1971–72 Challenge Cup

1971–72 Challenge Cup
Highest attendance89,495
Broadcast partnersBBC
Winners St. Helens
Runners-up Leeds
Lance Todd Trophy Kel Coslett

The 1971–72 Challenge Cup was the 71st staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. The final was contested by St. Helens and Leeds at Wembley.

First round

Date Team one Team two Score
29 Jan Bramley Pilkington Recs 19-5
29 Jan Dewsbury Celtic Featherstone Rovers 2-34
29 Jan Doncaster Wakefield Trinity 3-5
29 Jan Huyton Halifax 4-7
29 Jan Leeds Widnes 17-8
29 Jan Leigh Workington Town 19-4
29 Jan Oldham St Helens 6-8
29 Jan Swinton Blackpool 33-12
29 Jan Whitehaven Castleford 0-17
30 Jan Barrow Hunslet 24-6
30 Jan Bradford Northern Keighley 17-2
30 Jan Dewsbury Huddersfield 4-17
30 Jan Salford Wigan 12-16
30 Jan Warrington Batley 30-7
30 Jan York Rochdale Hornets 13-5
03 Feb Hull FC Hull Kingston Rovers 7-5

Second round

Date Team one Team two Score
19 Feb Castleford Warrington 8-8
19 Feb Halifax Featherstone Rovers 11-5
20 Feb Barrow York 9-9
20 Feb Bramley Bradford Northern 8-5
20 Feb Hull FC Leeds 5-16
20 Feb Leigh Swinton 3-4
20 Feb St Helens Huddersfield 32-9
20 Feb Wakefield Trinity Wigan 6-5
23 Feb - replay Warrington Castleford 11-5
23 Feb - replay York Barrow 15-3

Quarter-finals

Date Team one Team two Score
04 Mar Bramley Warrington 7-14
04 Mar York St Helens 5-32
05 Mar Halifax Swinton 9-8
05 Mar Leeds Wakefield Trinity 11-5

Semi-finals

Date Team one Team two Score
08 Apr Leeds Halifax 16-3
15 Apr St Helens Warrington 10-10
19 Apr - replay St Helens Warrington 10-6

Final

The final was played on Saturday 13 May 1972, in front of a crowd of 89,495. After leading 12-6 at half time, St Helens beat Leeds 16-13.[1]

The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was Saints’ Kel Coslett.[2]

St Helens scorers were Les Jones (1 try), Graham Rees (1 try), and Kel Coslett (5 goals).

This was St Helens’ fourth Cup final win in eight Final appearances.[3]

13 May 1972
St Helens 16 – 13 Leeds
Try Rees, Jones
Goals Coslett (4) DG Coslett 		Try Cookson
Goals Clawson (5)
Wembley, London
Attendance: 89,495
Referee: Eric Lawrinson (Warrington)
Player of the Match: Kel Coslett
1 Geoff Pimblett
2 Les Jones
3 Billy Benyon
4 Johnny Walsh
5 Frank Wilson
6 Ken Kelly
7 Jeff Heaton
8 Graham Rees
9 Les Greenall
10 John Stephens
11 John Mantle
12 Eric Chisnall
13 Kel Coslett (c)
Substitutes:
14 Alan Whittle (unused)
15 Kelvin Earl (unused)
Coach:
Jim Challinor
1 John Holmes
2 Alan Smith
3 Syd Hynes downward-facing red arrow
4 Les Dyl
5 John Atkinson
6 Alan Hardisty (c)[4]
7 Keith Hepworth
8 Terry Clawson
9 Tony Fisher
10 Bill Ramsey
11 Bob Haigh
12 Phil Cookson
13 Ray Batten
Substitutes:
14 John Langley upward-facing green arrow
15 Graham Eccles (unused)
Coach:
Derek Turner

References

  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. ^ "RFL Challenge Cup Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  4. ^ ""Rugby League." Times [London, England] 13 May 1972". Times Digital Archives.