2011 Championship Cup
# 2011 Championship Cup

The 2011 Championship Cup, (known for commercial reasons as the Northern Rail Cup), was the 10th season of the rugby league football competition for clubs in Great Britain's Co-operative Championship and Championship One.

Leigh Centurions won the final against Halifax by the score of 20–16. The match was played at Bloomfield Road in Blackpool.

## Format

The twenty teams are split up into two pools.

Pool A: Featherstone Rovers, Doncaster, London Skolars, Widnes Vikings, Toulouse Olympique, York City Knights, Keighley Cougars, Barrow Raiders, Rochdale Hornets, Dewsbury Rams.

Pool B: Swinton Lions, Halifax RLFC, Batley Bulldogs, Leigh Centurions, Gateshead Thunder, Sheffield Eagles, Oldham, Hunslet Hawks, Workington Town, Whitehaven RLFC.

Each team played two home games and two away games against teams in their pool. The top four teams in each pool following the conclusion of the group stage fixtures progressed into an open draw for the knock-out quarter-final stage. The competition started on 5 February.

Toulouse Olympique competed in the competition for the first time after the withdrawal of Blackpool Panthers who have entered administration. The South Wales Scorpions did not compete.

## 2011 Competition results

### Pool 1

**Round 1**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Featherstone Rovers | 54–10 | Doncaster | 4 February, 19:30 GMT | | Big Fellas Stadium | 1,223 |
| Toulouse Olympique | 40–38 | Dewsbury Rams | 5 February, 16:00 GMT | | Arnaune Stadium | 800 |
| London Skolars | 18–62 | Widnes Vikings | 6 February, 15:00 GMT | | New River Stadium | 643 |
| Keighley Cougars | 24–6 | Rochdale Hornets | 6 February, 15:00 GMT | | Cougar Park | 627 |
| Barrow Raiders | 24–20 | York City Knights | 6 February, 14:00 GMT | | The Furness Heating Components Stadium | 1,305 |

**Round 2**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Widnes Vikings | 44–28 | Toulouse Olympique | 12 February, 18:00 GMT | | Stobart Stadium Halton | 2,376 |
| Doncaster | 32–4 | London Skolars | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Keepmoat Stadium | - |
| York City Knights | 22–32 | Featherstone Rovers | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Huntington Stadium | 1,387 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 14–0 | Keighley Cougars | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Tetley's Stadium | 758 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 18–30 | Barrow Raiders | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Spotland Stadium | - |

**Round 3**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Keighley Cougars | 22–36 | Toulouse Olympique | 19 February, 18:00 GMT | | Cougar Park | 513 |
| London Skolars | 16–16 | York City Knights | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | New River Stadium | 264 |
| Doncaster | 18–30 | Dewsbury Rams | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | Keepmoat Stadium | 555 |
| Widnes Vikings | 50–10 | Rochdale Hornets | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | Stobart Stadium Halton | 3,155 |
| Barrow Raiders | 22–28 | Featherstone Rovers | 20 February, 14:00 GMT | | The Furness Heating Components Stadium | 1,852 |

**Round 4**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Toulouse Olympique | 34–22 | London Skolars | 26 February, 15:00 GMT | | Arnaune Stadium | 998 |
| Featherstone Rovers | 16–22 | Widnes Vikings | 26 February, 18:00 GMT | | Big Fellas Stadium | 1,719 |
| Rochdale Hornets | 36–40 | Doncaster | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Spotland Stadium | 442 |
| York City Knights | 28–22 | Keighley Cougars | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Huntington Stadium | 748 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 16–12 | Barrow Raiders | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Tetley's Stadium | 911 |

**Pool 1 Qualification Table**

2011 Northern Rail Cup: Pool 1 :

| # | | PLD | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | PTS |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Widnes Vikings | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 72 | +106 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | Featherstone Rovers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 130 | 76 | +54 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Dewsbury Rams | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 98 | 70 | +28 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | Toulouse Olympique | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 138 | 126 | +12 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Barrow Raiders | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 88 | 82 | +6 | 2 | 8 |
| 6 | York City Knights | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 86 | 94 | −8 | 2 | 7 |
| 7 | Doncaster | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 100 | 124 | -24 | 1 | 7 |
| 8 | Keighley Cougars | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 68 | 84 | −16 | 1 | 4 |
| 9 | London Skolars | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 60 | 144 | −84 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Rochdale Hornets | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 70 | 144 | −74 | 2 | 2 |

* Teams qualifying for the next round

Source: Northern Rail Cup Table – The RFL

Classification: 1st on competition points; 2nd on match points difference. Competition Points: For win = 3; For draw = 2; For loss by 12 points or fewer = 1

### Pool 2

**Round 1**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Swinton Lions | 22–28 | Halifax | 4 February, 20:00 GMT | | The Willows | 1,000 |
| Oldham | 28–22 | Hunslet Hawks | 6 February, 15:00 GMT | | Whitebank Stadium | 685 |
| Gateshead Thunder | 20–32 | Sheffield Eagles | 6 February, 15:00 GMT | | Gateshead International Stadium | 444 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 4–24 | Leigh Centurions | 6 February, 14:00 GMT | | Mount Pleasant | 1,072 |
| Whitehaven | 18–28 | Workington Town | 8 February, 19:30 GMT | | Recreation Ground | 1,005 |

**Round 2**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Workington Town | 82–0 | Gateshead Thunder | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Derwent Park | 381 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 16–16 | Whitehaven | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Bramall Lane | 727 |
| Leigh Centurions | 42–22 | Swinton Lions | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | Leigh Sports Village | 1,623 |
| Halifax | 50–10 | Oldham | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | The Shay | 2,027 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 8–12 | Batley Bulldogs | 13 February, 15:00 GMT | | South Leeds Stadium | 666 |

**Round 3**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Swinton Lions | 29–20 | Oldham R.L.F.C. | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | The Willows | 776 |
| Leigh Centurions | 68–6 | Sheffield Eagles | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | Leigh Sports Village | 1,520 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 30–0 | Workington Town | 20 February, 15:00 GMT | | South Leeds Stadium | 379 |
| Batley Bulldogs | 60–6 | Gateshead Thunder | 20 February, 14:00 GMT | | Mount Pleasant Stadium | 612 |
| Whitehaven | 6–60 | Halifax | 16 March, 19:30 GMT | | Recreation Ground | 771 |

**Round 4**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Workington Town | 12–42 | Leigh Centurions | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Derwent Park | 592 |
| Oldham R.L.F.C. | 4–14 | Whitehaven | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Whitebank Stadium | 544 |
| Gateshead Thunder | 4–76 | Swinton Lions | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Gateshead International Stadium | 323 |
| Sheffield Eagles | 12–16 | Hunslet Hawks | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | Bramall Lane | 854 |
| Halifax | 25–26 | Batley Bulldogs | 27 February, 15:00 GMT | | The Shay | 1,968 |

**Pool 2 Qualification Table**

2011 Northern Rail Cup: Pool 2 :

| # | | PLD | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | BP | PTS |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Leigh Centurions | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 176 | 44 | +132 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | Halifax | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 163 | 64 | +99 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Batley Bulldogs | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 63 | +39 | 0 | 9 |
| 4 | Hunslet Hawks | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 76 | 52 | 24 | 2 | 8 |
| 5 | Swinton Lions | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 149 | 94 | +55 | 1 | 7 |
| 6 | Workington Town | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 122 | 90 | +32 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Sheffield Eagles | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 66 | 120 | -54 | 1 | 6 |
| 8 | Whitehaven | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 54 | 108 | −54 | 1 | 6 |
| 9 | Oldham R.L.F.C. | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 62 | 115 | −53 | 2 | 5 |
| 10 | Gateshead Thunder | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 250 | −220 | 1 | 1 |

* Teams qualifying for the next round

Source: Northern Rail Cup Table – The RFL

Classification: 1st on competition points; 2nd on match points difference. Competition Points: For win = 3; For draw = 2; For loss by 12 points or fewer = 1

### Finals

**Finals Tournament Bracket**

| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| H | Leigh Centurions | 50 | | | | | | |
| A | Widnes Vikings | 18 | | | | | | |
| A | Widnes Vikings | 18 | H | Featherstone Rovers | 30 | | | |
| | | | A | Halifax RLFC | 31 | | | |
| H | Hunslet Hawks | 12 | A | Halifax RLFC | 31 | | | |
| A | Featherstone Rovers | 50 | | | | | | |
| A | Featherstone Rovers | 50 | | | | H | Halifax RLFC | 16 |
| | | | | | | A | Leigh Centurions | 20 |
| H | Toulouse Olympique XIII | 26 | | | | | | | A | Leigh Centurions | 20 |
| A | Halifax RLFC | 36 | | | | | | |
| A | Halifax RLFC | 36 | H | Leigh Centurions | 44 | | | |
| | | | A | Dewsbury Rams | 10 | | | |
| H | Dewsbury Rams | 38 | A | Dewsbury Rams | 10 | | | |
| A | Batley Bulldogs | 22 | | | | | | |

**Quarter-finals**

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Leigh Centurions | 50–18 | Widnes Vikings | 19:30, 7 April 2011 | | Leigh Sports Village | 2,737 |
| Hunslet Hawks | 12–50 | Featherstone Rovers | 20:00 8 April 2011 | | South Leeds Stadium | 877 |
| Toulouse Olympique | 26–36 | Halifax RLFC | 19:00 9 April 2011 | | Stade de Minimes | 850 |
| Dewsbury Rams | 38–22 | Batley Bulldogs | 15:00 10 April 2011 | | Tetley's Stadium | 1,643 |

**Semi-finals**

The semi-finals took place on 16 and 19 June with Sky Sports broadcasting the Featherstone v Halifax game live on Thursday 16 June.

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Featherstone Rovers | 30–31 | Halifax RLFC | Thursday 16 June 2011, 19:30 KO | Gareth Hewer | Big Fellas Stadium | 1,987 |
| Leigh Centurions | 44–10 | Dewsbury Rams | Sunday 19 June 2011, 15:00 KO | Matt Thompson | Leigh Sports Village | 2,234 |

**Final**

The Northern Rail Cup Final took place at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on Sunday 17 July at 17:00 GMT live on Sky Sports 3. The Match was contested by Halifax RLFC and Leigh Centurions.

This was Halifax's first appearance in the National League Cup final and was he fourth time Leigh have appeared in the final after making the finals in 2003 and winning the final in 2004 & 2006.

The game was won by Leigh 20 points to 16 with Leigh scoring in the final minute thanks to Tom Armstrong. The victory fulfils the on-field criteria that clubs must meet to be allowed to apply for a Super League licence for the 2015–17 period. Leigh Centurions have become the first club to have won the competition on 3 occasions.

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home | Score | Away | Date & Time | Referee | Venue | Attendance |
| Halifax RLFC | 16–20 | Leigh Centurions | Sunday, 17 July 2011, 17:00 KO | Matt Thomason | Bloomfield Road, Blackpool | 8,522 |
