1986–87 League Cup (rugby league)
| Structure | National knockout championship | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of teams | 36 | |||
| Winners | Wigan | |||
| Runners-up | Warrington | |||
|
||||
This was the sixteenth season of the rugby league League Cup, again known as the John Player Special Trophy for sponsorship purposes.
Wigan won the trophy, beating Warrington 18-4 in the final. The match was played at Burnden Park, Bolton, Greater Manchester. The attendance was 22,144 and receipts were £86041.
Contents
Background
This season saw no changes in the entrants, no new members and no withdrawals, the number remaining at thirty-six.
There were no drawn matches in this seasons tournament
Competition and Results[1][2]
Preliminary Round[3]
Involved 4 matches and 8 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed 12 Nov 1986 | Halifax | 38-23 | York | Thrum Hall | 2962 | |||||
| 2 | Sat 15 Nov 1986 | Millom | 4-18 | Wakefield Trinity | ?? VENUE ?? | 2000 | 1 | [4] | |||
| 3 | Sun 16 Nov 1986 | Batley | 2-8 | Myson (Hull) | Mount Pleasant | 687 | 2 | ||||
| 4 | Sun 16 Nov 1986 | Workington Town | 16-6 | Huddersfield Barracudas | Derwent Park | 420 | [5] |
Round 1 - First Round[3]
Involved 16 matches and 32 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 29 Nov 1986 | Wigan | 32-10 | Leeds | Central Park | 9112 | [2] | ||||
| 2 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Barrow | 36-10 | Runcorn Highfield | Craven Park | 1771 | 3 | ||||
| 3 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Blackpool Borough | 42-12 | Mansfield Marksman | Borough Park | 376 | |||||
| 4 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Doncaster | 18-14 | Hull KR | Bentley Road Stadium/Tattersfield | 3084 | |||||
| 5 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Featherstone Rovers | 22-18 | Workington Town | Post Office Road | 1521 | |||||
| 6 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Fulham | 24-34 | Castleford | Chiswick Poly Sports Grd and various | 1374 | |||||
| 7 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Halifax | 36-22 | Wakefield Trinity | Thrum Hall | 4076 | [4] | ||||
| 8 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Leigh | 32-10 | Rochdale Hornets | Hilton Park | 2754 | |||||
| 9 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Myson (Hull) | 11-18 | Swinton | Craven Park (1) | 1648 | 2 | ||||
| 10 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Oldham | 12-22 | Bradford Northern | Watersheddings | 5642 | |||||
| 11 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Salford | 12-27 | Hull F.C. | The Willows | 2100 | [6] | ||||
| 12 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Sheffield Eagles | 14-6 | Bramley | Owlerton Stadium | 415 | |||||
| 13 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Warrington | 11-10 | Hunslet | Wilderspool | 3680 | [7] | ||||
| 14 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Whitehaven | 8-10 | St Helens | Recreation Ground | 3678 | [8] | ||||
| 15 | Sun 30 Nov 1986 | Widnes | 82-0 | Dewsbury | Naughton Park | 2138 | 4 | [9] | |||
| 16 | Thu 04 Dec 1986 | Carlisle | 8-2 | Keighley | Penrith FC | 300 |
Round 2 - Second Round[10]
Involved 8 matches and 16 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 6 Dec 1986 | Castleford | 22-26 | St Helens | Wheldon Road | 4808 | [8] | ||||
| 2 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Blackpool Borough | 22-48 | Hull F.C. | Borough Park | 3723 | 5 | [6] | |||
| 3 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Featherstone Rovers | 12-19 | Bradford Northern | Post Office Road | 3907 | |||||
| 4 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Leigh | 26-14 | Doncaster | Hilton Park | 3363 | |||||
| 5 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Sheffield Eagles | 8-14 | Barrow | Owlerton Stadium | 513 | 6 | ||||
| 6 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Warrington | 44-10 | Halifax | Wilderspool | 5804 | [7] | ||||
| 7 | Sun 7 Dec 1986 | Wigan | 20-14 | Swinton | Central Park | 9874 | [2] | ||||
| 8 | Mon 8 Dec 1986 | Widnes | 36-6 | Carlisle | Naughton Park | 2016 | [9] |
Round 3 -Quarter Finals[11]
Involved 4 matches with 8 clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 13 Dec 1986 | Bradford Northern | 8-20 | Hull F.C. | Odsal | 3545 | [6] | ||||
| 2 | Sun 14 Dec 1986 | Barrow | 6-16 | Widnes | Craven Park | 3199 | [9] | ||||
| 3 | Sun 14 Dec 1986 | St Helens | 20-22 | Warrington | Knowsley Road | 11571 | [7][8] | ||||
| 4 | Sun 14 Dec 1986 | Wigan | 6-2 | Leigh | Central Park | 11573 | [2] |
Round 4 – Semi-Finals[12]
Involved 2 matches and 4 Clubs
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sat 20 Dec 1986 | Wigan | 12-11 | Hull F.C. | Headingley | 5245 | [2][6] | ||||
| 2 | Sat 27 Dec 1986 | Warrington | 35-4 | Widnes | Central Park | 6409 | [7][9] |
Final
| Game No | Fixture Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Venue | Att | Rec | Notes | Ref | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 10 January 1987 | Wigan | 18-4 | Warrington | Burnden Park Bolton | 22144 | 86041 | 7, 8 | [7][13][14][15] |
Teams and Scorers[14][15][16]
| Wigan | № | Warrington |
|---|---|---|
| teams | ||
| Steve Hampson | 1 | Brian Johnson |
| David Stephenson | 2 | Kevin Meadows[1] |
| Joe Lydon | 3 | Paul Cullen |
| Dean Bell | 4 | Joe Ropati |
| Henderson Gill | 5 | Mark Forster |
| Ellery Hanley | 6 | Ken Kelly |
| Shaun Edwards | 7 | Steve Peters[2] |
| Graeme West | 8 | Les Boyd |
| Martin Dermott | 9 | Kevin Tamati |
| Brian Case | 10 | Bob Jackson[3] |
| Ian Roberts | 11 | xGary Sanderson[4] |
| Ian Potter | 12 | Mark Roberts[5] |
| Andy Goodway | 13 | Mike Gregory |
| ? Not used | 14 | Ronnie Duane (for Steve Peters 63-minutes) |
| ? Not used | 15 | Alan Rathbone (for Kevin Tamati half-time) |
| Graham Lowe | Coach | Tony Barrow |
| 18 | score | 4 |
| 4 | HT | 4 |
| Scorers | ||
| Tries | ||
| Dean Bell (1) | T | Mark Forster (1) |
| Henderson Gill (2) | T | |
| Andy Goodway (1) | T | |
| Goals | ||
| Henderson Gill (1) | G | |
| Referee | John Holdsworth (Kippax) | |
| Man of the match | Andy Goodway - Wigan - Loose forward/Lock | |
| Competition Sponsor | John Player Special |
Scoring - Try = four (4) points - Goal = two (2) points - Drop goal = one (1) point
Prize Money
As part of the sponsorship deal and funds, the prize money awarded to the competing teams for this season is as follows :-
| Finish Position | Cash Prize | No. receiving prize | Total Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | ? | 1 | ? |
| Runner-up | ? | 1 | ? |
| semi-finalist | ? | 2 | ? |
| loser in Rd 3 | ? | 4 | ? |
| loser in Rd 2 | ? | 8 | ? |
| Loser in Rd 1 | ? | 16 | ? |
| Loser in Prelim Round | ? | ? | ? |
| Grand Total |
Note - the author is unable to trace the award amounts for this season. Can anyone help ?
The road to success
This tree excludes any preliminary round fixtures
| First Round | Second Round | Third Round | Semi Finals | Final | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wigan | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leeds | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wigan | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swinton | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Myson (Hull) | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Swinton | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wigan | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leigh | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leigh | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rochdale Hornets | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leigh | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doncaster | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Doncaster | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull KR | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wigan | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull F.C. | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Featherstone Rovers | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Workington Town | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Featherstone Rovers | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bradford Northern | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Oldham | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bradford Northern | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bradford Northern | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull F.C. | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackpool Borough | 42 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mansfield Marksman | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackpool Borough | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull F.C. | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salford | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hull F.C. | 27 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wigan | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrington | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fulham | 24 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Castleford | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Castleford | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| St Helens | 26 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whitehaven | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| St Helens | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| St Helens | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrington | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrington | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hunslet | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrington | 44 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halifax | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Halifax | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wakefield Trinity | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Warrington | 35 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widnes | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheffield Eagles | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bramley | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sheffield Eagles | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barrow | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barrow | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Runcorn Highfield | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Barrow | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widnes | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widnes | 62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dewsbury | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Widnes | 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carlisle | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carlisle | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Keighley | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Notes and comments
1 * Millom are a Junior (amateur) club from Cumbria, current home ground is the Coronation Field ground.
2 * Myson are a Junior (amateur) club from Hull
3 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] gives score as 36-10 but Wigan official archives[2] gives it as 3-10 (which must be incorrect as Barrow progressed to Round 1)
4 * The highest score, highest score by home team, and highest winning margin between professional clubs, to date
5 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] and Wigan official archives[2] gives the venue as Borough Park, the home of Blackpool Borough but Hull F.C. official archives[6] give the venue as Boulevard, home of Hull F.C.
6 * RUGBYLEAGUEproject[1] gives the score as 8-14 but Wigan official archives[2] gives it as 6-14
7 * The Rugby League Authorities were very unhappy with the television coverage of this final offered by the BBC. The broadcaster missed the first six minutes of the second half televising a horse race from Ireland. They also ignored the trophy presentation entirely and disrupted the pre match entertainment to interview Great Britain coach Malcolm Reilly, yet didn't show that interview anyway!
8 * Burnden Park was the home of English football club Bolton Wanderers from 1895 to 1997. It hosted the 1900-01 FA Cup Final replay in which Tottenham Hotspur beat Sheffield United 3.1. The record attendance was for a 6th round F A Cup match with Stoke City (Stanley Matthews played for Stoke at the time) at which, although the ground capacity was set at 70,000, an estimated 85,000 fans crowded in, and when two crush barriers broke, the result was 33 fans killed and another 400 injured. The capacity at closure was a mere 25,000
General information for those unfamiliar
The council of the Rugby Football League voted to introduce a new competition, to be similar to The Football Association and Scottish Football Association's "League Cup". It was to be a similar knock-out structure to, and to be secondary to, the Challenge Cup. As this was being formulated, sports sponsorship was becoming more prevalent and as a result John Player and Sons, a division of Imperial Tobacco Company, became sponsors, and the competition never became widely known as the "League Cup"
The competition ran from 1971-72 until 1995-96 and was initially intended for the professional clubs plus the two amateur BARLA National Cup finalists. In later seasons the entries were expanded to take in other amateur and French teams. The competition was dropped due to "fixture congestion" when Rugby League became a summer sport The Rugby League season always (until the onset of "Summer Rugby" in 1996) ran from around August-time through to around May-time and this competition always took place early in the season, in the Autumn, with the final usually taking place in late January
The competition was variably known, by its sponsorship name, as the Player's No.6 Trophy (1971–1977), the John Player Trophy (1977–1983), the John Player Special Trophy (1983–1989), and the Regal Trophy in 1989.
See also
- 1986-87 Rugby Football League season
- 1986 Lancashire Cup
- 1986 Yorkshire Cup
- John Player Special Trophy
- Rugby league county cups
References
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- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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