2008 Challenge Cup Final


The 2008 Challenge Cup Final was the final game of the 2008 Challenge Cup, also known as The Carnegie Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons. The match was contested by two Super League teams: the defending champions St. Helens, and Hull F.C..
The final was performed at Wembley Stadium on 30 August 2008, started at 14:30 BST. St Helens won the match 28-16 after a topsy-turvy game, ahead by 10 points at half time, then went 12-10 before roaring back to win by a clear margin.

Route to the final

Both St Helens and Hull, as Super League clubs, entered the competition in round 4. St Helens started by thrashing National League Two side London Skolars 56-0 and Hull convincingly beat Rochdale Hornets 42-5. In round 5 St Helens narrowly beat fellow Super League side Warrington Wolves and Hull won against Widnes.
In the quarter finals, Hull and St Helens again recorded narrow victories against Bradford and Hull Kingston Rovers respectively.
The first semi-final between St Helens and Leeds Rhinos finished 26-16 in St Helens' favour. Hull also reached the final by beating Wakefield Trinity Wildcats 32-24 at the Keepmoat Stadium.

Results

St Helens
Hull FC
Teams:
St Helens: Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Matthew Gidley, Willie Talau, Francis Meli, Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Bryn Hargreaves, Keiron Cunningham, James Graham, Chris Flannery, Jon Wilkin, Paul Sculthorpe
Replacements: James Roby, Lee Gilmour, Paul Clough, Maurie Fa'asavalu Coach: Daniel Anderson
Hull: Todd Byrne, Matt Sing, Graeme Horne, Kirk Yeaman, Gareth Raynor, Danny Washbrook, Tommy Lee, Ewan Dowes, Shaun Berrigan, Peter Cusack, Willie Manu, Danny Tickle, Lee Radford,
Replacements: Richard Horne, Garreth Carvell, Tom Briscoe, Jamie Thackray Coach: Richard Agar