Rhinos Romp To Cup Triumph

After a superb run to the final which included the dispatching of Wigan and Warrington, Hull Kingston Rovers graced the Challenge Cup final at Wembley for the first time since 1986. Their task for success came in the shape of holders Leeds Rhinos who were odds on to retain their title.

A great start for the Rhinos saw Brett Delaney register the first points of the final with a seventh minute try which was awarded by the video referees and with Kevin Sinfield converting the lead was 6-0. Danny McGuire added a second score on 17 minutes with Sinfield extending the gap to 12-0.

Tom Briscoe made it a treble of tries for the Rhinos inside 20 minutes for a 16-0 lead which lasted into the interval after both sides battled evenly for the latter part of the half. The Robins needed a superb second half to avoid matching their city rivals who lost by the same score in 2013 to Wigan.

However, their plight worsened within seven minutes of the restart as Briscoe struck again with Sinfield on target for 18-0 and as the hour neared, the Rhinos reached 20 points as Brad Singleton crossed with Sinfield converting for 28-0. The Robins' hopes were over as it now became a case of how many Leeds would score with 20 minutes left to play.

Briscoe completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes to push the lead to 32-0 and the prospect of a record breaking performance gathered pace further as Rob Burrow crossed and Sinfield converted for a huge 38-0 lead. Briscoe equalled the record for tries in a final set by former Rhinos star Leroy Rivett as he scored his fourth on 75 minutes with another Sinfield conversion making it 44-0.

The final nail in the Rovers' miserable afternoon came in the final minutes as Briscoe set a new record with his fifth try and with Sinfield converting for a seventh time he sealed a record winning margin at 50-0 leaving the Robins with a nilling they will never forget.