Leeds Rhinos and Featherstone Rovers to feature in Challenge Cup highlights

Two painful defeats for Leeds Rhinos and a famous Featherstone Rovers win will be recalled on Sunday.
Peter Fox, centre with borthers Don and Neil, coached Featherstone Rovers to Challenge Cup success in 1973. Picture by Yorkshire Post.Peter Fox, centre with borthers Don and Neil, coached Featherstone Rovers to Challenge Cup success in 1973. Picture by Yorkshire Post.
Peter Fox, centre with borthers Don and Neil, coached Featherstone Rovers to Challenge Cup success in 1973. Picture by Yorkshire Post.

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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The 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.

Agony for Leeds Rhinos' Richard Mathers after the 2005 Challenge Cup final. Picture by Steve Riding.Agony for Leeds Rhinos' Richard Mathers after the 2005 Challenge Cup final. Picture by Steve Riding.
Agony for Leeds Rhinos' Richard Mathers after the 2005 Challenge Cup final. Picture by Steve Riding.

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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Twenty two years ago unfancied Sheffield Eagles were expected to be blown away by 14-1 odds-on favourites Wigan Warriors.

Empty handed again. Leeds Rhinos at Wembley in 2011. Picture by Steve Riding.Empty handed again. Leeds Rhinos at Wembley in 2011. Picture by Steve Riding.
Empty handed again. Leeds Rhinos at Wembley in 2011. Picture by Steve Riding.

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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Rhinos 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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