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 Championship.

Table

2009 Co-operative Championship
PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDBPPtsQualification
1Barrow Raiders201307632361+271544Qualified for the play-offs
2Halifax201307714476+238443
3Sheffield Eagles201109635447+188942
4Widnes Vikings201109649438+211639
5Whitehaven201208565567−2339
6Featherstone Rovers201208619524+95137
7Gateshead Thunder20929610657−47332
8Batley Bulldogs208210536620−84632
9Leigh Centurions209011426572−146532Relegated
10Toulouse Olympique XIII209011556582−26330
11Doncaster201019257955−698−4−1Relegated

Play-offs

Eliminators

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Widnes Vikings26 – 21Whitehaven10 September, 19:30 GMTStobart Stadium2,375
Sheffield Eagles8 – 32Featherstone Rovers11 September, 20:00 GMTDon Valley Stadium808

Semi finals

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Barrow Raiders35 – 12Halifax17 September, 19:30 GMTCraven ParkThierry Alibert2823
Widnes Vikings24 – 32Featherstone Rovers18 September, 20:00 GMTStobart StadiumBen Thaler3,296

Elimination final

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Halifax36 – 30Featherstone Rovers24 September, 19:30 GMTShay StadiumIan Smith2,556

Grand Final

HomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance
Barrow Raiders26 – 18Halifax4 October, 17:30Halliwell Jones StadiumP Bentham11,398

Team bracket

EliminatorsSemi-finalsEliminator FinalGrand Final
1Barrow Raiders351Barrow Raiders26
2Halifax122Halifax18
2Halifax36
4Widnes Vikings26
6Featherstone Rovers30
5Whitehaven21
4Widnes Vikings24
6Featherstone Rovers32
3Sheffield Eagles8
6Featherstone Rovers32

Source:

Statistics

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

PlayerTeamTries
Most tries Player Team Tries James Nixon Barrow Raiders 26 Jermaine McGillvary Batley Bulldogs 20 Shad Royston Halifax 20 Gregg McNally Whitehaven 19 Paddy Flynn Widnes Vikings 18 Ian Hardman Featherstone Rovers 16 Ben McAlpine Gateshead Thunder 15 Nick Youngquest Gateshead Thunder 15 Craig Calvert Batley Bulldogs 15 Luke Branighan Barrow Raiders 13 Rob Worrincy Widnes Vikings 13Most goals (excluding drop goals) Player Team Goals Lee Patterson Halifax 106 Jonny Woodcock Sheffield Eagles 85 Michael Knowles Gateshead Thunder 84 Nathan Wynn Toulouse Olympique 76 Stuart Dickens Featherstone Rovers 65 Gregg McNally Whitehaven 65 Ian Mort Leigh Centurions 52 Paul Mennell Batley Bulldogs 50 Jamie Rooney Barrow Raiders 44 Tim Hartley Widnes Vikings 42
James NixonBarrow Raiders26
Jermaine McGillvaryBatley Bulldogs20
Shad RoystonHalifax20
Gregg McNallyWhitehaven19
Paddy FlynnWidnes Vikings18
Ian HardmanFeatherstone Rovers16
Ben McAlpineGateshead Thunder15
Nick YoungquestGateshead Thunder15
Craig CalvertBatley Bulldogs15
Luke BranighanBarrow Raiders13
Rob WorrincyWidnes Vikings13
PlayerTeamGoals
Lee PattersonHalifax106
Jonny WoodcockSheffield Eagles85
Michael KnowlesGateshead Thunder84
Nathan WynnToulouse Olympique76
Stuart DickensFeatherstone Rovers65
Gregg McNallyWhitehaven65
Ian MortLeigh Centurions52
Paul MennellBatley Bulldogs50
Jamie RooneyBarrow Raiders44
Tim HartleyWidnes Vikings42

Attendances

TeamPlayedHighestLowestTotalAverage
1Widnes Vikings125,2362,37543,7523,646
2Halifax113,2742,00225,8122,347
3Barrow Raiders113,0501,69325,3262,302
4Toulouse Olympique103,2061,20021,7882,179
5Leigh Centurions102,7211,39419,8431,984
6Featherstone Rovers102,6731,34618,0841,808
7Whitehaven102,7081,17516,6981,670
8Sheffield Eagles111,45780912,5461,141
9Batley Bulldogs101,4305808,952895
10Doncaster101,0962756,693669
11Gateshead Thunder101,0334056,470647
Total11511,398275217,3621,874

See also

Team season articles

External links