1896–97 Challenge Cup

Rugby league competition October 2020 1897 Challenge Cup 6 Rounds 52 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season Batley Winners St Helens 1898 Challenge Cup 1898 The 1897 Challenge Cup was the inaugural staging of the Northern Rugby Football Union's Challenge Cup and involved 52 clubs from across England from the 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season. The tournament was played over six rounds in March and April 1897, culminating in the final which was won by Batley.Encyclopedia of Rugby League Football John Huxley David Howes 1980 0-7091-8133-7 41–43 amp Background Challenge Cup The Northern Union decided to hold a cup competition called the Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup in July 1896.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/18960703/107/0007 Northern Rugby Union. Competition and cup-tie rules. The Yorkshire Post 3 July 1896 7 ((15,294)) subscription British Newspaper Archive The cup was commissioned from Bradford silversmiths and jewellers, Fattorini and Sons. Fattorini's designed the trophy themselves and it cost the Northern Union £60.https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/6953918.stm Rugby League's precious metal BBC Sport 22 August 2007 Draw The draw for the competition was made on 3 September 1896 although the matches were not due to be played until March and April 1897 over six consecutive weekends commencing 20 March 1897. All rounds were drawn at the same time with matches in the second and subsequent rounds given an identification letter such that ties for later rounds were expressed as, for example, "Q. Winner of Round C. v. winner of Round N."https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000167/18960904/042/0004 Northern Rugby Football Union: Draw for the Cup Competition Huddersfield Chronicle 4 September 1896 4 ((9,080)) subscription British Newspaper Archive The team drawn first had the option to play at home or could agree to play at the opponent's ground. The semi-finals and final were to be played at neutral venues.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/18960904/076/0004 Northern Union Cup Ties Hull Daily Mail 4 September 1896 4 ((3,415)) subscription British Newspaper Archive First round The first round involved 20 matches and 40 clubs. 12 clubs (Batley, Bradford Church Hill, Brighouse Rangers, Crompton, Heckmondwike, Liversedge, St Helens Recs, Stockport, Swinton Church, Thornton Rangers, Tyldesley and Werneth) were given a bye to the next round. All 20 ties were played on 20 March 1897. HomeScoreAwayBradford7–3OldhamBramley8–8MorecambeMorecambe gave up home advantageBroughton Rangers0–0WarringtonCastleford43–3AllertonEastmoor26–8Oldham JuniorsHalifax55–5Stockport RangersStockport Rangers gave up home advantageHolbeck38–3Latchford RangersHull9–0WalkdenHunslet75–5Broughton RecreationLeeds11–0Rochdale St ClementsLeeds Parish Church42–0Runcorn RecreationRuncorn Recreation gave up home advantageLeigh0–0Wakefield TrinityManningham31–3DukinfieldRochdale Hornets11–0Waterhead HornetsRuncorn65–0Warrington LocoSt Helens66–0 LeesWarrington St Mary's0–28SalfordSwinton12–4HuddersfieldWidnes55–0Atherton HornetsWigan3–0Radcliffe Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/18970320/021/0006 Northern Union Cup Competition. First Round Yorkshire Evening Post 2047 20 March 1897 6 subscription British Newspaper Archive First round replays The three games requiring replays were all played on Wednesday 24 March HomeScoreAwayBramley6–4MorecambeWarrington3–0Broughton RangersWakefield Trinity13–4Leigh Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/18970325/025/0004 Football Gloucester Citizen 71 25 March 1897 4 subscription British Newspaper Archive Second round The second round of 16 ties was played on Saturday 27 March 1897. Game noHomeScoreAwayALiversedge9–4HeckmondwikeBSt Helens17–3CastlefordCBramley0–11BatleyDWigan7–0ManninghamEWidnes11–0HullFTyldesley9–3LeedsGRochdale Hornets8–0St Helens RecsHThornton Rangers4–52RuncornISwinton15–0HunsletJWarrington24–0HolbeckKLeeds Parish Church0–11HalifaxLBradford68–3Swinton ChurchMEastmoor3–3StockportNBrighouse Rangers13–4Wakefield TrinityOSalford30–0WernethPCrompton26–0Bradford Church Hill Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000273/18970327/018/0006 Northern Union Cup Competition. Second Round Yorkshire Evening Post 2053 27 March 1897 6 subscription British Newspaper Archive Second round replay Stockport and Eastmoor replayed the tie on Wednesday 31 March. Game noHomeScoreAwayMStockport28–8Eastmoor Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000159/18970401/045/0003 Northern Rugby Union North-Eastern Daily Gazette 1 April 1897 3 subscription British Newspaper Archive Third round The third round of eight games was played on Saturday 3 April. Game noDrawn asHomeScoreAwayQC v NBatley6–3Brighouse RangersRG v IRochdale Hornets3–3SwintonSJ v AWarrington6–0LiversedgeTM v OStockport8–0SalfordUL v FBradford4–8TyldesleyVP v KHalifax50–0CromptonWE v HWidnes14–6RuncornXB v DSt Helens11–0Wigan Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000273/18970403/020/0006 Northern Union Cup Competition. Third round Yorkshire Evening Post 3 April 1897 6 2059 subscription British Newspaper Archive Third round replay Swinton and Rochdale replayed the drawn game on Wednesday 7 April. Game noDrawn asHomeScoreAwayRG v ISwinton10–0Rochdale Hornets Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18970408/021/0003 Northern Union Cup The Morning Post 8 April 1897 3 ((38,930)) subscription British Newspaper Archive Fourth round The quarter finals were played on Saturday 10 April 1897. Game noDrawn asHomeScoreAwayAAS v VWarrington10–8HalifaxBBQ v WBatley10–0WidnesCCR v TSwinton3–0StockportDDX v USt Helens12–0Tyldesley Source:https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18970412/029/0002 Northern Union Challenge Cup. Fourth Round The Sportsman 12 April 1897 2 8618 subscription British Newspaper Archive Semi-finals The semi-finals were scheduled for Saturday 17 April. However, due to a waterlogged pitch, the tie between St. Helens and Swinton, due to be played at Broughton Rangers ground - Wheater's Field - was postponed until Monday 19 April. The game between Batley and Warrington, played at Fartown, Huddersfield did go ahead on a very soft pitch.The Northern Union. Challenge Cup Competition (Semi-Final ties) https://www.newspapers.com/image/257818314/ The Guardian 19 April 1897 3 ((13,813)) subscription Newspapers.com 17 April 1897 3:00 pm Batley 6–0 Report Warrington Tries: Spurr (1), Davies (1) Fartown, Huddersfield 5,500 J H Smith (Widnes) After the game Warrington lodged a protest over the result, claiming that the game should have been postponed due to the state of the pitch and that the game having gone ahead, the referee allowed the game to end six minutes short. Both grounds of protest were dismissed by the Northern Union Committee.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/18970420/080/0005 Football Notes. Rugby. Hull Daily Mail 20 April 1897 5 ((3,598)) subscription British Newspaper Archive The rearranged game between St Helens and Swinton was played on Easter Monday, 19 April, watched by a crowd of 20,000 taking advantage of the bank holiday to attend. 19 April 1897 3:00 pm St Helens 7–0 Report Swinton Tries: Little (1) Drop goals: Jacques (1) Wheater's Field, Broughton 20,000 E Holmes Final right|thumb|300px|The teams and the Challenge Cup photographed before the kick-off: Batley Bulldogs vs. St Helens The final took place on 24 April 1897 at Headingley, Leeds. The official attendance was 13,492, with gate receipts of £624.17s.7d.Fletcher Raymond David Howes Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991–1992 1992 0-356-17852-8 amp 136 Little, Brown Book Group Limited Batley wore white shirts and black shorts and socks in place of their normal cerise and fawn colours. St Helens wore blue and white hooped shirts, white shorts and black socks.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/18970424/019/0004 The Northern Union Cup. Final Tie. Yorkshire Evening Post 24 April 1897 4 2077 subscription British Newspaper Archive St Helens won the toss and elected to have Batley kick off. Despite playing into the wind in the first half, Batley took the lead after five minutes when so Joe Oakland, kicked a drop goal to give Batley a 4–0 advantage. Batley extended their lead to 7–0 when ce John Goodall scored the first try of the game. These were the only scores of the first half. Early in the second half St Helens scored a try when centre David Traynor took the ball on the halfway line and beat four Batley players before touching down. The St Helens fightback did not last long as Batley flanker John T. 'Paudy' Munns scored Batley's second try to make the score 10–3 which remained the score at the final whistle. After the game the cup was presented by Mrs Louisa Waller, the wife of the president of the Northern Union, Henry Hirst Waller. Mrs Waller presented the Batley players with commemorative gold medals and the St Helens players with silver medals.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000081/18970426/021/0007 Northern Union Challenge Cup. Final Tie. Liverpool Mercury 26 April 1897 7 ((15,388)) subscription British Newspaper Archive 24 April 1897 3:30 pm Batley 10–3 Manchester Guardian report St Helens Try: Goodall, MunnsDrop goal: Oakland Try: Traynor Headingley, Leeds 13,492 J. H. Smith (Widnes)Hoole Les The Rugby League Challenge Cup An Illustrated History 1897-1998 2015 DB Publishing 978-1-78091-462-6 9Touch Judges: H.H. Waller (Brighouse Rangers), J. P. Warren (Warrington) Squads BatleyNumberSt Helens Name Height Weight Age Name Height Weight Age Fullback Arthur Garner 5 ft 7 in cm 0 10 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 26 1 Tom Foulkes (c) 5 ft 7 in cm 0 11 stone 10 lb kg lb 0 25 Three-quarter backs Wattie Davies 5 ft 5 in cm 0 11 stone 6 lb kg lb 0 23 2 Bob Doherty 5 ft 4 in cm 0 10 stone 6 lb kg lb 0 28 Dai Fitzgerald 5 ft 11 in cm 0 12 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 24 3 David Traynor 5 ft 8 in cm 0 12 stone 4 lb kg lb 0 22 John Goodall (c) 5 ft 7 in cm 0 11 stone 4 lb kg lb 0 22 4 Jim Barnes 5 ft 9 in cm 0 10 stone 10 lb kg lb 0 21 Ike Shaw 5 ft 6 in cm 0 10 stone 4 lb kg lb 0 29 5 Billy Jacques 5 ft 6 in cm 0 10 stone 10 lb kg lb 0 22 Half-backs Joe Oakland 5 ft 8 in cm 0 11 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 21 6 Richard O'Hara 5 ft 5 in cm 0 11 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 21 Harry Goodall 5 ft 7+1/2 in cm 0 11 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 23 7 Freddie Little 5 ft 4+1/2 in cm 0 10 stone 11 lb kg lb 0 26 Forwards Mark Shackleton 6 ft 0 in cm 0 14 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 27 8 Tom Winstanley 5 ft 11 in cm 0 14 stone 1 lb kg lb 0 26 Jim Gath 5 ft 9 in cm 0 11 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 21 9 Billy Briers 5 ft 6+1/2 in cm 0 11 stone 11 lb kg lb 0 22 George Main 5 ft 7+1/2 in cm 0 10 stone 11 lb kg lb 0 21 10 William Winstanley 5 ft 7 in cm 0 12 stone 8 lb kg lb 0 28 Robert Spurr 5 ft 11 in cm 0 12 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 23 11 Tom Reynolds 5 ft 10 in cm 0 12 stone 4 lb kg lb 0 27 Fred Fisher 5 ft 8 in cm 0 12 stone 8 lb kg lb 0 24 12 Joe Thompson 5 ft 8+1/2 in cm 0 13 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 24 Charlie Stubley 5 ft 7 in cm 0 12 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 27 13 Peter Dale 5 ft 7 in cm 0 12 stone 7 lb kg lb 0 25 Jim Littlewood 5 ft 9 in cm 0 12 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 23 14 Sam Rimmer 5 ft 7+1/2 in cm 0 12 stone 0 lb kg lb 0 27 John Munns 5 ft 9 in cm 0 13 stone 4 lb kg lb 0 22 15 Bill Whiteley 5 ft 9 in cm 0 12 stone 2 lb kg lb 0 25 Source: References 30em External links Report: The 1897 Challenge Cup Final: Rugby Football League, 25 May 2022 Category:Challenge Cup Challenge Cup Challenge Cup