Bentham to referee cup final

Phil Bentham will referee the 2013 Challenge Cup final between Hull and Wigan at Wembley next Saturday.

It will be Bentham’s second cup final, having also took charge of the 2011 game between Wigan and Leeds.

He said: “I’m delighted, it’s a great honour to be appointed as the referee for the Tetley’s Challenge Cup final.

“The Challenge Cup is a competition with a tremendous history and as well as being a massive occasion for players and fans it’s also a great day for all the match officials involved and I’m really looking forward to the day.

“When I broke my leg last year it could realistically have been the end of my career.

“I put in a lot of rehabilitation work during the off-season to recover and I’d like to just thank everyone in the game for their support in particular our trainer Ian Mitchell whose encouragement and commitment has helped me to get back to full fitness.

“It’s been great to be back out in the middle so far this year and that makes it even more special to now be taking charge of my second Challenge Cup final.”

The Bolton-based official will be joined by touch-judges Tim Roby and Joe Cobb.

Assisting Bentham as video referee will be Ian Smith and match commissioner Keith Leyland, while James Child and Mark Craven will be reserve referee and reserve touch-judge, respectively.