2009 RFL Championship

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.

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

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 201307632261271544
2 Halifax 201307714476238443
3 Sheffield Eagles 201109635447188942
4 Widnes Vikings 201109649438211639
5 Whitehaven 201208565567−2339
6 Featherstone Rovers 20120861952495137
7 Gateshead Thunder 20929610657−47332
8 Batley Bulldogs 208210536620−84632
9 Leigh Centurions 209011426572−146532
10 Toulouse Olympique XIII 209011556582−26330(a)
11 Doncaster 201019257955−6985-1(b)
  Teams qualifying for the Play-offs
  Teams in relegation position

Source: Co-Operative Championship Table
Note (a): Toulouse were exempt from relegation.
Note: (b): Doncaster lost 9 competition points for entering administration.
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

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 125,2362,37543,7523,646
2 Halifax 113,2742,00225,8122,347
3 Barrow Raiders 113,0501,69325,3262,302
4 Toulouse Olympique 103,2061,20021,7882,179
5 Leigh Centurions 102,7211,39419,8431,984
6 Featherstone Rovers 102,6731,34618,0841,808
7 Whitehaven 102,7081,17516,6981,670
8 Sheffield Eagles 111,45780912,5461,141
9 Batley Bulldogs 101,4305808,952895
10 Doncaster 101,0962756,693669
11 Gateshead Thunder 101,0334056,470647
Total11511,398275217,3621,874

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.
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