View source for 2008 Challenge Cup

{{short description|Rugby league competition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup
|title               = 2008 Carnegie Challenge Cup 
|league              = 
|logo                = 
|pixels              = 
|duration            = 9 Rounds
|no_of_teams         = 
|highest_attendance  = 82,821
|lowest_attendance   = 
|avg_attendance      = 
|TV                  = {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[BBC Sport]]
|biggest_home_win    = {{leagueicon|wigan|12}} [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] 106-8 <br/>{{leagueicon|whitehaven|12}} [[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|biggest_away_win    = {{leagueicon|workington|12}} [[Workington Town]] 12-68 <br/> {{leagueicon|hull KR|12}} [[Hull Kingston Rovers]]
|season              = 2008
|season_champs       = {{leagueicon|st helens|16}} [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|season_champ_name   = Winners
|league_leaders      = 
|league_leaders_name = 
|second_place        = {{leagueicon|hullfc|16}} [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
|MVP                 = {{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} [[Paul Wellens]]
|MVP_link            = Lance Todd Trophy
|top_scorer          =
|prevseason_link     = 2007 Challenge Cup
|prevseason_year     = 2007
|nextseason_link     = 2009 Challenge Cup
|nextseason_year     = 2009
}}
The '''2008 Challenge Cup''' (also known as the '''Carnegie Challenge Cup''' for sponsorship reasons) was the 107th staging of the [[Challenge Cup]] most prestigious knock-out competition in the world of [[Rugby league]], featuring teams from across Europe, including England, Scotland, Wales, France and Russia. It began in February 2008.

Teams from the [[British_rugby_league_system#History|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 R.F.C.|St. Helens]] successfully defended their title after beating [[Hull F.C.]] 28 - 16 in the final.

==Round 1==
:''(week ending 3 February, 3 fixtures played Saturday 9 February (indicated with *), 1 on Saturday 16 February (indicated with **))''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|Askham
|12 &ndash; 20
|West Bowling
|-
|2*
|Bradford Dudley Hill
|72 &ndash; 0
|Dewsbury Celtic
|-
|3
|[[Bramley Buffaloes]]
|24 &ndash; 16
|Castleford Panthers
|-
|4
|British Army
|34 &ndash; 12
|Thatto Heath
|-
|5
|[[Castleford Lock Lane]]
|18 &ndash; 32
|Royal Navy
|-
|6*
|Drighlington
|10 &ndash; 20
|Bank Quay Bulls
|-
|7
|East Hull
|54 &ndash; 6
|Royal Air Force
|-
|8*
|Eastmoor
|10 &ndash; 23
|Queens
|-
|9
|Eccles & Salford
|10 &ndash; 28
|Leigh East
|-
|10
|Ellenbrough Rangers
|17 &ndash; 1
|Saddleworth Rangers
|-
|11
|Hull Wyke
|18 &ndash; 40<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=4 February 2008 |title=Blue and Golds into the hat |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/rugby/league/2015914.blue-and-golds-into-the-hat/ |work= York Press|location=York |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=17 March 2024}}</ref>
|York Acorn
|-
|12
|Ince Rose Bridge
|28 &ndash; 6 ***
|Hunslet Old Boys
|-
|13
|Leigh Miners Rangers
|24 &ndash; 18
|Halton Simms Cross
|-
|14
|Mayfield
|48 &ndash; 4
|Crosfields
|-
|15
|Millom
|38 &ndash; 0
|Milford Marlins
|-
|16
|[[Normanton (Rugby League)|Normanton Knights]]
|38 &ndash; 8
|Edinburgh Eagles
|-
|17
|Oulton Raiders
|48 &ndash; 4
|Oldham St Annes
|-
|18
|Seaton Rangers
|6 &ndash; 38
|Featherstone Lions
|-
|19
|Siddal
|62 &ndash; 6
|Egremont Rangers
|-
|20
|Skirlaugh
|46 &ndash; 14
|Waterhead
|-
|21
|St Albans
|16 &ndash; 42
|Hull Dockers
|-
|22
|St Marys
|22 &ndash; 30
|Warrington Wizards
|-
|23
|Stanningley
|16 &ndash; 10
|Shaw Cross Sharks
|-
|24
|Thornhill
|20 &ndash; 26
|Leeds Met
|-
|25
|Wath Brow Hornets
|58 &ndash; 4
|Heworth
|-
|26*
|West Hull
|48 &ndash; 14
|Widnes St Maries
|-
|27
|Wigan St Patricks
|44 &ndash; 14
|Ovenden
|-
|}

<nowiki>***</nowiki> - Match abandoned after Hunslet Old Boys had 4 players sent off. Hunslet Old Boys were subsequently thrown out of the competition.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7228669.stm | title = Hunslet Old Boys pay Cup penalty | access-date = 2008-02-17  | work=BBC News | date=2008-02-05| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080209003252/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7228669.stm| archive-date= 9 February 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status= live}}</ref>

==Round 2==

:''(weekend of 23 &ndash; 24 February)''

Russian team Vereya joined in this round. Vereya were runners-up in the Russian Championship to [[RC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]]. Lokomotiv Moscow joined in the third round.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|Bank Quay Bulls
|29 &ndash; 0
|Millom
|-
|2
|Bramley Buffaloes
|16 &ndash; 26
|Wigan St. Patricks
|-
|3
|Hull Dockers
|14 &ndash; 19
|Skirlaugh
|-
|4
|Ince Rose Bridge
|25 &ndash; 26
|British Army
|-
|5
|Leeds Met Uni
|20 &ndash; 8
|Leigh East
|-
|6
|Leigh Miners Rangers
|64 &ndash; 12
|Vereya
|-
|7
|Normanton
|18 &ndash; 38
|East Hull
|-
|8
|Oulton Raiders
|18 &ndash; 14
|West Hull
|-
|9
|Royal Navy
|6 &ndash; 36
|Rochdale Mayfield
|-
|10
|Siddal
|6 &ndash; 17
|Queens
|-
|11
|Warrington Wizards
|26 &ndash; 10
|Stanningley
|-
|12
|Wath Brow Hornets
|8 &ndash; 6
|Ellenborough Rangers
|-
|13
|West Bowling
|16 &ndash; 34
|Featherstone Lions
|-
|14
|York Acorn
|14 &ndash; 6
|Bradford Dudley Hill
|-
|}

==Round 3==

:''(weekend of 8 &ndash; 9 March)''

The [[British_rugby_league_system#History|National Leagues]] teams, together with [[RC Lokomotiv Moscow|Lokomotiv Moscow]], Pia, Lezignan and Toulouse joined in this round. [[Super League]] teams joined in Round 4.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|Bank Quay Bulls
|6 &ndash; 36
|Hunslet
|-
|2
|Batley
|42 &ndash; 10
|East Hull
|-
|3
|Blackpool
|16 &ndash; 23
|Featherstone Rovers
|-
|4
|British Army
|10 &ndash; 56
|Oldham
|-
|5
|Celtic Crusaders
|58 &ndash; 10
|Lokomotiv Moscow
|-
|6
|[[Newcastle Thunder|Gateshead Thunder]]
|24 &ndash; 26
|Pia
|-
|7
|Keighley
|14 &ndash; 17
|Toulouse
|-
|8
|Leeds Met Uni
|16 &ndash; 44
|Doncaster
|-
|9
|Leigh
|66 &ndash; 0
|Featherstone Lions
|-
|10
|Leigh Miners Rangers
|14 &ndash; 40
|Whitehaven
|-
|11
|London Skolars
|20 &ndash; 8
|Queens
|-
|12
|Rochdale Mayfield
|10 &ndash; 30
|Barrow
|-
|13
|Oulton Raiders
|24 &ndash; 54
|Dewsbury
|-
|14
|Rochdale Hornets
|50 &ndash; 8
|York Acorn
|-
|15
|Salford
|66 &ndash; 10
|Warrington Wizards
|-
|16
|Sheffield Eagles
|22 &ndash; 37
|Lezignan
|-
|17
|Wath Brow Hornets
|14 &ndash; 40
|Swinton
|-
|18
|Widnes
|60 &ndash; 18
|Skirlaugh
|-
|19
|Wigan St. Patricks
|14 &ndash; 50
|Workington Town
|-
|20
|York
|12 &ndash; 34
|Halifax
|-
|}

==Round 4==

:''(Weekend of 18 &ndash; 20 April)''

[[Super League]] teams joined in Round 4. From Round 4 onwards, the competition was a straightforward [[Single-elimination tournament|knock-out]], with no more teams joining.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|[[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|12 &ndash; 26
|[[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|-
|2
|[[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|16 &ndash; 28
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|-
|3
|[[Workington Town]]
|12 &ndash; 68
|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]
|-
|4
|[[London Broncos|Harlequins]]
|44 &ndash; 14
|[[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]]
|-
|5
|[[Doncaster R.L.F.C.|Doncaster]]
|12 &ndash; 38
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|-
|6
|[[Featherstone Rovers]]
|12 &ndash; 22
|[[Catalans Dragons]]
|-
|7
|[[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]
|48 &ndash; 16
|[[Hunslet R.L.F.C.|Hunslet]]
|-
|8
|[[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|8 &ndash; 38
|[[Wakefield Trinity]]
|-
|9
|[[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]
|38 &ndash; 16
|[[Crusaders Rugby League|Celtic Crusaders]]
|-
|10
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|8 &ndash; 20
|[[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]
|-
|11
|[[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]]
|98 &ndash; 6
|[[Toulouse Olympique]]
|-
|12
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|24 &ndash; 42
|[[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]
|-
|13
|[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|46 &ndash; 6
|[[Lézignan Sangliers]]
|-
|14
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|56 &ndash; 0
|[[London Skolars]]
|-
|15
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|5 &ndash; 42
|[[Hull F.C.]]
|-
|16
|[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|74 &ndash; 4
|[[Pia Donkeys]]
|}

All fixtures taken from [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7292530.stm BBC Sport]

==Round 5==

:''(weekend of 9 &ndash; 12 May)''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
|-
!Tie no
!Home team
!Score
!Away team
|-
|1
|[[Hull Kingston Rovers]]
|42 &ndash; 22
|[[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]
|-
|2
|[[Barrow Raiders|Barrow]]
|6 &ndash; 58
|[[Wakefield Trinity]]
|-
|3
|[[Dewsbury Rams|Dewsbury]]
|12 &ndash; 58
|[[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]
|-
|4
|[[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]]
|46 &ndash; 16
|[[Catalans Dragons]]
|-
|5
|[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|106 &ndash; 8
|[[Whitehaven R.L.F.C.|Whitehaven]]
|-
|6
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|18 &ndash; 32*
|[[Hull F.C.]]
|-
|7
|[[London Broncos|Harlequins]]
|26 &ndash; 36
|[[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]
|-
|8
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]
|40 &ndash; 34
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|-
|}

==Quarter finals==
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 1 June 2008 |
team1 = [[File:Bullscolours.svg|16px]] [[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]] |
score = 16 – 22 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7421978.stm (Preview)] |
team2 = [[File:Hullcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull F.C.]] |
points1 = Try: [[Tame Tupou|Tupou]] 54' c<br/>[[Paul Sykes (rugby league)|Sykes]] 78' m<br/>Goal: [[Iestyn Harris|Harris]] (4)|
points2 = Try: [[Matt Sing|Sing]] 31' c, 43' c<br/>[[Todd Byrne|Byrne]] 39' c<br/>Goal: [[Danny Tickle|Tickle]] (5)|
stadium = [[Odsal Stadium|Odsal]], [[Bradford]] |
attendance = |
referee= [[Steve Ganson]] }}
----
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 1 June 2008 |
team1 = [[File:HKRcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] |
score = 18 – 24 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7421977.stm (Preview)] |
team2 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
points1 = Try: [[Paul Cooke (rugby league)|Cooke]]<br/>[[Daniel Fitzhenry|Fitzhenry]]<br/>[[Jake Webster|Webster]]<br/>Goal: [[Paul Cooke (rugby league)|Cooke]] (3)|
points2 = Try: [[Willie Talau|Talau]]<br/>[[Maurie Fa'asavalu|Fa'asavalu]]<br/>[[Sean Long|Long]]<br/>[[Ade Gardner|Gardner]]<br/>Goal: [[Sean Long|Long]] (4)|
stadium = [[Craven Park, Hull|Craven Park]], [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] |
attendance = |
referee= [[Ashley Klein]] }}
----
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 31 May 2008 |
team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] |
score = 23 – 16 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7421975.stm (Report)] |
team2 = [[File:Wigancolours.svg|16px]] [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] |
points1 = Try: [[Matt Diskin|Diskin]] 5' c<br/>[[Rob Burrow|Burrow]] 28' c<br/>[[Brent Webb|Webb]] 57' c<br/>[[Scott Donald|Donald]] 76' c<br/>Goal: [[Kevin Sinfield|Sinfield]] (3)<br/>Drop: [[Kevin Sinfield|Sinfield]] 80' |
points2 = Try: [[Mark Calderwood|Calderwood]] 38' c<br/>[[Thomas Leuluai|T. Leuluai]] 66' c<br/>Goal: [[Pat Richards|Richards]] (4) |
stadium = [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]] |
attendance = |
referee= Richard Silverwood }}
----
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 1 June 2008 |
team1 = [[File:Wcatscolours.svg|16px]] [[Wakefield Trinity]] |
score = 46 – 4 |
report = [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7421980.stm (Preview)] |
team2 = [[File:Oldhamcolours.svg|16px]] [[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]] |
points1 = Try: [[Sean Gleeson (rugby league)|Gleeson]] (2)<br/>[[Damien Blanch|Blanch]]<br/>[[Oliver Wilkes|Wilkes]]<br/>[[Brad Drew|Drew]]<br/>[[Jamie Rooney|Rooney]] (2)<br/>[[Danny Brough|Brough]]<br/>[[Tony Martin (rugby league)|Martin]]<br/>Goal: [[Danny Brough|Brough]] (5)|
points2 = Try: [[Lucas Onyango|Onyango]]|
stadium = [[Belle Vue (Wakefield)|Belle Vue]], [[Wakefield]] |
attendance = |
referee= Ben Thaler }}
----

==Semi finals==
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 26 July 2008|
team1 = [[File:Rhinoscolours.svg|16px]] [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] |
score = 16 – 26
 |
team2 = [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Kirklees Stadium]], [[Huddersfield]] |
attendance = |
referee= [[Ashley Klein]] }}

----
{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 27 July 2008|
team1 = [[File:Wcatscolours.svg|16px]] [[Wakefield Trinity]] |
score = 24 – 32
 |
team2 = [[File:Hullcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull F.C.]] |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Keepmoat Stadium]], [[Doncaster]] |
attendance = |
referee= Richard Silverwood}}
----

==Final==
{{Main|2008 Challenge Cup Final}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox |
date = 30 August 2008 |
team1 =  [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]] [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] |
score = 28 – 16 |
report = |
team2 =  [[File:Hullcolours.svg|16px]] [[Hull F.C.]] |
points1 = |
points2 = |
stadium = [[Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] |
attendance = |
referee=  }}

==UK Broadcasting rights==
Selected matches were televised solely by the [[BBC]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Round
! Live match
! Date
! BBC channel
|-
| Round 4
| [[London Broncos|Harlequins]] 44 - 14 [[Castleford Tigers|Castleford]]<br />[[Salford Red Devils|Salford]] 8 - 38 [[Wakefield Trinity]]
| 
| BBC Two<sup>1</sup>
|-
| Round 5
| [[Hull Kingston Rovers]] 42 - 22 [[Huddersfield Giants|Huddesfield]]<br />[[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] 40 - 34 [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
| 
| BBC Two<sup>1</sup><br />BBC One
|-
| Quarter finals
| [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] 23 - 16 [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]<br />[[Bradford Bulls|Bradford]] 16 - 22 [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
| May 31, 2008<br />June 1, 2008
| BBC One<br />BBC Two<sup>2</sup>
|-
| Semi finals
| [[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]] 16 - 26 [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]]<br />[[Wakefield Trinity]] 24 - 32 [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
| July 26, 2008<br />July 27, 2008
| BBC One<br />BBC Two<sup>3</sup>
|-
| Final
| [[St Helens R.F.C.|St. Helens]] 28 - 16 [[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
| August 30, 2008
| BBC One
|}

<sup>1</sup> Except East and Yorkshire.

<sup>2</sup> Except East, Northern Ireland and Yorkshire.

<sup>3</sup> Except Yorkshire.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://therfl.co.uk Rugby Football League]

{{St. Helens RLFC - 2008 Challenge Cup Final Winners}}
{{Challenge Cup}}
{{St Helens RLFC}}
{{2008 in rugby league}}

[[Category:Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in English rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in British sport|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in Welsh rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in Scottish sport|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in French rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:2008 in Russian sport|Challenge Cup]]