The 2017 League 1 Cup known as the 2017 iPro Sport cup for sponsorship reasons is the third running of the competition, first played in 2015.
The 2017 competition was won by Barrow Raiders who defeated North Wales Crusaders 38–32 in the final at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on 27 May 2017.
The League 1 Cup competition is for the rugby league clubs in the British League 1 - the third tier of rugby league in Britain. There are 16 teams in League 1 but Canadian club Toronto Wolfpack declined to enter the tournament. As a result, amateur team and 2016 Conference Challenge Trophy winners Rochdale Mayfield were invited into the competition to bring the numbers to 16.
Teams Team Appearance First appearance Last appearance Barrow Raiders 3rd 20152016 Coventry Bears 3rd20152016 Doncaster 2nd20162016 Gloucestershire All Golds 3rd20162016 Hemel Stags 3rd20162016 Hunslet Hawks 2nd20162016 Keighley Cougars 3rd20152016 London Skolars 3rd20152016 Newcastle Thunder 3rd20152016 North Wales Crusaders 3rd20152016 Oxford 3rd20152016 Rochdale Mayfield 1st2017 N/A South Wales Ironmen 3rd20152016 Whitehaven 1st 2017N/A Workington Town1st2017N/A York City Knights 3rd20152016
First round The first round draw of the 2016 iPro Sport Cup was broadcast live on BBC Radio Leeds on 20 December 2016 from 6.45pm. For the first round the teams were split into two pools – Pool A (Northern regions) and Pool B (Midlands and Southern regions). Ties to be played over the weekend of 18–19 February 2017.
The draw was made by former Keighley player Paul Handforth (man of the match in 2016 final) and BBC Leeds presenter and former footballer Paul Ogden.
Pool A HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Rochdale Mayfield 18 – 46 Barrow Raiders 18 February 2017, 14:00 Rochdale Mayfield RLFC T. Crashley 300 (estimated) Whitehaven 6 – 22 Workington Town 19 February 2017, 14:00 Recreation Ground C. Straw 908 Hunslet Hawks 10 – 34 Newcastle Thunder 19 February 2017, 15:00 South Leeds Stadium B. Robinson 449 Keighley Cougars 30 – 22 Doncaster 19 February 2017, 15:00 Cougar Park J. McMullen 520 York City Knights 16 – 17 North Wales Crusaders 19 February 2017, 15:00 Bootham Crescent N. Bennett 620 Source:
Pool B
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Oxford Rugby League 30 – 28 Coventry Bears 18 February 2017, 14:00 Tilsley Park G. Dolan 121 Hemel Stags 12 – 48 Gloucestershire All Golds 19 February 2017, 14:00 Pennine Way Stadium M. Rossleigh 107 South Wales Ironmen 16 – 24 London Skolars 19 February 2017, 15:00 The Wern L. Moore 122 Source:
Quarter finals The draw was made immediately after the conclusion of the first round matches.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Gloucestershire All Golds 30 – 22 Workington Town 1 April 2017, 14:30 Derwent Park M. Rossleigh 378 Oxford Rugby League 24 – 20 London Skolars 1 April 2017, 14:30 Tilsley Park A. Sweet 105 Barrow Raiders 28 – 6 Keighley Cougars 2 April 2017, 14:00 Craven Park N. Bennett 828 Newcastle Thunder 16 – 24 North Wales Crusaders 2 April 2017, 15:00 Kingston Park J. McMullen 345 Source:
Semi finals The draw for the semi-finals was made on 3 April 2017. Making the draw were England assistant coach Paul Anderson and BBC rugby league correspondent Dave Woods.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Gloucestershire All Golds 28 – 37 North Wales Crusaders 30 April 2017, 15:00 Prince of Wales Stadium J Roberts 202 Barrow Raiders 64 – 14 Oxford 30 April 2017, 15:00 Craven Park L Moore 962 Source:
Final The final between Barrow Raiders and North Wales Crusaders was played on 27 May at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool as the curtain raiser to the 2017 Summer Bash.
HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance Barrow Raiders 38 – 32 North Wales Crusaders 27 May 2017, 12:00 Bloomfield Road S Race not given Source:
References