1932-1933

Football, indeed all sport, is full of unexpected thrills and disappointments. Triumph and disaster, those ?twin-impostors?, go hand in hand. If proof were needed, it surely and certainly lies in the tremendous switch of fortunes which took place at Headingley between April 1932 and the same month in 1933.

The management, players and supporters were justified in looking forward hopefully to the season?s work ? the previous campaign had brought the R.L. Challenge Cup to Headingley, and third place had been obtained in the League Table. But reputations count for little, and the Leeds team languished in the middle of the table for the whole of the season.

There had only been one signing of note during the close season, that of D. M. Jenkins, the front row forward from Hunslet, but four players had been transferred: H. Goulthorpe, to Hunslet; G. Goldie, to Batley; whilst D. R. Jenkins and H. Broadhead joined Barrow. The team was handicapped at the outset through being unable to call on the four members of the Australian Touring Party, and Frank O?Rourke suffered an injury in the opening match at Barrow which prevented him turning out in the next five games. But it was soon apparent in view of our League defeats that the team-building process would have to start all over again ? Huddersfield were in the self same plight, winning only two of their first seven matches.

Our performances in the Yorkshire Cup Competition were the only redeeming feature and, as will be explained later, they probably caused a wrong assessment of the team?s worth. A win over Dewsbury at home in the 1st Round, was followed by a really fine victory over York at Clarence Street. Castleford fought well but gave us a fairly comfortable passage through the semi-final stage, and Wakefield Trinity had to bow the knee in the Final at Fartown. This was a grand match in which the architect of victory was Jeff Moores who played for three parts of the game in a severely concussed state, which became fully apparent when he collapsed at the reception to the team in Leeds after the game.

Huddersfield were in some ways fortunate, as they were dismissed from the Yorkshire Cup in the 2nd Round, and as their League position was almost hopeless by mid-October, they started to rebuild for the R.L. Cup Competition at a very early stage, signing Scourfield, from Torquay; Markham, from Australia; and Brindle, from Hull K.R. This team blended well and the seal was set upon it when ?Juicy? Adams was obtained from Leeds before the Cup Register closed. Leeds were unfortunate in that the team flattered to deceive, so that it was not until January that those responsible for team building policy fully appreciated the urgent need for ?New Blood?. It was reasonable to imagine that the players who had brought the Yorkshire Cup to Headingley in October, might well recover their League standing and also have a good run in the R.L. Cup.

January brought tremendous activity so that W. J. Morgan, centre, and R. Green, second row forward were signed from Dewsbury, to be followed within a few days by utility man W.J. Davies, from York. Meanwhile, Glossop was transferred to Batley, Bob Smith to Warrington, and Adams to Huddersfield. The latter transfer was hotly criticised by many associated with the Club, but the management were entitled to sympathy as they were in a most difficult position.

As a result of, and following, all this activity it appeared that Leeds were going to retain a hold on the Challenge Cup. A splendid 1st Round victory over Wigan Highfield at Headingley by 36 points to nil, was a great tonic, but nothing compared to the miraculous win at Weaste, over Salford, by 4 points to 3. This game will long be remembered because of the two fine goals scored by Joe Thompson both against a strong cross wind. The 3rd Round victory over Hull at Headingley brought enthusiasm to fever pitch, so that confidence ran high when Huddersfield and Leeds clashed at Belle Vue, Wakefield, in the Semi-Final. Unfortunately Leeds had to carry a tremendous handicap before the game as Jeff Moores, who had sustained a broken nose against Hull, was involved in a dispute with the Club and thus not selected to play. In addition, Stan Smith was unfit. Misfortune dogged Leeds in the actual game, too, as W.J. Morgan was injured after twenty minutes play and took no further part in the match. Up to that stage Leeds were in the game with a chance, but immediately Morgan left the field Huddersfield ran riot, scoring 19 points in twenty minutes. Thus ended all real interest in the season?s activities ? one of great disappointment, and one in which two great favourites and extremely talented players, Jeff Moores and Les Adams, broke their long association with the Leeds Club. This obviously caused much controversy at the time, but those responsible for team building and management could eventually point to the ?method in their madness? with more resounding victories and Cup triumphs just around the corner.

One truly amazing feature of the season?s work was Eric Harris? fine scoring record: 55 tries, in spite of the fact that he had not been a member of a really good team. He returned to Australia for a summer holiday with the knowledge of a job well done, having scored over 150 tries in three seasons.