1956–57 Northern Rugby Football League season
Introduction The '''1956–57 Rugby Football League season''' was the 62nd season of rugby league football.
Season summary Oldham finished the regular season as the league leaders and then won their fourth Rugby Football League Championship when they beat Hull F.C. 15-14 in the play-off final.The Challenge Cup winners were Leeds who beat Barrow 9-7 in the final.Oldham won the Lancashire League, and Leeds won the Yorkshire League. Oldham beat St. Helens 10–3 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Wakefield Trinity beat Hunslet 23–5 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.
Championship TeamPldWDLPts1'''Oldham'''383305662Hull382927603Barrow382909584Leeds3828010565St. Helens3825310536Wigan3826012527Hunslet3826012528Wakefield Trinity3823114479Huddersfield38230154610Warrington38211164311York38210174212Halifax38210174213Salford38192174014Workington Town38200184015Featherstone Rovers38190193816Rochdale Hornets38190193817Leigh38181193718Whitehaven38181193719Swinton38180203620Keighley38171203521Bradford Northern38170213422Bramley38142223023Widnes38150233024Blackpool Borough38140242825Castleford38112252426Hull Kingston Rovers38112252427Liverpool City3891281928Batley3880301629Dewsbury3851321130Doncaster3830356  Play-offs===Play-offs===
Challenge Cup Leeds beat Barrow 9-7 in the Challenge Cup Final played at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 76,318.This was Leeds’ eighth Challenge Cup Final win in ten Final appearances. Jeff Stevenson, their scrum half back, was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for his man-of-the-match performance.
Kangaroo Tour October until December also saw the appearance of the Australian team in England on their 1956–57 Kangaroo Tour. Other than the three test Ashes series against Great Britain (won 2–1 by Australia), The Kangaroos played 16 matches against club and county representative sides.The Kangaroos were captain-coached by St George Dragons hooker Ken Kearney. game  Date  Result  Venue  Attendance1  10 October   Australia def. Liverpool City 40–12  Knotty Ash Stadium, Liverpool  4,7122  13 October   Leeds def. Australia 18–13  Headingley, Leeds  24,4593  15 October   Australia def. Hull F.C. / Hull KR XIII 37–14  The Boulevard, Hull  17,1724  18 October   Australia def. Barrow 25–11  Craven Park, Barrow-in-Furness  9,9885  20 October   Whitehaven def. Australia 14–11  Recreation Ground, Whitehaven  10,8406  24 October   Australia def. Bradford Northern 23–11  Odsal Stadium, Bradford  2,7437  27 October   Warrington def. Australia 21–17  Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington  15,6138  29 October   Australia def. English League XIII 19–15  Hilton Park, Leigh  7,8119  3 November   Australia def. York 20–18  Clarence Street, York  6,84210  7 November   Oldham def. Australia 15–2  The Watersheddings, Oldham  8,45811  10 November   Australia def. Huddersfield 20–10  Fartown Ground, Huddersfield  12,12712  17 November   def. 21–10  Central Park, Wigan  22,47313  21 November   Australia def. Hunslet 27–11  Parkside, Hunslet  4,45114  24 November   St Helens def. Australia 44–2  Knowsley Road, St Helens  15,57915  1 December   def. 22–9  Odsal Stadium, Bradford  23,63416  5 December   Halifax def. Australia 6–3  Thrum Hall, Halifax  2,25417  8 December   Australia def. Wigan 32–4  Central Park, Wigan  15,85418  10 December   Wakefield Trinity def. Australia 17–12  Belle Vue, Wakefield  3,38119  15 December   def. 19–0  Station Road, Swinton  17,542
References
Sources * 1956-57 Rugby Football League season at Wigan.rlfans.com* The Challenge Cup at The Rugby Football League website