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National Conference

Ovenden who were at the time playing in the Pennine League were elected to the National Conference. For the 1995-96 playing season. Their debut game was at home against Hull Dockers who were also newcomers to the NCL Division 2.

In Ovenden’s second season, the team went for strength to strength and by December of 1996 Ovenden stood in third position in NCL Division 2 with seven consecutive victories under their belt including a convincing 22-6 victory against Shaw Cross.

In January of 1999 Ovenden were accused of playing an ineligible player against Normanton in an NCL Premier League. The player was Lee Midgley who had also played a dozen games before Christmas 1988. Lee was still on the books with Halifax Blue Sox and, although he had a permit to play amateur Rugby League recognised by the Pennine League where Ovenden’s “A” team played, the NCL rules meant he was not eligible to play in that competition. The NCL disciplinary panel considered the breach of rules to be “horrendous” and Ovenden were expelled with immediate effect from the NCL, fined £500 and ordered to repay a £1000 RFL development grant. At the time, Ovenden secretary, Tony McElroy was quoted as being “devastated” adding that
“since I found out about the situation, I have been totally honest with the NCL and admitted that there had been an irregularity.”

Tony continued when interviewed by the Halifax Evening Courier
“..we admitted the facts and we have been severely punished. I think we have been made a scapegoat as a warning to other clubs.”

Ovenden returned to the Pennine League for the next few seasons, being re-elected to the National Conference League in 2004 season to rejoin the NCL second division for the 2004-05 season. The club were promoted to Division 1 for the first time in their Nation Conference League history at the end of the 2005-06 season although they were immediately relegated to Division 2 at the end of the 2006-07 season.

Ovenden remained in the NCL Division 2 and in the 2008-09 season they just missed out on promotion finishing in 4th place just two points off the promotion places. The 2010-11 season was also a good one as they finished in 5th place in Division 2 which was the final season of winter Rugby League for the National Conference League.

The National Conference League held a Transitional season in 2011 running from August to December prior to the NCL’s permanent move to summer Rugby League in 2012. The competition comprised 8 groups each of 5 clubs selected on a geographical basis. Ovenden were in Group C which included Elland, Rochdale Mayfield, Saddleworth Rangers, Siddal, Ovenden finished in a creditable second position behind runaway winners Siddal.

The first two seasons of summer Rugby League saw Ovenden remain in the National Conference League Division 2. They finished in 8th place in 2012 and in 7th place in 2013.

2014 was to be Ovenden’s final season in the National Conference as the club withdrew from the League in January 2015 ahead of the forthcoming summer season, citing lack of players and financial issues. They returned to the Pennine League.