UK Elite Teams By Season : 1995-96

For the last championship before Super League, it was an abbreviated affair, there were just ten games, each team playing the other just once. The number of teams dropped from 16 to eleven. Six teams had been relegated to the second division and the London Broncos promoted.

The League. Wigan were the winners with 36 points, with Leeds second (28) and Halifax next (25). St Helens (24) came fourth.

The Challenge Cup. At the quartet finals stage, the results were Bradford 30-18 Wakefield Trinity, Halifax 24-35 Leeds, Hull Sharks (FC) 0-20 Widnes Vikings, Salford Reds 26-46 St Helens.

The semi finals saw Saints overcome Widnes 24-14 and Bradford overran Leeds 28-6. 78,500 turned up at Wembley Stadium to see the final. Bradford led at half time 14-12 and 26-12 with with just over a quarter of the match to go. Then St Helens overcame that deficit to claim the trophy 40-32, the highest scoring cup final.

The League Cup. This was the 25th and last edition of the second cup competition, known as the Regal Trophy. In the quarter finals, the results were: Widnes 23-28 Wigan, Leeds 44-22 Carlisle, Saints 46-18 Halifax, Warrington 38-20 Rochdale.

In one semi final Wigan defeated Leeds 3818 and in the other St Helens thrashed Warrington 80-0! Saints may have gone into the final with some confidence but it wasn't enough as they went down to close neighbours Wigan 16-25.

The Premiership Finals. This was not held this year.

Summary: St Helens won the Challenge Cup and made the final of the League Cup and by virtue of those successes were the most successful club for the year with 46 points (my points system). Leed's consistency got them 38 points but no silverware. Wigan won the League and League Cup but was bundled out of the Challenge Cup in the 4th round by St Helens. That cost them top spot and gave them 36 points. Widnes did well for a team in the cup competitions only.

	Rk	Team	Lge	Fnl	CC	LC	Total
	1	St Helens	14		20	12	46
	2	Leeds	18		12	8	38
	3	Wigan	20			16	36
	4	Bradford	10		16		26
	4	Halifax	16		6	4	26
	6	Warrington	8			8	16
	6	Widnes			12	4	16
	8	Sheffield	12				12
	9	Castleford	11				11
	10	Oldham	9				9
	11	London	7				7
	12	Workington	6				6
	12	Salford			6		6
	12	Wakefield			6		6
	12	Hull FC			6		6
	16	Carlisle				4	4
	16	Rochdale				4	4
		Total	131	0	84	60	275

To see the 1996 season, just click here.