2007 Challenge Cup final

Return to Wembley

Wembley Stadium is the traditional home of most major sports finals in England, including Rugby League's Challenge Cup Final. The original Wembley Stadium has a hosted the Challenge Cup Final almost every year since the 1929 Challenge Cup Final where Wigan Warriors beat Dewsbury Rams 13 – 2. The only exception to Wembley hosting the final was during the Second World War where a variety of stadiums were used to host the final and during 1932 where Central Park in Wigan hosted the final. However in 2000, the Challenge Cup Final moved out of Wembley in preparation for the start of the building of the new stadium in 2003. During this time Murrayfield, Twickenham, and the Millennium Stadium were used to host the final. In 2007 the final returned to Wembley along with most major English sporting finals.

Route to the final

St Helens

St Helens began their Challenge Cup campaign with a fourth round 78–14 thrashing of National League One side Batley Bulldogs before going on to thrash another National League One side Rochdale Hornets 70 points to 10 in the fifth round. The quarter finals saw a comfortable victory over Super League side Warrington Wolves before another comfortable victory over title rivals Bradford Bulls put them in the final.

Catalans Dragons

Catalans Dragons began their Challenge Cup campaign with a thrashing of 2007 National League Two side Featherstone Rovers 70 points to 12. A fifth round victory over Whitehaven saw the Dragons progress to the quarter-finals where a narrow away win over Hull F.C., 26 points to 23, put them in the semi-finals. A comfortable win against Wigan Warriors of 37 points to 24 placed the Dragons in their first ever Challenge Cup Final.

Match details

bg = #eeeeee | date = August 25, 2007 | team1 = St. Helens [[File:Saintscolours.svg|16px]]| score = 30 - 8 | report = (Report) | team2 = [[File:Catalanscolours.svg|16px]] Catalans Dragons | points1 = Tries: Roby 33' Gardner (2) 40', 78' Wellens 46' Clough 50' Goals: Long (5)| points2 = Tries: Khattabi 35' Murphy 56'| stadium = Wembley Stadium, London | attendance = 84,241| referee= Ashley Klien|manofmatch= Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens}}

The man-of-the-match award was shared by Leon Pryce and Paul Wellens.{{Cite news

Teams: St Helens: Paul Wellens, Ade Gardner, Matt Gidley, Willie Talau, Francis Meli; Leon Pryce, Sean Long, Nick Fozzard, Keiron Cunningham, Jason Cayless, Lee Gilmour, Mike Bennett, Jon Wilkin

Subs: James Roby, James Graham, Paul Clough, Maurie Fa'asavalu Coach: Daniel Anderson

Catalans: Clint Greenshields, Justin Murphy, John Wilson, Sébastien Raguin, Younes Khattabi, Adam Mogg, Stacey Jones (c), Jérôme Guisset, Luke Quigley, Alex Chan, Jason Croker, Cyrille Gossard, Grégory Mounis

Subs: Rémi Casty, David Ferriol, Vincent Duport, Kane Bentley Coach: Mick Potter

Notable attendees

The following attended the final:

• Mal Meninga
• Andrew Johns
• Joe Lydon
• Shaun Edwards
• Sir Steve Redgrave

References

References

1. (25 August 2007). "Catalans 8-30 St Helens".
2. "Rugby League".
3. "Leeds 18-35 Warrington". BBC Sport.
4. (2007-08-23). "Big Mal welcomes the squad". Saints.
5. (2007-08-22). "Quins RL introduce Johns to Wembley Stadium". Quins.
6. (2007-08-24). "Joe Lydon - Wembley". Quins.
7. (2007-08-24). "Why I will miss being on parade". Yorkshire Post.
8. (2007-08-13). "Sir Steve Redgrave to be guest of honour at Cup Final". SportFocus.
9. (2007-08-13). "Sir Steve to honour Challenge Cup winners". St Helens Today.