View source for 1896–97 Challenge Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox Rugby football league challenge cup
|title               = 1897 Challenge Cup 
|league              = 
|logo                = 
|pixels              = 
|duration            = 6 Rounds
|no_of_teams         = 52
|highest_attendance  = 
|lowest_attendance   = 
|avg_attendance      = 
|TV                  = 
|biggest_home_win    = 
|biggest_away_win    = 
|season              = [[1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season]]
|season_champs       =  [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|season_champ_name   = Winners
|second_place        =  [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|MVP                 = 
|MVP_link            = 
|top_scorer          =
|prevseason_link     = 
|prevseason_year     = 
|nextseason_link     = 1898 Challenge Cup
|nextseason_year     = 1898
}}

The '''1897 Challenge Cup''' was the inaugural staging of the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Rugby Football Union]]'s [[Challenge Cup]] and involved 52 clubs from across England from the [[1896–97 Northern Rugby Football Union season]]. The tournament was played over six rounds in March and April 1897, culminating in the final which was won by [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Rugby League Football |first1=John |last1=Huxley |first2=David |last2=Howes |year=1980 |isbn=0-7091-8133-7 |pages=41–43 |name-list-style=amp}}</ref>

== Background ==
{{Further|Challenge Cup}}
The [[Rugby Football League|Northern Union]] decided to hold a cup competition called the Northern Rugby Football Union Challenge Cup in July 1896.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/18960703/107/0007 |title=Northern Rugby Union. Competition and cup-tie rules. |newspaper=[[The Yorkshire Post]] |date=3 July 1896 |page=7 |issue=((15,294)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The cup was commissioned from Bradford silversmiths and jewellers, [[Fattorini and Sons]].  Fattorini's designed the trophy themselves and it cost the Northern Union £60.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/6953918.stm |title=Rugby League's precious metal |work=BBC Sport |date=22 August 2007}}</ref>

== Draw ==
The draw for the competition was made on 3 September 1896 although the matches were not due to be played until March and April 1897 over six consecutive weekends commencing 20 March 1897.  All rounds were drawn at the same time with matches in the second and subsequent rounds given an identification letter such that ties for later rounds were expressed as, for example, "Q. Winner of Round C. v. winner of Round N."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000167/18960904/042/0004 |title=Northern Rugby Football Union: Draw for the Cup Competition |newspaper=[[Huddersfield Chronicle]] |date=4 September 1896 |page=4 |issue=((9,080)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

The team drawn first had the option to play at home or could agree to play at the opponent's ground.  The semi-finals and final were to be played at neutral venues.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/18960904/076/0004 |title=Northern Union Cup Ties |newspaper=[[Hull Daily Mail]] |date=4 September 1896 |page=4 |issue=((3,415)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

== First round ==
The first round involved 20 matches and 40 clubs. 12 clubs ([[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]], [[Bradford Church Hill RLFC|Bradford Church Hill]], [[Brighouse Rangers RFC|Brighouse Rangers]], [[Crompton RLFC|Crompton]], [[Heckmondwike (rugby league)|Heckmondwike]], [[Liversedge RFC|Liversedge]], [[St Helens Recreation RLFC|St Helens Recs]], [[Stockport (rugby league)|Stockport]], [[Swinton Church RLFC|Swinton Church]], [[Thornton Rangers RLFC|Thornton Rangers]], [[Tyldesley FC|Tyldesley]] and [[Werneth RLFC|Werneth]]) were given a bye to the next round.

All 20 ties were played on 20 March 1897.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=44%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|[[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.#Rugby football|Bradford]]
|7–3
|[[Oldham R.L.F.C.|Oldham]]
|-
|[[Bramley RLFC|Bramley]]
|8–8
|[[Morecambe RFC|Morecambe]]{{efn|Morecambe gave up home advantage}}
|-
|[[Broughton Rangers]]
|0–0
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|-
|[[Castleford RFC (1896)|Castleford]]
|43–3
|[[Allerton RLFC|Allerton]]
|-
|[[Eastmoor RLFC|Eastmoor]]
|26–8
|[[Oldham Juniors RLFC|Oldham Juniors]]
|-
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|55–5
|[[Stockport Rangers RLFC|Stockport Rangers]]{{efn|Stockport Rangers gave up home advantage}}
|-
|[[Holbeck Rugby Club|Holbeck]]
|38–3
|[[Latchford Rangers]]
|-
|[[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
|9–0
|[[Walkden RLFC|Walkden]]
|-
|[[Hunslet F.C. (1883)|Hunslet]]
|75–5
|[[Broughton RLFC|Broughton Recreation]]
|-
|[[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]
|11–0
|[[Rochdale St Clements]]
|-
|[[Leeds Parish Church RFC|Leeds Parish Church]]
|42–0
|[[Runcorn Recreation RLFC|Runcorn Recreation]]{{efn|Runcorn Recreation gave up home advantage}}
|-
|[[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|0–0
|[[Wakefield Trinity]]
|-
|[[Manningham F.C.|Manningham]]
|31–3
|[[Dukinfield RLFC|Dukinfield]]
|-
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|11–0
|[[Waterhead Hornets RLFC|Waterhead Hornets]]
|-
|[[Runcorn RFC|Runcorn]]
|65–0
|[[Warrington Loco]]
|-
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|66–0 
|[[Lees RLFC|Lees]]
|-
|[[Warrington St Mary's RLFC|Warrington St Mary's]]
|0–28
|[[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|-
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|12–4
|[[Huddersfield Giants|Huddersfield]]
|-
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|55–0
|[[Atherton Hornets]]
|-
|[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|3–0
|[[Radcliffe (Rugby League)|Radcliffe]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=3 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/18970320/021/0006 |title=Northern Union Cup Competition. First Round |newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]] |issue=2047 |date=20 March 1897 |page=6 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}
{{notelist}}

===First round replays===
The three games requiring replays were all played on Wednesday 24 March

{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=44%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|[[Bramley RLFC|Bramley]]
|6–4
|[[Morecambe RFC|Morecambe]]
|-
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|3–0
|[[Broughton Rangers]]
|-
|[[Wakefield Trinity]]
|13–4
|[[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=3 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/18970325/025/0004 |title=Football |newspaper=[[Gloucester Citizen]] |issue=71 |date=25 March 1897 |page=4 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

==Second round==
The second round of 16 ties was played on Saturday 27 March 1897.

{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=50%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=6%|Game no
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|A
|[[Liversedge RFC|Liversedge]]
|9–4
|[[Heckmondwike (rugby league)|Heckmondwike]]
|-
|B
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|17–3
|[[Castleford RFC (1896)|Castleford]]
|-
|C
|[[Bramley RLFC|Bramley]]
|0–11
|[[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|-
|D
|[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|7–0
|[[Manningham F.C.|Manningham]]
|-
|E
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|11–0
|[[Hull F.C.|Hull]]
|-
|F
|[[Tyldesley FC|Tyldesley]]
|9–3
|[[Leeds Rhinos|Leeds]]
|-
|G
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|8–0
|[[St Helens Recreation RLFC|St Helens Recs]]
|-
|H
|[[Thornton Rangers RLFC|Thornton Rangers]]
|4–52
|[[Runcorn RFC|Runcorn]]
|-
|I
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|15–0
|[[Hunslet F.C. (1883)|Hunslet]]
|-
|J
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|24–0
|[[Holbeck Rugby Club|Holbeck]]
|-
|K
|[[Leeds Parish Church RFC|Leeds Parish Church]]
|0–11
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|-
|L
|[[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.#Rugby football|Bradford]]
|68–3
|[[Swinton Church RLFC|Swinton Church]]
|-
|M
|[[Eastmoor RLFC|Eastmoor]]
|3–3
|[[Stockport (rugby league)|Stockport]]
|-
|N
|[[Brighouse Rangers RFC|Brighouse Rangers]]
|13–4
|[[Wakefield Trinity]]
|-
|O
|[[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|30–0
|[[Werneth RLFC|Werneth]]
|-
|P
|[[Crompton RLFC|Crompton]]
|26–0
|[[Bradford Church Hill RLFC|Bradford Church Hill]]
|-
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=4 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000273/18970327/018/0006 |title=Northern Union Cup Competition. Second Round |newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]] |issue=2053 |date=27 March 1897 |page=6 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

===Second round replay===
Stockport and Eastmoor replayed the tie on Wednesday 31 March.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=50%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=6%|Game no
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|M
|[[Stockport (rugby league)|Stockport]]
|28–8
|[[Eastmoor RLFC|Eastmoor]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=4 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000159/18970401/045/0003 |title=Northern Rugby Union |newspaper=[[Teesside Gazette|North-Eastern Daily Gazette]] |date=1 April 1897 |page=3 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

==Third round==
The third round of eight games was played on Saturday 3 April.

{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=56%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=6%|Game no
! width=6%|Drawn as
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|Q
|C v N
|[[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|6–3
|[[Brighouse Rangers RFC|Brighouse Rangers]]
|-
|R
|G v I
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|3–3
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|-
|S
|J v A
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|6–0
|[[Liversedge RFC|Liversedge]]
|-
|T
|M v O
|[[Stockport (rugby league)|Stockport]]
|8–0
|[[Salford Red Devils|Salford]]
|-
|U
|L v F
|[[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.#Rugby football|Bradford]]
|4–8
|[[Tyldesley FC|Tyldesley]]
|-
|V
|P v K
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|50–0
|[[Crompton RLFC|Crompton]]
|-
|W
|E v H
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|14–6
|[[Runcorn RFC|Runcorn]]
|-
|X
|B v D
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|11–0
|[[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=5 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000273/18970403/020/0006 |title=Northern Union Cup Competition. Third round |newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]] |date=3 April 1897 |page=6 |issue=2059 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

===Third round replay===
Swinton and Rochdale replayed the drawn game on Wednesday 7 April.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=56%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=6%|Game no
! width=6%|Drawn as
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|R
|G v I
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|10–0
|[[Rochdale Hornets]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=5 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000174/18970408/021/0003 |title=Northern Union Cup |newspaper=[[The Morning Post]] |date=8 April 1897 |page=3 |issue=((38,930)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

==Fourth round==
The quarter finals were played on Saturday 10 April 1897.
{| border=1 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-size:90%; text-align:center;" cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 width=56%
|- bgcolor=#C1D8FF
! width=6%|Game no
! width=6%|Drawn as
! width=19%|Home
! width=6%|Score
! width=19%|Away
|-
|AA
|S v V
|[[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
|10–8
|[[Halifax R.L.F.C.|Halifax]]
|-
|BB
|Q v W
|[[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
|10–0
|[[Widnes Vikings|Widnes]]
|-
|CC
|R v T
|[[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
|3–0
|[[Stockport (rugby league)|Stockport]]
|-
|DD
|X v U
|[[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
|12–0
|[[Tyldesley FC|Tyldesley]]
|- style="background:#c1d8ff;"
! colspan=5 | Source:<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18970412/029/0002 |title=Northern Union Challenge Cup. Fourth Round |newspaper=[[The Sportsman (1865 newspaper)|The Sportsman]] |date=12 April 1897 |page=2 |issue=8618 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
|}

==Semi-finals==
The semi-finals were scheduled for Saturday 17 April.  However, due to a waterlogged pitch, the tie between St. Helens and Swinton, due to be played at Broughton Rangers ground - [[Wheater's Field]] -  was postponed until Monday 19 April.  The game between Batley and Warrington, played at [[Fartown Ground, Huddersfield|Fartown]], [[Huddersfield]] did go ahead on a very soft pitch.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Northern Union. Challenge Cup Competition (Semi-Final ties)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/257818314/|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 April 1897 |page=3 |issue=((13,813)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

{{rugbyleaguebox
| date       = 17 April 1897
| time       = 3:00&nbsp;pm
| team1      = [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
| score      = 6–0
| report     = [https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/18970417/026/0006 Report]
| team2      = [[Warrington Wolves|Warrington]]
| points1    = Tries: Spurr (1), Davies (1)
| points2    = 
| stadium    = [[Fartown Ground, Huddersfield|Fartown]], [[Huddersfield]]
| attendance = 5,500
| referee    = J H Smith (Widnes)
| manofmatch = 
}}

After the game Warrington lodged a protest over the result, claiming that the game should have been postponed due to the state of the pitch and that the game having gone ahead, the referee allowed the game to end six minutes short.  Both grounds of protest were dismissed by the Northern Union Committee.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/18970420/080/0005 |title=Football Notes. Rugby. |newspaper=[[Hull Daily Mail]] |date=20 April 1897 |page=5 |issue=((3,598)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

The rearranged game between St Helens and Swinton was played on Easter Monday, 19 April, watched by a crowd of 20,000 taking advantage of the [[bank holiday]] to attend.
{{rugbyleaguebox
| date       = 19 April 1897
| time       = 3:00&nbsp;pm
| team1      = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
| score      = 7–0
| report     = [https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000081/18970420/026/0007 Report]
| team2      = [[Swinton Lions|Swinton]]
| points1    = Tries: Little (1) <br/> Drop goals: [[Billy Jacques|Jacques]] (1)
| points2    = 
| stadium    = [[Wheater's Field]], [[Broughton, Greater Manchester|Broughton]]
| attendance = 20,000
| referee    = E Holmes
| manofmatch = 
}}

==Final==
[[File:Challenge cup 1897.jpg|right|thumb|300px|The teams and the Challenge Cup photographed before the kick-off: [[Batley Bulldogs]] vs. [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]]]
The final took place on 24 April 1897 at [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]], Leeds. The official attendance was 13,492, with gate receipts of £624.17s.7d.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fletcher |first1=Raymond |first2=David |last2=Howes |title=Rothmans Rugby League Yearbook 1991–1992 |year=1992 |isbn=0-356-17852-8 |name-list-style=amp |page=136|publisher=Little, Brown Book Group Limited }}</ref> Batley wore white shirts and black shorts and socks in place of their normal [[Cerise (colour)|cerise]] and [[Fawn (colour)|fawn]] colours.  St Helens wore blue and white hooped shirts, white shorts and black socks.<ref name=YEP240497>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000273/18970424/019/0004 |title=The Northern Union Cup. Final Tie. |newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]] |date=24 April 1897 |page=4 |issue=2077 |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>

St Helens won the toss and elected to have Batley kick off.  Despite playing into the wind in the first half, Batley took the lead after five minutes when {{rlp|so}} Joe Oakland, kicked a [[drop goal (rugby)|drop goal]] to give Batley a 4–0 advantage.  Batley extended their lead to 7–0 when {{rlp|ce}} John Goodall scored the first try of the game.  These were the only scores of the first half.  Early in the second half St Helens scored a try when centre David Traynor took the ball on the halfway line and beat four Batley players before touching down.  The St Helens fightback did not last long as Batley [[Flanker (rugby union)|flanker]] John T. 'Paudy' Munns scored Batley's second try to make the score 10–3 which remained the score at the final whistle.<ref name=LplMerc/>

After the game the cup was presented by Mrs Louisa Waller, the wife of the president of the [[Rugby Football League|Northern Union]], Henry Hirst Waller.  Mrs Waller presented the Batley players with commemorative gold medals and the St Helens players with silver medals.<ref name=LplMerc>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000081/18970426/021/0007 |title=Northern Union Challenge Cup. Final Tie. |newspaper=[[Liverpool Mercury]] |date=26 April 1897 |page=7 |issue=((15,388)) |url-access=subscription |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref>
{{rugbyleaguebox
| date       = 24 April 1897
| time       = 3:30&nbsp;pm
| team1      = [[Batley Bulldogs|Batley]]
| score      = 10–3
| report     = [https://www.newspapers.com/image/257818982 Manchester Guardian report]
| team2      = [[St Helens R.F.C.|St Helens]]
| points1    = Try: Goodall, Munns<br />Drop goal: Oakland
| points2    = Try: Traynor
| stadium    = [[Headingley Stadium|Headingley]], [[Leeds]]
| attendance = 13,492
| referee    = J. H. Smith ([[Widnes]])<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hoole |first1=Les |title=The Rugby League Challenge Cup An Illustrated History 1897-1998 |date=2015 |publisher=DB Publishing |isbn=978-1-78091-462-6 |page=9}}</ref><br>Touch Judges: H.H. Waller (Brighouse Rangers), J. P. Warren (Warrington)<ref name=LplMerc/>
}}

===Squads===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%; margin-left:1em; text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=4 align="centre" style="border:2px solid black; background:white; color:black;" |Batley
! rowspan=2 align="centre" style="background:#eee; color:black; width:10%"|Number
! colspan=4 align="centre" style="border:2px solid white; background:blue; color:white;" |St Helens
|-
! style="width:10%" | Name
! style="width:10%" | Height
! style="width:10%" | Weight
! style="width:5%" | Age
! style="width:10%" | Name
! style="width:10%" | Height
! style="width:10%" | Weight
! style="width:5%" | Age
|-
!colspan=9 style="background:#eee;" | Fullback
|-
| [[Arthur Garner (rugby)|Arthur Garner]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 26 || style="background:#eee;" | 1 || [[Tom Foulkes]] (c) || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|10|lb|kg lb|0}} || 25
|-
!colspan=9 style=background:#eee; | Three-quarter backs
|-
| [[Wattie Davies]] || {{cvt|5|ft|5|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|6|lb|kg lb|0}} || 23 || style="background:#eee;" | 2 || [[Robert Doherty (rugby league)|Bob Doherty]] || {{cvt|5|ft|4|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|6|lb|kg lb|0}} || 28
|-
| [[Dai Fitzgerald]] || {{cvt|5|ft|11|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 24 || style="background:#eee;" | 3 || [[David Traynor]] || {{cvt|5|ft|8|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|4|lb|kg lb|0}} || 22
|-
| [[John Goodall (rugby)|John Goodall]] (c) || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|4|lb|kg lb|0}} || 22 || style="background:#eee;" | 4 || [[Jim Barnes (rugby)|Jim Barnes]] || {{cvt|5|ft|9|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|10|lb|kg lb|0}} || 21
|-
| [[Ike Shaw]] || {{cvt|5|ft|6|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|4|lb|kg lb|0}} || 29 || style="background:#eee;" | 5
|| [[Billy Jacques]] || {{cvt|5|ft|6|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|10|lb|kg lb|0}} || 22
|-
!colspan=9 style=background:#eee; | Half-backs
|- 
| [[Joe Oakland]] || {{cvt|5|ft|8|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 21 || style="background:#eee;" | 6
|| [[Richard O'Hara (rugby league)|Richard O'Hara]] || {{cvt|5|ft|5|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 21
|-
| [[Harry Goodall (rugby)|Harry Goodall]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 23 || style="background:#eee;" | 7
|| [[Freddie Little (rugby)|Freddie Little]] || {{cvt|5|ft|4+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|11|lb|kg lb|0}} || 26
|-
!colspan=9 style=background:#eee; | Forwards
|- 
| [[Mark Shackleton]] || {{cvt|6|ft|0|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|14|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 27 || style="background:#eee;" | 8 || [[Tom Winstanley]] || {{cvt|5|ft|11|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|14|stone|1|lb|kg lb|0}} || 26
|-
| [[Jim Gath]] || {{cvt|5|ft|9|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 21 || style="background:#eee;" | 9 || [[Billy Briers]] || {{cvt|5|ft|6+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|11|stone|11|lb|kg lb|0}} || 22
|-
| [[George Main (rugby league)|George Main]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|10|stone|11|lb|kg lb|0}} || 21 || style="background:#eee;" | 10 || [[William Winstanley (rugby)|William Winstanley]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|8|lb|kg lb|0}} || 28
|-
| [[Robert Spurr (rugby league)|Robert Spurr]] || {{cvt|5|ft|11|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 23 ||  style="background:#eee;" | 11 || [[Tom Reynolds (rugby league)|Tom Reynolds]] || {{cvt|5|ft|10|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|4|lb|kg lb|0}} || 27
|-
| [[Fred Fisher (rugby league)|Fred Fisher]] || {{cvt|5|ft|8|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|8|lb|kg lb|0}} || 24 || style="background:#eee;" | 12 || [[Joe Thompson (rugby league, born 1872)|Joe Thompson]] || {{cvt|5|ft|8+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|13|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 24
|-
| [[Charlie Stubley]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 27 || style="background:#eee;" | 13 || [[Peter Dale (rugby league)|Peter Dale]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|7|lb|kg lb|0}} || 25
|-
| [[Jim Littlewood]] || {{cvt|5|ft|9|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 23 || style="background:#eee;" | 14 || [[Sam Rimmer]] || {{cvt|5|ft|7+1/2|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|0|lb|kg lb|0}} || 27
|-
| [[John Munns]] || {{cvt|5|ft|9|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|13|stone|4|lb|kg lb|0}} || 22 || style="background:#eee;" | 15 || [[Bill Whiteley (rugby league)|Bill Whiteley]] || {{cvt|5|ft|9|in|cm|0}} || {{cvt|12|stone|2|lb|kg lb|0}} || 25
|-
!colspan=9 | Source:<ref name=YEP240497/>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Challenge Cup}}
{{Batley - 1897 Challenge Cup Final winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1896-97 Challenge Cup}}
[[Category:Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:1897 in English rugby league|Challenge Cup]]
[[Category:History of rugby league|Challenge Cup]]