1974–75 Lancashire Cup

The 1974–75 Lancashire Cup was the 62nd occasion on which the Lancashire Cup competition had been held. Widnes won the trophy by beating Salford by the score of 19-9.

1974–75 Lancashire Cup
StructureRegional knockout championship
Teams14
WinnersWidnes
Runners-upSalford

Background

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The total number of teams entering the competition remained unchanged at 14. The same fixture format was retained, with one team receiving a bye in the second round.[1][2]

Competition and results

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First round

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Involved seven matches (with one “blank” fixture) and 14 clubs

Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Ref
1 Fri 30 Aug 1974 Barrow 10–31 Leigh Craven Park 1,500
2 Fri 30 Aug 1974 St. Helens 11–13 Workington Town Knowsley Road 3,000 [3]
3 Fri 30 Aug 1974 Salford 25–8 Blackpool Borough The Willows 4,058
4 Sun 01 Sep 1974 Huyton 22–15 Whitehaven Alt Park, Huyton 250
5 Sun 01 Sep 1974 Oldham 9–14 Widnes Watersheddings 3,288 [4]
6 Sun 01 Sep 1974 Rochdale Hornets 20–12 Warrington Athletic Grounds [5]
7 Sun 01 Sep 1974 Swinton 17–15 Wigan Station Road 3,316 [6]

Second Round

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Involved three matches and six clubs. Leigh received a bye into the next round.

Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Ref
1 Sun 08 Sep 1974 Salford 17–15 Huyton The Willows 3,076
2 Sun 08 Sep 1974 Workington Town 17–7 Swinton Derwent Park 1,022
3 Tue 10 Sep 1974 Rochdale Hornets 7–7 Widnes Athletic Grounds 2,603 [4]
Replay Fri 13 Sep 1974 Widnes 8–7 Rochdale Hornets Naughton Park 3,800 [4]

Semi-finals

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Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs

Game No Fixture date Home team Score Away team Venue Att Ref
1 Tue 08 Oct 1974 Leigh 5–8 Widnes Hilton Park 4,500 [4]
2 Fri 11 Oct 1974 Salford 17–10 Workington Town The Willows 8,498

Final

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The match was played at Central Park, Wigan. The attendance was 7,403 and receipts were £2,833.[7][8][9][10]

This was the first time Widnes had won the Lancashire Cup since 1945.[11]

2 November 1974
Widnes 6 – 2 Salford
Tries: George
Goals: Dutton
Drop goals: Hughes
[12]
Goals: Fielding
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 7,403
Referee: Fred Lindop (Wakefield)
Player of the Match: Mike Coulman

Teams

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Widnes Salford
Ray Dutton 1 Paul Charlton
Mick George 2 Keith Fielding
Dennis O'Neill 3 Colin Dixon
Mal Aspey 4 Gordon Graham
Alan Prescott 5 Maurice Richards
Eric Hughes 6 John Taylor
Reg Bowden 7 Peter Banner
Jim Mills 8 Graham Mackay
Keith Elwell 9 Ellis Devlin
John Stephens 10 Alan Grice
Mick Adams 11 John Knighton
Bob Blackwood 12 Mike Coulman
Doug Laughton 13 Eric Prescott
? 14 ?
? 15 ?

The road to success

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First round Second round Semi-finals Final
            
Barrow 10
Leigh 31
Leigh
bye
blank
blank
Leigh 5
Widnes 8
Rochdale Hornets 20
Warrington 12
Rochdale Hornets 7-7
Widnes 7-8
Oldham 9
Widnes 14
Widnes 6
Salford 2
Salford 25
Blackpool Borough 8
Salford 17
Huyton 15
Huyton 22
Whitehaven 15
Salford 17
Workington Town 10
St. Helens 11
Workington Town 13
Workington Town 17
Swinton 7
Swinton 17
Wigan 15

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Rugby League Project".
  2. ^ Jack Winstanley & Malcolm Ryding (1991). John Player Yearbook 1975–76. Queen Anne Press.
  3. ^ "Saints Heritage Society - History - Season 1896-97".
  4. ^ a b c d "Widnes Vikings - History - Season In Review - 1896-97".
  5. ^ "Warrington Wolves - Results Archive - 1897". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
  6. ^ "Wigan "Cherry and White" archived results". Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ^ The John Player Yearbook 1975–76 gives the attendance as 7,403, as does Rothmans Yearbook of 1991-92, but Rugby League Project gives the attendance as 6,703
  8. ^ Raymond Fletcher and David Howes (1991). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991-100. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0 35617852 8.
  9. ^ Frank Butler and Patrick Collins (1974). News of the World Football Annual 1974–75 - 88th year. News of the World Ltd.
  10. ^ Frank Butler and Patrick Collins (1975). News of the World Football Annual 1975–76 - 89th year. News of the World Ltd.
  11. ^ Winstanley & Ryding (1975), p. 218.
  12. ^ Winstanley & Ryding (1975), pp. 218–220.

References

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  • Winstanley, Jack; Ryding, Malcolm (1975). John Player Rugby League Yearbook. 1975-76. London: Queen Anne Press. ISBN 978-0-362-00223-2.
  • Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.80 1974–1975. League Publications. p. 10.
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