Features

Famous Challenge Cup Finals

Author: John Harris
Date: 28/08/2009
Rugby League betting

Rugby league is set for its turn in the spotlight as the nation turns its attention to the flavour of the sporting week, the Challenge Cup Final.

Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves provide two unrecognisable entities for many who will tune in to see the Wembley showdown this weekend, though both sides have strong histories in rugby league's oldest competition.

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The M6 and M1 motorways will be heaving as the vast majority of the Wembley crowd will travel from Yorkshire and Cheshire, on a day still regarded as rugby league's grandest day out.

Throughout the years, there has been moments provided by the Challenge Cup that are etched in the memory of sports fans everywhere, even those who can only associate the name of Wigan with the sport.

The most famous moment of all time was the most forgettable one for the late Wakefield Trinity legend Don Fox.

The 1968 final was to be remembered as the 'watersplash' final, as both Wakefield and Leeds faced off in the most appalling conditions.

But it will always be referred to as the one when commentator Eddie Waring said: "Don Fox, the poor lad."

A last minute try from Wakefield drew them to within one point of Leeds and prolific goal-kicker Fox had a kick from right in front of goal with the scores at 11-10 in favour of the Headingley side.

But in the disastrous conditions, the easiest kick in rugby was sliced wide as Lance Todd trophy winner Fox lost his footing in the last act of the match.

In more recent memory, the biggest underdog victory in the sport of all time took place in 1998.

Wigan, the dominant force in the sport of the 1980s and 90s, were supposed to walk all over lowly Sheffield Eagles.

But the odds-on superstars lost 17-8, before winning away at the South Yorkshire side with relative comfort a week later.

The last ever final under the Twin Towers saw Leroy Rivett score four tries for Leeds against London Broncos, who were competing in the final for the first time in their history since forming as Fulham in the 1980s.

The Rhinos recorded the biggest ever victory in a Cup final, winning 52-16.

2007 saw the Challenge Cup return to Wembley with a new stadium and a new era dawned.

Sportsbook favourites St Helens lifted the trophy, but they faced a plucky Catalans Dragons side who became the first side from foreign soil in history to reach a Challenge Cup Final.

It's now down to Huddersfield or Warrington to create history of their own.

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