Yorkshire & Humber Merit League

Yorkshire & Humber Merit League
Sport Rugby league football
Instituted 2010
Number of teams 10
Country  England
Holders Moorends-Thorne Marauders A (2010)
Related competition Rugby League Conference

The Yorkshire & Humber Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in Yorkshire and the Humber. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.

Contents

History

Main article: History of the Midlands Merit League

The Midlands Merit League was founded in late 2005 to support the growth of rugby league in non-heartland areas. Originally intended as a stand-alone league, support from the Rugby Football League meant that it could be administered as part of the Rugby League Conference set-up. Interest quickly gathered with 13 teams showing an interest in participating in the inaugural season - 8 eventually participated. The first ever game took place on April 8, 2006 at All Saints Sports College, Sheffield, where the Sheffield Forgers beat the Chesterfield Spires by 58 points to 8.

The league was renamed Rugby League Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two leagues; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with the Midlands Rugby League becoming its own competition using merit league rules.

In 2010 the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and North West Merit League became separate competitions.

Rugby League Conference Pyramid

See also: British rugby league system

The Yorkshire & Humber Merit League is the lowest level on the Rugby League Conference pyramid for clubs in Yorkshire and Humberside.

2011 structure

North
Doncaster Toll Bar A
Leeds Akkies A
Scarborough Pirates A
Shaw Cross Sharks A
Midlands
Barton Bulldogs
Heavy Woollen Donkeys
Scunthorpe Barbarians
South Humber Rabbitohs

Haworth Park failed to start the season in the North Division

Participating teams by season

Past winners

Midlands Merit League Championship

2006 South Humber Rabbitohs 42-18 Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2007 St Helens Wild Boars 46-22 German Exiles

Midlands Merit League Shield

2007 East Riding RLC 32-26 Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2008 Nottingham Outlaws Academy 34-32 Sheffield Forgers

RL Merit League

2008 Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML 28-18 Wigan Riversiders
2009 Yorkshire pool Upton RL 30-22 Victoria Rangers
2009 Grand final Upton RL 52-24 Huyton Bulldogs

Yorkshire & Humber Merit League

2010 Moorends-Thorne Marauders A 52-14 Leeds Akkies A

See also

External links