Lane | 34-10 | Thornhill Trojans | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Shaw Cross Sharks ARLFC | 8-44 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 6 February 2010 | | | |
| Crosfields ARLFC | 12-22 | Rochdale Mayfield | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Ince Rose Bridge | 26-30 | Oulton Raiders | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Milford Marlins | 28-12 | Eastmoor Dragons | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Heworth | 0-56 | Hunslet Warriors | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Saddleworth Rangers | 8-22 | Siddal | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| York Acorn | 32-36 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| East Hull | 36-12 | Stanley Rangers | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Eccles & Salford Juniors | 14-42 | Leigh East | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Hull Dockers | 26-12 | Pilkington Recs | 6 February 2010 | | | |
| Normanton Knights | 6-4 | Wigan St Patricks | 6 February 2010 | | | |
| East Leeds | 0-8 | Ovenden ARLFC | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Drighlington ARLFC | 26-10 | West Hull ARLFC | 6 February 2010 | | | |
| Myton Warriors | 20-15 | Halton Simms Cross | 6 February 2010 | | | |

### Pool B

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| RAF | 24-28 | Warrington Wizards | 31 January 2010 11:30 | RAF Cranwell | | |
| British Police | 46-16 | Dewsbury Celtic | 24 January 2010 | | | |
| West London Sharks | 16-38 | Nottingham Outlaws | 7 February 2010 | | | |
| Featherstone Lions | 16-24 | The Army | 23 January 2010 | | | |
| Leeds Metropolitan University | 28-4 | Loughborough University | 24 January 2010 | | | |
| Gloucestershire University | 32-36 | Edinburgh Eagles | 24 January 2010 | | | |
| Northumbria University | 4-54 | Royal Navy | 24 January 2010 | | | |
| Blackwood Bulldogs | 42-16 | Edge Hill University | 24 January 2010 | | | |

## Round 2

The draw for Round 2 was made on 26 January 2010. Ties were played on 13 & 14 February 2010.

### Pool A

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Wigan St Judes | 36-18 | Milford Marlins | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Rochdale Mayfield | 18-34 | Leigh East | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Castleford Panthers | 0-32 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Ovenden RLFC | 32-16 | Myton Warriors | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 16-14 | East Hull | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Siddal | 34-30 | Oulton Raiders | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Drighlington RLFC | 24-18 | Castleford Lock Lane | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Normanton Knights | 8-14 | Hunslet Warriors | 13 February 2010 | | | |
| Hull Dockers | 8-24 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 13 February 2010 | | | |

### Pool B

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| British Police | 18-50 | Leeds Metropolitan University | 14 February 2010 14:00 | Siddal | | |
| Warrington Wizards | 28-20 | The Army | 14 February 2010 14:00 | Wilderspool Stadium | | |
| Edinburgh Eagles | 16-28 | Blackwood Bulldogs | 14 February 2010 12:30 | | | |
| Royal Navy | 46-6 | Nottingham Outlaws | 13 February 2010 14:30 | | |

## Round 3

The draw for Round 3 was made on 16 February. Ties were played on 6–8 March.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Widnes Vikings | 64-12 | Wigan St Judes | 9 March 2010 | Stobart Stadium | C Leatherbarrow | 1,622 |
| Oldham | 80-6 | Blackwood Bulldogs | 7 March 2010 | Sedgley Park | Tim Roby | 455 |
| Gateshead Thunder | 12-44 | York City Knights | 7 March 2010 | Gateshead International Stadium | Craig Halloran | 336 |
| London Skolars | 16-42 | Limoux Grizzlies | 7 March 2010 | New River Stadium | Peter Brooke | 450 |
| Doncaster | 0-26 | Siddal | 6 March 2010 14:00 | Keepmoat Stadium | Ronnie Laughton | 285 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 22-32 | Lézignan Sangliers | 7 March 2010 | Spotland Stadium | Robert Hicks | 398 |
| Drighlington RLFC | 10-42 | Dewsbury Rams | 7 March 2010 | Tetley's Stadium | Dave Merrick | 1,222 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 70-6 | Leeds Metropolitan University | 7 March 2010 | Mount Pleasant | Jamie Leahy | 502 |
| Royal Navy | 12-50 | Blackpool Panthers | 7 March 2010 | United Services Recreation Ground | Bob Everitt | 250 |
| Featherstone Rovers | 74-0 | Workington Town | 7 March 2010 | Post Office Road | Matthew Thomasson | 1,215 |
| Warrington Wizards | 22-34 | Swinton Lions | 5 March 2010 | Wilderspool Stadium | Brandon Robinson | 430 |
| Leigh Miners Rangers | 20-40 | Whitehaven | 5 March 2010 | Leigh Sports Village | Warren Turley | 350 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 54-0 | Thatto Heath Crusaders | 7 March 2010 15:00 | Don Valley Stadium | Greg Dolan | 502 |
| Ovenden | 10-88 | Halifax | 7 March 2010 | Shay Stadium | Clint Sharrad | 2,319 |
| Barrow Raiders | 62-10 | Hunslet Warriors | 7 March 2010 | Craven Park | George Stokes | 1,330 |
| Keighley Cougars | 26-35 | Toulouse Olympique | 6 March 2010 18:00 | Cougar Park | Gareth Hewer | 543 |
| Leigh East | 14-30 | Hunslet Hawks | 6 March 2010 15:00 | Leigh Sports Village | Matthew Kidd | 694 |
| Leigh Centurions | 52-4 | Wath Brow Hornets | 7 March 2010 | Leigh Sports Village | Tom Crashley | 1,382 |

## Round 4

The draw for Round 4 was made on 8 March. Ties were played on 16–18 April.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| York City Knights | 8-58 | Crusaders | 18 April 2010 15:00 | Huntington Stadium | M Thomason | 719 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 42-12 | Oldham | 18 April 2010 15:00 | South Leeds Stadium | C Halloran | 509 |
| Swinton Lions | 4-56 | Halifax | 16 April 2010 20:00 | Sedgley Park | T Roby | 633 |
| Limoux Grizzlies | 20-32 | Leigh Centurions | 17 April 2010 15:00 | Stade de l'Aiguille | W Turley | 2,000 |
| Harlequins | 23-16 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 17 April 2010 15:00 | The Stoop | Phil Bentham | 2,355 |
| St. Helens | 56-16 | Toulouse Olympique | 17 April 2010 18:00 | Knowsley Road | G Hewer | 4,043 |
| Widnes Vikings | 44-24 | Lézignan Sangliers | 22 April 2010 19:30 | Stobart Stadium | Ronnie Laughton | 1,349 |
| Catalans Dragons | 30-8 | Salford City Reds | 18 April 2010 14:00 | Stade Gilbert Brutus | James Child | 5,238 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 34-50 | Wigan Warriors | 17 April 2010 16:00 | Bramall Lane | Ian Smith | 2,950 |
| Siddal | 2-34 | Batley Bulldogs | 18 April 2010 15:00 | The Shay | D Merrick | 1,926 |
| Hull | 24-48 | Leeds Rhinos | 17 April 2010 14:30 | Kingston Communications Stadium | Richard Silverwood | 15,109 |
| Castleford Tigers | 28-34 | Barrow Raiders | 18 April 2010 15:30 | The Jungle | Thierry Alibert | 5,285 |
| Warrington Wolves | 48-24 | Featherstone Rovers | 18 April 2010 16:00 | Halliwell Jones Stadium | R Hicks | 7,754 |
| Blackpool Panthers | 24-18 | Whitehaven | 18 April 2010 15:00 | Woodlands Memorial Ground | G Dolan | 471 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 40-12 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 18 April 2010 13:45 | Galpharm Stadium | Richard Silverwood | 7,241 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 0-50 | Bradford Bulls | 18 April 2010 15:20 | Tetley's Stadium | Peter Brooke | 3,995 |

## Round 5

The draw for Round 5 was made on 18 April. Ties were played on 07 - 9 May. The game between Halifax and Batley Bulldogs was postponed due to Halifax being suspected of fielding an ineligible player - Michael Ostick - who played for Rochdale Hornets in the third round. Despite being cup-tied, the Rugby Football League found that he played for Halifax in round four against Swinton Lions. The Lions were reinstated and Halifax removed from the competition, with their head coach Matt Calland being suspended by the club.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Swinton Lions | 6-58 | Batley Bulldogs | 19 May 2010 19:00 | Sedgley Park | Robert Hicks | 636 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 70-22 | Blackpool Panthers | 7 May 2010 20:00 | Headingley | Gareth Hewer | 5,316 |
| Barrow Raiders | 42-24 | Hunslet Hawks | 9 May 2010 15:30 | Craven Park | Ronnie Laughton | 2,241 |
| Bradford Bulls | 58-16 | Leigh Centurions | 7 May 2010 20:00 | Grattan Stadium | Thierry Alibert | 4,250 |
| Harlequins | 10-30 | St. Helens | 9 May 2010 14:00 | The Stoop | Ben Thaler | 3,381 |
| Crusaders | 34-35 | Catalans Dragons | 9 May 2010 15:30 | Racecourse Ground | Ian Smith | 1,817 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 4-60 | Warrington Wolves | 8 May 2010 14:30 | Galpharm Stadium | P Bentham | 6,641 |
| Widnes Vikings | 10-64 | Wigan Warriors | 8 May 2010 19:30 | Stobart Stadium | J Child | 5,504 |

## Quarter-finals

The draw for the Quarter-finals was made on 9 May. Ties were played on 28–30 May.
| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Batley Bulldogs | 12-74 | Catalans Dragons | 30 May 2010 15:00 | Mount Pleasant | Ian Smith | 2,132 |
| Leeds Rhinos | 12-10 | Wigan Warriors | 29 May 2010 14:30 | Headingley | P Bentham | 9,242 |
| St. Helens | 32-12 | Barrow Raiders | 29 May 2010 15:00 | GPW Recruitment Stadium | James Child | 4,972 |
| Bradford Bulls | 22-26 | Warrington Wolves | 30 May 2010 15:30 | Grattan Stadium | R Silverwood | 7,092 |

## Semi-finals

The draw for the Semi-finals was made on 2 June 2010. Ties were played on 7 and 8 August 2010.
* 7 Aug 2010 14:30
| St. Helens | 28-32 | Leeds Rhinos |
* Galpharm Stadium Attendance: 15,267 Referee: Phil Bentham
* 8 Aug 2010 15:30
| Warrington Wolves | 54-12 | Catalans Dragons |
* Stobart Stadium Attendance: 12,265 Referee: Richard Silverwood

## Final

On 20 August 2010, the Rugby Football League announced that it had sold its allocation of 72,000 tickets for the match which is set to be one of the most anticipated cup finals of recent years.
The final was played at Wembley Stadium on 28 August.
Chris Hicks of Warrington Wolves scored the first hat-trick in a Challenge Cup Final in the new Wembley stadium as the Wolves ran away 30-6 winners. It was 14–0 to the Wolves at half-time
* 28 Aug 2010 14:30
| Leeds Rhinos | 6-30 | Warrington Wolves |
* Wembley Stadium Attendance: 85,217 Referee: Richard Silverwood
Teams:
Warrington: Richard Mathers, Chris Hicks, Matt King, Ryan Atkins, Chris Riley, Lee Briers, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley (c), Jon Clarke, Garreth Carvell, Louis Anderson, Ben Westwood, Ben Harrison Replacements: Paul Wood, David Solomona, Mickey Higham, Vinnie Anderson Coach: Tony Smith Tries: Hicks (3), Atkins (2), Anderson. Goals: Westwood (3).
Leeds: Brent Webb, Lee Smith, Brett Delaney, Keith Senior, Ryan Hall, Danny McGuire, Rob Burrow, Kylie Leuluai, Danny Buderus, Chris Clarkson, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Ryan Bailey, Kevin Sinfield (c), Replacements: Ian Kirke, Matt Diskin, Greg Eastwood, Carl Ablett Coach: Brian McClennan Tries: Smith Goals: Sinfield.

## UK Broadcasting rights

Selected matches were televised solely by the BBC.
| Round | Live match | Date | BBC channel |
| Round 4 | Hull F.C. 24 - 48 Leeds Rhinos Huddersfield Giants 40 - 12 Hull Kingston Rovers | April 17, 2010 April 18, 2010 | BBC One BBC Two |
| Round 5 | Huddersfield Giants 4 - 60 Warrington Wolves Crusaders 34 - 35 Catalans Dragons | May 8, 2010 May 9, 2010 | BBC One$^1$ BBC Two |
| Quarter-finals | Leeds Rhinos 12 - 10 Wigan Warriors Bradford Bulls 22 - 26 Warrington Wolves | May 29, 2010 May 30, 2010 | BBC One BBC Two$^2$ |
| Semi-finals | St. Helens 28 - 32 Leeds Rhinos Warrington Wolves 54 - 12 Catalans Dragons | Aug 7 2010 Aug 8 2010 | BBC One BBC Two |
| Final | Leeds Rhinos 6 - 30 Warrington Wolves | Aug 28 2010 | BBC One & BBC HD |
$^1$ Coverage in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales started half an hour later.
$^2$ Coverage in Northern Ireland started forty five minutes later.