1983–84 Challenge Cup

The 1983–84 Challenge Cup was the 83rd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the State Express Challenge Cup due to sponsorship by State Express 555, the final was contested by Widnes and Wigan at Wembley. Widnes won the match 19–6.

1983–84 State Express Challenge Cup

Duration	6 Rounds
Number of teams	34
Winners	Widnes
Runners-up	Wigan
Lance Todd Trophy	Joe Lydon

Preliminary round

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance
1	Fulham	14–4	Swinton	1,680
2	Carlisle	12–20	Widnes	1,271

First round

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance
1	Kent Invicta	20–42	Castleford	1,643
2	Barrow	12–14	Workington Town	5,132
3	Blackpool Borough	10–27	Hull Kingston Rovers	2,758
4	Bradford Northern	20–4	Featherstone Rovers	7,542
5	Bramley	10–10	Wigan	3,968
Replay	Wigan	34–4	Bramley	5,815
6	Cardiff City	6–34	Hull	2,735
7	Doncaster	11–8	Batley	634
8	Halifax	7–19	Wakefield Trinity	4,402
9	Hunslet	21–10	Keighley	1,466
10	Oldham	28–10	Huyton	2,552
11	Rochdale Hornets	8–17	York	756
12	St. Helens	16–10	Leigh	6,556
13	Salford	16–24	Leeds	4,299
14	Warrington	34–16	Huddersfield	3,064
15	Whitehaven	10–17	Fulham	1,683
16	Widnes	54–10	Dewsbury	4,005

Second round

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance
1	St. Helens	24–14	Hull	5,815
2	Castleford	23–16	Warrington	8,029
3	Fulham	10–12	Widnes	3,591
4	Hull Kingston Rovers	40–7	Doncaster	6,959
5	Hunslet	7–17	Bradford Northern	6,956
6	Wakefield Trinity	12–20	York	3,222
7	Wigan	30–6	Oldham	9,515
8	Workington Town	3–12	Leeds	4,110

Third round

Tie no	Home team	Score	Away team	Attendance
1	Widnes	21–10	Hull Kingston Rovers	8,017
2	Leeds	13–13	Bradford Northern	17,494
Replay	Bradford Northern	10–12	Leeds	18,424
3	St. Helens	7–16	Wigan	20,007
4	York	14–12	Castleford	8,529

Semi finals

24 March 1984

Wigan	14 – 8	York
Try: Scott, Whitfield Goal: Whitfield (3)	Report	Try: Harrison Goal: Steadman (2)

Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 17,156 Referee: Ron Campbell (Widnes)[1]

31 March 1984

Widnes	15 – 4	Leeds
Try: Burke, Lydon Goal: Burke (3) Drop goal: S. O'Neill	Report	Try: Martin

Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 14,046

Final

Widnes were appearing at Wembley for the seventh time in the last ten years, while Wigan were making their first appearance in the final since 1970. Widnes were the winners of a fairly one-sided encounter by a score of 19–6, with Joe Lydon winning the Lance Todd Trophy.[2]

5 May 1984

Widnes	19 – 6	Wigan
Try: Lydon (2), O'Loughlin Goal: Burke (3) Drop goal: S. O'Neill	Report	Try: Hemsley Goal: Whitfield

Wembley, London Attendance: 80,116 Man of the Match: Joe Lydon

FB 1 Mick Burke RW 2 Stuart Wright RC 3 Eric Hughes (c) LC 4 Joe Lydon LW 5 John Basnett SO 6 Keiron O'Loughlin SH 7 Andy Gregory PR 8 Steve O'Neill HK 9 Keith Elwell PR 10 Kevin Tamati SR 11 Les Gorley SR 12 Mike O'Neill LF 13 Mick Adams Substitutions: IC 14 David Hulme IC 15 Fred Whitfield Coach: Vince Karalius

FB 1 Shaun Edwards RW 2 Dennis Ramsdale RC 3 David Stephenson LC 4 Colin Whitfield LW 5 Henderson Gill SO 6 Mark Cannon SH 7 Gary Stephens PR 8 Kerry Hemsley HK 9 Howie Tamati PR 10 Brian Case SR 11 Graeme West (c) SR 12 Mick Scott LF 13 John Pendlebury Substitutions: IC 14 Wayne Elvin IC 15 Brian Juliff Coach: Alex Murphy

References

1. Fitzpatrick, Paul (26 March 1984). "Wigan end brave York's miracle play". The Guardian. London. p. 23. ProQuest 186429885.
2. Thomas, Clem (6 May 1984). "Wonder of Widnes in one-sided Final". The Observer. London. p. 36. ProQuest 476903894.

External links

• Challenge Cup official website Archived 2014-01-22 at the Wayback Machine
• Challenge Cup 1983/84 results at Rugby League Project