Clubs > Ovenden > The “A” Team

The “A” Team

Whilst the focus of a Rugby League club always tends to be on the club’s first team, Ovenden never forgot their “A” team and in some seasons put out a third “B” team as well as an ad hoc “C” team which played friendlies.

The “A” had their share of success over the years. By the 1977-78 season, the “A” team played in the Pennine League beginning in Division 3 although they were relegated but held their own in Division 4 the following season.

The ”A” and “B” teams continued to perform well and as the 1990’s began the “B” team was in Pennine Division 6 and the “A” team in Pennine Division 2 and from all reports enjoying their Rugby League.

In the 1992-93 the “A” team were Pennine League Alliance 1 Champions and the “B” team were Alliance Division 2 Champions. The “A” team also secured the Pennine League Shipley Trophy with a final win 16-10 over local rivals Park Amateurs “A”. Ovenden “A”s Paul Hitchen was Man of the Match in the final.

Ovenden “A” were very successful in the Halifax Supplementary Cup starting with their final appearance in the first ever competition along with winners Park Amateurs “A.” They won the Cup in 1986 overcoming Illingworth “A” before their record-breaking run in the 1990’s.

The team won the Supplementary Cup for five years in a row from 1990 to 1994 including a memorable win over Park Amateurs by 22-8 in 1993. They appeared in the final again in 1996 when they were runners up to Siddal “A” – a game which was interestingly refereed by Halifax RLFC favourite, Wilf George. This successful “A” team was helped by the presence of many players previously with the club’s successful 1st team. The Ovenden “A” team which defeated Illingworth “A” 54-8 in 1994 included some well-known Ovenden names..

The ”A” continued in the Pennine League.

As the first team rejoined the Pennine League from the National Conference League in 2015, the “A” team was flying high in Division Five.