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
Structure	Regional knockout competition
Teams	12
Winners	Rochdale Hornets
Runners-up	Wigan

Background

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

[1]

Round 1

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 - Quarter Finals

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 – Semi-Finals

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

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

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

First Round

Second Round

Semi Finals

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

• 1 The Willows was the home ground of Salford

References

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