1940–41 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season
1940–41 Northern Rugby Football League Wartime Emergency League season | |
---|---|
League | Northern Rugby League |
1940–41 Season | |
League Champions | Bradford Northern |
Yorkshire competition | |
Number of teams | 15 |
Champions | Bradford Northern |
Lancashire competition | |
Number of teams | 12 |
Champions | Wigan |
The 1940–41 Northern Rugby Football Union season was the second season of the English rugby league’s
The Challenge Cup competition was re-introduced having been suspended in 1939–40 and the Yorkshire Cup was competed for but the Lancashire Cup competition was suspended.
The number of clubs participating in the league was down on the previous season, especially in Lancashire. The Yorkshire League was won by
Background
The 1939–40 season ended as the Battle of France was drawing to a close and the armed forces were planning the evacuation of British and French troops from Dunkirk. The Rugby Football League's (RFL) annual general meeting was held in Leeds on 12 June when the prospects of the war for the British were not good, the Dunkirk evacuation had finished, the German army was about to occupy Paris and the evacuation of the second British Expeditionary Force from Brittany was about to begin. At a very short RFL meeting the chairman, G. F. Hutchins, stated "it would be futile for the Rugby League to-day to attempt to come to any decision. All they could do was to mark time and await events."[1] A. A. Bonner added "the Government may decide that it would be in the interests of the country for recreation to be provided for the people at home, but at the moment the prospects for football did not appear bright."[2]
The league council met again in early August to review the situation and having been informed by the
County competitions
Yorkshire competition
Each of the 14 teams was scheduled to play 26 games but only two clubs, Hull F.C. and Keighley managed to complete their schedules. The remaining clubs played between 20 and 25 games. Most commonly this was due to inability to raise enough players to fill the team.[10] On other occasions teams were filled up using players from the other club as the guest system introduced the previous year was retained; this allowed a player to turn out for another club as long as the original club gave permission.[11] An extreme example occurred on only the second week of the season when Batley travelled to Hull with only half a squad and no less than seven Hull players played for Batley.[12]
The competition was won by
Final table
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bradford Northern | 25 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 469 | 126 | 343 | 47 |
2 | Hull | 26 | 20 | 0 | 6 | 341 | 227 | 114 | 40 |
3 | Huddersfield | 25 | 14 | 2 | 9 | 422 | 297 | 125 | 30 |
4 | Leeds | 25 | 14 | 1 | 10 | 372 | 235 | 137 | 29 |
5 | Halifax |
22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 357 | 229 | 128 | 28 |
6 | Hunslet | 25 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 328 | 279 | 49 | 28 |
7 | Featherstone Rovers | 24 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 255 | 257 | −2 | 28 |
8 | Wakefield Trinity | 23 | 12 | 0 | 11 | 237 | 214 | 23 | 24 |
9 | Castleford | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 224 | 239 | −15 | 22 |
10 | Dewsbury | 23 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 238 | 301 | −63 | 14 |
11 | Keighley | 26 | 5 | 1 | 20 | 200 | 447 | −247 | 11 |
12 | Bramley |
21 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 129 | 364 | −235 | 11 |
13 | York |
23 | 5 | 0 | 18 | 227 | 388 | −161 | 10 |
14 | Batley | 20 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 148 | 344 | −196 | 10 |
Source:[14] |
Lancashire competition
With only nine teams competing the Lancashire competition was planned with each team playing 16 fixtures. When the competition ended in January 1941 only three teams,
Another factor in the number of games played were the decisions by Salford and Warrington to withdraw from the competition in January 1941. Salford announced on 1 January that the club was closing down until further notice while Warrington withdrew later the same month.[18][19]
The competition was won by Wigan who went undefeated in the season, winning 15 games and drawing one.[20] At the other end of the table and partly due to the unplayed fixtures both Broughton Rangers and Leigh failed to win a single game.
Final table
Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pt |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wigan | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 297 | 71 | 226 | 31 |
2 | Warrington | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 236 | 42 | 194 | 26 |
3 | St. Helens | 14 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 280 | 83 | 197 | 21 |
4 | Salford | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 216 | 95 | 121 | 18 |
5 | Oldham | 16 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 161 | 205 | −44 | 13 |
6 | Swinton | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 121 | 132 | −11 | 12 |
7 | Liverpool Stanley | 14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 147 | 270 | −123 | 5 |
8 | Broughton Rangers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 71 | 247 | −176 | 0 |
9 | Leigh |
13 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 62 | 446 | −384 | 0 |
Source:[21] |
Championship play-off
The Championship was decided by a two-leg play-off between Wigan and Bradford Northern over the Easter weekend of 1941. Bradford won 45–15 on aggregate.[22]
First leg
Wigan | 6 – 17 | Bradford Northern
|
---|---|---|
Tries: Jones, Lawrenson |
Tries: Higson, Risman, Best, Walters (2) Goals: Ward |
Central Park, Wigan Attendance: 11,245 Referee: A.S. Dobson |
Wigan | Position | Bradford Northern |
---|---|---|
Jones | FB | Carmichael |
Aspinall[a] | WG |
Best |
Lawrensen | CE |
Winnard |
Maloney[a] | CE |
Ward |
Johnson | WG |
Walters |
Cunliffe | SO | Risman[A] |
Bradshaw | SH | Hayes |
Gee | PR |
Whitcombe |
Egan | HK | Carter[B] |
Curran[b] | PR |
Higson |
Cayzer[c] | SR | Smith |
Bowen | SR | Foster |
Simpson | LF | Moore |
Source:[23] |
The first leg of the play-off took place at Wigan's
The second half was more even with both teams scoring two tries, Walters with two for Bradford and Jones and Lawrenson scoring for Wigan, making the final score 17–6 in Bradford's favour.[24] The game was watched by 11,245 people and generated gate receipts of £640.[22]
Second leg
Bradford Northern
|
28 – 9 | Wigan |
---|---|---|
Tries: Winnard (2), Risman (2), Walters, Moore Goals: Ward (5) |
Tries: Aspinall, Johnson, Bowen |
Bradford Northern | Position | Wigan | |
---|---|---|---|
Carmichael | FB | Jones | |
Best | WG |
Aspinall[a] | |
Winnard | CE |
Lawrensen | |
Ward | CE |
Maloney[a] | |
Walters | WG |
Johnson | |
Risman[A] | SO | Cunliffe | |
Hayes | SH | Bradshaw | |
Higson | PR |
Gee | |
Carter[B] | HK | Egan | |
Whitcombe | PR |
Curran[b] | |
Smith | SR | Sharatt | |
Foster | SR | Bowen | |
Moore | LF | Simpson | |
Source:[23] |
The second leg was played 48 hours after the first leg, on Easter Monday 14 April at Bradford's Odsal Stadium. The first half of the game was a much closer encounter than at Central Park and Bradford went in with a half-time lead 8–6 courtesy of tries from Winnard and Risman with a Ward conversion; Wigan had replied with tries by Aspinall and Johnson.[26][27]
In the second half both hookers, Carter and Egan, were
Cup competitions
Challenge Cup
The Challenge Cup Competition was re-introduced after a season’s absence. At the August 1940 council meeting it was proposed the complete the league season, play the county cup competitions and then finish the season with the Challenge Cup.
Invitations to all clubs, even those who had not played in the league, were distributed in February 1941 and by the date of the draw 21 clubs had entered. The clubs who had not participated in the league all declined to enter the cup together with Salford and Warrington.[32] So that clubs could make the necessary travel arrangements the first three rounds were all drawn on 26 March 1941; the first round consisting of five ties involving 10 clubs. The remaining 11 clubs were given a bye into the second round of eight matches.[33]
The four semi-finalists were
The final was played at
Lancashire Cup
When planning for the season commenced the Lancashire committee had every intention of the Lancashire Cup competition being played,[37] however when it came to make the draw for the first round in January 1941, the draw was deferred as only six clubs had confirmed their entry into the competition.[38] On 4 February 1941 the committee cancelled the competition for the season as only three teams, Wigan, Leigh and Oldham were prepared to play.[39]
Yorkshire Cup
In Yorkshire the playing of the Yorkshire Cup competition was confirmed in December 1940 with the competition to be played in March and April 1941.[40] Following the decision of the Lancashire committee to abandon the Lancashire Cup competition, Wigan and Oldham applied to the Yorkshire committee to play in the Yorkshire Cup instead. This application was accepted and the two Lancashire clubs joined the 14 Yorkshire teams who had participated in the league in the competition.[41]
Neither Lancashire team progressed past the first round as Wigan lost 9–3 to Leeds and Oldham went down 17–5 to Wakefield.
International match
A single international match was played when
Notes
References
- ^ "Quick "Passing"; Rugby meeting over in 9 minutes". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,495. 12 June 1940. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Prospects". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,493. 13 June 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Rugby League News: Government desires clubs to carry on". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,541. 8 August 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League: H. K. Rovers not to play in 1940—41 competition". Hull Daily Mail. No. 17,089. 8 August 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Plans". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,544. 8 August 1940. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "No R.L. combine: Separate county competitions". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,553. 22 August 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Untitled". Manchester Evening News. No. 22,244. 23 August 1940. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "R.L. Decisions". Liverpool Evening Express. No. 21,526. 28 August 1940. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Opening R.L. Fixtures". Liverpool Evening Express. No. 21,527. 29 August 1940. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Collins 2006, p. 76.
- ^ Collins 2006, p. 77.
- ^ "Batley open score at the Boulevard". Hull Daily Mail. No. 17,121. 14 September 1940. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Big Days at Odsal: Northern's bid for honours". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,746. 3 April 1941. p. 10 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Rothmans Yearbook 1982, p. 206.
- ^ "Rugby League". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,661. 28 December 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League in Lancashire". Rochdale Observer. No. 7,235. 31 August 1940. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ McDonald, Roy (February 2018). "Rugby League at Hope Street". Tiger Talk. Prescot Cables. pp. 37, 39.
- ^ "Salford close down". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,664. 1 January 1941. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Surprise closure at Warrington". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,677. 16 January 1941. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Wigan's record". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,689. 27 January 1941. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c Rothmans Yearbook 1989, p. 196.
- ^ a b History of Rugby League 1985, p. 4.
- ^ a b "R.L. Championship". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,751. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Championship final". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,753. 12 April 1941. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ newspapers.com.
- ^ a b "R.L. Championship Decider". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,752. 15 April 1941. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Plans". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,564. 31 August 1940. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Title". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,655. 19 December 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d "Rugby League Cup: Saving Certificates Instead of Medals". Hull Daily Mail. No. 17,225. 16 January 1941. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Osborne 1956, p. 203.
- ^ "R.L. Cup Outlook". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,472. 29 March 1941. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Cup: Draw for the first three rounds". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,739. 26 March 1941. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League Cup: Leeds and Halifax in Final". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,775. 12 May 1941. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- newspapers.com.
- ^ Yorkshire Post. No. 29,261. 21 May 1941. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Lancashire Ready: Plans for new Rugby League season". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,561. 28 August 1940. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Cup Draw Deferred: Salford and Warrington Say "No"". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,685. 22 January 1941. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Birmingham Daily Gazette. No. 30,195. 5 February 1941. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Yorkshire R.L. Cup". Hull Daily Mail. No. 17,191. 5 December 1940. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "R.L. County Cup: Wigan and Oldham to play as "Yorkshire" clubs". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 15,698. 6 February 1941. p. 6 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League (Yorkshire Cup, First Round)". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,728. 17 March 1941. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- Yorkshire Post. No. 29,224. 7 April 1941. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rugby League International: England beat Wales". Liverpool Daily Post. No. 26,622. 11 November 1940. p. 5 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ History of Rugby League 1985, p. 1.
Sources
- ISBN 978-0415396158.
- Osborne, J.A.C. (1956). "Part 1, Chapter VII, Committee on Small Savings" (PDF). In Allport, R.E.H. (ed.). War History of the Bank of England 1939/45. Bank of England.
- Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1982). Rothmans Rugby League 1982–83 Yearbook. ISBN 0-907574-15-7.
- Fletcher, Raymond; Howes, David, eds. (1989). Rothmans Rugby League 1989–90 Yearbook. ISBN 0-356-17850-1.
- Saxton, Irvin, ed. (1985). History of Rugby League: No.46: 1940–41. Rugby Leaguer.