1939–40 Lancashire Cup

The 1939–40 Lancashire Cup was the thirty-second occasion on which the Lancashire Cup competition 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

St Helens Recs had already withdrawn from the league immediately after the end on the 1938–39 season.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 No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Sat 02 Mar 1940

5–5

Sat 02 Mar 1940

5–5

Mather Lane

Sat 02 Mar 1940

5–15

Sat 02 Mar 1940

26–7

Sat 02 Mar 1940

7–0

Sat 02 Mar 1940

10–7

blank

Round 1 – Second Leg

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

Round 2 – quarterfinals – First Leg

Involved 2 matches and 6 clubs

Game No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Sat 16 Mar 1940

Liverpool Stanley

5–2

Rochdale Hornets

Stanley Greyhound Stadium

Sat 16 Mar 1940

5–0

bye

bye

Round 2 – quarterfinals –Second Leg

Involved 2 matches and 6 clubs. The reverse fixtures of the first leg

Game No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Sat 30 Mar 1940

Rochdale Hornets

10–0

Liverpool Stanley

Athletic Grounds

15–2

Sat 30 Mar 1940

10–4

10–9

bye

bye

Round 3 – semifinals – First Legs

Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs

Game No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Sat 06 Apr 1940

7–5

Sat 06 Apr 04 1940

14–6

Round 3 – semifinals – Second Legs

Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs. The reverse fixtures of the first leg

Game No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Sat 13 Apr 04 1940

Widnes

13–0

St. Helens

Naughton Park

18–7

Sat 13 Apr 1940

Rochdale Hornets

5–9

Swinton

Athletic Grounds

11–23

Final – Second leg

The reverse fixture of the first leg

Game No

Fixture date

Home team

Score

Away team

Venue

agg

Att

Rec

Notes

Ref

Saturday 27 April 1940

Swinton

16–11

Widnes

Station Road

21–15

9,000

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