On this Day - 26th April

On the 26th April in years gone by Leeds have been in action in the Challenge Cup final on two occasions, losing to Dewsbury in 1943 and the Bradford 60 years later.

ON THIS DAY in 1943 Leeds played in the second leg of the Rugby League Cup Final against Dewsbury. In the first leg Dewsbury had been the 16-9 victors but in this game the Loiners got it right and grabbed a 6-0 victory. Eaton who scored a try and three goals in the first leg, once again added a goal, as did Jenkins and Walkington, but it was not enough to overturn the result at Crown Flatt and the final score over two legs gave Dewsbury a narrow 16-15 victory.

ON THIS DAY in 2003 the Rhinos took on Bradford in the Challenge Cup final at The Millennium Stadium. The boot of Paul Deacon, with five goals from as many attempts, proved crucial after the sides were locked on three tries apiece at the end and 14-all at the interval. Leeds had a worthy Lance Todd Trophy winner in Gary Connolly, and their brave effort was typified by Matt Adamson playing through the pain of his fractured cheekbone. Bradford though were just too strong at the end as they repeated their 2000 win over Leeds to take the trophy back to Odsal.

The Bulls grabbed the opening try on five minutes, Joe Vagana offloaded to Tevita Vaikona, and the winger stepped past Dave Furner and raced away, finding Robbie Paul supporting to cross, Paul Deacon adding the goal.

Leeds hit back on ten minutes, when Gary Connolly scooted away from dummy half and reached out of the tackle of Jamie Peacock and Deacon to touch down, Kevin Sinfield converting. Furner saw a try ruled out for crossing soon afterwards, and Deacon then added a penalty at the other end. Sinfield levelled the game at 8-8 on 18 minutes after James Lowes’ ball steal on opposite number Matt Diskin. Sinfield’s chip to the corner then created a try for Australian centre Chris McKenna, who took Mark Calderwood’s palm back and touched down, despite the attention of Shontayne Hape.

The Leeds captain kicked a third goal and the Rhinos looked set for a six point interval lead until Rob Burrow lost the ball in a heavy collision with Lee Gilmour.

The young half back was led from the field and, from the resulting possession, Deacon’s grubber allowed Lesley Vainikolo to swoop at the corner, with a superb touchline conversion levelling matters. The Bulls continued with the momentum after the break, with Jamie Peacock using his strength to cross on the right three minutes after the restart and another Deacon goal put them 20-14 up.

Leeds responded well, with Sinfield’s long kick giving Calderwood the chase before the winger was blantantly taken out by Vainikolo with the line at his mercy however Peacock eventually got back to dive on the ball and referee Russell Smith saw no wrong doing. Deacon’s penalty, following offside, edged the Bulls eight points clear. Calderwood’s persistence forced Vainikolo into being trapped in-goal, but a penalty for dissent after Andrew Dunemann lost control of the ball saw the chance to hit back go begging. The Rhinos eventually broke the Bradford line on the hour, when Furner took McDermott’s inside ball to step past Robbie Paul and touch down, Sinfield’s goal making the scoreline 22-20.

Karl Pratt’s kick out on the full on 71 minutes allowed Leeds to mount pressure on the Bulls line, with Paul sweeping up a Dunemann kick to concede a drop out. Diskin’s grubber from the ensuing set saw Leeds receive a penalty for accidental offside, while Deacon’s play at a Sinfield pass saw them earn the feed at a close range scrum.

But Diskin’s chip was too deep and went out in-goal, while Paul again cleared up Sinfield kick to concede a drop out. It was incessant Leeds pressure, but when Keith Senior’s pass to Francis Cummins was too high and went into touch in the 78th minute, the Rhinos thought they had seen their final chance go begging. The clock showed 80 minutes as Dunemann charged down Deacon’s kick, but Rob Parker hacked the ball dead as Leeds desperately searched for a winner proved the killer blow as the Bulls lifted the trophy.

ON THIS DAY in 2014, Leeds welcomed St Helens to Headingley for a Challenge Cup fifth Round tie.

Two tries from Zak Hardaker and one each from Danny McGuire, Joel Moon and Jamie Peacock booked the Rhinos place in the Tetley's Challenge Cup Quarter Final.