Chapter 19. Community Rugby League

In 2003/2004 amateur rugby league came back under the Rugby Football League umbrella. From then BARLA worked jointly with them through the RFL’s Community Board, and officials began speaking of the community game rather than the amateur game.

There were still new teams joining, though not as many as before. Bailiff Bridge revived another old name from years gone by, if by now spelt differently, and played for a couple of seasons between 2002 and 2004. Whitehall Warriors followed in 2005, formed by Dave “Bomber” Beaumont following his earlier efforts with Wainstalls. Based at the Whitehall pub at Hipperholme crossroads (now Hop Monkey) they played on a school field at Hipperholme & Lightcliffe High, and continued until Dave Beaumont suffered health problems in 2013.

Siddal, Elland and Ovenden were the top sides in the early 21st century. In 2008-9 Siddal were Conference League leaders, Grand Final winners and National Cup winners (beating Wigan St Cuthberts in the final), and were to win the National Cup again in 2022-3 against Haresfinch (St Helens). In the Yorkshire Cup, Elland reached three finals between 2002 and 2005, beating Sharlston Rovers in 2002 and Queens in 2004, but losing to Drighlington in 2005. Ovenden were finalists in 2017-18, losing out to Lock Lane. Both Ovenden and Greetland developed new, flatter pitches beside their existing fields.

In recent years the number of entrants to the National Cup and Yorkshire Cup has declined considerably. In Halifax by 2024 just Siddal remained.