Powergen Challenge Cup Final Preview
17th August 2005HULL FC v LEEDS RHINOS
This is only the third meeting in the RL Challenge Cup final between the two famous clubs. In fact, they have not met in the finals of any other competition.
Leeds have won both the previous Cup final meetings. The first was in 1910 when they won the then Northern Union Challenge Cup after a 7-7 draw followed by a 26-12 replay win at Fartown, Huddersfield. Leeds became the first winners of the newly-named Rugby League Challenge Cup in 1923 when they beat Hull 28-3 at Belle Vue, Wakefield.
Hull have not fared much better in the earlier rounds with only three wins in 13 meetings. The last was a 14-5 first round home win at their old Boulevard ground in 1981. Leeds have continued their superiority in recent seasons and are unbeaten in their last 11 Cup and League meetings, including one draw. Hull’s last victory was 38-6 in a Super League home match at The Boulevard in March 2002. A year later they gained a 10-10 draw at Leeds. The only current Hull players who played in the last win are Gareth Raynor, Chris Chester, Richard Horne, Paul Cooke, Paul King and Gareth Carvell.