1913-1914

Although this season could in no way be described as outstandingly successful the Committee certainly left no stone unturned in their attempts to build a powerful combination. Unfortunately a great deal of their efforts were eventually wasted as this campaign was to be the last one before the outbreak of the first World War.

The opening games saw the introduction of three new players: Bernard Patrick Gould, forward, whose consistently good work with Penarth, Glamorgan Police and Aberavon had earned him a Glamorganshire cap; Fred Perrett, Welsh International forward, whose club experience was gained with Briton Ferry, Aberavon and Neath; and John West, half-back from Cross Keys.

Early reverses at Huddersfield and Hunslet indicated that the team would be unlikely to achieve any success in the League Championship, and this was more than confirmed when Wakefield Trinity gained victories at Headingley on successive Saturdays. The first match was in the League programme and the Trinitarians only narrowly gained the verdict by 9 points to 8, but a week later, in the 2nd Round of the Yorkshire Cup, the margin was much greater, though in fairness it must be stated that Leeds were handicapped for more than three parts of the game as W. H. Davies was compelled to leave the field owing to a thigh injury.

So by November 1st, our hopes of a Yorkshire Cup triumph had been frustrated, and three more consecutive League defeats in that month dispelled any faint hopes there may have been of gaining a prominent position in the League table. When the final reckoning was made at the end of the season we had only 18 victories to show out of 34 engagements, and our position was tenth.

The 1st Round of the Northern Union Cup brought Keighley to Headingley and they were well and truly beaten by 39 points to nil. The luck of the draw took us to Belle Vue to meet Wakefield Trinity yet again. No team could have been called upon to face a harder task, especially as the Trinitarians had already gained two victories at Headingley. However, the knowledge that the league match at Belle Vue had resulted in a pointless draw was some consolation, and Leeds went into the match determined to salvage something from the season?s disasters. When at half-time, Leeds were leading by 6 points to nil, and Wakefield had lost the services of half-back Newbould, who had been dismissed from the field just before the interval, it looked odds on a Leeds victory. But a tactical error played into Wakefield?s hands: Ward was withdrawn from the Leeds pack to help the defence. Consequently, Wakefield made it a forward battle, and no pack ever responded more bravely, gaining almost constant possession from the scrums. A drop goal by Land, of Wakefield, was balanced by a Stacey goal for Leeds, but then a Willie Davies clearing kick was charged down by Poynton, who literally walked over for a try, which Kershaw improved. Then five minutes from the end Crossland fielded a clearing kick from Stacey, and ?marked? at a spot about seven yards inside the Leeds half. Beattie placed the ball on the half-way line and kicked a miraculous goal to give Trinity the victory. The teams were as follows: Leeds: Lewis; W. H. Davies, Campbell, W. A. Davies, Stacey; Ganley, Sanders; Webster, Harrison, Sutton, Mirfield, Godward, Ward. Wakefield Trinity: Land; Abbott, Lynch, Poynton, Howarth; Newbould, Kershaw; Dixon, Crossland, Beattie, Johnson, Parkin E., Burton.

This defeat was the ?last straw? in a disappointing season, but there had been indications from time to time that eventually the team would become a real power in the game. Recruiting had continued at full pressure and new arrivals during the campaign included: Joseph Hopkins, centre, and Arthur Llewellyn, winger, both from Abertillery; Ivor Jones, half-back. from Neath; Belfred Ward, centre, from Featherstone Rovers, and D. H. Blakey, forward, who had played with the Durham County team on nine occasions. In addition, Thomas Harkness, a product of Leeds and District Intermediate football graduated from the ?A? team with whom he had played for two seasons, and showed exceptional promise. An offer of ?400 was made to Huddersfield for the services of their celebrated centre, Edgar Wrigley, but Hunslet topped this figure by ?100, and the player went to Parkside. There was some doubt as to Wrigley?s fitness and Leeds were consequently unwilling to go beyond their original offer. Some few months later Hunslet placed Wrigley on the transfer list at ?500, and thus the judgment of the Leeds Committee was vindicated.

Transfers during the campaign included: A. D. Dennis, to York; F. W. Orchard, to Brighouse Rangers; and E. Chapman, to Featherstone Rovers. Willie Davies and Billy Jarman were honoured with selection for the party to tour Australia.