1972–73 Challenge Cup

1972–73 Challenge Cup
Highest attendance72,395
Broadcast partnersBBC
Winners Featherstone Rovers
Runners-up Bradford Northern
Lance Todd Trophy Steve Nash

The 1972–73 Challenge Cup was the 72nd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.

The final was contested by Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Northern at Wembley.

Featherstone Rovers beat Bradford Northern 33-14 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 72,395.[1]

The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was the Featherstone scrum-half, Steve Nash.[2]

Cyril Kellett scored 8-conversions for Featherstone Rovers, the most in a Challenge Cup final until it was equalled by Iestyn Harris in 1999.

First round

[edit]
Date Team one Team two Score
26 Jan St Helens Doncaster 41-0
27 Jan Castleford Swinton 13-9
27 Jan Huddersfield Hull Kingston Rovers 6-19
27 Jan Huyton Wakefield Trinity 6-18
27 Jan Leeds Wigan 11-25
27 Jan Millom Hunslet 5-18
28 Jan Bradford Northern Whitehaven 17-4
28 Jan Bramley Dewsbury 8-11
28 Jan Featherstone Rovers Salford 18-11
28 Jan Halifax Warrington 4-7
28 Jan Hull FC Batley 11-6
28 Jan Keighley Rochdale Hornets 8-44
28 Jan Leigh Dewsbury Celtic 27-4
28 Jan Oldham Barrow 24-7
30 Jan Widnes Blackpool 53-3
30 Jan York Workington Town 19-24

Second round

[edit]
Date Team one Team two Score
17 Feb Hull FC Oldham 2-24
17 Feb Leigh Wakefield Trinity 0-5
17 Feb Workington Town Dewsbury 8-10
18 Feb Bradford Northern Hull Kingston Rovers 13-8
18 Feb Featherstone Rovers Rochdale Hornets 30-19
18 Feb Hunslet Castleford 0-39
18 Feb Warrington Widnes 20-8
18 Feb Wigan St Helens 15-2

Quarter-finals

[edit]
Date Team one Team two Score
03 Mar Castleford Oldham 25-11
04 Mar Bradford Northern Wigan 11-7
04 Mar Dewsbury Wakefield Trinity 16-4
04 Mar Warrington Featherstone Rovers 14-18

Semi-finals

[edit]
Date Team one Team two Score
07 Apr Bradford Northern Dewsbury 23-7
14 Apr Featherstone Rovers Castleford 17-3

Final

[edit]
12 May 1973
Featherstone Rovers 33 – 14 Bradford Northern
Try: Newlove (2), Farrar, Smith, Hartley
Goal: Kellett (8)
Drop goal: Nash
Report
Try: Redfearn, Fearnley
Goal: Tees (4)
Wembley, London
Attendance: 72,395
Referee: M. J. Naughton (Widnes)[3]
Player of the Match: Steve Nash
1 Cyril Kellett
2 Paul Coventry
3 Michael Smith downward-facing red arrow
4 John Newlove (c)
5 Ken Kellett
6 Mel Mason
7 Steve Nash
8 Les Tonks
9 John Keith Bridges
10 Vince Farrar
11 Alan Rhodes downward-facing red arrow
12 James "Jimmy" Thompson
13 Charlie Stone
Substitutes:
14 David "Dave" Hartley upward-facing green arrow
15 Barry Hollis upward-facing green arrow
Coach:
Peter Fox
1 Eddie Tees
2 Mike Lamb
3 Dave Stockwell
4 Bernard Watson (c)
5 David Redfearn
6 Mike Blacker downward-facing red arrow
7 Barry Seabourne
8 Brian Hogan
9 Peter Dunn
10 Kelvin Earl downward-facing red arrow
11 Graham Joyce
12 Bill Pattinson
13 Stanley Fearnley
Substitutes:
14 Arnie Long upward-facing green arrow
15 David Treasure upward-facing green arrow
Coach:
Ian Brooke

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "RFL Challenge Cup Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  2. ^ Raymond Fletcher; David Howes (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-1996. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 0-7472-7817-2.
  3. ^ Mather, Harold (14 May 1973). "Contest that lasted 19 minutes". The Guardian. London. p. 18.
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