LONDON, July 27, 2008 (AFP) - Hull saw off a spirited fightback from a Wakefield side coached by their former boss John Kear to secure a 32-24 win on Saturday that booked their place in next month's Challenge Cup final at Wembley against St Helens.

Hull raced into an 18-0 lead inside nine minutes at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium before Wakefield fought back.

LONDON, July 26, 2008 (AFP) - Holders St Helens overcame intense the unusual, intense heat in Huddersfield and a spirited Leeds recovery to win Saturday's semi-final of English rugby league's Challenge Cup 26-16.

LEEDS, July 7, 2008 (AFP) - Super League side Hull were on Monday fined 100,000 pounds (197,000 dollars) for fielding an ineligible player in the Challenge Cup.

The club were found guilty of a breach of the Rugby Football League's (RFL) operational rules by playing Jamie Thackray before he was placed on their Cup register.

LONDON, June 1, 2008 (AFP) - Super League strugglers Hull clinched a shock 22-16 Challenge Cup quarter-final win over Bradford on Sunday.

Two tries from Matt Sing helped the Black And Whites give Richard Agar a dream start to his reign as head coach.

Hull are 11th in the league table and out of the play-off race but are within one win of a trip to Wembley in August.

LONDON, May 25, 2008 (AFP) - Bath beat Worcester 24-16 in the final of the European Challenge Cup, the continent's second-tier rugby competition, to win their first trophy since 1998.

LONDON, May 23, 2008 (AFP) - Bath face Worcester in an all-English European Challenge final on Sunday with Bath having one last shot at silverware this season and their opponents hoping to raise their continental profile.

PARIS, April 23, 2008 (AFP) - Dates for 2008/09 European Cup and Challenge competitions released on Wednesday by organisers European Rugby Cup:

1st matches: Oct 10-12

2nd matches: Oct 17-19

4th matches: Dec 12-14

5th matches: Jan 16-18 2009

6th matches: Jan 23-25

Quarter finals: April 10-12

LONDON, April 20, 2008 (AFP) - Challenge Cup results on Sunday:

Batley 12 Dewsbury 26

Doncaster 12 Widnes 38

Featherstone 12 Catalans Dragons 22

Halifax 24 Huddersfield 42

Leigh 16 Warrington 28

Salford 8 Wakefield 38

St Helens 56 London Skolars 0

Workington 12 Hull KR 68

Bradford 98 Toulouse 6

LONDON, April 19, 2008 (AFP) - Bradford ran in a club record 17 tries to storm to a 98-6 Challenge Cup fourth-round mauling of Toulouse on Saturday.

Full-back Dave Halley scored four tries and stand-off Iestyn Harris kicked 15 conversions to break the club's goalkicking record originally set by Joe Phillips in 1952 and equalled by Henry Paul eight years ago.

LONDON, April 19, 2008 (AFP) - Challenge Cup results on Saturday:

Bradford 98 Toulouse 6

Harlequins 44 Castleford 14

Leeds 38 Celtic Crusaders 16

Whitehaven 46 Lezignan-Corbieres 6