The 1931–32 Lancashire Cup was the twenty-fourth occasion on which the Lancashire Cup competition had been held. Once again a new name was to be added to the trophy this year as it was the turn of Salford, who won the trophy for the first time by beating neighbours and close rivals Swinton in the final by 10–8.
Background At the time of the great schism in 1895, Salford had initially remained loyal to the Rugby Football Union but in April 1896 the board met and only three members opposed the motion to switch to the new code. The change of heart was partly brought about by the sudden lack of "interesting" or derby fixtures for the club.
Competition and results The number of teams entering this year's competition remained at 13 but from this season the fixture format was changed. There was only one bye in the first round but now also a "blank" or "dummy" fixture. This also resulted in one bye in the second round.
Round 1 Involved 6 matches (with one bye and one "blank" fixture) and 13 clubs
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Sat 10 Oct 1931Broughton Rangers8–13WiganThe Cliff2Sat 10 Oct 1931Oldham13–13BarrowWatersheddings3Sat 10 Oct 1931Wigan Highfield7–7LeighTunstall Lane4Sat 10 Oct 1931Salford16–5St. HelensThe Willows5Sat 10 Oct 1931Warrington11–2St Helens RecsWilderspool6Sat 10 Oct 1931Widnes10–3Rochdale HornetsLowerhouse Lane7Swintonbye8blankblank
Round 1 – replays Involved 2 matches Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Wed 14 Oct 1931Leigh11–7Wigan HighfieldMather Lane2Thu 15 Oct 1931Barrow27–9OldhamCraven Park1
Round 2 – quarterfinals Involved 3 matches (with one bye) and 7 clubs
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Wed 21 Oct 1931Leigh7–37SwintonMather Lane2Wed 21 Oct 1931Warrington7–17SalfordWilderspool3Thu 22 Oct 1931Widnes7–6WiganLowerhouse Lane4 Barrowbye
Round 3 – semifinals Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs
Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef 1Wed 04 Nov 1931Swinton37–0WidnesStation Road7,0002Wed 11 Nov 1931Salford21–0BarrowThe Willows-
Final The final was played at the Cliff, Broughton, Salford, (historically in the county of Lancashire) and on the banks of the River Irwell. The attendance was 26,471 and receipts £1,030. The attendance was a new record beating the 25,656 of 1924. Game NoFixture dateHome team Score Away teamVenueAttRecNotesRef Saturday 21 November 1931Salford10–8SwintonThe Cliff26,471£1,6542 3
Teams and scorers
Salford№Swinton teams Gus Risman1Bob ScottFergie Southward2Frank BuckinghamEmlyn Jenkins3George WhittakerSammy Miller4Johnny JonesBarney Hudson5Jack KennyReg Meek6Hughie SalmonBilly Watkins7Bryn Evans (c)Billy Williams8Miller StrongFred Shaw9Tommy ArmittJoe Bradbury10Joe WrightAlf Middleton11Martin HodgsonTeddy Haines12Fred BeswickJack Feetham13Fred Butters 10score83HT3 Scorers Tries Emlyn Jenkins (2)TJohnny Jones (1)THughie Salmon (1) Goals Fergie Southward (2)GMartin Hodgson (1)G Drop Goals DGRefereeFrank Peel (Bradford)
Scoring – Try = three (3) points – Goal = two (2) points – Drop goal = two (2) points
The road to success
Notes The first Lancashire Cup match played at the new ground The attendance of 26,471 was a new record for a Lancashire Cup final attendance The Cliff was the home ground of Broughton Rangers from 1913 and until they moved out to Belle Vue in 1933. In 1938 Manchester United moved in and used it as both a match ground for academy teams etc. and a general a training ground. They purchased the ground outright in 1951 and downgraded it to Junior team use in the early 2000s
See also 1931–32 Northern Rugby Football League season Rugby league county cups List of defunct rugby league clubs
References
External links Saints Heritage Society 1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season at wigan.rlfans.com Hull&Proud Fixtures & Results 1896/1897 Widnes Vikings – One team, one passion Season In Review – 1896–97 The Northern Union at warringtonwolves.org