2011 Challenge Cup final

Last updated

2011 (2011) Challenge Cup Final  ()
Wembley Stadium (49789469466).jpg
Teams warming up before the match
Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors
1828
12Total
Rhinoscolours.svg LEE10818
Wigancolours.svg WIG161228
Date27 August 2011
Stadium Wembley Stadium, London
LocationLondon, United Kingdom
Harry Sunderland Trophy Jeff Lima
God Save The Queen and Abide with Me Rhydian Roberts
Referee Phil Bentham
Attendance78,482
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
←  2010
2012  →

The 2011 Challenge Cup Final was the 110th cup-deciding game of the rugby league 2011 Challenge Cup Season. It was held at Wembley Stadium in London on 27 August 2011, kick off 14:30. The final was contested by Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors. The game saw Wigan beat Leeds by 28 points to 18. [1]

Contents

Route to the final

Leeds Rhinos

Leeds Rhinos drew Celtic Crusaders in the fourth round, beating the soon to be relegated side 30 points to 20. A fifth round victory over relegation survivors Harlequins, winning by double the point, saw progression to the quarter finals where a comfortable away win against Hull F.C. booked the Rhinos a place in the smi-finals. Lewis's final game before the final saw an extra time win over Castleford Tigers following an eight all draw after the full eighty.

RoundOppositionScore
4th Cruscolours.svg Celtic Crusaders (H)30–20
5th Quinscolours.svg Harlequins RL (H)40–20
QF Hullcolours.svg Hull F.C. (A)38–22
SF Castleford colours.svg Castleford Tigers (N)10–8 (aet)

Wigan Warriors

Wigan Warriors drew eventual Championship relegation side Barrow Raiders in the fourth round, trashing them 52 nill. A tight 26–22 over Bradford Bulls saw the Warriors progress to the quarter finals, where they beat eventual Super League league leaders Warrington Wolves 44 to 24 thus progressing to the semis. The semi-finals saw a Good Friday derby victory over St Helens, beating them 18–12 to book their place in the final.

RoundOppositionScore
4th Barrowcolours.svg Barrow Raiders (A)52–0
5th Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls (H)26–22
QF Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves (A)44–24
SF Saintscolours.svg St Helens (N)18–12

Background and Pre-match

The two sides with the most Challenge Cup Final appearances had only met twice before, Wigan winning both times (1994 and 1995). Leeds had played in the previous year's Challenge Cup final loss, but it was the Wigan's Warriors' first visit to the new Wembley Stadium. Abide with me was sung by Rhydian Roberts.

The game was broadcast by BBC with John Kear and Dave Woods commentating, as well as additional commentary from Tanya Arnold, Clare Balding, Jonathan Davies, Robbie Hunter-Paul, Justin Morgan and Brian Noble. The national anthem of England was then sung before referee Phil Bentham, overseeing his first Challenge Cup final, blew time on and Leeds' captain Kevin Sinfield kicked off.

Match details

27 August
14:30
Leeds Rhinos 18–28 Wigan Warriors
Tries
Ryan Hall (2)
Ben Jones-Bishop
Carl Ablett

Goals
Kevin Sinfield

Report
Tries
Jeff Lima (2)
Josh Charnley
Joel Tomkins
Thomas Leuluai

Goals
Pat Richards (4)

Wembley Stadium, London Flag of England.svg
Attendance: 78,482 [2]
Referee: Phil Bentham Flag of England.svg
Player of the Match: Jeff Lima Flag of New Zealand.svg
Leeds RhinosPosit.Wigan Warriors
1 Brent Webb FB 1 Sam Tomkins
23 Ben Jones-Bishop WG25 Josh Charnley
19 Kallum Watkins CE12 Joel Tomkins
12 Carl Ablett CE4 George Carmont
5 Ryan Hall WG5 Pat Richards
13 Kevin Sinfield (c) SO 6 Paul Deacon
6 Danny McGuire SH17 Brett Finch
8 Kylie Leuluai PR10 Andy Coley
9 Danny Buderus HK 7 Thomas Leuluai
10 Jamie Peacock PR15 Jeff Lima
11 Jamie Jones-Buchanan SR11 Harrison Hansen
3 Brett Delaney SR16 Ryan Hoffman
20 Weller Hauraki LF13 Sean O'Loughlin (c)
7 Rob Burrow Int.9 Michael McIlorum
16 Ryan Bailey Int.14 Paul Prescott
17 Ian Kirke Int.21 Lee Mossop
21 Chris Clarkson Int.22 Liam Farrell
Brian McDermott Coach Michael Maguire

First half

The first points of the match came in the ninth minute when Wigan, having made their way into Leeds' half of the field, moved the ball through the hands to the right winger Josh Charnley, who side-stepped the defence and crashed over the line. [3] Pat Richards missed the attempted conversion so the score remained 0-4 in favour of the Warriors. Wigan were again attacking from fifteen metres out when their prop Jeff Lima ran onto Paul Prescott's short pass, and into a defensive gap to dive over near the goal posts just before the twenty-four-minute mark. [4] Richards' conversion was successful so Wigan were leading 0-10. In the twenty-eighth minute, Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins was returning the Leeds' kick from within his own ten metres, running across-field before passing the ball out to his brother, right centre Joel Tomkins.[ citation needed ] Racing down the sideline, he palmed off one defender and had run seventy metres before he stepped back inside and in between the converging Rhinos defenders, continuing on straight to the centre of the goal-line to dive over under the posts for what was described as one of the great Wembley tries. [5] [6] Richards put the kick over so Wigan were in front 0-16.

It took until the thirty-fifth minute for Leeds to get on the scoreboard when, having worked the ball up to within the opposition ten-metre line, they kept the ball alive, moving it quickly though the hands out to left winger Ryan Hall who dived over untouched in the corner. Sinfield's difficult conversion attempt rebounded against the goal post back into the field so Wigan's lead remained 4-16. Only two minutes later, Leeds had made their way back into opposition territory, again keeping the ball alive with deft passing, this time getting it out to right winger Ben Jones-Bishop who barged his way over the try-line to score. [7] Sinfield kicked the conversion successfully, bringing the half-time score to 10-16 in the Warriors' favour. [8]

Second half

The first eighteen minutes of the second half saw a tight arm-wrestle between the two sides. Then Leeds, having won a scrum from Wigan's error inside their own ten-metre line, moved the ball right to centre Carl Ablett who muscled his way through the defence and onto the try-line. The video referee, Steve Ganson gave the try and Sinfield's goal-kick was wide, leaving the Rhinos trailing the Warriors 14-16. [9] Wigan, having advanced into an attacking position, scored again when Lee Mossop's controversial-looking short pass to Jeff Lima sent the prop forward again crashing over the try line beside the uprights just before the sixty-two-minute mark. [10] Richards converted the try for Wigan to lead 14-22.

During the match at Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium (49788926648).jpg
During the match at Wembley Stadium

With nine minutes of the match remaining, Leeds were down at the opposition's end and on the fifth tackle moved the ball through the hands out to their left winger, Ryan Hall to barge through the defence and over the try-line. [11] Sinfield couldn't kick the sideline conversion so Leeds trailed 18-22. After receiving the kick-off, the Rhinos made a good break through right winger Ben Jones-Bishop, who kicked the ball ahead into the in-goal area where neither of the Leeds or Wigan chasers racing though could secure it. [12] With less than two and a half minutes remaining, the Warriors were on Leeds' ten-metre line when dummy-half Tommy Leuluai ran through some tired marker defence to get over the line. The video referee was called upon to rule that the ball was not lost in the attempted grounding and the try was awarded. [13] Richards converted successfully so the match ended in a Wigan 18-28 victory. [14]

Post-match

The Wigan Warriors had won the Challenge Cup for a record eighteenth time. The Lance Todd Trophy for man-of-the-match was awarded to Wigan prop forward Jeff Lima, who had scored two tries, becoming the fifth New Zealander (and first prop forward since 1980) to win the award. [15] Later, the Rugby Football League found Wigan fullback Sam Tomkins guilty of minor misconduct for an abusive gesture to Leeds fans during the match and fined him £1,000. [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Sinfield</span> English rugby player and coach (born 1980)

Kevin Sinfield is an English rugby union coach, currently the skills and kicking coach for the England national team. He is a former professional rugby league player for Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain. His usual position was loose forward, although he played stand-off and hooker on occasion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny McGuire</span> Great Britain and England international rugby league footballer (born 1982)

Daniel Phillip McGuire is an English rugby league coach and former professional rugby league footballer who is assistant coach for the Castleford Tigers in the Super League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Leuluai</span> Former Samoa international rugby league footballer

Kylie Leuluai is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. A New Zealand Māori and Samoa international representative prop, he most notably played at club level for the Leeds Rhinos in the Super League. He also played club football in Australia for National Rugby League clubs; the Balmain Tigers, Wests Tigers, Sydney Roosters, Parramatta Eels, and the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Deacon</span> English rugby player and coach (born 1979)

Paul Deacon is an English rugby union coach who is the head coach of the Sale Sharks in Premiership Rugby, and former a professional rugby league footballer and coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian McDermott (rugby league)</span> English rugby league footballer, and singer

Brian G. McDermott is an English professional rugby league coach, currently assistant coach at Newcastle Knights in the NRL. A former professional rugby league player, he won three Super League Grand Finals as a Bradford Bulls player and has won four Grand Finals as head coach of Leeds Rhinos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Hoffman</span> Australia international rugby league footballer

Ryan Hoffman is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 2000s and 2010s. He played for Melbourne Storm and the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League, and the Wigan Warriors in the Super League, as a second-row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Delaney</span> Former Australian rugby league footballer

Brett Delaney is an Australian former rugby league footballer who played as a centre and second-row forward in the 2000s and 2010s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Ablett</span> Former England international rugby league footballer

Carl Ablett is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row, loose forward or centre for the Leeds Rhinos in the Betfred Super League and England at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Lima</span> NZ & Samoa international rugby league footballer

Jeff Lima is a former professional rugby league footballer who last played for the Canberra Raiders in the NRL. A New Zealand international representative prop, he previously played for the Wests Tigers, Melbourne Storm, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wigan Warriors and the Catalans Dragons in the Super League, as well as France's Elite One Championship for the Saint-Gaudens Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weller Hauraki</span> New Zealand Maori rugby league footballer

Weller Hauraki is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row or loose forward and played for the New Zealand Māori at international level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Jones-Bishop</span> Jamaica international rugby league footballer

Ben Jones-Bishop is a Jamaica international rugby league footballer who plays as a winger or fullback for the Sheffield Eagles in the RFL Championship.

Wigan Warriors played in the Super League XIV and Challenge Cup in the 2009 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Super League Grand Final</span>

The 2010 Super League Grand Final was the 13th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding game of Super League XV. Held on Saturday 2 October 2010, at Manchester's Old Trafford stadium, the match was contested by English clubs St. Helens and Wigan Warriors. The final saw Wigan, who also finished League leaders, win 22-10, taking over the crown of Super League champions from the Leeds Rhinos, who had held the title for 3 years. This was St. Helens' fifth consecutive Grand Final and their fourth consecutive Grand Final defeat, having won in 2006 and then lost three Grand Finals to Leeds between 2007 and 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Clarkson</span> English rugby league footballer

Christopher Clarkson is an English professional rugby league footballer who last played in the second-row forward for the York Knights in the Betfred Championship. He is an England Knights international.

The 2011 Wigan Warriors season is the club's 16th season in the Super League, since its launch in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Origin</span>

International Origin was an annual series of rugby league football matches between England and the Exiles. The International Origin was created by the Rugby Football League (RFL) to ensure that the English national side had a good strong mid-season international very much like Australia has with their State of Origin series. The RFL intended this to be an annual one-off game and it was in 2011, however this progressed to a two-game series in 2012. Plans were in the works to make this into a three-game series for the future, however it was scaled back to a standalone fixture in 2013 due to a lack of interest from both players and spectators.

Leeds Rhinos will play in the 2012 Super League season, alongside Bradford Bulls, Castleford Tigers, Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull K.R, London Broncos, Salford City Reds, St. Helens, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Warrington Wolves. Widnes Vikings, Wigan Warriors

The 2012 Super League Grand Final was the 15th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of the Super League XVII season. The match was held on Saturday 6 October 2012, at Old Trafford, Manchester, and was contested by English clubs Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves. The 2012 Grand Final was a repeat of the 2012 Challenge Cup Final, in which Warrington beat Leeds 35-18 at Wembley Stadium, although it was Leeds who would win the Super League Grand Final, winning 26-18.

The 2013 International Origin was the third and final edition of International Origin between England and Exiles. For 2013, the competition had reverted back to a single-match format and aimed to give England a good mid-season test in preparation for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup in November. The match was played on 14 June 2013 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

The 2013 Super League Grand Final was the 16th official Grand Final and conclusive and championship-deciding match of Super League XVIII. The game was held on Saturday 5 October 2013, at Old Trafford, Manchester, and was contested by Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves. The two teams reached the final after progressing through the Super League XVIII play-offs. It was Warrington's second successive Grand Final and second successive defeat as Wigan won 30-16 with 28 unanswered points after going 16-2 down in the first half to claim a Super League/Challenge Cup double, having won the 2013 Challenge Cup against Hull F.C. at Wembley Stadium in August.

References

  1. ↑ "Leeds 18-28 Wigan" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  2. ↑ "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  3. ↑ ESPN staff (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup glory for Wigan Warriors". espn.co.uk. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  4. ↑ wiganwarriors.com (28 August 2011). "Wigan are 2011 Cup Champions". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  5. ↑ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Wigan's Challenge Cup win a team effort - Joel Tomkins". BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  6. ↑ skysports.com (27 August 2011). "Maguire salutes Wembley heroes". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Scott, Ged (27 August 2011). "Leeds 18-28 Wigan". BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Wilson, Andy (27 August 2011). "Leeds Rhinos 18-28 Wigan Warriors – Challenge Cup final match report". The Guardian. London.
  9. ↑ therfl.co.uk (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup: Lima inspires Wigan win". rleague.com. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  10. ↑ Brown, Oliver (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final: Leeds Rhinos 18 Wigan Warriors 28". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Chisnall, Craig (28 August 2011). "Lima double inspires Wigan to Cup win". Wide World of Sports . Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  12. ↑ Henson, Mike (27 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final - as it happened". BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Brown, Oliver (28 August 2011). "Challenge Cup final 2011: Wigan's warrior spirit shades controversy in emphatic win over Leeds Rhinos". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  14. ↑ Press Association (27 August 2011). "Wigan edge thrilling cup final". Free Press. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "O'Loughlin savours special cup win". uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  16. ↑ bbc.co.uk (30 August 2011). "Wigan's Sam Tomkins punished for gesture at Leeds fans". BBC Sport . Retrieved 26 August 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.