Lancashire Cup Final – Preston Grasshoppers vs. Widnes – K.O. 4pm
21st of May @ Wigan RFU
Preston Grasshoppers 1st XV travel to a rare venue for them where they’ll play equally scarce opponents, Widnes RUFC at Wigan RFU’s Douglas Valley Ground for their final game of the season, hoping to add to their tally of Lancashire Cup wins which currently stands at three.
After overcoming Blackburn in their semi final at Ramsgreave Drive, Hoppers will be facing a side who this season finished runners up in the Lancashire ADM Premier Division. Widnes reached the final by way of defeating Rochdale who also occupied second place at the end of their season in North West 2 which currently sits at Level 7 of the RFU pyramid.
Hoppers and Widnes finally get to meet each other in the competition after the last occasion was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Before that they last met in the same competition back during the 2002/3 season under Alex Keay’s leadership. Hoppers running out comfortable winners on the day. Pictured above is a rather amusing picture from when the sides met in 1992.
All told there have been twenty four meetings between the two clubs with honours even. Six of the meetings have been in the Lancashire Cup and once again there’s nothing between them. The first of these matches took place at Lightfoot Green on the 17th of September 1974 and was also a Lancashire Cup Tie. It wasn’t until the fifth meeting that Hoppers managed to beat Widnes, having to wait until the 29th of November 1979.
As previously mentioned, Hoppers have held the Lancashire Cup Winners title on three previous occasions. The first of these was in 2003 they beat West Park St Helens at Sedgley Park, 2006 Waterloo also at Park Lane and finally Sedgley Park at Fylde in 2012. There’s also been seven other seasons when they reached the final stretching back to 1984. Widnes have also had success in the competition, winning the trophy in 1976 at Waterloo against local rivals West Park St Helens.
Supporters Coach
The 1869 Club are planning a coach to Wigan RFC for the final of the Lancashire Cup v Widnes on Sat 21st May.
The coach will leave Hoppers at 12:30pm with a lunch stop in Wigan en route. Kick off is 4pm at Wigan RUFC. Departure time will be hour after the final whistle.
If you would like to travel please email John Dewhurst or Hadyn Gigg as soon as possible using the emails below.
johndewhurst@icloud.com
hadyn.gigg@btinternet.com
DIGGER
Admission Prices and Information
Charges will be:
Adults – £5.00
Concessionary – £2.00
U16s – Free of Charge
Alcohol – The club bar will be open and no alcohol should be brought on to the club premises. Only alcohol purchased at the club bar can be consumed.
Other Matches
Lancashire Plate:
Eccles v Littleboro’ KO 12.00pm
Brian Leigh Lancashire Trophy:
De La Salle v Aldwinians KO 2.00pm
John Burgess Lancashire Cup:
Preston Grasshoppers v Widnes KO 4.00pm
