BOTH the BARLA National Cup and 1973 Cup reach the semi-final stage on Saturday (August 15), with participants targeting a berth in the grassroots game’s big ‘double-header’ on Saturday, October 31 at the OneBore Stadium, Castleford. 

All four of the remaining teams in the National Cup have extensive experience of major finals – whether in BARLA’s blue-ribbon competition or in National Conference League Grand Finals.

In the National Cup, it’s Leigh Miners Rangers v Ince Rose Bridge and West Hull v Featherstone Lions.

Rose Bridge were runners-up in 2002 and 2007, to West Hull and Halton Simms Cross respectively, while Featherstone Lions slipped to Thatto Heath on the only occasion that the National Cup (which was sponsored that year by League Express) was played on a Bank Holiday Monday, Rochdale AFC hosting the occasion in 2001.

West Hull, meanwhile, are themselves no strangers to National Cup glory – the aforementioned win over Rose Bridge was the first occasion on which the decider was hosted by Blackpool AFC at Bloomfield Road.

And more recently, the Green and Golds won last year’s National Conference League Grand Final, toppling Minor Premiers Siddal.

And Leigh Miners Rangers – who scuttled holders Orrell St James’ hopes in the quarter-finals – also have extensive experience of the big occasion, not least being the inaugural BARLA National Cup winners, beating Latchford Albion 12-7 in 1973-74.

The 1973 Cup is in its first year. Contested by sides who lost in the first round of the National Cup, it features Blackbrook (who were runners-up, to Bank Quay Bulls, in the last BARLA Lancashire Cup, in 2011-12).

The Brook, who lifted that trophy in 2005-06 and 2006-07, accounting for Halton Simms Cross and Wigan St Cuthberts respectively, are at home to Hunslet ARLFC, who won the National Conference League 2024 Grand Final.

Fryston Warriors, who have twice graced the National Cup Final – losing narrowly (20-18) to Sharlston Rovers in 2010-11 and more heavily (39-10) to Hunslet Club Parkside in 2016-17, take on Cumbrian giants Distington in the other semi-final.

Fixtures
Saturday 15 August
BARLA NATIONAL CUP
SEMI-FINALS: Leigh Miners Rangers v Ince Rose Bridge; West Hull v Featherstone Lions.
1973 CUP
SEMI-FINALS: Blackbrook v Hunslet ARLFC; Fryston Warriors v Distington.