Doncaster 

Tries: Iain Hartley
Goals: David Noble 1

Wigan began their defence of the Challenge Cup away at Second Division Doncaster and had been pushed hard with just an 8-6 lead at half time. But Wigan pushed away after the interval with Joe Lydon enjoying scoring four tries.

Doncaster 6 Wigan 8

5,274

1988-1989 Silk Cut Challenge Cup Preliminary Round

Saturday 14th January 1989
Barrow Island 11 Thatto Heath (St Helens) 18

Sunday 15th January 1989
Leeds 32 Hunslet 6
Milford (Leeds) 0 Swinton 36
Wakefield Trinity 18 Bramley 10
West Hull 2 Doncaster 48 (at The Boulevard, Hull)
York 35 Workington Town 8

1988-1989 Silk Cut Challenge Cup First Round

Saturday 28th January 1989
Hull 4 Castleford 7 (BBC Grandstand)

Sunday 29th January 1989
Barrow 38 Huddersfield 16
Carlisle 58 Mansfield Marksmen 1
Chorley Borough 8 Thatto Heath (St Helens) 4
Dewsbury 9 Oldham 40
Doncaster 6 Wigan 38
Fulham 10 Bradford Northern 28
Rochdale Hornets 24 Hull Kingston Rovers 28
Runcorn Highfield 10 Keighley 28
Salford 14 Widnes 18
Sheffield Eagles 23 Leigh 17
Swinton 5 St Helens 16
Wakefield Trinity 34 Batley 4
Warrington 25 Halifax 8
Whitehaven 0 Featherstone Rovers 32
York 9 Leeds 28 (at Bootham Crescent, York City FC)