The 1926–27 Lancashire Cup was the nineteenth competition in the history of this regional rugby league contest and another new name was added to the trophy. It was the turn of St. Helens, one of the founding members of the Northern Union, to lift the trophy and until this year had never even reached the final of the competition. In a local derby match St. Helens beat very near neighbours St Helens Recs by 10–2. The match was played at Wilderspool, Warrington. The attendance was 19,439 and receipts £1192.
For the first time in the competition, both semi-finals resulted in draws and required replays.
Background The number of teams entering this year's competition increased by one to 14 which resulted in 2 byes in the first round. The additional team were amateur side Pemberton Rovers.
Competition and results
Round 1 Involved 6 matches (with two byes) and 14 clubs Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Wed 6 October 1926Wigan Highfield10–11Rochdale HornetsTunstall Lane2Thu 7 October 1926St. Helens51–8Pemberton RoversKnowsley Road13Sat 9 October 1926Barrow24–2Broughton RangersLittle Park, Roose4Sat 9 October 1926Oldham2–3SalfordWatersheddings5Sat 9 October 1926St Helens Recs21–3LeighCity Road6Sat 9 October 1926Wigan6–10SwintonCentral Park7 Warringtonbye8 Widnesbye
Round 2 – quarterfinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Mon 18 October 1926Warrington9–16WidnesWilderspool2Wed 20 October 1926St Helens Recs26–2Rochdale HornetsCity Road3Wed 20 October 1926Salford6–5BarrowThe Willows4Thu 21 October 1926St. Helens29–18SwintonKnowsley Road
Round 3 – semifinals Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Thu 4 November 1926Widnes3–3St. HelensLowerhouse Lane2Wed 10 November 1926St Helens Recs8–8SalfordCity RoadReplays3Mon 8 November 1926St. Helens17–0WidnesKnowsley Road4Fri 12 November 1926Salford0–14St Helens RecsThe Willows
Final Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef Saturday 20 November 1926St. Helens10–2St Helens RecsWilderspool19439£1,1922
Teams and scorers St. HelensNo.St Helens Recs teams Charlie Crooks1team unknownGeorge Cotton2Alf Frodsham3George Lewis4Alf Ellaby5Les Fairclough6Walter Groves7Bob Atkin8Albert Simm9Louis Houghton10Bill Clarey11Fred Roffey12Ernie Shaw13 10score210HT2 Scorers Tries Alf Ellaby (1)TLes Fairclough (1)T Goals George Lewis (2)G Drop Goals DGReferee Scoring – Try = three (3) points – Goal = two (2) points – Drop goal = two (2) points
The road to success
See also 1926–27 Northern Rugby Football League season
Notes 1 Pemberton Rovers were a Junior (amateur) club from Wigan. 2 Wilderspool was the home ground of Warrington from 1883 to the end of the 2003 Summer season.
References