Leeds Rhinos and Featherstone Rovers to feature in Challenge Cup highlights
The quarter-finals of the Coral Challenge Cup were scheduled for this weekend, but the competition is on hold during the coronavirus pandemic.
Instead of live coverage, at 2.05pm BBC 1 will be broadcasting highlights of five classic finals from five decades, including Leeds’ loss to Hull in 2005 at Cardiff and the Wembley defeat by Wigan Warriors six years - to the day - later.
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Hide AdThe featured game from the 1970s is Rovers’ 33-14 demolition of Bradford Northern, when full-back Cyril Kellett set a new Challenge Cup final record with eight goals from as many attempts.
Also featured will be the 1987 thriller between Halifax and St Helens.
Fax hung on to win 19-18 thanks to a stunning try-saving tackle by John Pendlebury on Graham Eadie with six minutes left.
The greatest Wembley shock of all time is the featured final from the 1990s.
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Hide AdTwenty two years ago unfancied Sheffield Eagles were expected to be blown away by 14-1 odds-on favourites Wigan Warriors.
But master coach John Kear inspired a stunning upset as an Eagles side including future Rhinos star Keith Senior outclassed that season’s eventual Super League champions 17-8.
Kear and Senior were on opposite sides seven years later when Leeds went into their clash with Hull as hot favourites.
Senior played despite an ankle injury suffered in a Super League loss to Bradford Bulls the week before, but the gamble backfired as he didn’t come out for the second half.
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Hide AdRhinos led 24-19 with three minutes left, but Hull - coached by Kear, whose assistant was current Leeds boss Richard Agar - snatched victory when Danny Brough converted Paul Cooke’s try three minutes from time.
There was more disappointment for Leeds in 2011, though they gave a good account of themselves in a 28-18 loss to Wigan.
That was the second of three successive Wembley defeats for Leeds and their fifth loss in as many finals since 1999.
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