1972–73 Challenge Cup

The 1972–73 Challenge Cup was the 72nd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.

1972–73 Challenge Cup
Highest attendance72,395
Broadcast partnersBBC
Winners Featherstone Rovers
Runners-up Bradford Northern
Lance Todd Trophy Steve Nash

The final was contested by Featherstone Rovers and Bradford Northern at Wembley.

Featherstone Rovers beat Bradford Northern 33-14 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 72,395.[1]

The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was the Featherstone scrum-half, Steve Nash.[2]

Cyril Kellett scored 8-conversions for Featherstone Rovers, the most in a Challenge Cup final until it was equalled by Iestyn Harris in 1999.

First round

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Date Team one Team two Score
26 Jan St Helens Doncaster 41-0
27 Jan Castleford Swinton 13-9
27 Jan Huddersfield Hull Kingston Rovers 6-19
27 Jan Huyton Wakefield Trinity 6-18
27 Jan Leeds Wigan 11-25
27 Jan Millom Hunslet 5-18
28 Jan Bradford Northern Whitehaven 17-4
28 Jan Bramley Dewsbury 8-11
28 Jan Featherstone Rovers Salford 18-11
28 Jan Halifax Warrington 4-7
28 Jan Hull FC Batley 11-6
28 Jan Keighley Rochdale Hornets 8-44
28 Jan Leigh Dewsbury Celtic 27-4
28 Jan Oldham Barrow 24-7
30 Jan Widnes Blackpool 53-3
30 Jan York Workington Town 19-24

Second round

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Date Team one Team two Score
17 Feb Hull FC Oldham 2-24
17 Feb Leigh Wakefield Trinity 0-5
17 Feb Workington Town Dewsbury 8-10
18 Feb Bradford Northern Hull Kingston Rovers 13-8
18 Feb Featherstone Rovers Rochdale Hornets 30-19
18 Feb Hunslet Castleford 0-39
18 Feb Warrington Widnes 20-8
18 Feb Wigan St Helens 15-2

Quarter-finals

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Date Team one Team two Score
03 Mar Castleford Oldham 25-11
04 Mar Bradford Northern Wigan 11-7
04 Mar Dewsbury Wakefield Trinity 16-4
04 Mar Warrington Featherstone Rovers 14-18

Semi-finals

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Date Team one Team two Score
07 Apr Bradford Northern Dewsbury 23-7
14 Apr Featherstone Rovers Castleford 17-3

Final

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12 May 1973
Featherstone Rovers 33 – 14 Bradford Northern
Try: Newlove (2), Farrar, Smith, Hartley
Goal: Kellett (8)
Drop goal: Nash
Report
Try: Redfearn, Fearnley
Goal: Tees (4)
Wembley, London
Attendance: 72,395
Referee: M. J. Naughton (Widnes)[3]
Player of the Match: Steve Nash
1 Cyril Kellett
2 Paul Coventry
3 Michael Smith  
4 John Newlove (c)
5 Ken Kellett
6 Mel Mason
7 Steve Nash
8 Les Tonks
9 John Keith Bridges
10 Vince Farrar
11 Alan Rhodes  
12 James "Jimmy" Thompson
13 Charlie Stone
Substitutes:
14 David "Dave" Hartley  
15 Barry Hollis  
Coach:
Peter Fox
1 Eddie Tees
2 Mike Lamb
3 Dave Stockwell
4 Bernard Watson (c)
5 David Redfearn
6 Mike Blacker  
7 Barry Seabourne
8 Brian Hogan
9 Peter Dunn
10 Kelvin Earl  
11 Graham Joyce
12 Bill Pattinson
13 Stanley Fearnley
Substitutes:
14 Arnie Long  
15 David Treasure  
Coach:
Ian Brooke

References

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  1. ^ "RFL Challenge Cup Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  2. ^ Raymond Fletcher; David Howes (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-1996. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 0-7472-7817-2.
  3. ^ Mather, Harold (14 May 1973). "Contest that lasted 19 minutes". The Guardian. London. p. 18.
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