1927-1928

This was a highly successful season. Leeds gained 2nd place in the Northern Rugby League table and thus took part in the Championship play-off for the first time since 1920. The Yorkshire League Championship Cup came to Headingley for the very first time, and in addition we reached the Semi-Final stage of the R.L. Cup. Happier days!!

The Rugby League public awaited the opening of the campaign with special interest as the embargo on Dominion players had at last been removed and the arrival of several Australian and New Zealand stars was eagerly awaited. Wigan had signed Davidson, a centre; Brown, a winger, and Mason, a forward. Mills, a winger, was on his way to Fartown, and Wilson Hall, a serum-half, was to wear the ?black and white hoops? at the Boulevard.

Leeds, too, had its own impressive contingent in Jeff Moores, Frank O?Rourke and Wally Desmond. Moores, a stand-off from Brisbane, was destined to develop into one of the finest centres of all time and was to reveal amazing technique, skill, and courage in making play for his winger. Frank O?Rourke, a centre from the University team, Sydney, was also to play his part in restoring the fortunes of the ?Blue and Amber? jersey. Each gave excellent service over six seasons and memories of their performances still warm the hearts of the Headingley fans. Wally Desmond, from New Zealand, was not so fortunate and never seemed to settle, spending only two seasons with the Leeds Club.

Other signings included Frank Gallagher, then in the twilight of a great career; Stan Satterthwaite, a young Cumbrian forward, who was to work so solidly, loyally and well in an active career extending over 19 seasons; Billy Watson, the Keighley hooker; and Billy Demaine, who was signed almost at the end of the campaign in an attempt to remedy scrummaging defects. Departures included Jim Bacon, to Castleford; C. Litt, to Hunslet; Arthur Binks, to Wigan; J. Hall, to Featherstone Rovers; and Emlyn Watkins to Oldham.

The League programme opened well with two splendid victories over Hull and St. Helens, and only one game had been lost when Moores and O?Rourke made their debut at Headingley against Bradford Northern on September 10th. This match resulted in an unexpected defeat, and there were two more in the next five weeks, but this was fully to be expected until the team had time to blend, and there was obviously the potential of a tremendously powerful combination. This was exemplified in a splendid run of nine successive League victories from early October to mid-December, which took Leeds to the head of the League Table.

Another similar run of success at the beginning of 1928 virtually assured us of a place in the coveted ?first four?. Neither Leeds nor Featherstone Rovers were able to field representative sides for the League Semi-Final owing to the fact that the tourists had set sail for Australia, and Leeds had further depletions as Desmond was unfit and Satterthwaite and Demaine were ineligible. Although the margin of defeat was small, the score being fifteen points to twelve, Featherstone were worthy winners.

Our interest in the Yorkshire Cup was not prolonged, as York thwarted our ambitions in convincing style at Clarence Street in the 2nd Round, but the R.L. Cup Competition raised us, once again to fever pitch. A triumph at Wigan Highfield in the 1st Round was a smart performance particularly in view ofthe atrocious conditions provided by wind and mud. St. Helens Recs. provided stern opposition in the 2nd Round and they were much feared as they had often proved a ?bogey? team at Headingley. So they almost did on this occasion. Reduced to eleven men for all the second half the Recs. battled on gallantly and only went down by the odd point. Oldham were our third Round visitors and we had memories of their win in the corresponding match in the previous season, but on this occasion we won through by ten points to five, although we were subjected to long periods of defensive work at full stretch. The Semi-Final match at Rochdale was extremely disappointing. The game never reached the expected heights, and Leeds were definitely second best to an only moderate Warrington combination. In all the previous rounds lack of scrummaging possession had been a great handicap and it was the major cause of our defeat on this occasion. Billy Demaine, the Batley hooker, as already indicated, was signed a fortnight later in an effort to remedy this defect ? and how successfully he did this job for the next three seasons!!

The first Tour Trial was played at Headingley with Thompson, Rosser, Gallagher and Brough selected to take part, but the latter had to withdraw owing to injury. Rosser and Brough were selected for the second trial at Rochdale, and they were both included amongst the final selection for the Tour along with Joe Thompson.