Lancaster RFC


Lancaster RFC was a semi-professional rugby league club based in Lancaster, Lancashire, England.
The club first became members of the Northern Rugby Football Union in 1897, and joined the semi-professional ranks in the Lancashire Senior Competition in 1901–02. They played in the 2nd Division for the following three seasons. At the end of season 1904–05 the club left the league. The club was dissolved shortly afterwards.

History

Early days

The original Lancaster RFC was formed in 1870. The club, along with Morecambe Bay neighbours Barrow, Ulverston and Millom joined the Northern Union in 1897, forming a 'North West Rugby League'. Around the turn of the century there were seven Northern Union clubs in and around the city.
During the early years the club had two prominent players who gained international caps. These were: "Gentleman" Jim Leytham, who joined Lancaster RFC in 1897, and John Pinch.

Northern Union

Lancaster joined the ranks of the semi-professionals for the start of the 1901–02 season when they became members of the Northern Union. During that season they played in the Lancashire Senior Competition finishing in 10th position out of 17.
At the end of the 1901–02 season, the County Leagues elected 18 teams to join the new Division 2 with the existing second competition scrapped.
In the 1902–03 season, Lancaster joined the new 2nd Division, where they would stay for the next three seasons. In the first season in this division,, they finished 11th out of 18 clubs.
In the following two seasons the club managed a mid-table position of 13th out of 18 and a lowly position of 12th out of 14 in 1903–04 and 1904–05 respectively. Lancaster dropped out of the league after the end of the season 1904–05 season. In each of the four seasons, comparing with the results of its near neighbours, Lancaster finished below Millom and Barrow and above Morecambe in every season.

Centenary match

In 1904, Morecambe and Lancaster, very close neighbours, were drawn against each other in the first round of the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
100 years later the two clubs Morecambe and Lancaster agreed to play a centenary commemorative match; the winner would be presented with the "Morecambe Bay State of Origin Trophy".
And so on Tuesday 11 May 2004, at Lancaster City AFC’s Giant Axe Stadium, Morecambe beat Lancaster 24–15.

Stadium

Lancaster played at Quay Meadow, which was located behind the buildings on St Georges Quay. In 1905 the newly formed Lancaster Athletic FC played their first two matches at this stadium before moving to the Giant Axe Stadium.

Club league record

The League positions for Lancaster for the three years in which they played semi-professional rugby league are given in the following table:

Heading Abbreviations
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference ; Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.

Several fixtures and results

The following are just a few of Lancaster fixtures during the three seasons in which they played semi-professional rugby league:
SeasonDateCompetitionOpponentVenueH/AResultScoreAttNotesRef
1898–99Sat 15-10-1898FriendlySt. HelensQuay MeadowsHWon8–2
1899–00Sat 23-09-1899FriendlySt. HelensKnowsley RoadALost3–17
1899–00Sat 14-04-1900FriendlySt. HelensQuay MeadowsHLost8–15
1901–02Sat 14-09-1901Lancs Sen CompSt. HelensKnowsley RoadALost0–4
1901–02Sat 28-09-1901Lancs Sen CompWiganSpringfield ParkALost0–113
1901–02Sat 26-10-1901Lancs Sen CompSt. HelensQuay MeadowsHWon17–4
1901–02Sat 23-11-1901Lancs Sen CompWiganQuay MeadowsHLost2–5
1901–0214-12-1901Lancs Sen CompWidnesLowerhouse LaneALost5–2902
1901–0209-04-1902Lancs Sen CompWidnesQuay MeadowsHLost0–50
1903–04Sat 26-12-1903L OBJSt. HelensQuay MeadowsHWon10–3
1903–04Sat 12-03-1904CC R1MorecambeQuay MeadowsHDraw0–04
1903–04Wed 16-03-1904CC R1 ReplayMorecambeMoss LaneAWon13–44
1903–04Sat 19-03-1904CC R2KeighleyQuay MeadowsHLost0–8
1903–04Wed 13-04-19042nd DivSt. HelensQuay MeadowsHLost2–12
1903–04Sat 23-04-19042nd DivSt. HelensKnowsley RoadALost2–35