Pennine League
The Pennine Amateur Rugby League, or Pennine League is a rugby league competition for amateur open-age clubs that runs from September to April. The clubs are drawn from West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and the east of Lancashire.
Pennine League logo | |
Sport | Rugby league |
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Instituted | 1974 |
Number of teams | 94 |
Country | England |
Website | pennineleague.co.uk |
The league is run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association (BARLA). Teams from the Pennine League can apply for election to the National Conference League if they meet minimum criteria.
History
Following the formation of British Amateur Rugby League Association in 1973, local District Leagues got together and pooled their resources. The Pennine league was formed by a merger of Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Oldham and Rochdale districts.
Structure
For the 2011–2012 season, there were be 106 teams within the Pennine League structure, organised into nine divisions. The number of teams has increased by 24 over the past four years in large part due to the demise of the CMS Yorkshire League.
There are also three cup competitions:
- The Pennine Presidents Cup (Premier Division to Div 1)
- The Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy (Divisions 2 to 4)
- The Pennine Supplementary Cup (Divisions 5 to 7)
The winners of the Premier League are entered into the Challenge Cup First qualifying round in the following season.
The current league structure is as follows:
Premier Division
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Championship
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Division One
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Division Two
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Division Three
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Division Four
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Division Five
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Division Six
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Division Six West 2014/15
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Notes: Siddal, Shaw Cross, Eastmoor Dragons and Castleford Panthers enter their first team in the National Conference League.
Past winners
Premier Division
- 2013/14 Hunslet Old boys
Championship Division
- 2012/3 Keighley
First Division
- 2012/3 Methley Royals
Second Division
- 2012/3 Illingworth
Third Division
- 2012/3 West Leeds
Fourth Division
- 2012/3 Siddal
Fifth Division
- 2012/3 Hanging Heaton
Sixth Division
- 2012/3 West Bowling A
Seventh Division
- 2012/3 Garforth Tigers
Pennine Presidents Cup
- 2016/17 Fryston Warriors
Andrew Bennett Memorial Trophy
- 2016/17 Brighouse Rangers
Pennine Supplementary Cup
- 2016/17 Allerton Bywater