Pennine League

Last updated

Pennine League
Pennine league logo.PNG
Pennine League logo
Sport Rugby league
Instituted1974
Ceased2026
Number of teams17
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
ChampionsFryston Warriors (2025/26)
Website pennineleague.co.uk

The Pennine Amateur Rugby League, or Pennine League was a rugby league competition for amateur open-age clubs that ran from September to April for clubs around the Pennines area. The competition was run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA).

Contents

History

The Pennines League was one of the first league formed under the British Amateur Rugby League Association, who formed the year prior in 1973 following a dispute with the Rugby Football League (RFL) regarding resources given to the amateur game. [1] [2] Local district leagues in the heartlands of Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Oldham, and Rochdale were merged to create the competition. [3]

In 2004, BARLA realigned itself with the RFL, [1] but the Pennine League continued to operate outside of the RFL's amateur structure, the Rugby League Conference, founded in 1997.

In 2012, the RFL reformed the amateur structure of rugby league in Great Britain. BARLA's premiere amateur competition, the National Conference League, switched to a summer season in line with this change, and became jointly administered by BARLA and the RFL. The Pennine League, again, was unaffected decided to remain a winter competition. [4] Since then, the number of teams have declined. [5] [6]

As of 2026, the Pennine League folded due to the RFLs restructure of the community game and dwindling participation. [7]

Results

YearWinnersRunners up
1975-76Oldham St Annes Rochdale Mayfield
1976-77 Rochdale Mayfield Ovenden
1977-78 Saddleworth Rangers Rochdale Mayfield
1978-79 Rochdale Mayfield West Bowling
1979-80 Rochdale Mayfield Waterhead Warriors
1980-81 Rochdale Mayfield Waterhead Warriors
1981-82 Rochdale Mayfield Waterhead Warriors
1982-83 Rochdale Mayfield Waterhead Warriors
1983-84 Rochdale Mayfield Waterhead Warriors
1984-85Elland Rochdale Mayfield
1985-86 Bradford Dudley Hill Elland
1986-87Elland Saddleworth Rangers
1897-88 Rochdale Mayfield Oldham St Annes
1988-89Oldham St Annes Saddleworth Rangers
1989-90Oldham St AnnesWest Bowling
1990-91MoldgreenPark Amateurs
1991-92ClaytonWest Bowling
1992-93West BowlingPark Amateurs
1993-94OvendenClayton
1994-95Park AmateursOvenden
1995-96West BowlingPark Amaturs
1996-97SiddalWest Bowling
1997-98ClaytonWest Bowling
1998-99Park AmateursWest Bowling
1999-00EllandUnderbank Rangers
2000-01EllandOvenden
2001-02EllandQueensbury
2002-03EllandQueensbury
2003-04EllandOvenden
2004-05DrighlingtonIllingworth
2005-06DrighlingtonSharlston Rovers
2006-07DrighlingtonSharlston Rovers
2007-08Halifax IrishSharlston Rovers
2008-09Sharlston RoversDrighlington
2009-10DrighlingtonSharlston Rovers
2010-11QueensSharlston Rovers
2011-12DrighlingtonQueens
2012-13Sharlston RoversQueens
2013-14 Hunslet Club Parkside Sharlston Rovers
2014-15West BowlingQueens
2015-16Fryston WarriorsWest Bowling
2016-17Fryston WarriorsQueens
2017-18OvendenSharlston Rovers
2018-19OvendenDoncaster Toll Bar
2019-20UptonMirfield
2020-21
2021-22UptonWestgate Common
2022-23Fryston WarriorsMirfield
2023-24Fryston WarriorsMirfield
2024-25Cutsyke RaidersKippax Welfare
2025-26Fryston WarriorsWoodhouse Warriors

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "50 years on: The story of amateur clubs breaking away from the RFL". Love Rugby League. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  2. Atkinson, Neil (20 April 2016). "Fitting Royal tribute in the birthplace of Rugby league". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  3. "New Pennine Rugby League is formed" . Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 9 July 1974. p. 11 via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Amateur RL: Pennine League still to compete in winter". YorkshireLive. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. "Concern at heavy schedule as Pennine League restructure top tiers". Telegraph and Argus. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  6. "Summer RL is challenge to Pennine League". Telegraph and Argus. 24 March 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  7. "Competitions". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.