North West Merit League

North West Merit League
Sport	Rugby league
Instituted	2010
Number of teams	12
Country	England
Holders	Ashton Bears A (2010)
Website	www.northwestrl.co.uk
Related competition	Rugby League Conference

The North West Merit League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North West of England. It is a feeder league for the Rugby League Conference.

History

The Midlands Merit League was founded in late 2005 to support the growth of rugby league in non-heartland areas. Originally intended as a stand-alone league, support from the Rugby Football League meant that it could be administered as part of the Rugby League Conference set-up. Interest quickly gathered with 13 teams showing an interest in participating in the inaugural season - 8 eventually participated. The first ever game took place on 8 April 2006 at All Saints Sports College, Sheffield, where the Sheffield Forgers beat the Chesterfield Spires by 58 points to 8.

The league was renamed Rugby League Merit League (RLML) for the 2008 season due to its increased geographical spread with teams from the North of England taking part. 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two leagues; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with the Midlands Rugby League becoming its own competition using merit league rules.

In 2010 the Yorkshire & Humber Merit League and North West Merit League became separate competitions.

In 2012 the North West Merit League will become the development division of the North West Men's League.^[1]

Rugby League Conference Pyramid

The North West Merit League is the lowest level on the Rugby League Conference pyramid for clubs in the North West of England.

2011 structure

The following teams participated

Accrington & Leyland Lions A
Ashton Bears
Bamber Bridge ARLFC
Blackpool Stanley ARLFC
Bolton Ruffians
Bridge Bar Bandits
Burnley & Pendle RLFC
Bury Broncos
Chester Gladiators A
East Lancashire Vikings A
Ellesmere Port
Fleetwood Sharks
Little Hulton Reds
Lymm RL
Mancunians RL
Rochdale Cobras 'A'
Salford City Roosters
Salford Central
Wigan Riversiders Eels

Participating teams by season

2010: Accrington Panthers, Ashton Bears, Burnley & Pendle, Chester Gladiators A, Crewe & Nantwich Steamers A, East Lancashire Vikings, Ellesmere Port, Little Hulton Reds, Mancunians RL A, Wigan Riversiders B

Teams provided to the Rugby League Conference

2011: East Lancashire Vikings

Past winners

Midlands Merit League Championship

2006	South Humber Rabbitohs	42-18	Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2007	St Helens Wild Boars	46-22	German Exiles

Midlands Merit League Shield

2007	East Riding RLC	32-26	Nottingham Outlaws Academy
2008	Nottingham Outlaws Academy	34-32	Sheffield Forgers

RL Merit League

2008	Moorends-Thorne Marauders ML	28-18	Wigan Riversiders
2009 North West pool	Huyton Bulldogs	36-12	Wigan Eels
2009 Grand final	Upton RL	52-24	Huyton Bulldogs