Top 10 Challenge Cup upsets of the last decade

As this weekend was supposed to see the sixth round of the Challenge Cup, we look at the top ten upsets in the last ten years.

This is in no particular order.

Doncaster 0-26 Siddal (2010)

Halifax amateurs Siddal produced this upset in 2010, it was the first time they had beaten a league side in their history.

They were led by the now Dewsbury Rams coach Lee Greenwood and ‘nilled’ Doncaster in the impressive Keepmoat Stadium surroundings.

Two tries each from Scott Caley and Brad Atwood, as well as another from Gareth Blackburn sealed the deal for the NCL side.

They went into the fourth round, but were beaten 34-2 at home to Batley Bulldogs.

Featherstone Rovers 23-16 Castleford Tigers (2012)

Championship side Featherstone managed to get one over on their Super League rivals in the fourth round back in 2012.

Now Warrington Wolves hooker Daryl Clark had given Cas the lead, before tries from Tangi Ropati, Kyle Briggs, Ian Hardman and Greg Worthington put the hosts into a 14-point lead.

Cas hit back with tries from Josh Griffin and Nick Youngquest, but they left themselves with too much to do in the second half.

Rovers welcomed Wigan Warriors to West Yorkshire in the Fifth Round, but lost out 32-16.

Siddal 30-4 Newcastle Thunder (2016)

The amateurs from Halifax were at it again in 2016, this time they produced an emphatic 30-4 win over Newcastle Thunder.

Two tries from Byron Smith, as well as other efforts from Tom Garratt, Freddie Walker and Shaun Garrod put the amateurs 30-0 up with less than ten minutes remaining.

Chris Parker pulled a consolation score back for the Thunder.

Siddal went through to face Rochdale Hornets in the next round, but they were beaten 48-20 at Spotland.

Pilkington Recs 13-0 London Skolars (2016)

Another amateur side to claim a pro-league scalp was St Helens side Pilkington Recs, who managed to nil London Skolars at home.

Tries from Kyran Knapper and Andy Knapper, as well as a drop-goal from Greg Smith completed a fine day for Pilks. It was the first time they had beaten a professional side.

They went up against Halifax in the next round at the Totally Wicked Stadium, but were beaten 78-0.

Featherstone Lions 37-20 South Wales Scorpions (2016)

NCL side Featherstone Lions also beat professional opposition as they beat South Wales Scorpions.

A hat-trick from Rhys Dyas, and other efforts from John Hardcastle, Kieran Redfearn, Joe Fox and Dean Gamble sealed an impressive victory for the Lions.

South Wales hit back with two tries from Dai Evans, as well as other efforts from Chris Vitalini and Rhys Davies, but they fell well short in the end.

The Lions drew another community side in the next round, but lost out to Castleford side Lock Lane.

Oxford 22-37 Lock Lane (2016)

The final community side to win a big match against higher opposition this year was Lock Lane, who beat League One Oxford in Maidenhead.

Two tries from Adam Garlick, and other efforts from Royce Geoffrey, Calum Butler, Nathan Fozzard, Danny Rowse and Nicky Saxton sealed the win after a long drive down.

Oxford responded with tries from Nathan Kitson, Andy Hoggins, Aaron Dobek and Josh Nathaniel, but they were well beaten.

Lock Lane went through and beat Featherstone Lions in the next round to set up a fifth round clash with Halifax. However, they were beaten 80-4 at The Shay. They still became the first community side to reach the Fifth Round in the history of the Challenge Cup.

Hull KR 22-36 Oldham (2016)

The final big upset of the year came when Championship strugglers Oldham went to Super League side Hull KR and beat them.

The Robins had got to the final of the competition the previous year.

But two tries from Richard Lepori, as well as others from Will Hope, Steve Roper, Adam Clay and Gary Middlehurst earned a memorable win for Oldham.

Hull KR only woke up in the second half, and threatened a comeback with two tries from Dane Tilse, and other efforts from Shaun Lunt, Maurice Blair and Joe Wardill, but they fell short in the end.

Oldham were drawn against Warrington Wolves in the next round, but were beaten 70-10 in Stalybridge.

Thatto Heath Crusaders 16-14 North Wales Crusaders (2019)

NCL Grand Finalists Thatto Heath Crusaders had a decent Cup run in 2019, as they beat League One side North Wales Crusaders at Crusader Park.

Tries from Lewis Foster, Connor Dwyer and Matty Norton sealed the victory for the amateur side from St Helens.

North Wales came back with two tries from Rob Massam and another from Chris Worrall, but they fell agonisingly short.

Thatto Heath got another home tie in the next round, but they were beaten by Dewsbury Rams.

Bradford Bulls 24-22 Leeds Rhinos (2019)

Bradford Bulls rolled back the years when they beat West Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos at Odsal.

Leeds were in a state of transition after sacking Head Coach David Furner. Richard Agar was in his first match in caretaker charge.

However, Bradford won it thanks to tries from Dalton Grant, Jake Webster, Sam Hallas and Mikey Wood.

The Rhinos responded with tries from Tui Lolohea, Callum McLelland, Harry Newman and Tom Briscoe, but they couldn’t make their second half pressure count.

Bradford drew another Championship club in Halifax in the next round. They had the chance to make history as one of the only non-Super League sides to make the semi-finals. But they lost that one.

West Wales Raiders 8-30 Underbank Rangers (2020)

An early upset from this years competition as NCL side Underbank Rangers beat League One side West Wales Raiders.

The Huddersfield side dominated this one, thanks to two tries from Owen Restall and other efforts from Tom Stringer, Richard Pogson and Courtney Allette won the game for them.

The Raiders responded with tries from Phil Cowburn and Daf Phillips, but they lost out in Head Coach Aaron Wood’s first game in charge.

Underbank got a big reward for that, a trip to Bradford Bulls. However, they were beaten 22-0 at the Tetley’s Stadium.