Rugby League War of the Roses

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War of the Roses
Lancashire County Flag.svg
Lancashire
Flag of Yorkshire.svg
Yorkshire
Sport Rugby league
First meeting1895
Latest meeting2003
Statistics
Meetings total91
All-time seriesTied, 44-44-3

The War of the Roses (also known in its later years as the County of Origin Series) was the annual inter-county rugby league match between the historic counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire. The fixture began in 1895 as part of the County Championship until 1983 and continued as a stand-alone fixture until 2003 when the game was last played.

Contents

The match achieved prominence because the two counties are considered the 'heartland' of rugby league in Europe and are therefore traditionally the two strongest teams. Furthermore, the neighbours share a historic rivalry originating in the Wars of the Roses (1455–1487) from which the series takes its name.

History

Lancashire and Yorkshire first began contesting rugby league fixture in 1895 – the year of the sport's creation. The games were played as part of the United Kingdom's Inter-County Championship, a competition played every year with exceptions for the two world wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945) and 1977–1978, until the competition was abandoned in 1983. During this time, the fixture became known as the "War of the Roses". Eligibility to play was established either by county of birth or in which county players had originally played the sport professionally. [1]

The Lancashire vs Yorkshire fixture was often the most popular and highest attended, reflecting the sport's higher popularity in these two counties. As a result, the fixture returned to the British rugby league calendar as a stand-alone match in 1985 and was sponsored by Rodstock. The series lasted until 1991, when it was scrapped due to lack of interest. [2]

In 2001, the fixture was revived under the name of the "County of Origin" series, inspired by the success of Australia's State of Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland. [3] [4] After three years, the Origin series games were discontinued due to a failure to attract high match attendances. [5]

The War of the Roses fixture was proposed for a return for a mid-season clash in 2025. The clubs decided not to go ahead with a fixture in 2025 but would consider re-introducing the fixture in 2026. [6]

Results

The two teams have met in 91 competitive matches with each team having won 44 and three games ending in draws. In addition there have been a number of exhibition matches during the First and Second World Wars when the County Championship was suspended.

Rugby League Roses matches results [a]
Matches played as part of the County Championship
SeasonDateVenueHome teamScoreAway team
1895–18967 December 1895 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire0–8Yorkshire
1895–189629 February 1896 Fartown, HuddersfieldYorkshire3–8Lancashire
1896–189721 November 1896 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire7–3Yorkshire
1897–189820 November 1897 Park Avenue, BradfordYorkshire7–6Lancashire
1898–18995 November 1898 New Barnes, SalfordLancashire9–20Yorkshire
1899–19004 November 1899 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire13–16Lancashire
1900–19013 November 1900 The Athletic Grounds, RochdaleLancashire24–5Yorkshire
1901–190215 February 1902 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire13–8Lancashire
1902–190315 November 1902 The Willows, SalfordLancashire13–0Yorkshire
1903–190414 November 1903 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire0–8Lancashire
1904–190512 November 1904 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire5–14Yorkshire
1905–19064 November 1905 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire0–8Lancashire
1906–19073 November 1906 The Willows, SalfordLancashire19–0Yorkshire
1907–19082 November 1907 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire15–11Lancashire
1908–190931 October 1908 The Willows, SalfordLancashire13–0Yorkshire
1909–19104 November 1909 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire27–14Lancashire
1910–19117 November 1910 Central Park, WiganLancashire17–3Yorkshire
1911–191225 January 1912 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire12–13Lancashire
1912–191316 December 1912 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire8–20Yorkshire
1913–191410 December 1913 Fartown, HuddersfieldYorkshire19–11Lancashire
1919–192024 September 1919 The Cliff, BroughtonLancashire15–5Yorkshire
1920–192121 October 1920 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire18–3Lancashire
1921–19224 October 1921 The Athletic Grounds, RochdaleLancashire2–5Yorkshire
1922–19237 December 1922 Craven Park, HullYorkshire11–11Lancashire
1923–19248 December 1923 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire6–5Yorkshire
1924–192529 November 1924 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire9–28Lancashire
1925–192612 December 1925 City Road, St HelensLancashire26–10Yorkshire
1926–192730 October 1926 Belle Vue, WakefieldYorkshire13–18Lancashire
1927–192829 October 1927 Wilderspool, WarringtonLancashire35–19Yorkshire
1928–19293 November 1928 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire10–33Lancashire
1929–193022 March 1930 The Athletic Grounds, RochdaleLancashire18–3Yorkshire
1930–193118 October 1930 Belle Vue, WakefieldYorkshire25–15Lancashire
1931–193217 October 1931 Wilderspool, WarringtonLancashire11–8Yorkshire
1932–193329 October 1932 Belle Vue, WakefieldYorkshire30–3Lancashire
1933–193425 September 1933 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire12–15Yorkshire
1934–19359 January 1935 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire5–5Lancashire
1935–193612 October 1935 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire16–5Yorkshire
1936–193721 October 1936 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire6–28Lancashire
1937–193812 February 1938 The Athletic Grounds, RochdaleLancashire10–9Yorkshire
1938–193926 October 1938 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire10–10Lancashire
1945–194610 November 1945 Station Road, SwintonLancashire17–16Yorkshire
1946–19479 November 1946 Parkside, HunsletYorkshire13–10Lancashire
1947–194812 November 1947 Central Park, WiganLancashire22–10Yorkshire
1948–19493 May 1949 Thrum Hall, HalifaxYorkshire3–12Lancashire
1949–19505 October 1949 Wilderspool, WarringtonLancashire22–13Yorkshire
1950–195118 October 1950 Fartown, HuddersfieldYorkshire23–15Lancashire
1951–195210 October 1951 Kirkhall Lane, LeighLancashire5–15Yorkshire
1952–195328 April 1953 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire16–8Lancashire
1953–195414 October 1953 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire18–10Yorkshire
1954–19556 October 1954 Odsal, BradfordYorkshire20–10Lancashire
1955–195626 September 1955 Watersheddings, OldhamLancashire26–10Yorkshire
1956–195726 September 1956 The Boulevard, HullYorkshire21–35Lancashire
1957–195823 September 1957 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire11–25Yorkshire
1958–195924 September 1958 Craven Park, HullYorkshire35–19Lancashire
1958–195929 October 1958 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire15–16Yorkshire
1959–196011 November 1959 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire28–38Yorkshire
1960–196131 August 1960 Belle Vue, WakefieldYorkshire20–21Lancashire
1961–19629 October 1961 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire14–12Yorkshire
1962–196326 September 1962 Belle Vue, WakefieldYorkshire22–8Lancashire
1963–196411 September 1963 Knowsley Road, St HelensLancashire45–20Yorkshire
1964–196523 September 1964 The Boulevard, hullYorkshire33–10Lancashire
1965–196610 November 1965 Station Road, SwintonLancashire13–16Yorkshire
1966–196721 September 1966 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire17–22Lancashire
1967–196824 January 1968 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire23–17Yorkshire
1968–196925 September 1968 Craven Park, HullYorkshire10–5Lancashire
1969–19703 September 1969 The Willows, SalfordLancashire14–12Yorkshire
1970–197113 January 1971 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire32–12Lancashire
1970–197124 February 1971 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire34–8Lancashire
1971–197229 September 1971 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire22–42Yorkshire
1972–197311 October 1972 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire32–18Lancashire
1973–197419 September 1973 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire17–15Yorkshire
1974–197525 September 1974 Lawkholme Lane, KeighleyYorkshire20–14Lancashire
1974–197516 October 1974 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire29–11Yorkshire
1975–197620 December 1975 Central Park, WiganLancashire7–17Yorkshire
1976–19771 March 1977 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire18–13Lancashire
1977–1978 [b] 19 October 1977 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire33–8Yorkshire
1978–197927 September 1978 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire23–7Yorkshire
1979–198012 September 1979 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire19–16Lancashire
1980–198124 September 1980 Naughton Park, WidnesLancashire17–9Yorkshire
1981–19829 September 1981 Wheldon Road, CastlefordYorkshire21–15Lancashire
1982–198326 May 1982 Hilton Park, LeighLancashire21–22Yorkshire
Source [7]
Match played as "Rodstock War of the Roses"
SeasonDateVenueHome teamScoreAway team
1985–198611 September 1985 Central Park, WiganLancashire10–26Yorkshire
1986–198717 September 1986 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire26–14Lancashire
1987–198816 September 1987 Central Park, WiganLancashire10–16Yorkshire
1988–198921 September 1988 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire24–14Lancashire
1989–199020 September 1989 Central Park, WiganLancashire12–56Yorkshire
1991–199218 September 1991 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire17–12Lancashire
Source [7]
Match played as the "County of Origin Series"
SeasonDateVenueHome teamScoreAway team
20015 June 2001 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire24–36Lancashire
200214 June 2002 JJB Stadium, WiganLancashire22–18Yorkshire
200218 June 2002 Headingley, LeedsYorkshire28–36Lancashire
20032 July 2003 Odsal, BradfordYorkshire56–6Lancashire
Source [7]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Table excludes exhibition matches
  2. ↑ Played as the Queen's Silver Jubilee Fund match

References

  1. ↑ Lush, Peter & Farrar, Dave, eds. (1998). Tries in the Valleys: A history of rugby league in Wales. London League. p. 65. ISBN   978-0952-606437.
  2. ↑ Craven, Dave (13 June 2011). "Sporting Bygones: When Yorkshire was 'an empire worth defending' under legend Fox". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Butcher, Tim, ed. (November 2002). Rugby League 2002-2003. League Publications. pp. 165–166. ISBN   1-901347-10-9.
  4. ↑ Woods, Dave (31 May 2001). "Origin game evolves". BBC Sport . Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Jackson, William (13 June 2020). "Yorkshire v Lancashire - how the teams would look today". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. ↑ Shaw, Matthew (6 November 2024). "War of the Roses U-turn as Super League's 2025 schedule takes unexpected twist". Yorkshire Live. Retrieved 9 November 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 "War of Roses". World of Rugby League. Archived from the original on 19 January 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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