The 1997 Challenge Cup, known as the

Silk Cut Silk Cut is a British brand of cigarettes, currently owned and manufactured by Gallaher Group. The packaging is characterised by a distinctive stark white packet with the brand name in a purple, blue, red, silver, white or green square. History ...

Challenge Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 96th staging of the

Challenge Cup The Rugby Football League Challenge Cup, commonly known just as the Challenge Cup is a Single-elimination tournament, knockout rugby league cup competition organised by the Rugby Football League, held annually since 1896, it is the world's old ...

, a European

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as rugby league in English-speaking countries and rugby 13/XIII in non-Anglophone Europe, is a contact sport, full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular Rugby league playin ...

cup competition. The competition ended with the final on 3 May 1997, which was played at

Wembley Stadium Wembley Stadium, currently branded as Wembley Stadium connected by EE Limited, EE for sponsorship reasons, is an association football stadium in Wembley, London. It opened in 2007 on the site of the Wembley Stadium (1923), original Wembley Sta ...

. The trophy was won and successfully defended by St. Helens, who beat

Bradford Bulls The Bradford Bulls are a professional rugby league club in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and compete in the Championship, the second tier of British rugby league. The club have won the League Championship six times, the Challenge Cup f ...

32–22 in the final. The

Lance Todd Trophy The Lance Todd Trophy is a trophy in rugby league, awarded to man of the match in the annual Challenge Cup Final. Introduced in 1945–46, the trophy was named in memory of Lance Todd, the New Zealand-born player and administrator, who was kill ...

was won by

Tommy Martyn Thomas Martyn (born 4 June 1971) is a former Ireland international rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, and coached in the 2000s. He played at representative level for Ireland, and at club level for Oldham and St. ...

First round

Second round

Third round

Fourth round

Fifth round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

Teams

St Helens: Steve Prescott,

Danny Arnold Danny Arnold (born Arnold Rothmann; January 23, 1925 – August 19, 1995) was an American producer, writer, comedian, actor and director known for producing '' Barney Miller'', '' That Girl'', and '' Bewitched''. Early life Born in New York C ...

, Andy Haigh,

Paul Newlove Paul Newlove (born 10 August 1971) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain and England international representative, he competed in the Super League competition, featur ...

, Anthony Sullivan,

Bobbie Goulding Robert Dennis "Bobbie" Goulding (born 4 February 1972), also known by the nickname of "Bobbie Dazzler", is an English former professional rugby league footballer, and coach, who played in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s, and has coached in ...

, Apollo Perelini,

Keiron Cunningham Keiron Cunningham (born 28 October 1976) is a professional rugby league coach and former player. A Great Britain national rugby league team, Great Britain and Wales national rugby league team, Wales international representative , he played his ...

Julian O'Neill Brian Julian O'Neill (born 14 October 1972) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. Primarily a goal-kicking or , during his 14-year top-grade career he played with several clubs in both ...

Chris Joynt Chris Joynt (born 7 December 1971) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain international representative and , he played his club football with St Helens, with whom he won numerous ti ...

, Derek McVey, Karle Hammond
Subs: Vila Matautia, Chris Morley, Andy Northey, Ian Pickavance Coach: Shaun McRae Bradford:

Stuart Spruce Stuart Arthur Spruce (born 3 January 1971) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played as a for the Widnes Vikings and the Bradford Bulls, and represented England and Great Brit ...

, Abi Ekoku, Danny Peacock, Paul Loughlin,

Paul Cook Paul Thomas Cook (born 20 July 1956) is an English musician, best known as the drummer and a founding member of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. He is nicknamed "Cookie" by friends in the punk music scene. Early life and career Cook was ...

, Graeme Bradley,

Robbie Paul Robert Rawiri Hunter-Paul (born 3 February 1976) is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. He has since become a business owner and television pundit, runninXtra Mile Marketing an inbound and digital marketing company. Robbie retired fr ...

, Brian McDermott, James Lowes, Tahi Reihana,

Sonny Nickle Sonny Nickle (born 4 May 1969) is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. He played at club level as a or for Hunslet, St Helens, Bradford Bulls, Sheffield Eagles and the Leigh Centuri ...

, Bernard Dwyer, Steve McNamara
Subs: Glen Tomlinson, Paul Medley, Simon Knox, Matt Calland Coach: Matthew Elliott

References

External links

Challenge Cup official website
{{1997 in rugby league Challenge Cup

St Helens R.F.C.