The 1982–83 Challenge Cup was the 82nd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the State Express Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, the final was contested by Featherstone Rovers and Hull F.C. at Wembley. Featherstone won the match 14–12, and is considered one of the biggest upsets in Challenge Cup final history.

Preliminary round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Wigan14–4Cardiff City5,816

First round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Widnes6–12Leeds5,861
2Barrow18–6Whitehaven4,898
3Blackpool Borough11–19Hull3,388
4Huddersfield5–13Halifax2,656
5Hunslet12–11Hull Kingston Rovers4,441
6Salford12–5Leigh6,519
7Swinton21–13Doncaster1,027
8Wakefield Trinity27–5Keighley3,446
9Warrington41–3Bramley3,241
10St. Helens52–0Carlisle2,875
11Bradford Northern23–5York2,685
12Featherstone Rovers21–5Batley1,374
13Oldham5–8Workington Town2,987
14Rochdale Hornets4–24Fulham701
15Wigan7–17Castleford10,737
16Dewsbury7–13Huyton563

Second round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Hull32–15Wakefield Trinity11,197
2Barrow9–14Castleford6,779
3Fulham4–11Bradford Northern4,976
4Hunslet17–8Halifax4,130
5Leeds13–23St. Helens12,483
6Salford11–17Featherstone Rovers4,169
7Warrington34–2Huyton2,825
8Workington Town14–9Swinton1,751

Third round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1St. Helens10–11Featherstone Rovers6,125
2Hunslet8–13Castleford14,004
3Warrington4–10Hull10,280
4Workington Town0–17Bradford Northern3,894

Semi final

26 March 1983
Bradford Northern6 – 11Featherstone Rovers
Try: Hanley, Van BellenTry: Gilbert, Hudson, Marsden Goal: Quinn
Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 10,784 Referee: John Holdsworth (Leeds)
2 April 1983
Castleford7 – 14Hull
Try: England Goal: HydeTry: Day, Evans, O'Hara, Leuluai Goal: Crooks
Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 26,031 Referee: Billy Thompson (Huddersfield)

Final

Hull F.C. returned to Wembley as defending champions, having won the Challenge Cup for the second time in their history in the previous year. Hull went into the match as strong favourites, but were surprisingly defeated by their opponents Featherstone Rovers.

7 May 1983
Featherstone Rovers14 – 12Hull
Try: Hobbs (2) Goal: Quinn (4)Try: Crooks, Leuluai Goal: Crooks (3)
Wembley, London Attendance: 84,969 Referee: Robin Whitfield (Widnes) Player of the Match: David Hobbs
FB 1 Nigel Barker RW 2 John Marsden RC 3 Steve Quinn LC 4 John Gilbert LW 5 Ken Kellett SO 6 Alan Banks SH 7 Terry Hudson (c) PR 8 Michael Gibbins HK 9 Raymond Handscombe PR 10 Steven Hankins SR 11 David Hobbs SR 12 Tim Slatter LF 13 Peter Smith Substitutions: IC 14 Paul Lyman IC 15 Gary Siddall Coach: Allan AgarFB 1 Gary Kemble RW 2 Dane O'Hara RC 3 Steve Evans LC 4 James Leuluai LW 5 Paul Prendiville SO 6 David Topliss (c) SH 7 Kevin Harkin PR 8 Trevor Skerrett HK 9 John Keith Bridges PR 10 Richard 'Charlie' Stone SR 11 Paul Rose SR 12 Lee Crooks LF 13 Steve Norton Substitutions: IC 14 Terry Day IC 15 Mick Crane Coach: Arthur Bunting
FB1Nigel Barker
RW2John Marsden
RC3Steve Quinn
LC4John Gilbert
LW5Ken Kellett
SO6Alan Banks
SH7Terry Hudson (c)
PR8Michael Gibbins
HK9Raymond Handscombe
PR10Steven Hankins
SR11David Hobbs
SR12Tim Slatter
LF13Peter Smith
Substitutions:
IC14Paul Lyman
IC15Gary Siddall
Coach:
Allan Agar
FB1Gary Kemble
RW2Dane O'Hara
RC3Steve Evans
LC4James Leuluai
LW5Paul Prendiville
SO6David Topliss (c)
SH7Kevin Harkin
PR8Trevor Skerrett
HK9John Keith Bridges
PR10Richard 'Charlie' Stone
SR11Paul Rose
SR12Lee Crooks
LF13Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14Terry Day
IC15Mick Crane
Coach:
Arthur Bunting

External links