Challenge Cup - Hull Kingston Rovers

The Wigan Rugby Football Club will face the Hull Kingston Rovers in the Challenge Cup for the 10th time in the competitions history in July 2023. Here we will have a look back at the previous fixtures between the two sides since 1895.

In Round 2, Wigan defeated Hull F.C. 18-10 at Central Park thanks to tries from Bevan (2), Alty and Nordgren, and the Rovers were hoping to go one better and get in to Round 4. The tie was played on March 14th, 1953 at Central Park. Sadly for them, Dai Bevan and Brian Nordgren were still in try-scoring moods as they both scored a brace of tries, along with Nat Silcock (2) and old timer Jack Fleming. The game ended 25-6 in Wigan's favour but the Colliers exited the competition in the semi final against Huddersfield at Odsall.

In the week leading up to the match, Hull K.R. suffered some injury news with their second row forward Frank Moore breaking his big toe after an accident at work at the Prince of Wales Colliery, Pontefract. 

The game was devoid of drama. Wigan comfortably being the superior team in the backs whilst Hull K.R.'s Knowleden failed to rally his men, despite a great effort running through Wigan's defence only to be ankle tapped at the wrong moment (or right moment if you're a Wiganer). Early exchanges of goals were traded between Gee and Chalkley before tries by Silcock, Nordgren and Fleming gave Wigan a 13-6 half-time lead, with Chalkley adding two further goals for the visitors.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as Brian Nordgren made a forty-yard dash before the flood gates opened.

It was to be a decade until the two teams met for a second time in the Cup. Now, Wigan had a certain William Boston in their ranks and had won the Cup in 1958 and 1959, whilst also being runners up against St. Helens in 1961 (but we won't talk about that).

Wigan had secured their semi final date after defeating Hull F.C., Leeds, and Oldham in earlier rounds whilst Hull Kingston Rovers had the better of Keighley, Featherstone Rovers, and Widnes.

A decade since semi final heartache, Roger Millward was still going, but was by now player-coach of Rovers. The old dog ran the show, his fourth appearance of the season, as Hull K.R. beat Wigan by four tries to one in front of the television cameras.

Wigan had in their ranks Green Vigo, George Fairbairn and a young Nicky Kiss, whilst Rovers had Roger Millward (of 'Stand' fame) and Clive Sullivan (of 'Way' fame). This was peak Wigan (un)Glory Days, a period to which most of us choose to forget. 

Millward gave a statement of intent within the first minute of the match, gaining a scrum from a long kick on Wigan's '25. Wigan were under the cosh from the off, Millward nearly gaining a try in the corner and Rovers' Casey being held a yard short of the line. Clive Sullivan thought he had scored the opening try in the corner, for it to be called back for a forward pass. From the resulting scrum, Hull won the ball and worked the ball out to the other flank as Hubbard got in at the corner.

Wigan did, however, gain the lead midway through the first half via a Fairbairn penalty. That was about the only joy for Wigan as the tries mounted for Hull K.R. In a desperate attempt to get back into the match, Nicky Kiss and Mick Nanyn were brought on, Nanyn almost making an immediate impact with ten minutes remaining after Fairbairn sent him through a gap but to no reward.

Hull Kingston Rovers would go on to Wembley and defeat Hull F.C. in the final in front of 95,000, with songs still sung to this day in East Hull. For Wigan there was no shame in losing to the eventual winners.

Mistakes had cost Rovers in the first half in both attack and defence. The second half started quickly and after 55 minutes the score rose to 12-7 in Wigans favour thanks to a try from David Stephenson after clever work by Graeme West. Heading into the final 10 minutes, the score was 12-11 to Wigan and the game finally lived up to the pre-match hype. Wigan's half-back, someone called Kenny, threw out a bad pass which was intercepted by Clark who raced away to the Wigan try line. Somehow, substitute Mick Scott grabbed his leg and stopped a certain try which would have severly damaged Wigan's confidence in the closing stages. As it turned out, it was Rovers who couldn't covert their chances and gain the upper hand. The hammer blow for Rovers fell three minutes from time when West broke a tackle to feed Henderson Gill in at the corner. Stephenson all but secured the victory converting from the touchline.

Wigan went on to face Hull F.C. in the Final, a final for the ages. They had someone called Brett Kenny in their ranks and the rest, the say, is history.

Three Leeds-based Semi Finals: Three wins for Wigan.

Hull Kingston Rovers' fortunes had taken a turn as the '90s came. Rovers found themselves in the second tier of rugby league whilst Wigan had won the Challenge Cup on the two previous occasions. My only memory of the game was being absolutely frozen and crying aged 6 on a bitterly cold sunday afternoon.

Craven Park put up the Sold Out signs as Mighty Wigan came to town. Every man and his dog had Wigan as firm favourites but the game was anything but a walkover for the Collier men.

Roger Millward was still coaching the Robins. The pitch at Craven Park however was a mudbath. Due to the state of the turf, or lack of, it was always going to be a close encounter. Despite Wigan having unknowns in the team such as Shaun Edwards, Dean Bell, Joe Lydon and someone called Ellery Hanley, the game ended 6-4 in Wigan's favour.

Rovers' Mike Fletcher troubled the scoreboard operator just after the half-hour mark with a penalty goal. It was going ok for the Robins until a moment of misfortune struck fullback David Lightfoot. Shaun Edwards' high kick wasn't taken right by Lightfoot, who spilled the ball leaving the way open for Wigan wingman David Marshall to kick the ball downfield to score, converted by Joe Lydon. That was to be only points of the match.

Rovers did not disgrace themselves. They were hotly tipped to gain promotion but with the muddy conditions, it was hard for the star-studded Wiganers to show any flare with their backs. A scare for Wigan who of course went on to Wembley for the third consecutive time.

It was to be another 23 years until Wigan and Hull Kingston Rovers met for the seventh time in the Challenge Cup. Times had changed. Wigan's Glory Days were over but a new era under Ian Lenagan had brought about a new wealth of success. Hull Kingston Rovers had been languishing in the second tier of rugby for years until they started to build their way back to the top tier. By 2013, Hull K.R. were back in Super League and being competitive.

In a weekend where Wigan Athletic had beaten Manchester City in the F.A. Cup Final at Wembley, there was a unique opportunity for the town of Wigan to possibly hold both trophies. Wigan Warriors had to do their bit.

The Warriors had a visit from the Leigh Centurions in the fourth round, defeating the Leythers 60-10 at the DW Stadium. Hull K.R. had beaten St. Helens 26-18 in what was a shock victory on home turf. Despite beating St. Helens, K.R. were not very happy at being drawn against Wigan, after the Warriors had defeated them 84-06 over the Easter period.

It was a great start for Hull as Craig Hall went over to get the lead. The Robins arguably dominated the match approaching half-time but sadly for them, Sam Tomkins woke up and started to play. The Wigan fullback scored an eight minute hat-trick after half-time, whilst adding a fourth try late on in the match to seal their place in the next round.

Wigan went on to claim their 19th Challenge Cup victory with a 16-00 victory over Hull F.C. at Wembley a few weeks later.

The ninth occasion that the Collier men and the lads from East Hull met in the Challenge Cup came in 2018, during the sixth round of the competition. It was a disappointing crowd to say the least. Sam Tomkins was celebrating exactly a decade since his five-try scoring debut against Whitehaven in the Challenge Cup back in 2008 and he was in the mood to celebrate with a Man of the Match performance.

Wigan were of course favourites but after the hour mark, the scores were tied at 10-a piece. K.R. were missing 10 first teamers due to injury so the odds were against them from the off. You wouldn't have known, however, as Hull started the game better. Despite going behind to a Josh Woods try after 10 minutes (Woods who was standing in for the injured Williams), the Robins managed to push their way through the Wigan defence via a try from Chris Atkin. Wigan winger Liam Marshall, whose father scored on this ground in the Cup in 1990, pulled Wigan to a 10-4 half time lead. The drama started on the hooter as former Wigan forward Danny Tickle had a scuffle with John Bateman. Bateman was sinbinned for his part in the scuffle but Tickle was shown the red card after punching Bateman, leaving Hull K.R. down to 12-men.

Despite being a man down, Hull rallied at the start of the second half and attacked the Wigan defence until it broke after Junior Vaivai found his way through to level the scores at 10-all.

Up stepped Sam Tomkins in the 62nd minute to produce one of his trademark mazey runs to add his try, and showed a smile to the Hull K.R. supporters. Wigan made it comfortable thaks to a late try via Tony Clubb.

Wigan would go on to lose in the next round against Warrington Wolves 23-0 thus ending the chance to win their 20th Challenge Cup.

Thanks to Neil Davies for the use of the programme images.