The 1947–48 Challenge Cup was the 47th staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.
The final was contested by Wigan and Bradford Northern at Wembley Stadium, and was the first ever rugby league match to be televised. Wigan won the match 8–3, with Bradford's Frank Whitcombe receiving the Lance Todd Trophy – the first time the trophy had been awarded to a player on the losing team.
First round Date Team One Score One Team Two Score Two07 FebBarrow 18 Halifax 407 FebBatley 0 Dewsbury 207 FebBramley 3 Vine Tavern 307 FebFeatherstone Rovers 3 Leigh 1807 FebHuddersfield 6 Bradford Northern 207 FebHull FC 23 Swinton 207 FebHull Kingston Rovers 12 Oldham 507 FebKeighley 11 Risehow & Gillhead 007 FebLeeds 23 York 907 FebLiverpool 0 Belle Vue Rangers 907 FebRochdale Hornets 13 Pemberton Rovers 007 FebSt Helens 48 Buslingthorpe 007 FebSalford 2 Wakefield Trinity 1307 FebWarrington 10 Workington Town 007 FebWidnes 5 Hunslet 307 FebWigan 27 Castleford 012 FebPemberton Rovers 0 Rochdale Hornets 1114 FebBelle Vue Rangers 10 Liverpool 814 FebBradford Northern 15 Huddersfield 214 FebBuslingthorpe 2 St Helens 1314 FebCastleford 7 Wigan 1914 FebDewsbury 10 Batley 414 FebHalifax 17 Barrow 414 FebHunslet 5 Widnes 314 FebLeigh 10 Featherstone Rovers 614 FebOldham 22 Hull Kingston Rovers 414 FebRisehow & Gillhead 10 Keighley 214 FebSwinton 12 Hull FC 214 FebVine Tavern 6 Bramley 1714 FebWakefield Trinity 20 Salford 1514 FebWorkington Town 0 Warrington 714 FebYork 0 Leeds 1319 FebWidnes 0 Hunslet 321 FebBramley 10 Vine Tavern 2
Second round Date Team One Score One Team Two Score Two28 FebBarrow 2 Keighley 628 FebDewsbury 2 Hunslet 228 FebHull FC 22 Bramley 028 FebOldham 5 St Helens 028 FebRochdale Hornets 3 Belle Vue Rangers 228 FebWakefield Trinity 3 Bradford Northern 328 FebWarrington 8 Leigh 228 FebWigan 17 Leeds 306 MarBradford Northern 9 Wakefield Trinity 206 MarHunslet 11 Dewsbury 0
Quarter-finals Date Team One Score One Team Two Score Two13 MarBradford Northern 30 Oldham 013 MarHunslet 5 Hull FC 013 MarKeighley 4 Rochdale Hornets 613 MarWarrington 10 Wigan 13
Semi-finals
Final
FB 1 Martin RyanRW 2 Gordon RatcliffeRC 3 Ted WardLC 4 Ernie AshcroftLW 5 Jack HiltonSO 6 Cecil Mountford SH 7 Tommy Bradshaw PR 8 Ken GeeHK 9 Joe Egan (c)PR 10 Frank BartonSR 11 Les WhiteSR 12 Billy BlanLF 13 Bill HudsonCoach: Jim Sullivan FB 1 Billy LeakeRW 2 Eric BattenRC 3 Des CaseLC 4 Ernest Ward (c)LW 5 Alan EdwardsSO 6 Willie DaviesSH 7 Donald WardPR 8 Frank WhitcombeHK 9 Vic DarlisonPR 10 Herbert SmithSR 11 Barry TylerSR 12 Trevor FosterLF 13 Ken TraillCoach: Dai Rees
Coverage The final was broadcast live on BBC television, with George Duckworth providing commentary, and was the first time a rugby league match had ever been televised. The match was only broadcast to viewers in the London area, as the first television transmitter in the North of England was not completed until 1951.
References
External links Challenge Cup official website Challenge Cup 1947/48 results at Rugby League Project