The 2013 Challenge Cup (also known as the Tetley's Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 112th staging of the most competitive European rugby league tournament at club level and was open to teams from England, Wales, Scotland and France. It began its preliminary stages in October 2012.
Warrington were the reigning champions, but lost 12–16 to Hull F.C. in the semifinal, who would go on to lose the final 0–16 to Wigan.
First qualifying round The draw for the first qualifying round was made on Wednesday 10 October 2012 at Carrwood Park in Leeds, and took place on the weekend of 27/28 October 2012. A total of 40 teams played in the qualifying rounds. The clubs involved included 22 NCL Divisions 1 and 2, 5 regional league winners, the Yorkshire and Lancashire County Cup winners, 1 Cumberland ARL nomination and the British Police. Also in the draw were the Scottish champions and a Welsh representative, 4 teams from the 2011 Rugby League Conference National, 6 Student teams and a North West League representative. The teams were drawn out by Damian Clayton MBE, the representative for the Armed Forces on the Community Board, and Martin Coyd, the Tier 4 representative. A total of 57 community teams were involved in the 2013 competition which culminated at Wembley in August; the three Armed Services teams and 14 Conference League Premier teams entered the competition at a later stage.
HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereeAttendance Featherstone Lions 28 – 14 Stanley Rangers 27 October 2012, 14:00 Millpond Stadium Paul Ward Eastmoor Dragons 32 – 22 Loughborough University 27 October 2012, 14:00 Eastmoor Sports and Social Club Brandon Robinson Huddersfield Underbank Rangers 32 – 6 Heworth 27 October 2012, 14:00 The Cross Grounds Jason Woodman Dewsbury Celtic 16 – 19 Ovenden RLFC 27 October 2012, 14:00 Dewsbury INLC Paul Stockman East Leeds 18 – 16 Drighlington RLFC 27 October 2012, 14:00 East End Park Jonathan Roberts Bank Quay Bulls 52 – 12 Castleford Panthers 27 October 2012, 14:00 Dallam Playing Fields Mark Craven Warrington Wizards 4 – 18 British Police 28 October 2012, 14:00 Wilderspool Stadium Craig Kay Askam RLFC 14 – 28 Millom RLFC 27 October 2012, 14:00 Fallowfield Park Scott Mikalauskas Blackbrook Royals 22 – 6 Lock Lane 27 October 2012, 14:00 Blackbrook Sports & Recreation Club Paul Marklove Northumbria University 16 – 20 Milford Marlins 3 November 2012, 14:00 Cochrane Park Mark Laing Stanningley 4 – 40 Widnes West Bank 27 October 2012, 14:00 Arthur Miller Stadium Gareth Evans Normanton Knights 48 – 16 York Acorn 3 November 2012, 13:30 Queen Elizabeth Drive Brandon Robinson Bristol Sonics 24 – 36 Eccles & Salford Juniors 27 October 2012, 14:00 Aretians RFC Darren Hayes Kells 8 – 12 Egremont Rangers 13 November 2012, 19:30 Recreation Ground Chris Kendall Hunslet Old Boys 18 – 0 St Marys University 3 November 2012, 14:00 Hillidge Road Andy Sweet Rochdale Mayfield 24 – 0 Hull University 27 October 2012, 14:00 Mayfield Sports Arena Jamie Callaghan Leeds Metropolitan University 34 – 10 Elland RLFC 27 October 2012, 14:00 Milford Sports Club Joachim Abimelech Hunslet Warriors 26 – 22 Wigan St Judes 27 October 2012, 14:00 The Oval Michael Mannifield Bradford Dudley Hill 24 – 0 Bonymaen Broncos 27 October 2012, 14:00 Neil Hunt Memorial Ground John McMullen Shaw Cross Sharks ARLFC 10 – 38 Pilkington Recs 27 October 2012, 14:00 Paul Hinchliffe Memorial Ground Adam Gill
Notes
A. Game switched to Recreation Ground (Whitehaven). B. Withdrew from Challenge Cup due to player shortages.
Second qualifying round
The Draw for the second qualifying round was made on Wednesday 10 October at Carrwood Park in Leeds, and the ties took place on 3/4 November 2012. The 20 winners from the first qualifying round were involved with the three Armed Services teams and 14 Conference League Premier teams entering the competition at a later stage.
HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereeAttendance Bradford Dudley Hill 68 – 12 Eastmoor Dragons 3 November 2012, 14:00 Neil Hunt Memorial Ground Jamie Callaghan Milford Marlins 34 – 4 Ovenden RLFC 17 November 2012, 13:30 Milford Sports Club Chris Campbell Rochdale Mayfield 22 – 43 Bank Quay Bulls 10 November 2012, 14:00 Mayfield Sports Arena Andy Bentham Pilkington Recs 32 – 12 Featherstone Lions 3 November 2012, 14:00 Ruskin Drive Mike Woodhead British Police 10 – 36 Blackbrook Royals 4 November 2012, 14:00 Siddal ARLFC Craig Kay Huddersfield Underbank Rangers 6 – 22 Leeds Metropolitan University 4 November 2012, 14:00 The Cross Grounds Rob Webb Normanton Knights 18 – 23 Hunslet Old Boys 10 November 2012, 13:30 Queen Elizabeth Drive Jamie Bloem East Leeds 26 – 18 Hunslet Warriors 3 November 2012, 14:00 East End Park Chris Campbell Widnes West Bank 18 – 6 Egremont Rangers 17 November 2012, 14:00 Arthur Miller Stadium Millom RLFC 40 – 12 Eccles & Salford Juniors 10 November 2012, 14:00 Coronation Field Craig Kay
Notes
C. Withdrew from Challenge Cup.
First round
The draw for the first round of the 2013 Challenge Cup was held at the RFL's Red Hall headquarters in Leeds on 29 October. The home teams were drawn by Paul Kilbride, a former professional rugby league footballer who has been supported by the RL Benevolent Fund since suffering a serious injury while playing, and the away teams were drawn by Rugby League Cares General Manager Chris Rostron.
The first round took place on the weekend of 1 and 2 December 2012, although the match between Bradford Dudley Hill and Leeds Met was played on 10 November. The match between Millom RLFC and Blackbrook Royals eventually had to be cancelled as the tie had been postponed four times and the away team, Blackbrook received a bye to Round 2.
HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereeAttendance Pilkington Recs 18 – 19 Milford Marlins 1 December 2012, 14:00 Ruskin Drive Jamie Bloem Bradford Dudley Hill 24 – 28 Leeds Metropolitan University 10 November 2012, 14:00 Neil Hunt Memorial Ground Chris Campbell Millom RLFC w/o Blackbrook Royals 9 December 2012, 13:30 Fallowfield Park Curtis Braithwaite Bank Quay Bulls 17 – 38 East Leeds 1 December 2012, 13:30 Dallam Playing Fields Dave Sharpe Hunslet Old Boys 17 – 16 † Widnes West Bank 1 December 2012, 13:30 Hillidge Road Michael Mannifield Source:
Notes: † – After extra time
Second round The draw for the second round of the 2013 Challenge Cup was held at Millom Rugby League Club on 18 January. The draw involved 14 Conference League Premier clubs, the three Armed Services teams and the five clubs that had progressed from the first round. The balls were drawn by Millom club stalwart Gary Kelly and Workington Town player Peter Lupton, who played for Millom as a junior before signing professional terms at London Broncos. The second round took place on the weekend of 9/10 March 2013.
HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereeAttendance Myton Warriors 6 – 4 Leeds Metropolitan University 9 March 2013, 13:30 Marist Sporting Club Michael Mannifield West Hull 22 – 12 Hull Dockers 9 March 2013, 14:00 Walter Simpson Park Greg Dolan Hunslet Old Boys 24 - 0 Saddleworth Rangers 9 March 2013, 14:00 Hillidge Road Mark Craven Leigh Miners Rangers 16 – 6 Milford Marlins 9 March 2013, 14:30 Twist Lane Neil Aspey Wigan St Patricks 22 – 24 Thatto Heath Crusaders 9 March 2013, 14:30 Clarington Park Paul Marklove East Hull 20 – 28 Siddal 9 March 2013, 14:00 Rosemead Sports Centre Chris Hancock Royal Air Force 0 – 20 East Leeds 9 March 2013, 14:00 RAF Cranwell Tom Grant Blackbrook Royals 20 – 16 † Oulton Raiders 9 March 2013, 14:00 Blackbrook Sports & Recreation Club Phil Graham Leigh East 28 – 24 British Army 9 March 2013, 14:00 Leigh Sports Village Mike Woodhead Royal Navy 4 – 36 Skirlaugh 9 March 2013, 14:00 United Services Sports Ground John Ashton Ince Rose Bridge 20 – 10 Wath Brow Hornets 9 March 2013, 14:00 Pinfold Street Andy Bentham Source:
Notes: † – After extra time
Third round The draw for the third round was hosted in the Rugby Pavilion at the home of Oxford RL, the historic Iffley Road sports ground in Oxford on 13 March 2013 at 13:00 GMT. The draw was made by the actor Kevin Whately, who starred in the TV series Inspector Morse and its spin-off Lewis, and Bruce Ray, the communications director of Carlsberg UK, who own the Tetley's brand that sponsors the 2013 tournament.
The third round of the Challenge Cup had the entry of the 23 Kingstone Press Championship and Championship One clubs, which for the first time in the competition, included Oxford, Hemel Stags and the Gloucestershire All Golds.
The third round matches took place on the weekend of 6 and 7 April 2013.
HomeScoreAwayMatch informationDate and timeVenueRefereeAttendance West Hull 6 – 82 North Wales Crusaders 6 April 2013, 14:30 BST Wilderspool Stadium Dave Merrick 230 Swinton Lions 18 – 56 Toulouse Olympique 6 April 2013, 15:00 BST Leigh Sports Village George Stokes 450 Leigh Centurions 50 – 4 East Leeds 6 April 2013, 17:30 BST Leigh Sports Village Greg Dolan 728 South Wales Scorpions 22 – 52 Doncaster 6 April 2013, 17:30 BST The Gnoll Joe Cobb 456 Batley Bulldogs 72 – 0 Gateshead Thunder 7 April 2013, 14:00 BST LoveRugbyLeague.com Stadium Ronnie Laughton 484 Whitehaven 38 – 32 London Skolars 7 April 2013, 14:00 BST Recreation Ground Chris Leatherbarrow 440 Ince Rose Bridge 18 – 50 Hemel Stags 7 April 2013, 14:30 BST Douglas Valley Warren Turley Barrow Raiders 28 – 12 Leigh Miners Rangers 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Craven Park Chris Kendall 826 Blackbrook A.R.L.F.C. 24 – 26 York City Knights 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Langtree Park Peter Brooke Dewsbury Rams 56 – 6 Myton Warriors 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Tetley's Stadium Chris Campbell 404 Featherstone Rovers 76 – 6 Thatto Heath Crusaders 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Post Office Road Adam Gill 735 Halifax 54 – 12 Oxford 7 April 2013 15:00 BST The Shay Gareth Hewer 1,000 Hunslet Hawks 36 – 10 Oldham 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST South Leeds Stadium Matt Thomason 326 Rochdale Hornets 40 – 4 Hunslet Old Boys 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Spotland Stadium Dave Sharpe 414 Sheffield Eagles 112 – 6 Leigh East 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Don Valley Stadium Scott Mikalauskas 333 Skirlaugh 16 – 26 Gloucestershire All Golds 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Hull RUFC Tom Crashley 260 Workington Town 24 – 16 AS Carcassonne 7 April 2013, 15:00 BST Derwent Park Jamie Leahy 598 Siddal 14 – 30 Keighley Cougars 7 April 2013, 15:30 BST Huddersfield YMCA Jamie Bloem 521 Source:
Notes: D. Match moved to Wilderspool in Warrington E. Match moved to St. Helens's Langtree Park F. Match move to Hull RUFC G. Match move to Laund Hill
Fourth round
The draw for the fourth round of the 2013 Challenge Cup took place on 8 April 2013 at 15:30 BST at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington. The draw saw the 14 Super League teams joined by the 18 winning teams from the third round. The draw was made by Rugby League Hall of Fame member Alex Murphy and Bruce Ray, who is Communications Director of Carlsberg UK, the parent company of title sponsors Tetley's and was broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live. Matches took place on 19, 20 and 21 April 2013 with the Hull Kingston Rovers vs St. Helens match being shown live on BBC One.