Wigan 13-8 St Helens — 1990/91 Challenge Cup Final

Wembley Stadium, London · Attendance: 75,532

Data last verified: 11 August 2026.

1990/91 Challenge Cup Final: Wigan 13-8 St Helens, at Wembley Stadium, London.

Sourcing caveat: Try/goal minutes not confirmed; the reported scoreline suggests an additional point (e.g. a drop goal) may be undocumented in sources checked. Full lineups, benches and coaches for both sides were subsequently confirmed via Rugby League Project.

Scorers

WiganTries: David Myers; Frano Botica
Goals: Frano Botica (2 goals)
St HelensTries: Alan Hunte
Goals: Paul Bishop (2 goals)

Teams

WiganSt Helens
1Steve HampsonFullbackPhil Veivers1
2David MyersWingAlan Hunte2
3Kevin IroCentreTea Ropati3
4Dean BellCentrePaul Loughlin4
5Frano BoticaWingLes Quirk5
6Shaun EdwardsFive-eighthJonathan Griffiths6
7Andy GregoryHalfbackPaul Bishop7
8Ian LucasFront rowJon Neill8
9Martin DermottHookerBernard Dwyer9
10Andy PlattFront rowKevin Ward10
11Denis BettsSecond rowJohn Harrison11
12Phil ClarkeSecond rowGeorge Mann12
13Ellery HanleyLockShane Cooper13
Substitutes
14Bobbie GouldingGary Connolly14
15Andy GoodwayPaul Groves15
John MonieCoachMike McClennan

Match officials

RefereeJim Smith (Halifax)
Lance Todd TrophyDenis Betts (Wigan) — Lance Todd Trophy

Match report

Wigan raced into a 12-0 lead inside the first 12 minutes through tries from teenager David Myers and former All Black Frano Botica in this local-rivalry final against St Helens, played 27 April 1991. St Helens hit back through Alan Hunte's second-half try to make it a contest, but Wigan held on to win 13-8. The victory made Ellery Hanley the first captain in history to lead his side to three consecutive Challenge Cup wins, en route to what would eventually become Wigan's unmatched eight-final winning streak. Forward Denis Betts was named Lance Todd Trophy winner. For much of the competition's early history the final rotated around northern club and representative grounds such as Headingley, Fartown, Central Park and the Athletic Ground, Rochdale, before Wembley Stadium became the final's permanent home from 1928/29 onward (with a short break during Wembley's 2000-2007 reconstruction, when finals were staged at Murrayfield, Twickenham and the Millennium Stadium instead). Since 1946/47, the competition's individual award, the Lance Todd Trophy, has been presented to the final's outstanding player, voted for by a panel of media representatives at the final whistle — on several notable occasions the trophy has gone to a player on the losing side, an unusual honour that reflects the award's focus on individual performance rather than simply reflecting the final scoreline. This was the 90th Challenge Cup final played, and, under the name “Wigan,” the 12th Challenge Cup title for the club.

Round by round

Preliminary Round

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Carlisle 8–9 WorkingtonGillford Park19111991-01-27
Hensingham 7–24 DewsburyDerwent Park—1991-01-27
Salford 44–4 CutsykeThe Willows17881991-01-27
Warrington 22–4 HuddersfieldWilderspool35541991-01-27
Sheffield 19–6 HullDon Valley28471991-01-30
Leigh East 12–24 Bradford NorthernHilton Park—1991-01-27

Round 1

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Doncaster 4–30 WidnesTattersfield35661991-02-10
Leeds 40–20 DewsburyHeadingley42391991-02-10
Swinton 8–18 St HelensMaine Road29221991-02-10
Castleford 4–28 WiganWheldon Road67491991-02-12
Keighley 36–4 Runcorn HighfieldLawkholme Lane5741991-02-14
Salford 36–14 BatleyThe Willows20501991-02-15
Barrow 13–8 HunsletCraven Park9101991-02-17
Bradford Northern 50–4 LeighValley Parade33491991-02-17
Bramley 6–38 OldhamMcLaren Field12571991-02-17
Halifax 46–6 FulhamThrum Hall46321991-02-17
Nottingham 10–26 WhitehavenHarvey Hadden Stadium1411991-02-17
Ryedale-York 1–8 WarringtonRyedale Stadium28251991-02-17
Sheffield 19–12 Featherstone RoversDon Valley29101991-02-17
Wakefield Trinity 18–7 Trafford BoroughBelle Vue25511991-02-17
Workington 18–12 Hull KRDerwent Park33801991-02-17
Rochdale Hornets 14–10 ChorleySpotland9521991-02-19

Round 2

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
St Helens 16–2 Wakefield TrinityKnowsley Road45861991-02-23
Barrow 4–28 WidnesCraven Park46431991-02-24
Bradford Northern 5–0 LeedsOdsal90761991-02-24
Halifax 46–12 WhitehavenThrum Hall55491991-02-24
Keighley 10–42 WarringtonLawkholme Lane24721991-02-24
Rochdale Hornets 4–72 WiganSpotland64921991-02-24
Sheffield 16–19 SalfordDon Valley19901991-02-24
Workington 15–20 OldhamDerwent Park55491991-02-24

Round 3 (Quarter-Finals)

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Warrington 14–26 WidnesWilderspool86371991-03-09
Halifax 16–24 St HelensThrum Hall96721991-03-10
Oldham 40–3 SalfordWatersheddings65031991-03-10
Wigan 32–2 Bradford NorthernCentral Park177341991-03-10

Semi-Finals

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Wigan 30–16 OldhamBurnden Park190571991-03-23
St Helens 19–2 WidnesCentral Park161091991-03-30

Final

ResultVenueAttendanceDate
Wigan 13–8 St HelensWembley Stadium755321991-04-27

Early rounds feature amateur and community clubs alongside professional ones; team names are linked only where this site has a team page for that exact club, matching the same safety-first approach used for the Final's own results table.

Sources

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