UK Elite Teams By Season : 2001

The same teams that contested the 2000 edition of the league competition were back for 2001, twelve in all. One was to be relegated this season, however.

The League: The Bradford Bulls took the top spot on goal difference from Wigan Warriors, both finished on 45 points. Hull FC were on 42, Saints (36) and Leeds (33). They made up the five for the finals playoffs discussed below. Huddersfield Giants were the team relegated.

Challenge Cup: At the quarter final stage, Hull FC lost at home to the Leeds 18-20, St Helens cruised into the next round with a comfortable victory over Huddersfield 54-16. Poor old Wakefield were overrun by Bradford 0-38 in front of their home fans while the Warrington Wolves hosted the French team Villeneuve Leopards and took the match 32-0.

St Helens met Leeds in one semi final and came away with a 27-22 scoreline in their favour. In the other match Bradford were too good for Warrington (39-22). The final was at Twickenham Stadium, London and over 68,000 took in the match. Saints got home 13-6 in a low scoring game with Bradford.

The Finals: In the first game, Wigan just got home against Hull FC 27-24. The other game (an elimination one) had Saints defeating Leeds 38-30. The next sudden death match was next week at Hull where FC lost to St Helens 20-24. Two narrow defeats to Hull and they were gone. The other match sent Bradford straight into the final, courtesy of a 24-18 win against Wigan.

Wigan then took on St Helens to see who would be the other finalist. Wigan were too good, winning 44-10. The final was a one sided again, but Wigan was on the receiving end this time, going down 6-37 to Bradford. The Bulls were the grand final winners for 2001, crowned in front of 61,000 at Old Trafford, Manchester..

Bradford were far too good for Wigan in the grand final

Summary: Bradford were the most successful team with 56 points (according to my system anyway). They took the league and grand final to prove it. St Helens were ten points back on 46 points and had the Challenge Cup trophy. Wigan (34), Hull FC (30), Leeds (28) and Warrington (28) were the other reasonably successful sides.

	Rk	Team	Lge	Fnl	CC	Total
	1	Bradford	20	20	16	56
	2	St Helens	14	12	20	46
	3	Wigan	18	16		34
	4	Hull FC	16	8	6	30
	5	Leeds	12	4	12	28
	6	Warrington	10		12	22
	7	Wakefield	6		6	12
	8	London	11			11
	8	Huddersfield	5		6	11
	10	Castleford	9			9
	11	Halifax	8			8
	12	Salford	7			7
	13	Villeneuve			6	6
		Total	136	60	84	280

The 2002 season can be seen by clicking here.