Rhinos News
The second decade of the century was another of frustration and continual work for Leeds. The club, like so many, lost many players to the Great War and the usual league programme was interrupted during 1914-1918.
1914 did see Leeds make their first Championship Final against the all conquering Huddersfield team. Leeds had beaten Wigan at Central Park in the semi final but found Huddersfield too strong in the final, going down 35-2, a record score at the time. The Leeds team were: Lewis, WH Davies, WA Davies, Campbell, Jenkinson, Jones, Sanders, Chilcott, Carter, Rees, Ward, Webster, Godward.
During this period, Leeds played a number of "guest players" in the Emergency League competition. On 24th March 1917, Leeds reverted back to rugby union to play a one off challenge game against the Royal Navy Depot from Plymouth as a morale booster for the public. This then became a pre-cursor to the following Christmas when two Challenge games were organised between the two sides but this time with one of each code. The Navy won the union game 9-3 on Christmas Eve but proved equally adapt at league recording a 24-3 win on 28th December.
With the return to the full fixture list in 1919, Leeds made it through to the Yorkshire Cup Final only to lose out to Huddersfield again. On a frosty ground at Halifax, Huddersfield romped home by 24-5.
