1970–71 Challenge Cup

The 1970–71 Challenge Cup was the 70th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.

1970–71 Challenge Cup
Highest attendance85,514
Broadcast partnersBBC
Winners Leigh
Runners-up Leeds
Lance Todd Trophy Alex Murphy

The final was contested by Leeds and Leigh at Wembley.

First round

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Date Team one Team two Score
23 Jan Barrow Widnes 11-15
23 Jan Batley Wigan 4-13
23 Jan Blackpool Huddersfield 7-8
23 Jan Leeds Oldham 49-2
23 Jan Swinton Huyton 13-2
23 Jan Thames Board Mills Hunslet 5-49
23 Jan Warrington Rochdale Hornets 13-7
23 Jan Whitehaven Castleford 0-15
23 Jan Workington Town St Helens 6-8
24 Jan Hull BOCM Dewsbury 3-25
24 Jan Bramley Doncaster 6-5
24 Jan Halifax Featherstone Rovers 13-18
24 Jan Keighley Hull Kingston Rovers 9-9
24 Jan Leigh Bradford Northern 9-2
24 Jan Salford Wakefield Trinity 6-6
24 Jan York Hull FC 0-2
27 Jan -replay Hull Kingston Rovers Keighley 11-18
27 Jan - replay Wakefield Trinity Salford 8-15

Second round

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Date Team one Team two Score
19 Feb Castleford Keighley 9-6
20 Feb Leeds St Helens 4-0
21 Feb Dewsbury Bramley 13-17
21 Feb Featherstone Rovers Hull FC 7-7
21 Feb Hunslet Huddersfield 0-16
21 Feb Salford Warrington 20-9
21 Feb Swinton Wigan 8-2
21 Feb Widnes Leigh 11-14
24 Feb -replay Hull FC Featherstone Rovers 12-8

Quarter-finals

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Date Team one Team two Score
06 Mar Bramley Leeds 0-14
06 Mar Castleford Salford 9-8
07 Mar Huddersfield Swinton 11-8
07 Mar Leigh Hull FC 8-4

Semi-finals

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Date Team one Team two Score
27 Mar Leeds Castleford 19-8
03 Apr Leigh Huddersfield 10-4

Final

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The final was played on Saturday 15 May 1971, where Leigh beat Leeds 24-7 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 85,514.[1]

The winner of the Lance Todd Trophy was Leigh's captain-coach, Alex Murphy[2] who was stretchered off after a clash with Leeds player, Syd Hynes. For his part in the "clash", Hynes was sent off,[3][4] and became the first player to be sent-off in a Challenge Cup final after the headbutt on Leigh's Murphy.[5][6]

This was Leigh's second Cup final win in two final appearances. It was their last appearance in a Challenge Cup final until 2023.[7]

15 May 1971
Leigh 24 – 7 Leeds
Try Dorrington, Eckersley
Goals Ferguson (5)
DG Fiddler, Murphy (2), Eckersley
Try Wainwright
Goals Holmes (2)
Wembley, London
Attendance: 85,514
Referee: Billy Thompson
Player of the Match: Alex Murphy
1 David Eckersley
2 Stuart Ferguson
3 Stan Dorrington
4 Mick Collins
5 Joseph Walsh
6 Tony Barrow
7 Alex Murphy (c)  
8 Derek Watts
9 Kevin Ashcroft
10 Jimmy Fiddler
11 Paul Grimes
12 Geoffrey Clarkson
13 Peter Smethurst
Substitutes:
14 Les Chisnall  
15 Roy Lester (unused)
Coach:
Alex Murphy
1 John Holmes
2 John Langley
3 Syd Hynes (c)  
4 Ronnie Cowan  
5 John Atkinson
6 Tony Wainwright
7 Barry Seabourne
8 John Burke
9 Tony Fisher
10 Ted Barnard
11 David Hick
12 Bob Haigh
13 Bill Ramsey
Substitutes:
14 Les Dyl  
15 Phil Cookson (unused)
Coach:
Derek Turner

References

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  1. ^ "RFL Challenge Cup Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  2. ^ news.bbc.co.uk (27 February 2004). "Cup heroes: Alex Murphy". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  3. ^ "Cup Final Sending Off". Archived from the original on 2009-10-04. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
  4. ^ Raymond Fletcher; David Howes (1995). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1995-1996. London: Headline Book Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 0-7472-7817-2.
  5. ^ Hadfield, Dave (11 May 2012). "Leigh v Leeds: Greatest Cup upset was child's play". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  6. ^ Smith, Peter (5 June 2014). "Leeds Rhinos: Leeds still smarting from controversial 1971 cup final". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  7. ^ "RFL Challenge Cup Roll of Honour". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-08-07.
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