Rugby League bosses were desperately hoping Bulls and St Helens would turn on the style in the 100th Challenge Cup final to boost their search for new sponsors.

Today's historic clash at Twickenham marked the end of the tournament's 17-year sponsorship by tobacco company Silk Cut but the league are confident of finding new backers and have invited representatives of several blue-chip companies to the match.

"It's fair to say that Silk Cut will be a hard act to follow," said RFL media and marketing director Dave Callaghan.

"But the search for a new sponsor, with the kind permission of Silk Cut, started last year and it is progressing reasonably well.

"At least five major companies will be attending the final and we hope that it will produce a showpiece to influence them.

"I firmly believe they will be knocked out by the quality of rugby league and the family support our game receives. And hopefully they will want to be part of it in the future."

Silk Cut's sponsorship this year has topped the £1million mark for the first time and Saints and Bradford will today play for a first prize of £150,000.

RFL chiefs say they will step up the search for a replacement on Monday and they are also keen to resolve the argument over the venue for the 2002 final.

Plans to take the game to Cardiff have been thrown in doubt by the FA's apparent insistence that no matches are played at the Millennium Stadium ten days before their own final, the date for which has yet to be fixed.

The league, who need to look for alternative venues until the national stadium at Wembley is rebuilt, are determined to take the final back to Edinburgh following the success of last year's showpiece occasion.

"We are keen to put Murrayfield back on the agenda," said Callaghan, who has already held talks with the Lord Provost. "We still get letters one year on from fans telling us how much they enjoyed it last year."

If today's Cup final ends in a draw after 80 minutes a replay will be held on May 20 at a venue yet to be decided.