2009 RFL Championship

Co-operative Championship 2009
LeagueChampionship
Duration20 Rounds
Teams11
Attendance217,362 (average 1,874)
2009 Season
ChampionsBarrow Raiders
League LeadersBarrow Raiders
Runners-upHalifax
Top try-scorer(s)Scotland James Nixon (26)
Promotion and relegation
Relegated to Championship 1Doncaster
Gateshead Thunder

The 2009 RFL Championship (known as the Co-operative Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the 1st season of the RFL Championship under its current name and the 42nd season under its current league status.

There was no automatic promotion to Super League due to licensing being used. Qualifying for the Grand Final is a prerequisite for Championship clubs to be able to apply for license in the next round of applications for the 2012–14 period.

The Grand Final was won by Barrow Raiders, who also won the League leaders Shield, beating Halifax 26-18.

Toulouse Olympique were exempt from relegation meaning Leigh Centurions were relegated along with bottom placed Doncaster. Following the completion of the season, Gateshead Thunder were eliminated following salary cap breaches and subsequently relegated, meaning Leigh Centurions retained their place in the Champipnship.

Table

2009 Co-operative Championship
# Team Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts
1 Barrow Raiders 20 13 0 7 632 261 271 5 44
2 Halifax 20 13 0 7 714 476 238 4 43
3 Sheffield Eagles 20 11 0 9 635 447 188 9 42
4 Widnes Vikings 20 11 0 9 649 438 211 6 39
5 Whitehaven 20 12 0 8 565 567 −2 3 39
6 Featherstone Rovers 20 12 0 8 619 524 95 1 37
7 Gateshead Thunder 20 9 2 9 610 657 −47 3 32
8 Batley Bulldogs 20 8 2 10 536 620 −84 6 32
9 Leigh Centurions 20 9 0 11 426 572 −146 5 32
10 Toulouse Olympique XIII 20 9 0 11 556 582 −26 3 30(a)
11 Doncaster 20 1 0 19 257 955 −698 5 -1(b)
  Teams qualifying for the Play-offs
  Teams in relegation position

Source: Co-Operative Championship Table
Note (a): Toulouse were exempt from relegation. [1]
Note: (b): Doncaster lost 9 competition points for entering administration. [2]
Classification: 1st on league points; 2nd on match points difference.
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Pld = Games played; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; PF = Match points scored; PA = Match points conceded; PD = Points difference; BP = Bonus Points; Pts = League points.


Play-offs

Eliminators

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Widnes Vikings 26 – 21 Whitehaven 10 September, 19:30 GMT Stobart Stadium 2,375
Sheffield Eagles 8 – 32 Featherstone Rovers 11 September, 20:00 GMT Don Valley Stadium 808

Semi finals

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Barrow Raiders 35 – 12 Halifax 17 September, 19:30 GMT Craven Park Thierry Alibert 2823
Widnes Vikings 24 – 32 Featherstone Rovers 18 September, 20:00 GMT Stobart Stadium Ben Thaler 3,296

Elimination final

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Halifax 36 – 30 Featherstone Rovers 24 September, 19:30 GMT Shay Stadium Ian Smith 2,556

Grand Final

Home Score Away Match Information
Date and Time Venue Referee Attendance
Barrow Raiders 26 – 18 Halifax 4 October, 17:30 Halliwell Jones Stadium P Bentham 11,398

Team bracket

Source:Rugby League Project

Statistics

The following are the top points scorers in the 2009 Championship season. Statistics include points scored in both league and play-off appearances.[1]

Attendances

Team Played Highest Lowest Total Average
1 Widnes Vikings 12 5,236 2,375 43,752 3,646
2 Halifax 11 3,274 2,002 25,812 2,347
3 Barrow Raiders 11 3,050 1,693 25,326 2,302
4 Toulouse Olympique 10 3,206 1,200 21,788 2,179
5 Leigh Centurions 10 2,721 1,394 19,843 1,984
6 Featherstone Rovers 10 2,673 1,346 18,084 1,808
7 Whitehaven 10 2,708 1,175 16,698 1,670
8 Sheffield Eagles 11 1,457 809 12,546 1,141
9 Batley Bulldogs 10 1,430 580 8,952 895
10 Doncaster 10 1,096 275 6,693 669
11 Gateshead Thunder 10 1,033 405 6,470 647
Total 115 11,398 275 217,362 1,874

Rugby League Crowds - 2009 Co-operative Champs

See also

Team season articles

References

  1. ^ Butcher, Tim; Spencer, Daniel, eds. (2009). Gillette Rugby League Yearbook 2009-2010. League Publications. p. 318. ISBN 978-1-901347-21-0.