Super League II
| League | Super League | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 22 Rounds | |||
| Number of teams | 12 | |||
| Highest attendance | 19,137 Leeds Rhinos vs Bradford Bulls (29 July) |
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| Lowest attendance | 500 Paris Saint-Germain vs Salford Reds (2 July) |
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| Broadcast partners |  Sky Sports |
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| 1997 Season | ||||
| Champions |  Bradford Bulls1st Super League title 3rd English title |
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| Premiership winners | File:Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors | |||
| Man of Steel | James Lowes |
|||
| Top point-scorer(s) | File:Wigancolours.svg Andrew Farrell (243) | |||
| Top try-scorer(s) | File:Wolvescolours.svg Nigel Vagana (17) | |||
| Promotion and relegation | ||||
| Promoted from First Division | File:Giantscolours.svg Huddersfield Giants Hull Sharks |
|||
| Relegated to First Division |  Oldham Bears |
|||
| Left League | ||||
| Dissolved | Paris Saint-Germain | |||
|
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Stones Bitter Super League II was the official name for the year 1997's Super League championship season, the 103rd season of top-level professional rugby league football in Britain, and the second championship run by Super League.
Teams
Twelve teams were selected to play in the second Super League season, however Salford were promoted into the League, taking the place of relegated Workington Town.
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Reigning Champions | |
| Challenge Cup Holders | |
| Promoted | |
| Team | Stadium | Capacity | City/Area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford Bulls |
Odsal | 27,000 | Bradford, West Yorkshire | |
 Castleford Tigers |
Wheldon Road | 11,750 | Castleford, West Yorkshire | |
 Halifax Blue Sox |
Thrum Hall | 9,832 | Halifax, West Yorkshire | |
| File:Rhinoscolours.svg Leeds Rhinos | Headingley | 21,500 | Leeds, West Yorkshire | |
 London Broncos |
The Stoop | 11,000 | Twickenham, Greater London | |
| Oldham Bears |
Watersheddings | 9,000 | Oldham, Greater Manchester | |
 Paris Saint-Germain |
Sébastien Charléty Stadium | 20,000 | Paris, France | |
 Salford Reds |
The Willows | 11,363 | Salford, Greater Manchester | |
 Sheffield Eagles |
Don Valley Stadium | 25,000 | Sheffield, South Yorkshire | |
| File:Saintscolours.svg St Helens | Knowsley Road | 17,500 | St Helens, Mersyside | |
| File:Wolvescolours.svg Warrington Wolves | Wilderspool | 9,200 | Warrington, Chesire | |
| File:Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors | Central Park | 18,000 | Wigan, Greater Manchester |
Season summary
For this season, the Leeds club added 'Rhinos' to their name for the first time.
During the year a secondary title, known as the Stone's Premiership, was also played for the last time on Sunday 28 September, with the final being contested between Wigan Warriors and St. Helens with Wigan coming out victorious 33-20 after a Harry Sunderland Trophy-winning performance by captain Andy Farrell.[1]
At the end of the season Bradford Bulls were crowned League champions by virtue of finishing the season at the top of the table.[2]
At the end of the 1997 season the Paris Saint-Germain club was dissolved. A post-season Super League Test series between Australia and Great Britain was also held in England.
Final Standings
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bradford Bulls |
22 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 769 | 397 | +372 | 40 |
| 2 | London Broncos | 22 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 616 | 418 | +198 | 33 |
| 3 | 16x16px St. Helens | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 592 | 506 | +86 | 29 |
| 4 | 16x16px Wigan Warriors | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 683 | 398 | +285 | 28 |
| 5 | 16px Leeds Rhinos | 22 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 544 | 463 | +81 | 27 |
| 6 | Salford Reds |
22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 428 | 495 | -67 | 22 |
| 7 | Halifax Blue Sox |
22 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 524 | 549 | -49 | 18 |
| 8 | Sheffield Eagles |
22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 415 | 574 | -159 | 18 |
| 9 | 16x16px Warrington Wolves | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 437 | 647 | -210 | 16 |
| 10 | 16px Castleford Tigers | 22 | 5 | 2 | 15 | 334 | 515 | -181 | 12 |
| 11 | Paris Saint-Germain | 22 | 6 | 0 | 16 | 362 | 572 | -210 | 12 |
| 12 | Oldham Bears |
22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 461 | 631 | -170 | 9 |
| Champions | Relegated |
Premiership
All 12 teams competed in a knockout play-off series for the Premiership Trophy. Wigan defeated St Helens in the final at Old Trafford.
See also
References
- ↑ Dave Hadfield (29 September 1997) Farrell keeps Wigan's trophy cabinet stocked The Independent
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
