The 1981–82 Challenge Cup was the 81st 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 Widnes and Hull F.C. at Wembley. The match ended as a draw, resulting in a replay being staged at Elland Road, which Hull won 18–9.

Preliminary round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Hull Kingston Rovers22–18Featherstone Rovers8,090

First round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1St. Helens12–20Wigan7,611
2Workington Town32–8Blackpool Borough1,410
3Batley23–15Huyton908
4Bradford Northern14–12Dewsbury4,176
5Bramley4–16Wakefield Trinity3,180
6Cardiff City8–19Widnes6,484
7Carlisle2–17Castleford5,452
8Doncaster6–7Rochdale Hornets736
9Fulham14–4Hunslet3,392
10Halifax17–12Huddersfield3,991
11Hull29–15Salford13,697
12Keighley6–12Barrow4,015
13Leigh28–17Warrington10,366
14Swinton5–15Oldham4,095
15Whitehaven7–17Hull Kingston Rovers3,965
16York6–34Leeds6,862

Second round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Hull Kingston Rovers17–18Leigh12,034
2Barrow1–9Leeds9,677
3Batley6–31Castleford3,754
4Bradford Northern17–8Workington Town5,134
5Fulham5–11Hull9,481
6Halifax28–7Rochdale Hornets3,919
7Wakefield Trinity18–12Oldham6,567
8Wigan7–9Widnes17,467

Third round

Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamAttendance
1Bradford Northern8–8Widnes9,570
replayWidnes10–7Bradford Northern11,877
2Hull16–10Halifax16,555
3Leigh3–8Castleford11,791
4Wakefield Trinity2–20Leeds10,579

Semi finals

27 March 1982
Hull15 – 11Castleford
Try: Kemble, Norton, O'Hara, Prendiville Goal: Crooks Drop goal: ToplissTry: Reilly Goal: Hyde (4)
Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 21,207 Referee: Billy Thompson (Huddersfield)
3 April 1982
Widnes11 – 8Leeds
Try: Basnett (2), O'Loughlin Goal: J. MylerTry: Dyl, Heron Goal: Dick
Station Road, Swinton Attendance: 13,075 Referee: Fred Lindop (Wakefield)

Final

Widnes returned to Wembley as defending champions, having won the Challenge Cup for the sixth time in their history in the previous year.

1 May 1982
Hull14 – 14Widnes
Try: Norton, O'Hara Goal: Lloyd (4)Try: Cunningham (2), Wright Goal: Burke, Gregory Drop goal: Elwell
Wembley, London Attendance: 92,147 Referee: Fred Lindop (Wakefield) Player of the Match: Eddie Cunningham

Widnes led by eight points with 15 minutes of the game remaining, but Hull F.C. came back to draw the match 14–14, meaning the final would be replayed for the first time since 1954.

Replay

19 May 1982
Hull18 – 9Widnes
Try: Kemble, Topliss (2), Crooks Goal: Crooks (3)Try: Wright Goal: Burke (3)
Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 41,171 Referee: Fred Lindop (Wakefield) Player of the Match: David Topliss

External links