1985–86 Rugby Football League season
Introduction The '''1985–86 Rugby Football League season''' was the 91st ever season of professional rugby league football in Britain. Sixteen teams competed from August, 1985 until May, 1986 for the Slalom Lager Championship.
Season summary Slalom Lager League Champions were Halifax.Halifax finished on top of the First Division table to claim their fourth, and to date, last championship, but Warrington defeated them in the Rugby League Premiership competition.Paul Bishop of Warrington scored a record equalling 5 drop goals in the Premiership semi-final against Wigan on 11 May 1986.Castleford were 15-14 winners over Hull Kingston Rovers in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup.Wigan were 11-8 winners over Hull Kingston Rovers in the final for the John Player Special Trophy.Warrington were 38-10 winners over Halifax in the Premiership Trophy. Warrington's Australian forward Les Boyd was awarded the Harry Sunderland Trophy as man-of-the-match.2nd Division Champions were Leigh.Bridgend Blue Dragons and Southend Invicta dropped out of the competition. The promotion scheme was changed to 3-up 3-down.Wigan beat Warrington 34–8 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Hull Kingston Rovers beat Castleford 22–18 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.
League Tables ===Division One==='''Final Standings'''TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts1 Halifax301965499365+134'''44'''2 Wigan302037776300+476'''43'''3 St. Helens302028729503+226'''42'''4 Warrington302019665393+272'''41'''5 Widnes301938520454+66'''41'''6 Leeds3015312554518+36'''33'''7 Hull Kingston Rovers3016113507500'''33'''8 Hull3015213616508+108'''32'''9 Oldham3014016508561-53'''28'''10 Salford3014016508561-53'''28'''11 Castleford3012117551585+34'''25'''12 Bradford Northern3011118447473+26'''23'''13 Featherstone Rovers309318419616-197'''21'''14 York309021413592-179'''18'''15 Swinton308022371648-277'''16'''16 Dewsbury305025313847-534'''10'''===Division Two==='''Club''''''P''''''W''''''D''''''L''''''PF''''''PA''''''Pts'''1Leigh3433011156373662Barrow3427071012398543Wakefield Trinity342419680435494Whitehaven3422012619479445Rochdale Hornets3421013763485426Blackpool Borough3420014769570407Batley3418313567450398Bramley3417116608663359Fulham34161176797093310Doncaster34161176116503311Carlisle34152175856823212Sheffield Eagles34141195166172913Workington Town34130216847232614Hunslet34113205947952515Huddersfield Barracudas3484225428412016Runcorn Highfield3492234897902017Keighley3492234019182018Mansfield Marksman34213138310805  Champions  Play-offs  Promoted  Relegated
Challenge Cup The 1985-86 Silk Cut Challenge Cup Final was played by  Castleford and Hull Kingston Rovers at Wembley before a crowd of 82,134.was won by Castleford defeated Hull Kingston Rovers 15-14.Castleford's scrum half back, Bob Beardmore was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.
League Cup
Premiership
Sources * 1985-86 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com