1914–15 Lancashire Cup

The 1914–15 Lancashire Cup was the tenth year of this regional rugby league competition and the last until 1918–19 as the competition was suspended for the duration of the First World War. The cup was won by Rochdale Hornets who beat last year's losing finalists Wigan in the final at The Willows, Salford by a score of 3-2. The attendance at the final was 4,000 and receipts £475.

1914–15 Lancashire Cup
StructureRegional knockout competition
Teams12
WinnersRochdale Hornets
Runners-upWigan

Background

edit

The First World War had already broken out before the start of the 1914–15 season commenced. Despite the war the decision to play both the regular season and the cup competitions was taken and all were played to a conclusion, although the lack of enthusiasm was evident in the lower attendances at matches and with many teams absent many players who had already enlisted in the Army and the Royal Navy.

The number of teams entering this year's competition was again 12 with four byes in the first round

Competition and results

edit

[1]

Round 1

edit

Involved 4 matches (with four byes) and 12 clubs

Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Rec Notes Ref
1 Sat 17 October 1914 Broughton Rangers 5-8 Rochdale Hornets The Cliff
2 Sat 17 October 1914 Swinton 13-11 St. Helens Chorley Road ground [2]
3 Sat 17 October 1914 Warrington 10-0 Barrow Wilderspool [3]
4 Sat 17 October 1914 Wigan 21-5 Oldham Central Park [4]
5 Leigh bye
6 Widnes bye [5]
7 Runcorn bye
8 Salford bye

Round 2 – quarterfinals

edit
Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Rec Notes Ref
1 Sat 31 October 1914 Leigh 0-6 Wigan Mather Lane [4]
2 Sat 31 October 1914 Rochdale Hornets 0-0 Widnes Athletic Grounds [5]
3 Sat 31 October 1914 Swinton 36-0 Runcorn Chorley Road ground
4 Sat 31 October 1914 Warrington 22-10 Salford Wilderspool [3]
Replay
1 Wed 4 November 1914 Widnes 0-12 Rochdale Hornets Lowerhouse Lane [5]

Round 3 – semifinals

edit
Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Rec Notes Ref
1 Sat 14 November 1914 Warrington 5-13 Rochdale Hornets Wilderspool [3]

Final

edit
Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Rec Notes Ref
Saturday 5 December 1914 Rochdale Hornets 3-2 Wigan The Willows 4000 £475 1 [4][6]

Teams and scorers

edit
Rochdale Hornets No. Wigan
teams
M. English 1 William "Billy" Seddon
Jack Hopwood 2 Llewellyn "Llew" /"Lew" Bradley
Joe Corsi 3 Gwyn Thomas
George A. Prudence 4 xDavid L. "Dai" Evans
J. Fairhurst 5 Billy Curran
Robert /Robin /R. "Bobby" /R. "Bobbie" Schofield 6 Frank Walford
Ernest W. Jones 7 Johnny Thomas
Jack Fitzsimmonds 8 Charlie Seeling
Sammy Carter 9 Arthur R. H. Francis
William /"Billy" Ashworth 10 Percy Coldrick
Victor B. /"Vic" B. Slade 11 George Hayward
G. D. Webb 12 Dick Silcock
Joe Bowers 13 Dick Ramsdale
3 score 2
0 HT 2
Scorers
Tries
unknown T
T
Goals
G
Drop Goals
DG
Referee

Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = two (2) points

The road to success

edit
First round Second round Semifinals Final
            
Warrington 10
Barrow 0
Warrington 22
Salford 10
Salford
bye
Warrington 5
Rochdale Hornets 13
Broughton Rangers 5
Rochdale Hornets 8
Rochdale Hornets 0 – 13
Widnes 0 – 5
Widnes
bye
Rochdale Hornets 3
Wigan 2
Leigh
bye
Leigh 0
Wigan 6
Wigan 21
Oldham 5
Wigan 33
Swinton 3
Swinton 13
St. Helens 11
Swinton 36
Runcorn 0
Runcorn
bye

Notes

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Rugby League Project".
  2. ^ "Saints Heritage Society - History - Season 1914–15".
  3. ^ a b c "Warrington Wolves - Results Archive - 1914".
  4. ^ a b c d "Wigan "Cherry and White" archived results".
  5. ^ a b c "Widnes Vikings - History - Season In Review - 1914–15".
  6. ^ Jack Winstanley & Malcolm Ryding (1991). John Player Yearbook 1975-76. Queen Anne Press.