View source for 2006 Challenge Cup

{{short description|Rugby league competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup
|title               = 2006 Powergen Challenge Cup 
|league              = 
|logo                = Challnge Cup logo.jpg
|pixels              = 150
|duration            = 8 Rounds
|no_of_teams         = 
|highest_attendance  = 65,187
|lowest_attendance   = 
|avg_attendance      = 
|TV                  = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[BBC Sport]]
|biggest_home_win    = [[Leigh East A.R.L.F.C.|Leigh East]] 86-10 [[Askam and Ireleth#Sport|Askam]]
|biggest_away_win    = Ovenden 10-50 <br>{{leagueicon|york city|12}} [[York City Knights]]
|season              = 2006
|season_champs       = {{leagueicon|st helens|16px}} [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|season_champ_name   = Winners
|league_leaders      = 
|league_leaders_name = 
|second_place        = {{leagueicon|huddersfield|16px}} [[Huddersfield Giants]]
|MVP                 = {{leagueicon|st helens|16px}} [[Sean Long]]
|MVP_link            = Lance Todd Trophy
|top_scorer          =
|prevseason_link     = 2005 Challenge Cup
|prevseason_year     = 2005
|nextseason_link     = 2007 Challenge Cup
|nextseason_year     = 2007
}}
The '''2006 Challenge Cup''' (also known as the '''Powergen Challenge Cup''' due to sponsorship from [[Powergen]]) was the 105th tournament played for [[rugby league]]'s [[Challenge Cup]]. It features teams from across Europe including England, Scotland, [[Wales]], France and Russia.

The competition started in January 2006 with the preliminary round where the [[Gloucestershire Warriors]] from the [[Rugby League Conference]] surprised an established Pennine League team in [[Illingworth, West Yorkshire|Illingworth]]. The final was scheduled to be played at the new [[Wembley Stadium]] but in March 2006 it became apparent that the stadium would not be ready for the final on 26 August so it was switched to [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]].

In the final [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] proved too strong for the [[Huddersfield Giants]], winning by 42 points to 12. It was Huddersfield's first final since 1953, when they also faced St Helens.

==Round 1==
:''(week ending 5 February)''

Sees the introduction of the major amateur clubs from the [[National Conference League]] and the teams from [[RFL League 1|National League 3]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|'''[[Thornhill Trojans]]'''
|30-12
|[[Eastmoor Dragons]]
|-
|2
|'''[[West Bowling A.R.L.F.C.|West Bowling]]'''
|15-14
|[[Halton Simms Cross]]
|-
|3
|'''[[Bramley Buffaloes]]'''
|30-12
|[[Thatto Heath Crusaders]]
|-
|4
|[[Clayton RLFC|Clayton]]
|24-32
|'''[[Warrington Wizards]]'''
|-
|5
|[[Royal Navy Rugby League|Royal Navy]]
|16-38
|'''[[Wigan St Patricks]]'''
|-
|6
|[[Eccles & Salford]]
|10-12
|'''[[Hunslet Warriors]]'''
|-
|7
|'''[[Leigh East A.R.L.F.C.|Leigh East]]'''
|86-10
|[[Askam and Ireleth#Sport|Askam]]
|-
|8
|'''[[Shaw Cross]] [[Shaw Cross Sharks|Sharks]] [[Shaw Cross ARLFC|ARLFC]]'''
|32-22
|[[Oldham St Annes]]
|-
|9
|'''[[Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C.|Skirlaugh]]'''
|12-8
|[[Normanton (Rugby League)|Normanton Knights]]
|-
|10
|'''[[East Leeds A.R.L.F.C.|East Leeds]]'''
|28-12
|[[Milford Marlins]]
|-
|11
|'''[[Ovenden RLFC|Ovenden]]'''
|32-28
|[[Bank Quay Bulls]]
|-
|12
|'''[[Bradford Dudley Hill]]'''
|42-12
|[[Gateshead Storm]]
|-
|13
|'''[[York Acorn A.R.L.F.C.|York Acorn]]'''
|29-22
|[[Ince Rose Bridge]]
|-
|14
|[[Royal Air Force Rugby League|Royal Air Force]]
|13-42
|'''[[Siddal A.R.L.F.C.|Siddal]]'''
|-
|15
|[[Wigan St Judes]]
|12-33
|'''[[Kells A.R.L.F.C.|Kells]]'''
|-
|16
|'''[[Walney Central]]'''
|18-0
|[[Ideal Isberg]]
|-
|17
|'''[[East Hull A.R.L.F.C.|East Hull]]'''
|46-0
|[[Castleford Lock Lane]]
|-
|18
|'''[[Leigh Miners Rangers]]'''
|76-0
|[[Bransholme RFC|Bransholme]]
|-
|19
|[[Gloucestershire Warriors]]
|20-36
|'''[[Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C.|Blackbrook]]'''
|-
|20
|'''[[Seaton Rangers]]'''
|34-4
|[[Rochdale Mayfield]]
|-
|21
|'''[[Barrow Island RLFC|Barrow Island]]'''
|32-18
|[[Stanley Rangers]]
|-
|22
|[[Crosfields ARLFC|Crosfields]]
|20-28
|'''[[Oulton Raiders]]'''
|-
|23
|'''[[Saddleworth Rangers]]'''
|33-32
|[[Hull Dockers]]
|-
|24
|'''[[Widnes St Maries]]'''
|40-12
|[[St Albans Centurions]]
|-
|25
|'''[[British Army Rugby League|The Army]]'''
|38-18
|[[West Hull ARLFC|West Hull]]
|}

==Round 2==
:''(week ending 19 February)''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|'''[[Leigh Miners Rangers]]'''
|38-26
|[[Oulton Raiders]]
|-
|2
|[[Warrington Wizards]]
|20-22
|'''[[Bradford Dudley Hill]]'''
|-
|3
|'''[[East Hull A.R.L.F.C.|East Hull]]'''
|10-8
|[[Wigan St Patricks]]
|-
|4
|'''[[Hunslet Warriors]]'''
|30-18
|[[Siddal A.R.L.F.C.|Siddal]]
|-
|5
|[[East Leeds A.R.L.F.C.|East Leeds]]
|22-46
|'''[[Widnes St Maries]]'''
|-
|6
|'''[[York Acorn A.R.L.F.C.|York Acorn]]'''
|35-16
|[[Seaton Rangers]]
|-
|7
|[[Walney Central]]
|0-28
|'''[[Saddleworth Rangers]]'''
|-
|8
|'''[[Ovenden RLFC|Ovenden]]'''
|38-24
|[[Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C.|Blackbrook]]
|-
|9
|'''[[Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C.|Skirlaugh]]'''
|25-12
|[[Wath Brow Hornets]]
|-
|10
|[[Bramley Buffaloes]]
|22-28
|'''[[Shaw Cross]] [[Shaw Cross Sharks|Sharks]] [[Shaw Cross ARLFC|ARLFC]]'''
|-
|11
|[[Barrow Island RLFC|Barrow Island]]
|18-28
|'''[[Kells A.R.L.F.C.|Kells]]'''
|-
|12
|[[British Army Rugby League|The Army]]
|14-20
|'''[[West Bowling A.R.L.F.C.|West Bowling]]'''
|-
|13
|[[Leigh East A.R.L.F.C.|Leigh East]]
|14-32
|'''[[Thornhill Trojans]]'''
|}

==Round 3==
:''(week ending 12 March)''

Round 3 sees the introduction of the [[RFL Championship|National League 1 and 2]] teams and teams from France and Russia. Amateurs Thornhill Trojans provided the first surprise result by beating national 2 team Workington Town. Late season snow caused a number of postponements on the Sunday.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|[[Leigh Miners Rangers]]
|6-34
|'''[[Rochdale Hornets]]'''
|-
|2
|'''[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]'''
|72-0
|[[Pia XIII|Pia]]
|-
|3
|'''[[Thornhill Trojans]]'''
|16-12
|[[Workington Town]]
|-
|4
|'''[[London Skolars]]'''
|20-10
|[[Newcastle Thunder|Gateshead Thunder]]
|-
|5
|'''[[Batley Bulldogs]]'''
|24-10
|[[Limoux Grizzlies]]
|-
|6
|[[Blackpool Panthers]]
|10-18
|'''[[Toulouse Olympique]]'''
|-
|7
|'''[[Crusaders Rugby League|Celtic Crusaders]]'''
|64-4
|[[RC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]
|-
|8
|'''[[Dewsbury Rams]]'''
|68-0
|[[Bradford Dudley Hill]]
|-
|9
|'''[[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster Lakers]]'''
|34-18
|[[Shaw Cross]] [[Shaw Cross Sharks|Sharks]] [[Shaw Cross ARLFC|ARLFC]]
|-
|10
|[[East Hull A.R.L.F.C.|East Hull]]
|2-20
|'''[[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet Hawks]]'''
|-
|11
|'''[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]'''
|62-1
|[[York Acorn A.R.L.F.C.|York Acorn]]
|-
|12
|[[Hunslet Warriors]]
|0-38
|'''[[Widnes Vikings]]'''
|-
|13
|'''[[Leigh Centurions]]'''
|80-0
|[[Kazan Arrows]]
|-
|14
|'''[[Oldham R.L.F.C.]]'''
|34-10
|[[Saddleworth Rangers]]
|-
|15
|[[Skirlaugh A.R.L.F.C.|Skirlaugh]]
|14-36
|'''[[Featherstone Rovers]]'''
|-
|16
|'''[[Swinton Lions]]'''
|42-18
|[[Sheffield Eagles]]
|-
|17
|[[Kells A.R.L.F.C.|Kells]]
|6-26
|'''[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]'''
|-
|18
|[[Ovenden RLFC|Ovenden]]
|10-50
|'''[[York City Knights]]'''
|-
|19
|[[West Bowling]]
|0-34
|'''[[Keighley Cougars]]'''
|-
|20
|[[Widnes St Maries]]
|14-30
|'''[[Barrow Raiders]]'''
|}

==Round 4==
:''(week ending 2 April)''

Round 4 sees the introduction of the [[Super League]] teams. Some matches are now televised live by the [[BBC]]. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Bradford and Wakefield. 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|'''[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]'''
|56-6
|[[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster Lakers]]
|-
|2
|'''[[Bradford Bulls]]'''
|23-12
| [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
|-
|3
|'''[[Catalans Dragons]]'''
|66-0
|[[Thornhill Trojans|Thornhill]]
|-
|4
|'''[[Rochdale Hornets]]'''
|32-8
|[[Crusaders Rugby League|Celtic Crusaders]]
|-
|5
|'''[[Barrow Raiders]]'''
|40-8
|[[Oldham R.L.F.C.]]
|-
|6
|[[Batley Bulldogs]]
|16-28
|'''[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]'''
|-
|7
|'''[[Featherstone Rovers]]'''
|44-10
|[[Keighley Cougars]]
|-
|8
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|8-40
|'''[[Huddersfield Giants]]'''
|-
|9
|'''[[London Broncos|Harlequins]]'''
|48-6
|[[Toulouse Olympique]]
|-
|10
|[[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet Hawks]]
|0-22
|'''[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]'''
|-
|11
|[[Leigh Centurions]]
|12-36
|'''[[Leeds Rhinos]]'''
|-
|12
|'''[[Salford Red Devils|Salford City Reds]]'''
|32-4
|[[Dewsbury Rams]]
|-
|13
|[[Swinton Lions]]
|18-20
|'''[[York City Knights]]'''
|-
|14
|[[Wakefield Trinity|Wakefield Trinity Wildcats]]
|22-32
|'''[[Wigan Warriors]]'''
|-
|15
|'''[[Warrington Wolves]]'''
|56-0
|[[London Skolars]]
|-
|16
|'''[[Widnes Vikings]]'''
|14-4
|[[Castleford Tigers]]
|}

==Round 5==
:''(week ending 21 May)''

No new teams enter at this stage. In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at St Helens and Widnes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|'''[[Salford Red Devils|Salford City Reds]]'''
|16-4
|[[Wigan Warriors]]
|-
|2
|'''[[Huddersfield Giants]]'''
|38-4
|[[York City Knights]]
|-
|3
|[[Widnes Vikings]]
|16-34
|'''[[Catalans Dragons]]'''
|-
|4
|'''[[Leeds Rhinos]]'''
|66-0
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|-
|5
|'''[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]'''
|44-12
|[[Featherstone Rovers]]
|-
|6
|'''[[London Broncos|Harlequins]]'''
|82-8
|[[Barrow Raiders]]
|-
|7
|'''[[Warrington Wolves]]'''
|46-2
|[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|-
|8
|'''[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]'''
|42-18
|[[Bradford Bulls]]
|}

==Quarter-finals==
:''(week ending 4 June)''

In this round the matches chosen for transmission were at Hull KR and Leeds. Hull KR pulled off a major surprise when they beat Superleague team Warrington Wolves.

{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 4 June 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] [[Leeds Rhinos]] |
score = 36&ndash;18 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5040536.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Quinscolours.svg|16px]] [[London Broncos|Harlequins]] |
points1 = [[Danny Williams (rugby)|Danny Williams]] (12), [[Scott Donald]] (8), [[Kevin Sinfield]] (8), [[Danny McGuire]] (4), [[Willie Poching]] (4) |
points2 = [[Luke Dorn]] (4), [[Tyrone Smith (rugby league footballer)|Tyrone Smith]] (4), [[Pat Weisner]] (4), [[Michael Worrincy]] (4), [[Rob Purdham]] (2) |
stadium = [[Headingley]], [[Leeds]] |
attendance =  |
referee= Karl Kirkpatrick }}
<br>
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 4 June 2006 |
team1 = [[File:HKRcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] |
score = 40&ndash;36 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5040504.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Wolvescolours.svg|16px]] [[Warrington Wolves]] |
points1 = [[Byron Ford]] (12), [[Gareth Morton]] (12), [[Makali Aizue]] (4), [[Dwayne Barker]] (4), [[Ben Cockayne]] (4), [[Jon Goddard]] (4) |
points2 = [[Chris Bridge]] (8), [[Henry Fa'afili]] (8), [[Logan Swann]] (8), [[Martin Gleeson (rugby league)|Martin Gleeson]] (4), [[Stuart Reardon]] (4), [[Michael Sullivan (rugby league footballer)|Michael Sullivan]] (4) |
stadium = [[Craven Park, Hull|Craven Park]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] |
attendance =  |
referee= Steve Ganson }}
<br>
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 4 June 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Giantscolours.svg|16px]] [[Huddersfield Giants]] |
score = 44&ndash;14 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5040422.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Redscolours.svg|16px]] [[Salford Red Devils|Salford City Reds]] |
points1 = [[Michael De Vere]] (12), [[Paul March]] (8), [[Chris Nero]] (8), [[Robbie Paul]] (8), [[Martin Aspinwall]] (4), [[Brad Drew]] (4) |
points2 = [[David Hodgson (rugby league footballer)|David Hodgson]] (10), [[Aaron Moule]] (4) |
stadium = [[Galpharm Stadium]], [[Huddersfield]] |
attendance =  |
referee= Ashley Klein }}
<br>
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 3 June 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
score = 56&ndash;10 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5040102.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Catalanscolours.svg|16px]] [[Catalans Dragons]] |
points1 = [[Ade Gardner]] (12), [[Paul Anderson (rugby league, born 1971)|Paul Anderson]] (8), [[Vinnie Anderson]] (4), [[Sean Long]] (4), [[Jamie Lyon]] (4), [[Leon Pryce]] (4), [[Jon Wilkin]] (4) |
points2 = [[Stacey Jones]] (4), [[Justin Murphy (rugby league footballer)|Justin Murphy]] (4), [[Laurent Frayssinous]] (2) |
stadium = [[Knowsley Road]], [[St Helens, Merseyside|St. Helens]] |
attendance =  |
referee= Richard Silverwood }}

==Semi-finals==
:''(week ending 30 July)''

Unlike earlier rounds, matches from now on will be played on neutral grounds. Huddersfield have the chance to win the Cup for the first time in 1953 when they beat this year's final opponents St Helens.

{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 29 July 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
score = 50&ndash;0 |
report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001005821/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=26035 (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:HKRcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] |
points1 = [[Jamie Lyon]] (18), [[Willie Talau]] (8), [[Jon Wilkin]] (8), [[Vinnie Anderson]] (4), [[Ade Gardner]] (4), [[Sean Long]] (4), [[Paul Wellens]] (4) |
points2 =  |
stadium = [[Galpharm Stadium]], [[Huddersfield]] |
attendance = 12,868 |
referee= Karl Kirkpatrick }}
<br>
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 30 July 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] [[Leeds Rhinos]] |
score = 12&ndash;30 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5210858.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Giantscolours.svg|16px]] [[Huddersfield Giants]] |
points1 = [[Scott Donald]] (4), [[Willie Poching]] (4), [[Kevin Sinfield]] (2) |
points2 = [[Michael De Vere]] (14), [[Stuart Donlan]] (8), [[Chris Nero]] (8) |
stadium = [[Odsal Stadium]], [[Bradford]] |
attendance = 12,574 |
referee=  }}

==Final==

[[File:Giants Saints.jpg|thumb|Teams lining up at [[Twickenham Stadium]] prior to the match]]

The final was originally scheduled to be played at [[Wembley Stadium]] though because of the construction delay was alternatively held at [[Twickenham Stadium]], [[London]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|{{Rugbyleaguebox |
bg = #eeeeee |
date = 26 August 2006 |
team1 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
score = 42&ndash;12 |
report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071001045703/http://www.rleague.com/db/index.php?id=80375 (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Giantscolours.svg|16px]] [[Huddersfield Giants]] |
points1 = [[Jamie Lyon]] (18), [[Jon Wilkin]] (8), [[Jason Cayless]] (4), [[Maurie Fa'asavalu]] (4), [[Sean Long]] (4), [[Willie Talau]] (4) |
points2 = [[Martin Aspinwall]] (4), [[Michael De Vere]] (4), [[Robbie Paul]] (4) |
stadium = [[Twickenham Stadium]], [[London]] |
attendance = 65,187 |
referee= Richard Silverwood }}
|}

[[File:St Helens 2006 CCF.jpg|thumb|St Helens celebrating their victory]]

'''Teams''':

'''St Helens''': [[Paul Wellens]], [[Ade Gardner]], [[Jamie Lyon]], [[Willie Talau]], [[Francis Meli]]; [[Leon Pryce]], [[Sean Long]], [[Paul Anderson (rugby league, born 1971)|Paul Anderson]], [[Keiron Cunningham]], [[Jason Cayless]], [[Jon Wilkin]], [[Paul Sculthorpe]], [[Jason Hooper]]<br>
Subs: [[Lee Gilmour]], [[James Roby]], [[James Graham (rugby league)|James Graham]], [[Maurie Fa'asavalu]] Coach: [[Daniel Anderson (rugby league)|Daniel Anderson]]

'''Huddersfield''': [[Paul Reilly (rugby league)|Paul Reilly]], [[Martin Aspinwall]], [[Stephen Wild]], [[Michael De Vere]], [[Stuart Donlan]], [[Chris Thorman]] [[Captain (sports)|(c)]], [[Robbie Paul]], [[Paul Jackson (rugby league)|Paul Jackson]], [[Brad Drew]], [[Jim Gannon (rugby league)|Jim Gannon]], [[Chris Nero]], [[Andy Raleigh]], [[Stuart Jones (rugby league)|Stuart Jones]]<br>
Subs: Paul Smith, [[Eorl Crabtree]], [[Steve Snitch]], [[Wayne McDonald]]   Coach: [[Jon Sharp]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|-
|Next: [[2007 Challenge Cup Final|2007]]
|}

==UK Broadcasting rights==
The tournament was screened in the [[United Kingdom]] by the [[BBC]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Round
! BBC live match
|-
| Round 4
| 
|-
| Round 5
| 
|-
| Quarter finals
| 
|-
| Semi finals
| [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] v [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]<br />[[Leeds Rhinos]] v [[Huddersfield Giants]]
|-
| Final
| [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] v [[Huddersfield Giants]]
|}

==External links==
*[http://therfl.co.uk/ Rugby Football League]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/challenge_cup/5051048.stm Powergen Challenge Cup 2006] on BBC.co.uk
*[http://www.rlphotos.com/2006specials/RLCCFinal1/index.htm 2006 Challenge Cup Final at rlphotos.com]

{{St. Helens RLFC - 2006 Challenge Cup Final Winners}}
{{Challenge Cup}}
{{St Helens RLFC}}
{{2006 in rugby league}}

[[Category:Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:St Helens R.F.C.]]
[[Category:2006 in British sport|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2006 in Welsh rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2006 in French rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2006 in English rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2006 in Russian sport|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2006 in Scottish sport|Challenge Cup]]