1948–49 Lancashire Cup


1948–49 was the thirty-sixth occasion on which the Lancashire Cup completion had been held. Wigan won the trophy by beating Warrington by the score of 14-8. The match was played at Station Road, Pendlebury,. The attendance was a record breaking 39,015, over 5,500 more than the previous record, and receipts were £5,518, another record. This was the third of Wigan’s record breaking run of six consecutive Lancashire Cup victories.

Background

Overall, the number of teams entering this year’s competition remained the same as last year’s 14 with a further invitation to Lancashire Amateurs. The same pre-war fixture format was retained. This season saw no bye but one “blank” or “dummy” fixture in the first round. There was also one bye but no “blank” fixture” in the second round. As last season, all the first round matches of the competition will be played on the basis of two legged, home and away, ties. However this year, the second round becomes a straightforward knock-out basis.

Competition and results

Round 1

Involved 7 matches and 14 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
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1Sat 04 Sep 1948Leigh37-2Liverpool StanleyKirkhall Lane
2Sat 04 Sep 1948Oldham8-7WidnesWatersheddings
3Sat 04 Sep 1948Rochdale Hornets5-13Belle Vue RangersAthletic Grounds
4Sat 04 Sep 1948St. Helens9-24WiganKnowsley Road25,000
5Sat 04 Sep 1948Swinton26-10Lancashire AmateursStation Road1
6Sat 04 Sep 1948Warrington30-8BarrowWilderspool
7Sat 04 Sep 1948Workington Town7-5SalfordBorough Park
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Round 1 – Second Leg

Involved 7 matches and 14 clubs. These are the reverse fixture from the first leg
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
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1Tue 07 Sep 1948Liverpool Stanley2-46LeighStanley Greyhound Stadium4-83
2Thu 09 Sep 1948Widnes5-5OldhamNaughton Park12-13
3Mon 06 Sep 1948Belle Vue Rangers6-5Rochdale HornetsBelle Vue Stadium19-10
4Wed 08 Sep 1948Wigan8-7St. HelensCentral Park32-1618,000
5Mon 13 Sep 1948Lancashire Amateurs4-11SwintonKirkhall Lane14-372
6Thu 09 Sep 1948Barrow4-7WarringtonCraven Park12-37
7Wed 08 Sep 1948Salford14-0Workington TownThe Willows19-7
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Round 2 - Quarter Finals

Involved 3 matches and 7 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
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1Thu 16 Sep 1948Leigh10-15WarringtonKirkhall Lane
2Wed 29 Sep 1948Salford5-18WiganThe Willows
3Thu 30 Sep 1948Belle Vue Rangers14-4SwintonBelle Vue Stadium
4Oldhambye

Round 3 – Semi-Finals

Involved 2 matches and 4 clubs
Game NoFixture DateHome TeamScoreAway TeamVenueaggAttRecNotesRef
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1Tue 28 Sep 1948Warrington55-0OldhamWilderspool
2Mon 04 Oct 1948Wigan22-9Belle Vue RangersCentral Park

Final

Teams and scorers

Wigan№Warrington
teams
Martin Ryan1Les Jones
Gordon Ratcliffe2Brian Bevan
Ted Ward3Albert Pimblett
Ernie Ashcroft4Ossie Peake
John Lawrenson5Albert Johnson
Ces Mountford6Jack Fleming
Johnny Alty 7Gerry Helme
Ken Gee8Bill Derbyshire
Joe Egan9Dave Cotton
Frank Barton10Billy Riley
Nat Silcock, Jr.11Jim Featherstone
Billy Blan12Harry Bath
Bill Hudson13Harold Palin
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14score8
12HT5
Scorers
Tries
Gordon Ratcliffe TAlbert Johnson
Ted Ward TBrian Bevan
Goals
Ted Ward GHarold Palin
RefereeS. Adams,

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

The road to success

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