1939–40 Lancashire Cup


The 1939–40 Lancashire Cup was the thirty-second occasion on which the Lancashire Cup completion had been held. Due to the start of the Second World War, the competition was delayed until early 1940. Swinton won the trophy by beating Widnes on a two legged final by the score of 21-15 aggregate.
The first leg was played at Naughton Park, Widnes, and the second led was played at Station Road, Swinton.
Swinton won both legs, 5-4 away and 16-11 at home.
The attendances were 5,500 at Widnes and 9,000 at Swinton.

Preamble to changes

Prior to the declaration of war on 3 September 1939, most clubs had played two or three fixtures.
During the following week, the Northern Rugby League decided, after publicity from the Government, to suspend the championship. They almost immediately inaugurated two regional, Wartime Emergency Leagues, with the winner of each league meeting in a play-off final to decide the overall winner.
The Challenge Cup and both County Cups were suspended. There was to be no Lancashire Cup competition in 1939.
But later in the season both County Cups were resurrected.
The Lancashire Cup started on Saturday 2 March 1940 and was played on consecutive weekends.
Each and every match was played on a two-legged home and away basis.

Background

had already withdrawn from the league immediately after the end on the 1938-39 season. The club had been struggling to survive for a few years with falling attendances and the economic depression and it was obviously not possible for the town to sustain two top teams.
The number of teams entering this year's competition decreased by one with the loss of St Helens Recs to a total of 12.
The same fixture format was retained. This season saw no byes but two “blank” or “dummy” fixture in the first round. The second round now had two byes.
The whole competition was played on the basis of two legged ties.

Competition and results

Round 1 – First Leg

Involved 6 matches and 12 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
-
1Sat 02 Mar 1940Barrow5-5WiganCraven Park
2Sat 02 Mar 1940Leigh5-5Liverpool StanleyMather Lane
3Sat 02 Mar 1940Oldham5-15Rochdale HornetsWatersheddings
4Sat 02 Mar 1940St. Helens26-7Broughton RangersKnowsley Road
5Sat 02 Mar 1940Swinton7-0SalfordStation Road
6Sat 02 Mar 1940Widnes10-7WarringtonNaughton Park
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Round 1 – Second Leg

Involved 6 matches and 12 clubs. The reverse fixtures of the first leg

Round 2 - Quarter Finals – First Leg

Involved 2 matches and 6 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
--
1Sat 16 Mar 1940Liverpool Stanley5-2Rochdale HornetsStanley Greyhound Sadium
2Sat 16 Mar 1940Wigan5-0St. HelensCentral Park
3Swintonbye
4Widnesbye

Round 2 - Quarter Finals –Second Leg

Involved 2 matches and 6 clubs. The reverse fixtures of the first leg
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
-
1Sat 30 Mar 1940Rochdale Hornets10-0Liverpool StanleyAthletic Grounds15-2
2Sat 30 Mar 1940St. Helens10-4WiganKnowsley Road10-9
3Swintonbye
4Widnesbye

Round 3 – Semi-Finals – First Legs

Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
--
1Sat 06 Apr 1940St. Helens7-5WidnesKnowsley Road
2Sat 06 Apr 04 1940Swinton14-6Rochdale HornetsStation Road

Round 3 – Semi-Finals – Second Legs

Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs. The reverse fixtures of the first leg
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
-
1Sat 13 Apr 04 1940Widnes13-0St. HelensNaughton Park18-7
2Sat 13 Apr 1940Rochdale Hornets5-9SwintonAthletic Grounds11-23

Final – First Leg

Final – Second Leg

The reverse fixture of the first leg
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
-
1Saturday 27 April 1940Swinton16-11WidnesStation Road21-159,000

Teams and scorers

Scoring - Try = three points - Goal = two points - Drop goal = two points

The road to success

ALL ties were played on a two leg basis
The first club named in each tie played the first leg at home
The scores shown are the aggregate score over the two legs