The competition required nine rounds, the first one comprised of just amateur sides. In round two League One (division three) teams were added and that remained the same for the next round as well. In round four, Championship (division two) sides joined.
When the sixth round draw was held, Super League (division one) teams came into the competition, with 16 sides taking part. Then onto the quarter finals which is where the chart below kicks in. This was the last round that games were played at one of the team's home ground. Hull KR, Huddersfield Giants, St Helens and Wigan progressing from those matches.
The semi final was a double header played at the neutral Leeds ground. The Huddersfield Giants expectedly went into the final with the Wigan Warriors defying the odds in winning the other game.
Both finalists have a fine history of Cup appearances. Huddersfield won it three years out of four in the early 1900's and had won the cup six times in seven finals they contested by 1953. Since then they lost three finals coming into this one.
Wigan made their first cup appearance in 1911 (which they lost) and then also missed out in their second attempt, ironically to the Giants in 1920. In all they have lost 12 finals but had won 19 coming into this encounter. They were victors for an unprecedented eight consecutive cups between 1988 and 1995.
51,628 turned up at Tottenham's home ground in London for a double header event. The first match was for a lower division cup trophy and then the Challenge Cup itself. Huddersfield outplayed Wigan but some poor goal kicking and inability to press home their territorial advantage had Wigan snatching a late match winning try. That's a record 20 cup victories for the Warriors.
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