1973–74 League Cup (rugby league)
This was the third season of rugby league's League Cup competition, which for sponsorship reasons was known as the Players No.6 Trophy.
1973–74 League Cup | |
---|---|
Structure | National knockout championship |
Teams | 32 |
Winners | Warrington |
Runners-up | Rochdale Hornets |
Warrington won the final, beating Rochdale Hornets by the score of 27-16 in the match played at Central Park, Wigan. The attendance was 9,347 and receipts were £4380.
Background
This season saw no changes in the entrants, no new members and no withdrawals, the number remaining at thirty-two.
Competition and Results
Round 1 - First Round
[5] Involved 16 matches and 32 Clubs
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sat 15 Sep 1973 | Bramley | 20-12 | Hull F.C. | McLaren Field | 750 | [6] | ||||
2 | Sat 15 Sep 1973 | Keighley | 30-10 | Huyton | Lawkholme Lane | 595 | 1 | ||||
3 | Sat 15 Sep 1973 | St. Helens | 34-16 | Featherstone Rovers | Knowsley Road | 3000 | 2 | [7] | |||
4 | Sat 15 Sep 1973 | Whitehaven | 26-3 | Dewsbury Celtic | Recreation Ground | 1276 | 3, 4 | ||||
5 | Sat 15 Sep 1973 | Wigan | 34-0 | Batley | Central Park | 4149 | [4] | ||||
6 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Bradford Northern | 12-34 | Leeds | Odsal | 9028 | |||||
7 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Castleford | 88-5 | Millom | Wheldon Road | 1031 | 5, 6 | ||||
8 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Dewsbury | 33-24 | Widnes | Crown Flatt | 2508 | 7 | [8] | |||
9 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Halifax | 20-5 | Barrow | Thrum Hall | 1281 | 8 | ||||
10 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | New Hunslet | 11-26 | Leigh | Elland Road Greyhound Stadium | 2000 | |||||
11 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Rochdale Hornets | 18-2 | Huddersfield | Athletic Grounds | 1952 | [9] | ||||
12 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Salford | 47-17 | Doncaster | The Willows | 4122 | |||||
13 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Wakefield Trinity | 47-13 | Blackpool Borough | Belle Vue | 2462 | [10] | ||||
14 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Warrington | 31-14 | Oldham | Wilderspool | 5238 | [11] | ||||
15 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | Workington Town | 20-9 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Derwent Park | 1503 | |||||
16 | Sun 16 Sep 1973 | York | 32-13 | Swinton | Clarence Street | 2509 |
Round 2 - Second Round
[12]
Involved 8 matches and 16 Clubs
NOTE - Matches in this round kicked off earlier to make maximum use of the daylight
Use of Floodlights in sporting events was banned by government order from 15 November 1973 due to mining strikes
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sat 15 Dec 1973 | Bramley | 24-12 | Leigh | McLaren Field | 750 | 9 | ||||
2 | Sat 15 Dec 1973 | Warrington | 18-9 | Castleford | Wilderspool | 2208 | 9 | [11] | |||
3 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | Halifax | 7-16 | Dewsbury | Thrum Hall | 2050 | 9 | ||||
4 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | Rochdale Hornets | 11-0 | York | Athletic Grounds | 2274 | 9 | ||||
5 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | St. Helens | 28-2 | Whitehaven | Knowsley Road | 2310 | 9, 10 | [7] | |||
6 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | Salford | 4-17 | Leeds | The Willows | 821 | 9 | ||||
7 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | Wakefield Trinity | 10-7 | Workington Town | Belle Vue | 1835 | 9 | [10] | |||
8 | Sun 16 Dec 1973 | Wigan | 10-14 | Keighley | Central Park | 2509 | 9, 11 | [4] |
Round 3 -Quarter Finals
[12] Involved 4 matches with 8 clubs
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sat 29 Dec 1973 | Wakefield Trinity | 18-18 | St. Helens | Belle Vue | 2890 | 12 | [7][10] | |||
2 | Sun 30 Dec 1973 | Keighley | 8-11 | Bramley | Lawkholme Lane | 2887 | 13 | ||||
3 | Sun 30 Dec 1973 | Rochdale Hornets | 7-5 | Leeds | Athletic Grounds | 5389 | 13 | ||||
4 | Sun 30 Dec 1973 | Warrington | 20-12 | Dewsbury | Wilderspool | 6090 | 13 | [11] |
Round 3 -Quarter Finals - Replays
Involved 1 match with 2 clubs
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sun 6 Jan 1974 | St. Helens | 16-10 | Wakefield Trinity | Knowsley Road | 7287 | [7][10] |
Round 4 – Semi-Finals
[12] Involved 2 matches and 4 Clubs
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sun 6 Jan 1974 | Rochdale Hornets | 14-2 | Bramley | Athletic Grounds | 2835 | 14 | ||||
2 | Sat 12 Jan 1974 | Warrington | 20-9 | St. Helens | Wilderspool | 5352 | [7][11] |
Final
Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saturday 9 February 1974 | Warrington | 27-16 | Rochdale Hornets | Central Park | 9347 | 4380 | 15, 16 | [11][13][14] |
Teams and Scorers John Player yearbook 1974–75
Warrington | № | Rochdale Hornets |
---|---|---|
teams | ||
Derek Whitehead | 1 | James "Jim"/"Jimmy" Crellin |
Michael "Mick"/"Mike" Philbin | 2 | Norman Brelsford |
Derek Noonan | 3 | Tom Brophy |
Frank Reynolds | 4 | David Taylor |
John Bevan | 5 | Willie Aspinall |
Alan Whittle | 6 | John Butler |
Parry Gordon | 7 | Stephen/Steven "Steve" Gartland |
David "Dave" Chisnall | 8 | William "Bill" Holliday |
Kevin Ashcroft (c) | 9 | R. Harris |
Brian Brady | 10 | S. Whitehead |
David "Dave" Wright | 11 | Terry Fogerty |
Robert "Bobby" Wanbon | 12 | William "Bill"/"Billy" Sheffield |
Barry Philbin | 13 | Tony Halmshaw |
William "Bill"/"Billy" Pickup (for Derek Noonan or Frank Reynolds) | 14 | Harry Wood (for John Butler or Terry Foggerty) |
Mike Nicholas (for Dave Chisnall 19-mins) | 15 | ? Not used |
Coach | ||
27 | score | 16 |
12 | HT | 0 |
Scorers | ||
Tries | ||
Derek Whitehead (1) | T | Norman Brelsford (2) |
Derek Noonan (2) | T | Tom Brophy (1) |
John Bevan (1) | T | David Taylor (1) |
Mike Nicholas (1) | T | |
Goals | ||
Derek Whitehead (6) | G | William "Bill" Holliday (2) |
Referee | D. Gerald "Gerry" Kershaw (York) | |
Man of the match | Kevin Ashcroft - Warrington - Hooker | |
Competition Sponsor | Player's №6 |
Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point
Timeline in the final
Time | Incident | Score |
---|---|---|
? | Penalty Goal: Derek Whitehead | 2-0 |
27 min | Try: Mike Nicholas | 5-0 |
Conversion: Derek Whitehead | 7-0 | |
39 min | Try: Derek Noonan | 10-0 |
Conversion: Derek Whitehead | 12-0 | |
Half Time | 12-0 | |
Penalty Goal: Colin Whitfield | 12-0 | |
43 min | Try: Norman Brelsford | 15-3 |
? | Try: Derek Noonan | 15-3 |
Conversion: Derek Whitehead | 17-3 | |
? | Try: David Taylor | 17-6 |
Conversion: Bill Holliday | 17-8 | |
approx 50 min | Try: John Bevan | 20-8 |
Conversion: Derek Whitehead | 22-8 | |
approx 60 min | Try: Derek Whitehead | 25-8 |
Conversion: Derek Whitehead | 27-8 | |
? | Try: Norman Brelsford | 27-11 |
Conversion: Bill Holliday | 27-13 | |
79 min | Try: Tom Brophy | 27-16 |
Full Time | 27-16 |
Prize Money
As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows :-
Finish Position | Cash Prize | No. receiving prize | Total Cash |
---|---|---|---|
Winner | 5000 | 1 | £5000 |
Runner-up | 2500 | 1 | £2500 |
semi-finalist | 1000 | 2 | £2000 |
loser in Rd 3 | ? | 4 | ? |
loser in Rd 2 | ? | 8 | ? |
Loser in Rd 1 | ? | 16 | ? |
Loser in Prelim Round | ? | ? | ? |
Grand Total |
Note - the author is unable to trace the rest of the award amounts. Can anyone help ?
The road to success
This tree excludes any preliminary round fixtures
First Round | Second Round | Third Round | Semi Finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
Warrington | 31 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Oldham | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrington | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Castleford | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Castleford | 88 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Millom | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrington | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dewsbury | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Halifax | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Barrow | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Halifax | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dewsbury | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dewsbury | 33 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Widnes | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrington | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Helens | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wakefield Trinity | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Blackpool Borough | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wakefield Trinity | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Workington Town | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Workington Town | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Hull Kingston Rovers | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wakefield Trinity | 18 (16) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Helens | 18 (27) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Helens | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Featherstone Rovers | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Helens | 28 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Whitehaven | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Whitehaven | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Dewsbury Celtic | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrington | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochdale Hornets | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochdale Hornets | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Huddersfield | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochdale Hornets | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
York | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
York | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Swinton | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochdale Hornets | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leeds | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Salford | 47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Doncaster | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Salford | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leeds | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradford Northern | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leeds | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Rochdale Hornets | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bramley | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wigan | 37 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Batley | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Wigan | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Keighley | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Keighley | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Huyton | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Keighley | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bramley | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bramley | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Hull F.C. | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Bramley | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leigh | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
New Hunslet | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Leigh | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes and comments
1 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] states that the match was played at Bradford, whereas it was played at Lawkholme Lane, Keighley
2 * St Helens official archives[7] give the attendance as 2,500 whereas RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] gives it as 3,000
3 * Dewsbury Celtic are a Junior (amateur) club from Dewsbury, home ground is Crow Nest Park
4 * The John Player Yearbook 1974–75[3] and the News of the World Football Annual 1974–75[2] give the attendance as 1,250 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give it as 1,276
5 * Millom are a Junior (amateur) club from Cumbria, current home ground is the Coronation Field ground
6 * The highest score, to date in the competition against a Junior club
7 * Widnes official archives[8] give the result as a Wiidnes win
8 * Wigan official archives[4] show a score of 30-3 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give it as 20-5
9 * Matches kicked off Earlier to accommodate daylight. Use of Floodlights was banned by government order from 15 November 1973 due to mining strikes.
10 * Wigan official archives[4] give score as 28-3 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give it as 28-2
11 * Wigan's hooker (Colin Clarke) and two Keighley players (Wilmot and Burke) were sent off during this second half of this match.
12 * The John Player Yearbook 1974–75[3] give the date as 9-12-1974 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give the date as 29-12-1974
13 * The John Player Yearbook 1974–75[3] give the date as 9-12-1974 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give the date as 30-12-1974
14 * The John Player Yearbook 1974–75,[3] the News of the World Football Annual 1974–75[2] and Wigan official archives[4] give the date as Saturday 5-1-1974 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give the date as Sunday 6-1-1974
15 * The John Player Yearbook 1974–75[3] gives the attendance as 10,047 but RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] give the attendance as 9,347
16 * Central Park was the home ground of Wigan with a final capacity of 18,000, although the record attendance was 47,747 for Wigan v St Helens 27 March 1959
General information for those unfamiliar
The council of the Rugby Football League voted to introduce a new competition, to be similar to The Football Association and Scottish Football Association's "League Cup". It was to be a similar knock-out structure to, and to be secondary to, the Challenge Cup. As this was being formulated, sports sponsorship was becoming more prevalent and as a result John Player and Sons, a division of Imperial Tobacco Company, became sponsors, and the competition never became widely known as the "League Cup"
The competition ran from 1971–72 until 1995-96 and was initially intended for the professional clubs plus the two amateur BARLA National Cup finalists. In later seasons the entries were expanded to take in other amateur and French teams. The competition was dropped due to "fixture congestion" when Rugby League became a summer sport
The Rugby League season always (until the onset of "Summer Rugby" in 1996) ran from around August-time through to around May-time and this competition always took place early in the season, in the Autumn, with the final usually taking place in late January
The competition was variably known, by its sponsorship name, as the Player's No.6 Trophy (1971–1977), the John Player Trophy (1977–1983), the John Player Special Trophy (1983–1989), and the Regal Trophy in 1989.
See also
- 1973–74 Northern Rugby Football League season
- 1973 Lancashire Cup
- 1973 Yorkshire Cup
- Player's No.6 Trophy
- Rugby league county cups
References
- "Rugby League Project".
- Frank Butler and Patrick Collins (1974). News of the World Football Annual 1974–75 - 88th year. News of the World Ltd.
- Jack Winstanley & Malcolm Ryding (1991). John Player Yearbook 1974–75. Queen Anne Press.
- "Wigan "Cherry and White" archived results".
- "Wigan "Cherry and White" archived results".
- "HULL&PROUD - Stats - Fixtures & Results".
- "Saints Heritage Society - History - Season 1896-97".
- "Widnes Vikings - History - Season In Review - 1896-97".
- "Huddersfield Rugby League Heritage" (PDF).
- "Wakefield until I die".
- "Warrington Wolves - Results Archive - 1897". Archived from the original on 2014-02-02.
- "Wigan "Cherry and White" archived results".
- Raymond Fletcher and David Howes (1990). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1990-1991. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0 35617851 X.
- Raymond Fletcher and David Howes (1991). Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991-1992. Queen Anne Press. ISBN 0 35617852 8.