Warrington Wizards
Encyclopedia
Warrington Wizards are a British
rugby league
team. They play in the National Division
of the Rugby League Conference
.
team were invited to be founder members of the new National League Three
, the 4th tier of British rugby league in 2003. Prior to their joining the National League, the Woolston Rovers clubhouse was destroyed by a large fire, along with all the memorabilia within. Playing under the name of Warrington Woolston Rovers, and based at Wilderspool Stadium
, they beat Teesside Steelers 42-6 in the final at Winnington Park to be crowned the inaugural NL3 champions.
In their second season of National League rugby, Warrington Woolston Rovers finished the season in third spot, defeating Bradford Dudley Hill
in the play-off to make the Grand Final in Halton Stadium
, Widnes
, where they lost to Coventry Aquatic Bears
by 48-24.
The end of that season marked a revamp for the team, the summer and winter teams adopting separate names, logos and colours to help avoid confusion between them. This confusion had led to Woolston Rovers' winter team being relegated even though they had won their league and then failing to have a team entered for the 2004-5 season. The summer team became Warrington Wizards.
Wizards recorded a then record 108-0 victory over Birmingham Bulldogs
in June 2005, which was the first time that a hundred points had been scored on the ground. This was surpassed by Wizards when they defeated Cottingham Phoenix
124-0 in May 2007.
2008 saw Wizards miss out on the ‘Minor Premiership’ in the final game when they were narrowly beaten at eventual Grand Final winners Celtic Crusaders Colts, and they were then defeated in the elimination semi- final play-off at home by Featherstone Lions
. The Wizards had a successful run in 2008 Challenge Cup with a first round away win at St Mary's University, Twickenham and then a home win over Stanningley in the second round which put them into the hat with the professionals in the third round where they drew Salford City Reds
who beat them 66-10.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team. They play in the National Division
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
.
History
Warrington Woolston Rovers, a National Conference LeagueNational Conference League
The National Conference League is the top league in the pyramid of amateur rugby leagues run by the British Amateur Rugby League Association...
team were invited to be founder members of the new National League Three
Rugby League Conference National Division
The Rugby League Conference National Division is the highest division in the Rugby League Conference. Between 2003 and 2006, it was known as National League Three.-National League Three:...
, the 4th tier of British rugby league in 2003. Prior to their joining the National League, the Woolston Rovers clubhouse was destroyed by a large fire, along with all the memorabilia within. Playing under the name of Warrington Woolston Rovers, and based at Wilderspool Stadium
Wilderspool Stadium
Wilderspool Stadium is a rugby league stadium located in Warrington, England. The ground was Warrington RLFC's old ground before moving to the Halliwell Jones Stadium. It holds just over 9,000, after substantial decreases for crowd safety...
, they beat Teesside Steelers 42-6 in the final at Winnington Park to be crowned the inaugural NL3 champions.
In their second season of National League rugby, Warrington Woolston Rovers finished the season in third spot, defeating Bradford Dudley Hill
Bradford Dudley Hill
Bradford Dudley Hill Rugby League Club is an English rugby league team based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, now playing in the National Conference League.-History:...
in the play-off to make the Grand Final in Halton Stadium
Halton Stadium
The Stobart Stadium Halton is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves...
, Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
, where they lost to Coventry Aquatic Bears
Coventry Bears
Coventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 and the Rugby League Conference in 2002...
by 48-24.
The end of that season marked a revamp for the team, the summer and winter teams adopting separate names, logos and colours to help avoid confusion between them. This confusion had led to Woolston Rovers' winter team being relegated even though they had won their league and then failing to have a team entered for the 2004-5 season. The summer team became Warrington Wizards.
Wizards recorded a then record 108-0 victory over Birmingham Bulldogs
Birmingham Bulldogs
Birmingham RLFC are a rugby league team based in Birmingham. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Birmingham Bulldogs were founded in 1989...
in June 2005, which was the first time that a hundred points had been scored on the ground. This was surpassed by Wizards when they defeated Cottingham Phoenix
Cottingham Phoenix
Cottingham Phoenix are a rugby league team based in Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire. They play in the Yorkshire Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
124-0 in May 2007.
2008 saw Wizards miss out on the ‘Minor Premiership’ in the final game when they were narrowly beaten at eventual Grand Final winners Celtic Crusaders Colts, and they were then defeated in the elimination semi- final play-off at home by Featherstone Lions
Featherstone Lions
Featherstone Lions are an amateur rugby league club from Featherstone, West Yorkshire who play in the Rugby League Conference National Division and the CMS Yorkshire league Division 3. The under-18 team play in the Gilette National Youth League....
. The Wizards had a successful run in 2008 Challenge Cup with a first round away win at St Mary's University, Twickenham and then a home win over Stanningley in the second round which put them into the hat with the professionals in the third round where they drew Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds are an English rugby league club based in Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1873, they currently play in the Super League. They have won six Rugby Football League Championships and one Challenge Cup...
who beat them 66-10.