1897 Challenge Cup
Encyclopedia
The first Rugby League Challenge Cup competition was held in 1897, and although much has been written about the final, there is a dearth of information about the competition as a whole.
Many Rugby players had found it difficult, if not impossible, to play regularly as it meant missing a days work, with the consequence of the loss in a days earning. "Broken Time" payments was a possible answer to compensate for this loss of income. Generally the southern clubs did not have quite as serious a problem and were less sympathetic.
In 1892 charges of professionalism were made by the Rugby Football Union
(RFU) against clubs in Bradford and Leeds, after they compensated players for missing work. The hypocrisy behind this is that the RFU
was allowing other players to be paid (e.g. the 1888 British Isles team that toured Australia).
In 1893 many Yorkshire clubs complained that southern clubs were dominating the RFU
committee, and as all the committee meetings were held in London, this made it difficult, expensive and generally inconvenient for the Yorkshire members to attend. In effect they were arguing that there was a bias by the few southern clubs with "gentlemen" players against the many northern clubs with more "working class" players over the issue of "Broken Time" payments.
The Yorkshire clubs had put forward a proposal that would allow players to receive up to six shillings (30 new pence) if and when they lost a full days work/pay because of match commitments. The RFU
voted against this and widespread suspensions of Yorkshire clubs began.
These clubs met to discussed a break away, a very courageous and desperate action, maybe encouraged by the success of the similar action taken in 1888 by the Northern Association football teams
This meeting was held on Tuesday, 20 August 1895, at a meeting at the Mitre Hotel, Leeds, when the 12 clubs agreed they should form a Northern Union, not as a complete breakaway, but with ties to the RFU
. A five-man panel met a sub-committee of the Yorkshire Union to discus a scheme to settle the 'dispute'. The Union however immediately rejected the proposal out of hand.
On 27 August 1895 an emergency meeting was held by 9 Lancashire clubs (Broughton Rangers
, Leigh
, Oldham
, Rochdale Hornets
, St Helens, Tyldesley, Warrington
, Widnes
and Wigan
) in Manchester resulting in their support of their Yorkshire counterparts if they decided to break away.
Two days later representatives of 21 top northern clubs met in The George Hotel, Huddersfield
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
, a setting which was to become famous (or infamous) in the world of rugby. These 21 clubs were Batley
(established 1880), Bradford 1863, Brighouse Rangers
1878, Broughton Rangers
1877, Dewsbury 1875, Halifax
1873, Huddersfield
1864, Hull
1865, Hunslet
1883, Leeds
1864, Leigh
1878, Liversedge
1877, Manningham 1876, Oldham
1876, Rochdale Hornets
1871, St Helens 1873, Tyldesley 1879, Wakefield Trinity
1873, Warrington
1875, Widnes
1875, Wigan
1872. The reperesentative of the Cheshire club, Stockport
, had been unable to attend but had telegraphed the meeting requesting admission to the new organisation and was duly accepted.
The meeting was to discus, debate and vote on their future. Twenty clubs agreed to resign from the Rugby Union; only Dewsbury felt unable to comply with the decision. A second Cheshire club, Runcorn (1895) were admitted at the next meeting, becoming the 22nd member in the inaugural season's league.
The following day the Huddersfield Examiner
reported: "On Thursday night, a meeting of the representatives of the Senior Clubs of Lancashire and Yorkshire was held at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, to consider the question of the formation of a northern Football Union. The meeting was held in private and lasted close on three hours. At the conclusion, representatives of the press were informed the following men had been present at the meeting: Mr H H Waller (Brighouse), Mr J Platt (Oldham), Mr J Nicholl (Halifax), Mr H Sewell (Leeds), Mr F Lister (Bradford), Mr C A Brewer (Hull), Mr J Clifford (Huddersfield), Mr J L Whittaker (Hunslet), Mr J H Fallas (Wakefield), Mr F Wright (Widnes), Mr E Gresty (Broughton Rangers), Mr J Goodall (Batley), Mr F Dennett (St Helens), Mr J Quirk (Leigh), Mr J Warren (Warrington), Mr G Taylor (Tyldesley), Mr E Wardle (Wigan), Mr A Fattorini (Manningham), Mr W Brierley (Rochdale Hornets), Mr J H Hampshire (Liversedge) and Mr C Holdsworth (Dewsbury). Mr Waller was elected to the chair and Mr Platt was elected secretary. The first resolution adopted was: "The clubs here represented decide to form a Northern Rugby Football Union, and pledge themselves to push forward without delay its establishment on the principle of payment for bona fide broken time only."
And so the "Northern Rugby Football Union"
(usually termed Northern Union or NU) came into existence.
The RFU
authorities took immediate drastic action against clubs, officials and players from the breakaway clubs, together with anyone who played with or against them.
The NRFU
became the Northern Rugby Football League
in the summer of 1922
Eventually the "Northern"
was dropped from its name in the summer of 1980.
During the first season the clubs competed in one league. For the second season, with the expansion by 8 new clubs to 30, the clubs competed in two separate regional leagues (Lancashire/Cheshire & Yorkshire
).
During this second season, the Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup
was introduced by the Northern Union
. In 1896 Fattorini's of Bradford were commissioned to manufacture the Challenge Cup at a cost of just £60. (Fattorini's also supplied winners' medals, (15-carat gold medals £3 3s apiece).
The first competition was held at the end of this 1896-97 season with 56 clubs entering. The first final was held at Headingley
in Leeds
, on 24 April 1897. Batley
defeated St Helens 10-3 in front of a crowd of 13,492
Background
Many Rugby players had found it difficult, if not impossible, to play regularly as it meant missing a days work, with the consequence of the loss in a days earning. "Broken Time" payments was a possible answer to compensate for this loss of income. Generally the southern clubs did not have quite as serious a problem and were less sympathetic.
In 1892 charges of professionalism were made by the 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...
(RFU) against clubs in Bradford and Leeds, after they compensated players for missing work. The hypocrisy behind this is that the RFU
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...
was allowing other players to be paid (e.g. the 1888 British Isles team that toured Australia).
In 1893 many Yorkshire clubs complained that southern clubs were dominating the RFU
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...
committee, and as all the committee meetings were held in London, this made it difficult, expensive and generally inconvenient for the Yorkshire members to attend. In effect they were arguing that there was a bias by the few southern clubs with "gentlemen" players against the many northern clubs with more "working class" players over the issue of "Broken Time" payments.
"Broken Time"
The Yorkshire clubs had put forward a proposal that would allow players to receive up to six shillings (30 new pence) if and when they lost a full days work/pay because of match commitments. The RFU
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...
voted against this and widespread suspensions of Yorkshire clubs began.
These clubs met to discussed a break away, a very courageous and desperate action, maybe encouraged by the success of the similar action taken in 1888 by the Northern Association football teams
This meeting was held on Tuesday, 20 August 1895, at a meeting at the Mitre Hotel, Leeds, when the 12 clubs agreed they should form a Northern Union, not as a complete breakaway, but with ties to the RFU
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...
. A five-man panel met a sub-committee of the Yorkshire Union to discus a scheme to settle the 'dispute'. The Union however immediately rejected the proposal out of hand.
On 27 August 1895 an emergency meeting was held by 9 Lancashire clubs (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...
, 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...
, 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....
, 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...
, St Helens, Tyldesley, 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....
, 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...
and 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....
) in Manchester resulting in their support of their Yorkshire counterparts if they decided to break away.
The George Huddersfield
Two days later representatives of 21 top northern clubs met in The George Hotel, Huddersfield
George Hotel, Huddersfield
The George Hotel, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England, situated in the centre of the city, is a Grade II listed building famous as the birthplace of rugby league football....
in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
, a setting which was to become famous (or infamous) in the world of rugby. These 21 clubs were 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...
(established 1880), Bradford 1863, Brighouse Rangers
Brighouse Rangers RFC (Rugby League)
Brighouse Rangers was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Brighouse, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England...
1878, 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...
1877, Dewsbury 1875, 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...
1873, 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....
1864, Hull
Hull FC
Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition...
1865, 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:...
1883, 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...
1864, 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...
1878, Liversedge
Liversedge RFC (Rugby League)
Liversedge RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Liversedge, a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England....
1877, Manningham 1876, 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....
1876, 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...
1871, St Helens 1873, Tyldesley 1879, 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...
1873, 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....
1875, 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...
1875, 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....
1872. The reperesentative of the Cheshire club, Stockport
Stockport (Rugby League)
Stockport RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Stockport , a large town in Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England...
, had been unable to attend but had telegraphed the meeting requesting admission to the new organisation and was duly accepted.
The meeting was to discus, debate and vote on their future. Twenty clubs agreed to resign from the Rugby Union; only Dewsbury felt unable to comply with the decision. A second Cheshire club, Runcorn (1895) were admitted at the next meeting, becoming the 22nd member in the inaugural season's league.
The following day the Huddersfield Examiner
Huddersfield Daily Examiner
The Huddersfield Daily Examiner is an English local daily evening newspaper covering Huddersfield and its surrounding areas. The first edition was published, as a weekly, on September 6, 1851, as the Huddersfield & Holmfirth Examiner and the newspaper has been published on a daily basis since...
reported: "On Thursday night, a meeting of the representatives of the Senior Clubs of Lancashire and Yorkshire was held at the George Hotel, Huddersfield, to consider the question of the formation of a northern Football Union. The meeting was held in private and lasted close on three hours. At the conclusion, representatives of the press were informed the following men had been present at the meeting: Mr H H Waller (Brighouse), Mr J Platt (Oldham), Mr J Nicholl (Halifax), Mr H Sewell (Leeds), Mr F Lister (Bradford), Mr C A Brewer (Hull), Mr J Clifford (Huddersfield), Mr J L Whittaker (Hunslet), Mr J H Fallas (Wakefield), Mr F Wright (Widnes), Mr E Gresty (Broughton Rangers), Mr J Goodall (Batley), Mr F Dennett (St Helens), Mr J Quirk (Leigh), Mr J Warren (Warrington), Mr G Taylor (Tyldesley), Mr E Wardle (Wigan), Mr A Fattorini (Manningham), Mr W Brierley (Rochdale Hornets), Mr J H Hampshire (Liversedge) and Mr C Holdsworth (Dewsbury). Mr Waller was elected to the chair and Mr Platt was elected secretary. The first resolution adopted was: "The clubs here represented decide to form a Northern Rugby Football Union, and pledge themselves to push forward without delay its establishment on the principle of payment for bona fide broken time only."
The schism
And so the "Northern Rugby Football Union"
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...
(usually termed Northern Union or NU) came into existence.
The RFU
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...
authorities took immediate drastic action against clubs, officials and players from the breakaway clubs, together with anyone who played with or against them.
The NRFU
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...
became the Northern Rugby Football League
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...
in the summer of 1922
Eventually the "Northern"
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...
was dropped from its name in the summer of 1980.
During the first season the clubs competed in one league. For the second season, with the expansion by 8 new clubs to 30, the clubs competed in two separate regional leagues (Lancashire/Cheshire & Yorkshire
Rugby league county leagues
The Yorkshire League and the Lancashire League formed two sections of the Rugby Football League Championship for much of its history. Initially, the 22 clubs that broke away in 1895 played in one combined league, however the following season saw the addition of many clubs, and the League was split...
).
During this second season, the Northern Rugby Football Union 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....
was introduced by the Northern Union
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...
. In 1896 Fattorini's of Bradford were commissioned to manufacture the Challenge Cup at a cost of just £60. (Fattorini's also supplied winners' medals, (15-carat gold medals £3 3s apiece).
The first competition was held at the end of this 1896-97 season with 56 clubs entering. The first final was held 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 ....
in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, on 24 April 1897. 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...
defeated St Helens 10-3 in front of a crowd of 13,492
Round 1
Involved 20 matches, 12 byes and 52 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | League Area | League Pos | Score | Away Team | League Area | League Pos | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20/03/1897 | 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:... |
Y | 4 | 75-5 | Broughton Recreation | ,2 | ||||||
| 2 | 20/03/1897 | Runcorn | L | 4 | 65-0 | Warrington Loco | 3,4 | ||||||
| 3 | 20/03/1897 | 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.... |
L | 11 | 3-0 | Radcliffe Radcliffe (Rugby League) Radcliffe was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Radcliffe, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, in Greater Manchester, England.... |
5,6,7 | ||||||
| 4 | 209/03/1897 | Manningham Manningham FC Manningham was an English rugby league football club based in Manningham, Bradford, the first ever champions of the Rugby Football League in its first ever season... |
Y | 2 | Dukinfield | 8,9,10 | 2 | ||||||
| 5 | 20/03/1897 | 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... |
Y | 12 | 11-0 | Rochdale St Clements | 11,12 | 3 | |||||
| 6 | 20/03/1897 | St Helens | L | 9 | 66-0 | Lees | 13,14 | ||||||
| 7 | 20/03/1897 | 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... |
L | 8 | 0-0 | 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... |
Y | 8 | |||||
| 8 | 20/03/1897 | 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... |
L | 10 | 55-0 | Atherton H | 15,16 | ||||||
| 9 | 20/03/1897 | 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... |
L | 1 | 0-0 | 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.... |
L | 7 | 17 | ||||
| 10 | 20/03/1897 | ?????? | Latchford Rangers | 4,8 | |||||||||
| 11 | 20/03/1897 | Tyldesley | L | 3 | ?????? | 8,18 | |||||||
| 12 | Brighouse Rangers Brighouse Rangers RFC (Rugby League) Brighouse Rangers was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Brighouse, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England... |
Y | 1 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| 13 | Castleford | Y | 9 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| 14 | 20/03/1897 | Hull Hull FC Hull Football Club, commonly referred to as Hull or Hull FC, is a professional rugby league football club established in 1865 and based in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The club plays in the Super League competition... |
Y | 5 | 9-0 | Walkden | 19 | ||||||
| 15 | Holbeck | Y | 15 | ?????? | 8,20 | ||||||||
| 16 | Bradford Church Hill | ?????? | 8,21 | ||||||||||
| 17 | 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... |
Y | 6 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| 18 | 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:... |
L | 6 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| 19 | 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... |
Y | 3 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| 20 | Liversedge Liversedge RFC (Rugby League) Liversedge RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Liversedge, a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England.... |
Y | 11 | ?????? | 8 | ||||||||
| ? | ?????? | Warrington St Mary's | 4,8 | ||||||||||
| bye1 | Crompton | 22 | |||||||||||
| bye2 | Bradford | Y | 7 | 23 | |||||||||
| bye3 | ?????? | Y | 11 | 24 | |||||||||
| bye4 | ?????? | Y | 11 | 24 | |||||||||
| bye5 | 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.... |
Y | 10 | ||||||||||
| bye6 | Lancaster | ||||||||||||
| bye7 | ?????? | 24 | |||||||||||
| bye8 | 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.... |
L | 14 | ||||||||||
| bye9 | 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.... |
L | 2 | ||||||||||
| bye10 | 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... |
L | 12 | ||||||||||
| bye11 | 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... |
24 | |||||||||||
| bye12 | Stockport Stockport (Rugby League) Stockport RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Stockport , a large town in Metropolitan Borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester, England... |
L | 5 | ||||||||||
| ? | 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.... |
Y | 13 | 25 | |||||||||
| ? | 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... |
L | 12 | 25 | |||||||||
| ? | Heckmondwike Heckmondwike (Rugby League) Heckmondwike was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Heckmondwike , a small town in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, which is located geographically at the centre of West Yorkshire, England.... |
25 |
League Pos The position that club finished in it's league
Round 1 - Replays
Involved 2 matches and 4 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... |
13-4 | 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... |
||||||
| 2 | 24/03/1897 | 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.... |
3-0 | 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 | ||||
Round 2
Involved 16 matches and 32 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crompton | 26-0 | Bradford Church Hill | 21,22 | |||||
| 2 | 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.... |
7-0 | Manningham | 10,27 | |||||
| 3 | Tyldesley | 9-3 | 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... |
18 | |||||
| 4 | Brighouse Rangers Brighouse Rangers RFC (Rugby League) Brighouse Rangers was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Brighouse, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England... |
13-4 | 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... |
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| 5 | 27/03/1897 | St Helens | 17-3 | Castleford | 28 | ||||
| 6 | 27/03/1897 | 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... |
11-0 | Hull | 29 | ||||
| 7 | 27/03/1897 | 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.... |
24-0 | Holbeck | 20 | ||||
| 8 | Runcorn | ?????? | 30 | ||||||
| 9 | 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... |
?????? | 31 | ||||||
| 10 | 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... |
?????? | 32 | ||||||
| 11 | Liversedge Liversedge RFC (Rugby League) Liversedge RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Liversedge, a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England.... |
?????? | 33 | ||||||
| 12 | 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:... |
?????? | 34 | ||||||
| 13 | 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... |
?????? | 35 | ||||||
| 14 | 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:... |
?????? | 36 | ||||||
| 15 | ?????? | ?????? | 37 | ||||||
| 16 | ?????? | ?????? | 37 |
Round 3 - Eighth Finals
Involved 8 matches and 16 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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... |
56-0 | Crompton | 22 | |||||
| 2 | 03/04/1897 | St Helens | 11-0 | 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.... |
5,000 | 38 | |||
| 3 | 03/04/1897 | 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... |
14-6 | Runcorn | 39 | ||||
| 4 | 03/04/1897 | 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.... |
6-0 | Liversedge Liversedge RFC (Rugby League) Liversedge RFC was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Liversedge, a township in the former parish of Birstall, in the metropolitan borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England.... |
39 | ||||
| 5 | Tyldesley | ?????? | 18,40 | ||||||
| 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... |
?????? | 21 | ||||||
| 7 | 03/04/1897 | 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... |
3-3 | 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:... |
|||||
| 8 | ?????? | 6-0 | ?????? | 37 | |||||
| 9 | ?????? | Brighouse Rangers Brighouse Rangers RFC (Rugby League) Brighouse Rangers was a professional rugby league club.The club was based in Brighouse, a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England... |
8 |
Round 3 - Replays
Involved 1 match and 2 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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:... |
56-0 | 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... |
41 |
Round 4 - Quarter Finals
Involved 4 matches and 8 Clubs| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Att | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10/04/1897 | St Helens | 12-0 | Tyldesley | 18 | ||||
| 2 | 10/04/1897 | 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... |
10-0 | 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... |
|||||
| 3 | 10/04/1897 | 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.... |
10-8 | 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... |
42 | ||||
| 4 | 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:... |
?????? | 24 |