2009 RFL Championship
Introduction The '''2009 RFL Championship''' (known as the ''' Co-operative Championship''' for sponsorship reasons) was the 1st season of the RFL Championship under its current name and the 42nd season under its current league status.There was no automatic promotion to Super League due to licensing being used. Qualifying for the Grand Final is a prerequisite for Championship clubs to be able to apply for license in the next round of applications for the 2012–14 period.The Grand Final was won by Barrow Raiders, who also won the League leaders Shield, beating Halifax 26-18.Toulouse Olympique were exempt from relegation meaning Leigh Centurions were relegated along with bottom placed Doncaster. Following the completion of the season, Gateshead Thunder were eliminated following salary cap breaches and subsequently relegated, meaning Leigh Centurions retained their place in the Champipnship.
Table
Play-offs ===Eliminators===HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance  Widnes Vikings26 – 21  Whitehaven10 September, 19:30 GMTStobart Stadium  2,375  Sheffield Eagles8 – 32  Featherstone Rovers11 September, 20:00 GMTDon Valley Stadium 808===Semi finals===HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance  Barrow Raiders 35 – 12  Halifax17 September, 19:30 GMTCraven Park Thierry Alibert 2823  Widnes Vikings 24 – 32  Featherstone Rovers18 September, 20:00 GMTStobart Stadium Ben Thaler 3,296===Elimination final===HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance  Halifax 36  – 30  Featherstone Rovers24 September, 19:30 GMTShay Stadium Ian Smith 2,556===Grand Final===HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDate and TimeVenueRefereeAttendance  Barrow Raiders 26  – 18  Halifax4 October, 17:30Halliwell Jones Stadium P Bentham 11,398===Team bracket===:Source:
Statistics The following are the top points scorers in the 2009 Championship season. Statistics include points scored in both league and play-off appearances. '''Most tries''' Player Team Tries James Nixon  Barrow Raiders  26 Jermaine McGillvary  Batley Bulldogs  20 Shad Royston  Halifax  20 Gregg McNally  Whitehaven  19 Paddy Flynn  Widnes Vikings  18 Ian Hardman  Featherstone Rovers  16 Ben McAlpine  Gateshead Thunder  15 Nick Youngquest  Gateshead Thunder  15 Craig Calvert  Batley Bulldogs  15 Luke Branighan  Barrow Raiders  13 Rob Worrincy  Widnes Vikings  13'''Most goals (excluding drop goals)''' Player Team Goals Lee Patterson  Halifax  106 Jonny Woodcock  Sheffield Eagles  85 Michael Knowles  Gateshead Thunder  84 Nathan Wynn  Toulouse Olympique  76 Stuart Dickens  Featherstone Rovers  65 Gregg McNally  Whitehaven  65 Ian Mort  Leigh Centurions  52 Paul Mennell  Batley Bulldogs  50 Jamie Rooney  Barrow Raiders  44 Tim Hartley  Widnes Vikings  42
Attendances TeamPlayedHighestLowestTotalAverage1 Widnes Vikings125,2362,37543,7523,6462 Halifax113,2742,00225,8122,3473 Barrow Raiders113,0501,69325,3262,3024 Toulouse Olympique103,2061,20021,7882,1795 Leigh Centurions102,7211,39419,8431,9846 Featherstone Rovers102,6731,34618,0841,8087 Whitehaven102,7081,17516,6981,6708 Sheffield Eagles111,45780912,5461,1419 Batley Bulldogs101,4305808,95289510 Doncaster101,0962756,69366911 Gateshead Thunder101,0334056,470647 '''Total''''''115''''''11,398''''''275''''''217,362''''''1,874''' Rugby League Crowds - 2009 Co-operative Champs
See also * Co-operative Championship* 2009 Championship 1* British rugby league system* Super League* Rugby League Conference* Northern Ford Premiership* National League Cup* Rugby League Reserve Team Championship===Team season articles===* 2009 Widnes Vikings season* 2009 Toulouse Olympique season* 2009 Whitehaven RLFC season* 2009 Featherstone Rovers season* 2009 Barrow Raiders season
References
External links *  Official Championship website*  RFL Championship coverage*  Scores from Sky Sports*  RugbyLeague.org Championship Fans Forums