Super League II

Stones Bitter Super League II was the official name for the year 1997's Super League championship season, the 103rd season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the second to be played in summer.

Super League II
LeagueSuper League
Duration22 Rounds
Teams12
Highest attendance19,137
Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls (29 July)
Lowest attendance500
Paris Saint-Germain vs Salford Reds (2 July)
Broadcast partnersSky Sports
1997 Season
ChampionsBradford Bulls
1st Super League title
3rd British title
Premiership winnersWigan Warriors
Man of SteelEngland James Lowes
Top point-scorer(s)England Andrew Farrell (243)
Top try-scorer(s)New Zealand Nigel Vagana (17)
Promotion and relegation
Promoted from Division OneHuddersfield Giants
Hull Sharks
Relegated to Division OneOldham Bears
Resigned from League
DissolvedParis Saint-Germain

Teams

Twelve teams were selected to play in the second Super League season, however Salford Reds were promoted into the League, taking the place of relegated Workington Town.

Legend
  Reigning Champions
  Challenge Cup Holders
  Promoted
Team Stadium Capacity City/Area
Bradford Bulls Odsal 27,000 Bradford, West Yorkshire
Castleford Tigers Wheldon Road 11,750 Castleford, West Yorkshire
Halifax Blue Sox Thrum Hall 9,832 Halifax, West Yorkshire
Leeds Rhinos Headingley 21,500 Leeds, West Yorkshire
London Broncos The Stoop 11,000 Twickenham, Greater London
Oldham Bears Watersheddings 9,000 Oldham, Greater Manchester
Paris Saint-Germain Sébastien Charléty Stadium 20,000 Paris, France
Salford Reds The Willows 11,363 Salford, Greater Manchester
Sheffield Eagles Don Valley Stadium 25,000 Sheffield, South Yorkshire
St. Helens Knowsley Road 17,500 St Helens, Mersyside
Warrington Wolves Wilderspool 9,200 Warrington, Cheshire
Wigan Warriors Central Park 18,000 Wigan, Greater Manchester

Season summary

For this season, the Leeds club added 'Rhinos' to their name for the first time.

During the year a secondary title, known as the Stone's Premiership, was also played for the last time on Sunday 28 September, with the final being contested between Wigan Warriors and St. Helens with Wigan coming out victorious 33-20 after a Harry Sunderland Trophy-winning performance by captain Andy Farrell.[1]

At the end of the season Bradford Bulls were crowned League champions by virtue of finishing the season at the top of the table.[2]

At the end of the 1997 season the Paris Saint-Germain club was dissolved. Oldham suffered a similar fate - they finished bottom of the league and were relegated to the First Division, but by the end of October had entered liquidation and were dissolved with over £1m in debts. The clubs assets including its name and history were retained for a second Oldham club which entered the Third Division for the 1998 season.

A post-season Super League Test series between Australia and Great Britain was also held in England.

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Relegation
1 Bradford Bulls (C) 22 20 0 2 769 397 +372 40
2 London Broncos 22 15 3 4 616 418 +198 33
3 St Helens 22 14 1 7 592 506 +86 29
4 Wigan 22 14 0 8 683 398 +285 28
5 Leeds Rhinos 22 13 1 8 544 463 +81 27
6 Salford Reds 22 11 0 11 428 495 −67 22
7 Halifax Blue Sox 22 8 2 12 524 549 −25 18
8 Sheffield Eagles 22 9 0 13 415 574 −159 18
9 Warrington Wolves 22 8 0 14 437 647 −210 16
10 Castleford Tigers 22 5 2 15 334 515 −181 12
11 Paris Saint-Germain 22 6 0 16 362 572 −210 12
12 Oldham Bears (R) 22 4 1 17 461 361 +100 9 Relegated to Division One
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Points difference; 3) Number of points scored;
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Premiership
Main article: 1997 Rugby League Premiership

All 12 teams qualified for and competed in a knockout play-off series for the Premiership Trophy. Wigan defeated St Helens in the last final at Old Trafford. Following this season it was abolished and replaced with the Super League Grand Final which would determine the Champions rather than the current first past the post system.

See also

References
  1. Dave Hadfield (29 September 1997) Farrell keeps Wigan's trophy cabinet stocked The Independent
  2. "Bradford Bulls Honours List". Bradford Bulls official website. 2007-01-26. Archived from the original on 2007-02-05. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
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