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
Duration6 Rounds
Number of teams34
Winners Widnes
Runners-up Wigan
Lance Todd Trophy Joe Lydon

Preliminary round

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

First round

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Referee: Billy Thompson (Huddersfield)
Player 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

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  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.
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