The 1918–19 Lancashire Cup was the eleventh competition for this regional rugby league tournament and the first since 1914–15. This quickly arranged competition was won by the holders Rochdale Hornets who beat local rivals Oldham in the final at The Willows, Salford by a score of 22–0.
Background The shortened 1918–19 (February–May) season began less than three months after the end of the First World War and the armistice of Compiègne.
A Wartime Emergency League had been operating since September 1918. This was cancelled, and the programme started tailing off in January 1919. A new shortened season was introduced with the traditional Lancashire and Yorkshire leagues, to cut travel costs and minimise the use of precious resources. The return of the Challenge Cup would have to wait until the following 1919–20 season, but the Northern Union did manager to re-introduce both the County Cups.
One pre-war club was lost – Runcorn, one of the founder members after the great schism of 1895, after taking part in the previous Wartime Emergency League, withdrew and folded. They were replaced by St Helens Recs (effectively the works team for Pilkington Glass) who had entered the 1915–16 Wartime Emergency League and took place in this, their first, Lancashire Cup.
The number of teams entering this year's competition was again 12 with four byes in the first round.
Competition and results
Round 1 Involved 4 matches (with four byes) and 12 clubs
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 5 April 1919Broughton Rangers8–23St Helens RecsThe Cliff12Sat 5 April 1919Leigh5–12WidnesMather Lane3Sat 5 April 1919Rochdale Hornets7–5SalfordAthletic Grounds4Sat 5 April 1919St. Helens11–5WarringtonKnowsley Road5 Barrowbye6 Oldhambye7 Wiganbye8 Swintonbye
Round 2 – quarterfinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 12 April 1919Barrow6–0WidnesLittle Park, Roose22Sat 12 April 1919Oldham16–8St. HelensWatersheddings3,0003Sat 12 April 1919St Helens Recs2–16Rochdale HornetsCity Road4Sat 12 April 1919Wigan18–0SwintonCentral Park
Round 3 – semifinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 26 April 1919Barrow3–7OldhamLittle Park, Roose2Sat 26 April 1919Rochdale Hornets40–0WiganAthletic Grounds
Final The attendance at the final was 18,617 and receipts £1,365.
Teams and scorers Rochdale Hornets№Oldham Teams Hesketh1Alf WoodJ. Fairhurst2James ParkinsonJack Corsi3Evan DaviesG. Prudence4George EvansJ. Hopwood5Jack WiltshireErnest Jones6Billy HallJ. Heaton7Tom TaylorJ. Fitzsimmonds8Rothwell MarlorJoe Bowers9Joe FergusonTommy Woods10Bill BiggsJack Bennett11Ernest ForshawS. Carter12Herman HiltonW. Richardson13Harry Carter Scoring – Try = three (3) points – Goal = two (2) points – Drop goal = two (2) points
The road to success
Notes and comments 1 The first game played in the Lancashire Cup by the "new" club. 2 The first Lancashire Cup match played at Barrow's "new" ground. 3 The Willows was the home ground of Salford.
See also 1918–19 Northern Rugby Football Union season
References