Heavy Woollen Derby Explained

The Heavy Woollen Derby refers to the rivalry between Batley Bulldogs and Dewsbury Rams, both located in the Heavy Woollen district of West Yorkshire. The two sides compete an annual friendly on Boxing Day to celebrate their rivalry.

Head-to-head record

Statistics correct as of 19/5/21^[1]

In all competitions, competitive and uncompetitive:

Meetings in major finals

The two sides have never met in a major final.

Collective Honours

Batley Bulldogs		Honour	Dewsbury Rams
Rank	No.		No.	Rank
17th	1	League (D1)	1	17th
	0	League (D2)	2	4th
12th	3	Challenge Cup	2	16th
8th	2	Yorkshire League	0
13th	1	Yorkshire Cup	3	9th

Boxing Day Challenge

The Boxing Day Challenge is an annual Rugby league friendly match that takes place on 26 December in which the teams compete for the Roy Powell Trophy.^[2] The venue alternates between the two sides' home grounds: Crown Flatt (The Tetley's Stadium) and the Fox's Biscuits Stadium (Mount Pleasant) respectively. Before the move to the summer season from 1996, the teams would often meet for matches on Boxing Day and New Year's Day as part of their regular league schedule.^{[3] [4]}

The trophy is named in honour of Roy Powell who died on 27 December 1998. Powell was born in Dewsbury, and in 1998 had been part of the Batley team that won the Trans-Pennine Cup.^[5]

Results

Year	Home Team	Result	Away Team	Attendance	Ref.
2009	Dewsbury	12 - 20	Batley	2,411	[6] [7]
2010	Batley	30 - 6	Dewsbury	2,027
2011	Dewsbury	28 - 6	Batley		[8]
2012	Batley	28 - 18	Dewsbury		[9]
2013	Dewsbury	4 - 10	Batley		[10]
2014	Batley	18 - 16	Dewsbury		[11]
2015	Dewsbury	4 - 12	Batley	2,123	[12]
2016	Batley	28 - 18	Dewsbury		[13]
2017	Dewsbury	16 - 28	Batley		[14]
2018	Batley	16 - 10	Dewsbury		[15]
2019	Dewsbury	14 - 14	Batley		[16]
2020	colspan=5 rowspan=2
2021
2022	Batley	32 - 22	Dewsbury		[17]
2023	Dewsbury	12 - 12	Batley	1,893	[18]

See also

• Festive Challenge
• West Yorkshire derbies
• Derbies in the Rugby Football League

Notes and References

1. Web site: Batley Bulldogs - Head to Head - Rugby League Project.
2. Web site: Festive Friendlies Preview . RFL . 23 December 2023 . 14 May 2024.
3. News: Dewsbury, Batley and the most neighbourly of rugby league derbies . The Guardian . 24 July 2018 . 14 May 2024.
4. News: How Boxing Day sport became a permanent fixture in our hearts . The Guardian . 25 December 2011 . 14 May 2024.
5. News: Heavy Woollen derby's a tribute to former Leeds Rhinos' 'Mr Reliable', Roy Powell . Yorkshire Evening Post . 26 December 2016 . 14 May 2024.
6. News: Rams all covered for big derby date . 16 December 2011 . Mirfield Reporter . 5 December 2016 . 20 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220084312/http://www.mirfieldreporter.co.uk/sport/rams-all-covered-for-big-derby-date-1-4064883 . dead .
7. Web site: Dewsbury Rams 12 - 20 Batley Bulldogs . Dewsbury Rugby League Club . 26 December 2009 . 5 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080515/http://www.dewsburyrams.co.uk/news/article/38567/dewsbury-rams---- . 20 December 2016.
8. News: Six-try Dewsbury Rams defeat Batley Bulldogs in Boxing Day derby . 27 December 2011 . Batley & Birstall News . 27 October 2016 . 27 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027192311/http://www.batleynews.co.uk/sport/six-try-dewsbury-rams-defeat-batley-bulldogs-in-boxing-day-derby-1-4094346 . dead .
9. News: Rams will build on derby defeat . 28 December 2012 . Dewsbury Reporter . 27 October 2016.
10. News: Boixing Day match report: Dewsbury Rams 4 Batley Bulldogs 10 . 27 December 2013 . Yorkshire Evening Post . Blake . Luke . 27 October 2016.
11. News: Bulldogs edge out Rams in Boxing Day thriller . 26 December 2014 . Batley & Birstall News . Hunt . Andrew . 27 October 2016 . 27 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027125114/http://www.batleynews.co.uk/sport/rugby/bulldogs-edge-out-rams-in-boxing-day-thriller-1-7022007 . dead .
12. Web site: Fixtures & Results . Batley Bulldogs . 27 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027124425/http://batleybulldogs.co.uk/index.php/team/fixtures-a-results-2017-2 . 27 October 2016 . dead .
13. Web site: Batley down Dewsbury. Love Rugby League. 26 December 2016. 28 December 2016.
14. News: Dewsbury Rams 16 Batley Bulldogs 28: Bulldogs overhaul 12-man Rams. 26 December 2017. Yorkshire Evening Post. Hunt. Andrew. 31 December 2017.
15. Web site: Highlights Batley Bulldogs vs Dewsbury Rams 26 December 2018. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/ikE5oTws5OQ . 19 December 2021 . live. .
16. Web site: Highlights Dewsbury Rams vs Batley Bulldogs 26 December 2019. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/zuTVkub7rBA . 19 December 2021 . live. .
17. News: Batley Bulldogs edge Dewsbury Rams in festive derby . Dewsbury Reporter . 27 December 2022 . 14 May 2024.
18. Web site: Boxing Day round-up: Leeds Rhinos come from behind to beat Wakefield Trinity & Sean Long’s perfect start at Oldham . Love Rugby League . 26 December 2023 . 14 May 2024.