The 2023 Rugby League Challenge Cup Final saw two unlikely finalists in Hull Kingston Rovers - who until recently had struggled at the wrong end of the table - and newly promoted Leigh Centurions, who had been everyone's favourites to go down, but were on a unlikely double of league and cup when they reached the final. Now renamed "Leopards" by their extrovert new owner, Leigh had stunned many by beating St Helens in the semi final, while Rovers did the same in extra time against Wigan. It had been a long time since both clubs won the cup - Leigh in 1971 in a huge upset, and Rovers in their only triumph in 1980 against local rivals Hull - so for the pundits there was no "favourite" going into the final. And far from being crippled with nerves because of the length of time of having won the cup, both teams came out in an exhilarating game to take their chance of glory. And it was a game where it swung one way, then another, as just as one side looked to be on top, something happened to turn the game on it's head. And the final would make history too, as it became the first final ever to go to extra time. So who would come out on top and end over 40-50 plus years without the cup? You'll have to just sit down and watch and find out...
I don't have many Challenge Cup Final videos, but I thought it better that what I do have should go in an album of their own, rather than shoving them in my Football Cup Finals album and retitling that instead. I shall try to upload a final about once a month if I am able, but my copies usually go back to the pre-Super League era. Please note this is from a video recording of the final that I did on an old tape, so apologies in advance if there are any glitches. It does have all the final, including the winning side collecting the trophy up the steps, but it does end abruptly during discussion due to the tape running out, so apologies for that. I will be uploading the rest of my videos later this afternoon. The reason I've uploaded this now is because it took an age to upload to my laptop and as I suspected has taken well over an hour to upload on here. Anyway, enjoy.