The 1988 Challenge Cup was the 87th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup. Known as the Silk Cut Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, the final was contested by Wigan and Halifax at Wembley. Wigan won the match 32–12.

Preliminary round

DateTeam OneTeam TwoScore
13 JanKellsLeeds0-28
15 JanBramleySheffield Eagles6-14
15 JanLeigh MinersHunslet4-23
16 JanHeworthWest Hull11-4
17 JanCarlisleWhitehaven8-8
17 JanWarringtonHuddersfield48-10
20 Jan-replayWhitehavenCarlisle8-22

First round

DateTeam OneTeam TwoScore
30 JanWiganBradford Northern2-0
31 JanDewsburyWidnes10-38
31 JanDoncasterBatley18-10
31 JanFeatherstone RoversYork32-21
31 JanFulhamMansfield4-16
31 JanHeworthHalifax4-60
31 JanHull Kingston RoversCarlisle14-6
31 JanHunsletHull FC10-27
31 JanKeighleyWorkington Town30-4
31 JanLeedsCastleford22-14
31 JanLeighSt Helens12-22
31 JanRochdale HornetsBarrow6-4
31 JanRuncornSpringfield6-8
31 JanSalfordSwinton16-6
31 JanWakefield TrinitySheffield Eagles10-14
31 JanWarringtonOldham17-6

Second round

DateTeam OneTeam TwoScore
13 FebWarringtonSt Helens20-24
14 FebDoncasterMansfield16-8
14 FebHalifaxRochdale Hornets30-6
14 FebHull FCSheffield Eagles26-6
14 FebHull Kingston RoversFeatherstone Rovers35-26
14 FebKeighleyWidnes2-16
14 FebSalfordSpringfield12-10
14 FebWiganLeeds30-14

Quarter-finals

DateTeam OneTeam TwoScore
27 FebWiganWidnes10-1
28 FebHull FCDoncaster27-12
28 FebHull Kingston RoversHalifax4-26
28 FebSalfordSt Helens22-18

Semi finals

12 March 1988
Wigan34 – 4Salford
Try: Edwards (2), T. Iro, Kiss, K. Iro, Hanley Goal: K. Iro (5)Try: Blease
Burnden Park, Bolton Attendance: 20,783

26 March 1988
Halifax0 – 0Hull
Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 20,534

Replay

30 March 1988
Halifax4 – 3Hull
Try: AndersonGoal: Pearce Drop goal: Pearce
Elland Road, Leeds Attendance: 25,117

Final

30 April 1988
Wigan32 – 12Halifax
Try: K. Iro (2), Gill, Lydon, T. Iro, Hanley, Bell, Goal: Gregory, LydonTry: Anderson, James Goal: Whitfield
Wembley, London Attendance: 94,273 Player of the Match: Andy Gregory
FB 1 Joe Lydon RW 2 Tony Iro RC 3 Kevin Iro LC 4 Dean Bell LW 5 Henderson Gill SO 6 Shaun Edwards (c) SH 7 Andy Gregory PR 8 Brian Case HK 9 Nicky Kiss PR 10 Adrian Shelford SR 11 Andy Goodway SR 12 Ian Potter LF 13 Ellery Hanley Substitutions: IC 14 Ged Byrne IC 15 Shaun Wane Coach: Graham LoweFB 1 Graham Eadie (c) RW 2 Martin Meredith RC 3 Tony Anderson LC 4 Ian Wilkinson LW 5 Colin Whitfield SO 6 Robert Grogan SH 7 Steve Robinson PR 8 Neil James HK 9 Seamus McCallion PR 10 Keith Neller SR 11 Les Holliday SR 12 Paul Dixon LF 13 John Pendlebury Substitutions: IC 14 Dick Fairbank IC 15 Mick Scott Coach: Chris Anderson
FB1Joe Lydon
RW2Tony Iro
RC3Kevin Iro
LC4Dean Bell
LW5Henderson Gill
SO6Shaun Edwards (c)
SH7Andy Gregory
PR8Brian Case
HK9Nicky Kiss
PR10Adrian Shelford
SR11Andy Goodway
SR12Ian Potter
LF13Ellery Hanley
Substitutions:
IC14Ged Byrne
IC15Shaun Wane
Coach:
Graham Lowe
FB1Graham Eadie (c)
RW2Martin Meredith
RC3Tony Anderson
LC4Ian Wilkinson
LW5Colin Whitfield
SO6Robert Grogan
SH7Steve Robinson
PR8Neil James
HK9Seamus McCallion
PR10Keith Neller
SR11Les Holliday
SR12Paul Dixon
LF13John Pendlebury
Substitutions:
IC14Dick Fairbank
IC15Mick Scott
Coach:
Chris Anderson

External links