The 1905 Lancashire Cup was the inaugural year for the rugby league Lancashire Cup competition. The cup was won by Wigan who beat Leigh in a replay at Wheater's Field, Broughton, Salford by a score of 8-0.
Background
Following the great schism of 1895 which led to the formation of rugby league there was an interest in a competitive competition for clubs based in Lancashire. Prior to the breakaway from rugby union this was something that had been discouraged as it was feared that competition would lead to professionalism, as had happened in other sports like Association Football.
There appears to be very little, if any, details of how this came about, or any details of any of the instigators or of any campaign, but the County Cups became the last part of what would become known as the four cups.
The competitions were played on the same basis as was the Challenge Cup, i.e. a free draw with matches played on a sudden death straight knock-out basis, and with the final played (usually) on a neutral ground.
Competition and results
Round 1 Involved 6 matches (with two byes) and 14 Clubs.
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 14 October 1905Barrow11-0Chadderton (Oldham)Canendish Park 2Sat 14 October 1905Leigh8-0RuncornFrog Hall Field, Mather Lane 3Sat 14 October 1905Morecambe0-5WidnesMoss Lane 4Sat 14 October 1905Rochdale Hornets0-10WarringtonAthletic Grounds 5Sat 14 October 1905Salford 3-0SwintonThe Willows 6Sat 14 October 1905Wigan18-0St. HelensCentral Park8,000 7Broughton Rangersbye 8 Oldhambye
Round 2 – quarterfinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 28 October 1905Salford0-10OldhamThe Willows2Sat 28 October 1905Warrington2-5LeighWilderspool 3Sat 28 October 1905Widnes9-0BarrowLowerhouse Lane 4Sat 28 October 1905Wigan4-3Broughton RangersCentral Park
Round 3 – semifinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 18 November 1905Oldham7-11WiganWatersheddings2Wed 22 November 1905Leigh6-2WidnesFrog Hall Field, Mather Lane
Final The attendance was 10,000 and receipts £200. The initial final (which had taken place 9 days earlier at the same venue) had ended in a 0-0 draw before a crowd estimated at 16.000 and receipts of £400.
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef Saturday 2 December 1905Leigh0-0WiganWheater's Field16000£400-0-02 ReplayMonday 11 December 1905Wigan8-0LeighWheater's Field10000£200-0-0
Teams and scorers Wigan№Leigh Teams Reuben Collier1 PropPaddy O'NeillFrank Watkins2 HookerBob BerryAnthony Little3 PropAlbert BlackburnJack Barton4 LockWilfrid WebsterTom Whittaker5 LockAaron LeeDick Tyrer6 FlankerDick SilcockJ. R. "Jack" Hilton7 FlankerBilly Winstanley (Jnr)Sam Moores8 Number 8Billy RobertsJohnny Thomas9 Scrum HalfSam WhittakerBilly Anderson10 Fly HalfHarry DunbavinHarry Lowe11 WingerBob NevilleWindsor "Naddy" Jones12 CentreHerbert BennettBert Jenkins13 CentreTom JohnsonJim Leytham14 WingerSam JohnsonJack Mason15 Full BackEllis Clarkson 0score00HT0 Referee Replay teams Reuben Collier1 PropPaddy O'NeillFrank Watkins2 HookerBob BerryPeter Vickers3 PropAlbert BlackburnJack Barton4 LockWilfrid WebsterTom Whittaker5 LockAaron LeeRichard Tyrer6 FlankerBilly Winstanley (Jnr)J. R. "Jack" Hilton7 FlankerBilly Winstanley (Snr)Sam Moores8 Number 8Billy RobertsJohnny Thomas9 Scrum HalfSam WhittakerBilly Anderson10 Fly HalfHarry DunbavinHarry Lowe11 WingerBob NevilleNaddy Jones12 CentreHerbert BennettBert Jenkins13 CentreBradyJim Leytham14 WingerSam JohnsonJack Mason15 Full BackEllis Clarkson 8score03HT0 Scorers Tries Bert JenkinsTJohnny ThomasT Goals Jim LeythamGReferee
Scoring - Try = three (3) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = two (2) points
The road to success
See also 1905–06 Northern Rugby Football Union season
Notes
References
External links