The 1952–53 Challenge Cup was the 52nd staging of rugby league's oldest knockout competition, the Challenge Cup.[1]
First round
Date
Team one
Score one
Team two
Score two
07 Feb
Barrow
20
Featherstone Rovers
8
07 Feb
Batley
6
Bradford Northern
15
07 Feb
Belle Vue Rangers
10
Keighley
2
07 Feb
Halifax
14
Dewsbury
7
07 Feb
Huddersfield
36
Castleford
14
07 Feb
Hull Kingston Rovers
12
Doncaster
0
07 Feb
Hunslet
14
Workington Town
12
07 Feb
Leigh
34
Bramley
10
07 Feb
Liverpool
3
Swinton
26
07 Feb
Orford Tannery
2
Warrington
46
07 Feb
St Helens
20
Oldham
4
07 Feb
Salford
24
York
14
07 Feb
Wakefield Trinity
9
Leeds
33
07 Feb
Whitehaven
13
Hull FC
6
07 Feb
Widnes
28
NDLB
0
07 Feb
Wigan
27
Rochdale Hornets
7
14 Feb
Bramley
3
Leigh
11
14 Feb
Castleford
2
Huddersfield
6
14 Feb
Doncaster
5
Hull Kingston Rovers
5
14 Feb
Featherstone Rovers
5
Barrow
15
14 Feb
Hull FC
14
Whitehaven
5
14 Feb
Keighley
7
Belle Vue Rangers
0
14 Feb
NDLB
3
Widnes
22
14 Feb
Oldham
5
St Helens
5
14 Feb
Swinton
12
Liverpool
4
14 Feb
Warrington
46
Orford Tannery
8
14 Feb
Workington Town
12
Hunslet
8
17 Feb
Dewsbury
2
Halifax
16
18 Feb
Leeds
32
Wakefield Trinity
9
18 Feb
York
3
Salford
8
19 Feb
Rochdale Hornets
15
Wigan
24
23 Feb
Bradford Northern
17
Batley
3
Second round
Date
Team one
Score one
Team two
Score two
28 Feb
Bradford Northern
18
Salford
4
28 Feb
Huddersfield
21
Barrow
7
28 Feb
Hull Kingston Rovers
14
Swinton
3
28 Feb
Leeds
26
Widnes
17
28 Feb
Leigh
7
Halifax
7
28 Feb
St Helens
28
Belle Vue Rangers
0
28 Feb
Warrington
10
Workington Town
2
28 Feb
Wigan
18
Hull FC
10
04 Mar
Halifax
4
Leigh
7
Quarterfinals
A club record 69,429 people watch the Challenge Cup 3rd Round tie at Odsal between Bradford Northern and Huddersfield. Larger crowds had watched matches at Odsal, but this was the largest involving the home side.[2]
Date
Team one
Score one
Team two
Score two
14 Mar
Bradford Northern
7
Huddersfield
17
14 Mar
Leigh
3
St Helens
12
14 Mar
Warrington
25
Leeds
8
14 Mar
Wigan
25
Hull Kingston Rovers
6
Semifinals
Date
Team one
Score one
Team two
Score two
28 Mar
Huddersfield
7
Wigan
0
28 Mar
Warrington
3
St Helens
9
Final
In the final, Huddersfield beat St. Helens 15-10 at Wembley in front of a crowd of 89,588. This produced a record gate taking for a Challenge Cup final of £31,000.[3]
The draw for the first round of the cup was broadcast live on television, and was the first time a rugby league cup draw had been televised.[6]
The final itself was untelevised, as the Rugby League Council refused permission to broadcast the match due to concerns that this would impact the attendance.[7]