1896-97 Northern Rugby Football Union season
Encyclopedia
The 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union
season was the second ever season of rugby league football
. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union
joined the rebel competition. This resulted in the decision that for the 1896–97 season the competition should be split into two separate county championships: Lancashire
and Yorkshire
. This season also saw the introduction of the Challenge Cup
.
, Castleford, Heckmondwike, Holbeck, Leeds Parish Church, Morecambe
, Swinton
, and Salford
. Salford's first game was a 10-0 defeat away to Widnes on 5 September 1896.
Mr J.E. Warren of the Warrington
club was elected as the new President of the Northern Union. Warren, previously Warrington's secretary, had played a key role in Warrington's involvement in the foundation of the Northern Union.
The leading try scorer overall this season was Hannah of Hunslet
, who crossed the line 19 times. The leading goal kickers were Albert Goldthorpe
of Hunslet
and Sharpe of Liversedge who both successful 26 times. The leading points scorer was Archibald Rigg of Halifax with 112 points.
, and Widnes
were from Cheshire
.
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Pld = Games played; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; PF = Match points scored; PA = Match points conceded; PD = Points difference; Pts = League points.
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
season was the second ever season of rugby league football
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. Following the success of the Northern Union's first season, several more clubs from the established Rugby Football Union
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
joined the rebel competition. This resulted in the decision that for the 1896–97 season the competition should be split into two separate county championships: Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. This season also saw the introduction of the Challenge Cup
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
.
Season summary
Eight new teams joined the twenty-two teams already in the breakaway Northern Union, and so it was split into two county leagues for the 1896–97 season. The new teams were BramleyBramley Buffaloes
Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895...
, Castleford, Heckmondwike, Holbeck, Leeds Parish Church, Morecambe
Morecambe (Rugby League)
Morecambe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Morecambe , a resort town within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. Together with adjoining small port of Heysham the population is approx. 51,000....
, Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
, and Salford
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
. Salford's first game was a 10-0 defeat away to Widnes on 5 September 1896.
Mr J.E. Warren of the Warrington
Warrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
club was elected as the new President of the Northern Union. Warren, previously Warrington's secretary, had played a key role in Warrington's involvement in the foundation of the Northern Union.
The leading try scorer overall this season was Hannah of Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
, who crossed the line 19 times. The leading goal kickers were Albert Goldthorpe
Albert Goldthorpe
Albert Goldthorpe was an English rugby footballer from the period around 1895's schism in English rugby, which led to the formation of rugby league football around the turn of the century.One of five brothers , Goldthorpe made his first...
of Hunslet
Hunslet Hawks
Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:...
and Sharpe of Liversedge who both successful 26 times. The leading points scorer was Archibald Rigg of Halifax with 112 points.
Lancashire Senior Competition
After finishing second from the bottom of the competition in the previous season, Broughton Rangers made a remarkable turnaround to finish the 1896–97 competition at the top of the Lancashire division, just one competition point ahead of Oldham, who had won more matches and had a better points differential. Although participating in the Lancashire Senior Competition, Runcorn, Stockport, WarringtonWarrington Wolves
Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003....
, and Widnes
Widnes Vikings
Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward...
were from Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broughton Rangers Broughton Rangers Broughton Rangers was a British rugby football, and subsequently a rugby league club. It was based in Broughton, Salford.-History:Broughton Rangers was founded in 1877 as Broughton and added Rangers for its second season... |
26 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 201 | 52 | 43 |
| 2 | Oldham Oldham Roughyeds Oldham Roughyeds is an English professional rugby league club based in Oldham, Greater Manchester. They currently play in the Championship One. Oldham is one of the original twenty-two rugby clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895.... |
26 | 20 | 2 | 4 | 243 | 59 | 42 |
| 3 | Tyldesley | 26 | 15 | 2 | 9 | 159 | 80 | 32 |
| 4 | Runcorn | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 134 | 62 | 31 |
| 5 | Stockport | 26 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 157 | 137 | 30 |
| 6 | Swinton Swinton Lions Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:... |
26 | 12 | 5 | 9 | 125 | 82 | 29 |
| 7 | Warrington Warrington Wolves Warrington Wolves are a professional rugby league football club based in Warrington, England that competes in Super League. They play at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, having moved there from Wilderspool in 2003.... |
26 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 100 | 124 | |
| 27 | ||||||||
| 8 | Leigh Leigh Centurions Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in... |
26 | 11 | 4 | 11 | 105 | 147 | |
| 26 | ||||||||
| 9 | St Helens | 26 | 10 | 4 | 12 | 122 | 160 | |
| 24 | ||||||||
| 10 | Widnes Widnes Vikings Widnes Vikings RLFC are an English professional rugby league club based in Widnes, Cheshire. They currently play in the Engage Super League, the top tier of European rugby league, after being awarded a license to compete in the top-flight Super League from 2012 onward... |
26 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 113 | 164 | |
| 23 | ||||||||
| 11 | Wigan Wigan Warriors Wigan Warriors is an English rugby league club based in Wigan, Greater Manchester. The club's first team squad competes in the engage Super League and the team are the current Challenge Cup holders as of the 27th August 2011.... |
26 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 73 | 118 | |
| 23 | ||||||||
| 12 | Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One... |
26 | 8 | 1 | 17 | 121 | 167 | |
| 17 | ||||||||
| 13 | Salford Salford City Reds Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup... |
26 | 3 | 5 | 18 | 76 | 191 | |
| 11 | ||||||||
| 14 | Morecambe Morecambe (Rugby League) Morecambe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Morecambe , a resort town within the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. Together with adjoining small port of Heysham the population is approx. 51,000.... |
26 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 52 | 238 | |
| 6 | ||||||||
| Champions |
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Pld = Games played; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; PF = Match points scored; PA = Match points conceded; PD = Points difference; Pts = League points.
Yorkshire Senior Competition
The previous season's champions, Manningham continued their good form in the Northern Union's second season, finishing in second place. However Brighouse took the Yorkshire championship with one win more than Manningham.| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brighouse Rovers | 30 | 22 | 4 | 4 | 213 | 68 | 145 | 48 |
| 2 | Manningham | 30 | 21 | 4 | 5 | 291 | 129 | 162 | 46 |
| 3 | Halifax Halifax RLFC Halifax RLFC is one of the most historic rugby league clubs in the game, formed over a century ago, in 1873 in the Yorkshire town of Halifax. Known as 'Fax', the official club colours are blue and white hoops, blue shorts and blue socks . They share The Shay stadium with football club FC Halifax Town... |
30 | 18 | 4 | 8 | 219 | 112 | 107 | 40 |
| 4 | Hunslet Hunslet Hawks Hunslet Hawks is a professional rugby league club based in Hunslet, West Yorkshire, England. The club, sometimes known as 'the Parksiders' after their former stadium, are currently champions of Championship One.-History:-Early years:... |
30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 211 | 138 | 73 | 36 |
| 5 | Hull | 30 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 152 | 125 | 27 | 36 |
| 6 | Batley Batley Bulldogs Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895... |
30 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 164 | 126 | 38 | 35 |
| 7 | Bradford | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | 170 | 157 | 13 | 33 |
| 8 | Wakefield Trinity Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are a professional rugby league club that plays in the European Super League and is based in Wakefield. They achieved promotion in 1999 and have remained in the League since. They are known to their fans as Wakey, Trinity, Wildcats, or historically The Dreadnoughts... |
30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 172 | 154 | 18 | 30 |
| 9 | Castleford | 30 | 11 | 6 | 13 | 178 | 161 | 17 | 28 |
| 10 | Huddersfield Huddersfield Giants Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C.... |
30 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 142 | 179 | ||
| 27 | |||||||||
| 11 | Liversedge | 30 | 13 | 0 | 17 | 176 | 233 | ||
| 26 | |||||||||
| 12 | Leeds Leeds Rhinos Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League... |
30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 115 | 123 | ||
| 24 | |||||||||
| 13 | Leeds Parish Church Leeds Parish Church RFC (Rugby League) Leeds Parish Church RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Leeds , a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England.... |
30 | 9 | 4 | 17 | 129 | 162 | ||
| 22 | |||||||||
| 14 | Bramley Bramley Buffaloes Bramley Buffaloes is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. Previously known simply as Bramley RLFC, the club is a famous name in rugby league, having existed prior to the formation of the Northern Union in 1895... |
30 | 9 | 3 | 18 | 101 | 193 | ||
| 21 | |||||||||
| 15 | Holbeck | 30 | 7 | 4 | 19 | 86 | 223 | ||
| 18 | |||||||||
| 16 | Heckmondwike Heckmondwike Heckmondwike is a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England, south west of Leeds. Close to Cleckheaton and Liversedge, it is part of Cleckheckmondsedge, a name invented by J.B. Priestley to represent a West Riding... |
30 | 3 | 4 | 23 | 72 | 308 | ||
| 10 | |||||||||
| Champions |
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Pld = Games played; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; PF = Match points scored; PA = Match points conceded; PD = Points difference; Pts = League points.
Challenge Cup
The Northern Rugby Football Union's Challenge CupChallenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
tournament was instituted and commenced the week after the final round of the Yorkshire championship.
| Batley | Positions Rugby league positions A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: "forwards" and "backs".... |
St Helens |
|---|---|---|
| A. Garner | 1. | T. Foulkes |
| W. P. Davies | 2. | R. Doherty |
| D. Fitzgerald | 3. | David Traynor |
| John B. Goodall (c) | 4. | J. Barnes |
| I. Shaw | 5. | W. Jaques |
| Joe Oakland | 6. | R. O'Hara |
| H. Goodall | 7. | F. Little |
| M. Shackleton | 8. | T. Winstanley |
| J. Gath | 9. | W. Briers |
| G. Maine | 10. | W. Winstanley |
| R. Spurr | 11. | T. Reynolds |
| F. Fisher | 12. | I. Thompson |
| C. Stubley | 13. | T. Dale |
| J. Littlewood | 14. | S. Rimmer |
| J.T. Munns | 15. | W. Whiteley |
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup is a knockout cup competition for rugby league clubs organised by the Rugby Football League. Originally it was contested only by British teams but in recent years has been expanded to allow teams from France and Russia to take part....
final was to be contested by Yorkshire club Batley
Batley Bulldogs
Batley Bulldogs are an English professional rugby league club from Batley, West Yorkshire. They currently play in the Co-operative Championship. Batley is one of the original twenty-two rugby football clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1895...
and Lancashire club St Helens on 24 April, 1897 at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
, Leeds, in front of 13,492 people. Batley claimed the new trophy for the first time, winning 10 - 3.