2007 Challenge Cup

The 2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup began in February 2007. The Challenge Cup is the most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of rugby league, featuring teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia.

2007 Carnegie Challenge Cup
Duration9 Rounds
Highest attendance84,241
Broadcast partnersUnited Kingdom BBC Sport
WinnersSt. Helens
Runners-up Catalans Dragons
Biggest home win Castleford Tigers 88–10
Castleford Lock Lane
Biggest away winNormanton Knights 10–78
Widnes Vikings
Lance Todd Trophy Paul Wellens
Leon Pryce

In 2007 the preliminary round was dropped, reducing the number of amateur clubs involved. Teams from the National League were given byes to round three, and teams from the Super League entered in round four. Teams from outside the UK were introduced at various stages.

St. Helens successfully defended their title after beating Catalans Dragons (who were the first French club ever to take part in the competition's final) 30 – 8 in the final at the new Wembley Stadium on 26 August.

Round 1
(week ending 4 February)

Teams came from the National Conference League, Rugby League Conference, Student Rugby League, Pennine League, North West Counties, Yorkshire League, CARLA, Hull & District League and the Armed Forces. This round consisted entirely of amateur teams. Fife Lions, the only Scottish club in the tournament, were eliminated.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Rochdale Mayfield 50–16 Millom
2 Saddleworth Rangers 34–20 Halton Simms Cross
3 Thornhill Trojans 58–18 South London Storm
4 Eccles & Salford 20–2 Blackbrook
5 Royal Navy 30–28 Waterhead
6 Siddal 18–14 York Acorn
7 Bradford Dudley Hill 42–4 Brighouse Rangers
8 The Army 20–28 Leigh Miners Rangers
9 Eastmoor Dragons 28–6 Shaw Cross Sharks ARLFC
10 East Leeds 56–0 Warrington Wizards
11 Wath Brow Hornets 22–26 Oulton Raiders
12 Seaton Rangers 50–10 Queens
13 Heworth 10–36 Hull Isberg
14 Drighlington 44–0 Askam
15 Skirlaugh 74–0 Milford Marlins
16 Hull Dockers 52–8 Thatto Heath Crusaders
17 Dewsbury Celtic 36–20 Ovenden
18 Crosfields 6–34 West Bowling
19 Egremont Rangers 34–18 Oldham St Annes
20 Wigan St Patricks 28–38 Leeds Metro. University
21 Ince Rose Bridge 12–35 Widnes St Maries
22 Royal Air Force 0–42 East Hull
23 West Hull 38–12 Castleford Panthers
24 Hull Victoria 14–44 Castleford Lock Lane
25 Stanningley 20–36 Leigh East
26 Bramley Buffaloes 12–18 Wigan St Judes
27 Normanton Knights 46–8 Fife Lions

Round 2
(week ending 25 February)

Russian team Kazan Arrows entered the competition. Castleford Lock Lane defeated Bradford Dudley Hill after extra time in the closest game of this round, which against consisted of amateur teams.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Bradford Dudley Hill 26–28 Castleford Lock Lane
2 East Hull 50–4 Dewsbury Celtic
3 Eccles & Salford 40–28 Egremont Rangers
4 Leigh East 10–25 Oulton Raiders
5 Leigh MR 34–18 Leeds Metro. University
6 Rochdale Mayfield 50–0 East Leeds
7 Royal Navy 26–28 Normanton
8 Saddleworth 21–14 Siddal
9 Thornhill 38–20 Kazan Arrows
10 West Hull 23–16 Skirlaugh
11 Widnes St Maries 22–6 Hull Isberg
12 Wigan St Judes 22–30 Drighlington

Round 3
(week ending 11 March)

Teams from National League Two, National League One entered at this stage, as did three teams from France and Lokomotiv Moscow from Russia.

Lokomotiv's defeat ended the competition for Russian teams. The Castleford derby was a highlight of the draw, though the professional Castleford Tigers defeated their amateur neighbours. 2005 semi-finalists Toulouse failed to win at York, though Pia's victory against Blackpool ensured that one team from the French Rugby League Championship progressed. All remaining amateur teams were eliminated.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 York City Knights 54–28 Toulouse Olympique
2 Hunslet Hawks 40–22 Rochdale Mayfield
3 Featherstone Rovers 52–10 Drighlington
4 Batley Bulldogs 60–6 Widnes St Maries
5 Whitehaven 24–10 Doncaster Lakers
6 Dewsbury Rams 36–34 Leigh Centurions
7 Normanton Knights 10–78 Widnes Vikings
8 Castleford Tigers 88–10 Castleford Lock Lane
9 Swinton Lions 60–20 Lokomotiv Moscow
10 Workington Town 18–10 Oulton Raiders
11 Keighley Cougars 34–6 Thornhill
12 Halifax 86–12 Eccles & Salford
13 Leigh Miners Rangers 18–46 Sheffield Eagles
14 West Hull 18–70 Barrow Raiders
15 Rochdale Hornets 48–6 Saddleworth
16 East Hull 10–26 Oldham R.L.F.C.
17 Blackpool Panthers 18–42 Pia
18 West Bowling 8–24 London Skolars
19 Celtic Crusaders 50–10 Eastmoor Dragons
20 Gateshead Thunder 38–22 Limoux Grizzlies

Round 4
(week ending 1 April)

This round saw the teams from the Super League enter. The only all-Super League match saw Warrington defeat Hull KR. Celtic Crusaders' defeat saw the final Welsh team leave the tournament. Once again, however, all games went to form, with no sides from lower leagues defeating a team from a higher league. Pia's defeat saw the French rugby league championship's exit from the Cup.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Keighley Cougars 10–20 Oldham R.L.F.C.
2 Dewsbury Rams 28–46 Sheffield Eagles
3 Whitehaven 36–8 Halifax
4 Widnes Vikings 24–34 Wigan Warriors
5 Swinton Lions 14–47 Barrow Raiders
6 London Skolars 4–52 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
7 Rochdale Hornets 20–16 Celtic Crusaders
8 Huddersfield Giants 74–4 York City Knights
9 Hull F.C. 78–0 Hunslet Hawks
10 Pia 8–64 Harlequins
11 Catalans Dragons 70–12 Featherstone Rovers
12 Warrington Wolves 38–10 Hull Kingston Rovers
13 Bradford Bulls 24–16 Castleford Tigers
14 Leeds Rhinos 72–10 Workington Town
15 St. Helens 78–14 Batley Bulldogs
16 Gateshead Thunder 4–64 Salford City Reds

Round 5
(week ending 13 May)

No new teams enter at this stage with all matches scheduled to be played over 12 and 13 May. The remaining teams for the 5th round are made up with eleven teams from Super League, three from National League One and two from National League Two.

Tie no Home team Score Away team
1 Whitehaven 14–24 Catalans Dragons
2 Warrington Wolves 48–16 Barrow Raiders
3 Leeds Rhinos 18–22 Wigan Warriors
4 Hull F.C. 44–6 Sheffield Eagles
5 Salford City Reds 10–36 Huddersfield Giants
6 St. Helens 70–10 Rochdale Hornets
7 Oldham R.L.F.C. 6–66 Harlequins
8 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 4–14 Bradford Bulls

Quarter-finals
8 June 2007
Wigan Warriors 25–6 Harlequins
Try: Ashton
Richards
Calderwood
O'Loughlin
Goal: Richards (4)
Drop: Barrett		 (Report)
 Try: Bannister, Goal: Sykes
JJB Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 10,835
Referee: Ben Thaler
9 June 2007
St. Helens 25–14 Warrington Wolves
Try: Gilmour (2) 1', 60'
Talau 42'
Gardner 50'
Roby 77'
Goal: Wellens (2)
Drop: Long 72'		 (Report)
 Try: Penny 28'
Fa'afili 31'
Goal: Briers (3)
Knowsley Road, St. Helens
Attendance: 8,503
Referee: Richard Silverwood
10 June 2007
Bradford Bulls 52–20 Huddersfield Giants
Try: B. Harris (2)
Solomona
Ian Henderson
St Hilaire
Burgess
Tupou (2)
Newton
Goal: Deacon (8)		 (Report)
 Try: Nero
Lolesi
Paul
Hudson
Goal: Drew (2)
Grattan Stadium, Bradford
Attendance: 7,811
Referee: Phil Bentham
10 June 2007
Hull F.C. 23–26 Catalans Dragons
Try: Briscoe
King
Domic
Goal: Tickle (5)
Drop: Horne		 (Report)
 Try: Mogg (2)
Wilson
Greenshields
Goal: Bosc (4)
Drop: Guisset
Bosc
KC Stadium, Hull
Attendance: 7,441
Referee: Ashley Klein

Semi-finals
28 July 2007
Bradford Bulls 14–35 St. Helens
Try: Evans 16' m
Tupou 55' m
Vagana 67' c
Goal: Deacon		 (Report)
 Try: Talau 4' c
Meli 21' m
Gidley 34' c
Clough 58' c
Pryce 69' c
Bennett 75' c
Goal: Long (4)
Wellens
Drop: Long 40'
Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield
Attendance: 14,316
Referee: Richard Silverwood
29 July 2007
Wigan Warriors 24–37 Catalans Dragons
Try: Leuluai 35' c
Higham 54' c
Goulding 64' c
Calderwood 68' c
Goal: Richards (4)
Drop:		 (Report)
 Try: McGuire (2) 4' c, 8' c
Mogg 12' c
Duport (2) 17' m, 49' c
Croker 72' c
Goal: Jones (6)
Drop: Jones 52'
Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington
Attendance: 10,218
Referee: Steve Ganson

Final
Pre-match at the 2007 Challenge Cup Final
Main article: 2007 Challenge Cup Final
25 August 2007
St. Helens 30–8 Catalans Dragons
Tries: Roby 33'
Gardner (2) 40' and 78'
Wellens 46'
Clough 50'
Goals: Long (5)		 (Report)
 Tries: Khattabi 35'
Murphy 56'
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 84,241
Referee: Ashley Klein

UK Broadcasting rights

The tournament was screened in the United Kingdom by the BBC.

Round BBC live match
Round 4
Round 5
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals Bradford Bulls v St. Helens
Wigan Warriors v Catalans Dragons
Final St. Helens v Catalans Dragons
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