# 2001 Challenge Cup

The 2001 Challenge Cup (officially known as the 2001 Silk Cut Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) is a rugby league football tournament which began its preliminary stages in December 2000 and ended with the final on 28 April 2001. Bradford Bulls were the reigning champions, following their 24–18 victory over Leeds Rhinos in the 2000 Challenge Cup at Murrayfield Stadium.

## Round 1

Ties were scheduled to be played over the weekend of 2–3 December 2000, although two matches did not take place until 9 and 16 December.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Cottingham Tigers | 2–17 | Hensingham ARLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Dewsbury Moor ARLFC | 17–18 | Eastmoor ARLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| East Leeds | 14–12 | Elland ARLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Ecces ARLFC | 25–16 | RL Conference Lionhearts | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Hull Dockers | 28–4 | West Bowling ARLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Leigh East | 10–15 | Shaw Cross RLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| London Skolars | 18–10 | Crosfields ARLFC | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Milford Marlins | 16–26 | Wigan St Judes | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Millom RLFC | 34–8 | Normanton Knights | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Newcastle University | 36–22 | Hunslet Warriors | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Rochdale Mayfield | 32–16 | Castleford Panthers | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Royal Air Force | 12–32 | Heworth | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Royal Navy | 18–6 | Waterhead | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Hillsborough Hawks | 10–18 | Featherstone Lions | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Siddal | 28–8 | Dewsbury Celtic | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Thatto Heath ALRFC | 24–22 | Keighley Albion & Bingley | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Widnes St Maries | 38–18 | Blackbrook | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| York Acorn | 0–18 | Halton Simms Cross | 2 December 2000 | | | |
| Clayton ARLFC | 10–20 | Leeds Metropolitan University | 3 December 2000 | | | |
| New Earswick | 36–20 | Bangor Vikings | 3 December 2000 | | | |
| Welsh Students | 15–18 | Askam ARLFC | 3 December 2000 | | | |
| Wigan Rose Bridge | 72–0 | Glasgow Bulls | 3 December 2000 | | | |
| Queensbury | 24–0 | Charleston Knights | 9 December 2000 | | | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 41–6 | The Army | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Source: |||||||

## Round 2

Ties were due to be played over the weekend of 16–17 December 2000 but the round was not completed until 13 January 2001.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Askam ARLFC | 12–2 | Millom | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| East Leeds | 28–10 | London Skolars | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Halton Simms Cross | 8–0 | Shaw Cross | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| New Earswick | 11–7 | Thatto Heath | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Newcastle University | 8–51 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Rochdale Mayfield | 15–10 | Dudley Hill | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Royal Navy | 12–13 | Eccles ALRFC | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Saddleworth ALRFC | 0–30 | Oldham St Annes | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Siddal | 22–12 | Hull Dockers | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Skirlaugh | 16–38 | Oulton Raiders | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Thornhill Trojans | 18–10 | Leeds Metropolitan University | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Walney Central | 4–13 | Queensbury ALRFC | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Wigan Rose Bridge | 26–8 | Redhill ARLFC | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Wigan St Judes | 15–9 | Widnes St Maries | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Wigan St Patricks | 4–3 | Ideal Isberg | 16 December 2000 | | | |
| Eastmoor Dragons | 0–34 | West Hull | 6 January 2001 | | | |
| Heworth | 12–10 | Featherstone Lions | 6 January 2001 | | | |
| Wath Brow Hornets | 8–11 | Castleford Lock Lane | 6 January 2001 | | | |
| Woolston Rovers | 32–11 | Hensingham ALRFC | 13 January 2001 | | | |
| Source: |||||||

### Notes

A.^ After extra time

## Round 3

Ties were played over the weekend of 26–28 January 2001.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Halton Simms Cross | 10–42 | Villeneuve Leopards | 26 January 2001 | Auto Quest Stadium | Karl Kirkpatrick | 809 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 48–10 | Leigh Miners Rangers | 27 January 2001 | The Rams Stadium | Nick Oddy | 1,260 |
| Wigan Rose Bridge | 0–52 | York Wasps | 27 January 2001 | Spotland Stadium | Julian King | 731 |
| Barrow Border Raiders | 40–16 | Askam ARLFC | 28 January 2001 | Craven Park | Grant Maxwell | 2,092 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 70–0 | Heworth | 28 January 2001 | Mount Pleasant | Ian Chatterton | 573 |
| Chorley Lynx | 8–22 | Woolston Rovers | 28 January 2001 | Victory Park | Robert Connolly | 559 |
| Doncaster Dragons | 44–14 | Siddal | 28 January 2001 | Belle Vue | Peter Taberner | 1,341 |
| Featherstone Rovers | 56–0 | Eccles ALRFC | 28 January 2001 | Lionheart Stadium | Paul Lee | 1,045 |
| Gateshead Thunder | 34–20 | Wigan St Judes | 28 January 2001 | Gateshead International Stadium | Steve Ganson | 501 |
| Hull Kingston Rovers | 44–0 | Toulouse Spacers | 28 January 2001 | Craven Park | Steve Nicholson | 1,649 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 38–6 | Thornhill Trojans | 28 January 2001 | South Leeds Stadium | Ben Thaler | 629 |
| Keighley Cougars | 76–0 | Rochdale Mayfield | 28 January 2001 | Cougar Park | Ron Laughton | 1,764 |
| Leigh Centurions | 28–5 | West Hull | 28 January 2001 | Hilton Park | Russell Smith | 1,547 |
| Oldham R.L.F.C. | 64–0 | Queensbury ARLFC | 28 January 2001 | Boundary Park | Colin Morris | 1,559 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 42–0 | East Leeds | 28 January 2001 | Don Valley Stadium | Steve Addy | 778 |
| Swinton Lions | 44–12 | New Earswick | 28 January 2001 | Gigg Lane | John Farrell | 478 |
| Whitehaven | 34–16 | Oldham St Annes | 28 January 2001 | Recreation Ground | Darren Gillespie | 616 |
| Widnes Vikings | 70–2 | Wigan St Patricks | 28 January 2001 | Auto Quest Stadium | Richard Silverwood | 2,465 |
| Workington Town | 38–0 | Castleford Lock Lane | 28 January 2001 | Derwent Park | Mike Dawber | 867 |
| York Wasps | 24–12 | Oulton Raiders | 28 January 2001 | Huntington Stadium | Paul Carr | 914 |
| Source: |||||||

## Round 4

Ties were played between 10–14 February 2001
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| St. Helens | 22–8 | Wigan Warriors | 10 February 2001 | Knowsley Road | Stuart Cummings | 13,593 |
| Barrow Border Raiders | 4–56 | Halifax Blue Sox | 11 February 2001 | Craven Park | Richard Silverwood | 2,160 |
| Bradford Bulls | 54–10 | Widnes Vikings | 11 February 2001 | Odsal Stadium | Ian Smith | 7,760 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 4–18 | Castleford Tigers | 11 February 2001 | Ram Stadium | Karl Kirkpatrick | 3,384 |
| Doncaster Dragons | 14–12 | Sheffield Eagles | 11 February 2001 | Belle Vue | John Farrell | 1,344 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 28–6 | Featherstone Rovers | 11 February 2001 | Alfred McAlpine Stadium | Steve Ganson | 2,527 |
| Keighley Cougars | 20–34 | Hull F.C. | 11 February 2001 | Cougar Park | Robert Connolly | 4,401 |
| Leigh Centurions | 16–12 | Salford City Reds | 11 February 2001 | Hilton Park | Russell Smith | 6,408 |
| London Broncos | 44–6 | Batley Bulldogs | 11 February 2001 | Broadfield Stadium | Steve Addy | 1,204 |
| Swinton Lions | 10–106 | Leeds Rhinos | 11 February 2001 | Gigg Lane | Colin Morris | 3,239 |
| Warrington Wolves | 48–6 | Woolston Rovers | 11 February 2001 | Wilderspool Stadium | Steve Nicholson | 6,008 |
| Workington Town | 6–56 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 11 February 2001 | Derwent Park | Paul Lee | 1,710 |
| York Wasps | 8–22 | Villeneuve Leopards | 11 February 2001 | Huntington Stadium | Julian King | 471 |
| Oldham R.L.F.C. | 17–6 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 13 February 2001 | Boundary Park | | 2,008 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 38–4 | Hunslet Hawks | 13 February 2001 | Spotland Stadium | Nick Oddy | 605 |
| Gateshead Thunder | 0–56 | Whitehaven | 14 February 2001 | Gateshead International Stadium | | |
| Source: |||||||

## Round 5

The fifth round fixtures were played over the weekend of 24–25 February 2001.
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Castleford Tigers | 12–42 | Leeds Rhinos | 24 February 2001 | Wheldon Road | Robert Connolly | 11,418 |
| Halifax Blue Sox | 18–68 | Bradford Bulls | 25 February 2001 | The Shay | Russell Smith | 6,129 |
| Huddersfield Giants | 38–24 | Doncaster Dragons | 25 February 2001 | Alfred McAlpine Stadium | Ian Smith | 2,176 |
| Hull F.C. | 30–20 | London Broncos | 25 February 2001 | The Boulevard | Stuart Cummings | 6,701 |
| Oldham R.L.F.C. | 6–26 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 25 February 2001 | Boundary Park | Nick Oddy | 3,071 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 19–26 | Villeneuve Leopards | 25 February 2001 | Spotland Stadium | Peter Taberner | 817 |
| Warrington Wolves | 20–10 | Leigh Centurions | 25 February 2001 | Wilderspool Stadium | Steve Ganson | 8,844 |
| Whitehaven | 22–34 | St. Helens | 25 February 2001 | Recreation Ground | Karl Kirkpatrick | 4,750 |
| Source: |||||||

## Quarter-finals

The quarter finals was played over the weekend of 9–11 March 2001
| Home | Score | Away | Match information | Match information | Match information | Match information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date and time | Venue | Referee | Attendance |
| Hull F.C. | 18–20 | Leeds Rhinos | 10 March 2001 | The Boulevard | Russell Smith | 10,123 |
| St. Helens | 54–16 | Huddersfield Giants | 9 March 2001 | Knowsley Road | Karl Kirkpatrick | 7,899 |
| Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 0–38 | Bradford Bulls | 11 March 2001 | Belle Vue | Stuart Cummings | 5,280 |
| Warrington Wolves | 32–0 | Villeneuve Leopards | 11 March 2001 | Wilderspool Stadium | Robert Connolly | 4,805 |
| Source: |||||||

## Semi-finals

The ties were played on 31 March and 1 April 2001.
* 31 March 2001
| St. Helens | 27–22 | Leeds Rhinos |
* JJB Stadium Attendance: 16,416 Referee: Russell Smith
* 1 April 2001
| Warrington Wolves | 22–39 | Bradford Bulls |
* Alfred McAlpine Stadium Attendance: 13,856 Referee: Stuart Cummings

## Final

The 100th Challenge Cup final was played on 28 April 2001 and was the first to be played at Twickenham Stadium. Hear'Say performed before the match. St Helen's stand off Sean Long was the winner of the Lance Todd Trophy.
* 28 April 2001
| Bradford Bulls | 6–13 | St. Helens |
| Goal: H Paul (2) Drop goal: H Paul | | Try: Martyn, Cunningham Goal: Long (2) Drop goal: Martyn |
* Twickenham Stadium Attendance: 68,250 Referee: Russell Smith

### Teams

St Helens: Paul Wellens, Sean Hoppe, Kevin Iro, Paul Newlove, Anthony Sullivan; Tommy Martyn, Sean Long, David Fairleigh, Keiron Cunningham, Sonny Nickle, Chris Joynt (c), Peter Shiels, Paul Sculthorpe
Subs: Steve Hall, Anthony Stewart, Vila Matautia, Tim Jonkers Coach: Ian Millward
Bradford: Michael Withers, Tevita Vaikona, Scott Naylor, Shane Rigon, Leon Pryce, Henry Paul, Robbie Paul (c), Joe Vagana, James Lowes, Brian McDermott, Jamie Peacock, Daniel Gartner, Mike Forshaw Subs: Paul Deacon, Paul Anderson, Lee Gilmour, Stuart Fielden Coach: Brian Noble

## UK Broadcasting rights

The tournament was screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC.
| Round | BBC live match |
| Round 4 | St Helens vs Wigan Leigh vs Salford |
| Round 5 | Castleford vs Leeds Halifax Vs Bradford Bulls |
| Quarter-finals Hull Fc vs Leeds Wakefield vs Bradford | |
| Semi-finals | St. Helens v Leeds Rhinos Warrington Wolves v Bradford Bulls |
| Final | Bradford Bulls v St. Helens |