Fev v Fax in the Challenge Cup

Fev v Fax - The Challenge Cup History

The match this week is the first Challenge Cup encounter in 38 years, the last time we played being in 1980.

A couple of weeks ago when the draw was made Fev and Fax were paired together for only the 7th time.

1925

What an extraordinary tale this is! It was the first round and the match was played on St. Valentine’s Day at Thrum Hall. The fans, though, didn’t love it that much because it ended up as a 0-0 draw. Four days later the replay took place at Post Office Road. At least there was some scoring this time but it still wasn’t settled with result being 2-2. So, it was on to a second replay, this time on neutral ground (Headingley). This game was played on February 23rd and at last there was a result: 6-2 to Fev (three goals to one).

The 1925 saga continued into the second round. 5 days after the conclusive replay Fev beat Hunslet at home. Again the score was 6-2, and again it was all penalties. Two weeks passed and it was a trip away to play a powerful Oldham side. End of the run for Fev as they lost 26-0. So, what an extraordinary run - 5 matches, 400 minutes of rugby and despite getting through 2 rounds Fev failed to score a single try!!

1946

After a 21 year gap Fev and Fax were drawn together again in the first round. It was the first season after World War 2 and the RL experimented with the first round being a two-legged affair. Sadly Fev lost both games, 10-7 at home on February 9th and 18-15 away, a week later so Fax went through 28-22 on aggregate.

Fax then met Wakefield Trinity in the 2nd round and lost 10-0 at Belle Vue.

1960

This time they were drawn together in a 2nd round tie after Fev had beaten Workington Town 15-0 at Derwent Park and Fax had disposed of Salford 5-0 at The Willows.

They met at Thrum Hall on February 27th and Fev won 16-10. Amongst the try scorers were Kenny Greatorex and Don Fox.

Fev made it to a semi-final that year after beating Swinton 11-9 at Station Road in the 3rd Round. Sadly they lost the semi to Wakefield Trinity by 11-2 at Odsal.

1971

This was the last time that Fev bet Fax in the Cup. Again it was a first round match and Fev won 18-13 at Thrum Hall.

In the 2nd round we were drawn at home to Hull and drew 7-7 but lost the reply at The Boulevard by 12-8.

1972

Drawn together two years running but this time in the 2nd round. In the first round Fev had beaten amateurs Dewsbury Celtic by 34-2 at Dewsbury and Fax had beaten Huyton 7-4 away.

For the third time running in our cup meetings Fev were drawn away and this time, on February 20th Fax won by 11-5. Fev’s only try was scored by Arnie Morgan.

This time it was Fax’s turn to get through to the semis. They narrowly beat Swinton at home 9-8 in round 3 but lost their semi by 16-3 to Leeds at Odsal.

1980

The last meeting before this year and it was in the 1st round with Fev getting a home draw but nevertheless losing 17-13 on February 10th. Harold Box and Steve Quinn scored tries, Quinn kicked 3 goals and there was a drop goal from Keith Bell.

Again Fax got through to the semis after beating Barrow (10-4, away) in Round 2 and Wakefield Trinity (7-3, home) in round 3. Again the target of a Wembley appearance was not to be as they lost 20-7 to Hull KR in the semi at Headingley. That was the year when Hull KR met Hull FC at Wembley.