St Helens 

1. Steve Prescott, 14. Danny Arnold, 21. Alan Hunte, 4. Paul Newlove, 5. Anthony Sullivan, 20. Tommy Martyn, 7. Bobbie Goulding, 8. Apollo Perelini, 9. Kerion Cunningham, 15. Julian O'Neill, 11. Chris Joynt, 16. Derek McVey, 6. Karle Hammond.
Interchange: 10. Ian Pickavance, 22. Vila Matautia, 23. Andy Northey, 24. Chris Morley.

Tries: Apollo Perelini, Karle Hammond, Paul Newlove, Alan Hunte
Goals: Bobbie Goulding 3, Tommy Martyn 2

The 1997 season began in turmoil for Wigan. Failure to win the Challenge Cup in 1996 and top of a well below par average attendance during the first summer season left Wigan's finances with a huge hole. They really needed a good cup run in this season but got the worst draw possible with a visit to double holders and big rivals St Helens. Wigan would have been reasonably happy at 10-10 at the break but even more so when Bobbie Goulding was sent off right on half time for a high shot on Neil Cowie. Instead though the red card inspired 12 men Saints to a brilliant second half performance that knocked Wigan out. The fall out proved to be huge. Graeme West was sacked and both Shaun Edwards and Va'aiga Tuigamala were sold to ensure desperately needed money entered the Central Park coffers.

St Helens 10 Wigan 10

12,262

Russell Smith (Castleford)

Live Coverage on BBC 1 during Grandstand

1997 Challenge Cup Fourth Round

Friday 7th February
Dewsbury 26 Doncaster 15

Saturday 8th February 1997
St Helens 26 Wigan 12 (BBC 1 Grandstand)

Sunday 9th February 1997
Batley 4 Paris 38
Carlisle 62 Bradford Dudley Hill 2
Castleford 18 Salford 36
Featherstone 14 Widnes 12
Huddersfield 16 Hull 16
Hull Kingston Rovers 16 Halifax 20
Hunslet 10 Bradford 62
Lancashire Lynx 5 London 48
Leigh 18 Sheffield Eagles 62
Oldham 48 Rochdale 6
Wakefield 9 Swinton 4
Warrington 66 Barrow 6
Workington 14 Keighley 24

Wednesday 12th February 1997
Replay: Hull 24 Huddersfield 14

1997 Challenge Cup Fifth Round

Saturday 22nd February 1997
London 12 Bradford 34 (BBC 1 Grandstand)
Wakefield 14 Oldham 22

Sunday 23rd February 1997
Carlisle 20 Featherstone 32
Halifax 8 Keighley 21
Leeds 48 Dewsbury 22
Salford 8 Paris 4
St Helens 54 Hull 8
Warrington 31 Sheffield 8

1997 Challenge Cup Quarter Finals

Saturday 8th March 1997
Oldham 12 Bradford 38
Warrington 10 Salford 29 (BBC 1 Grandstand)

Sunday 9th March 1997
Keighley 0 St Helens 24
Leeds 32 Featherstone 12

1997 Challenge Cup Semi Finals

Saturday 22nd March 1997
St Helens 50 Salford 20 (at Central Park, Wigan - BBC 1 Grandstand)

Sunday 29th March 1997
Bradford 24 Leeds 10 (at McAlpine Stadium. Huddersfield) - BBC 1 Grandstand)

1997 Challenge Cup Final

Saturday 3rd May 1997
St Helens 32 Bradford 22 (at Wembley Stadium, London - BBC 1 Grandstand)