1934-1935

In view of the tremendous recruiting drive of the previous campaign close season activity was on a very reduced scale, so that the only important signing was that of Len Higson the prop forward.
On Christmas Day Leeds were on top of the world. Consistently good performances had taken the team to the top of the Northern League Table, and also of the Yorkshire League, in which competition we were undefeated at that stage. In addition, the Yorkshire Cup had once more found a resting place at Headingley.

No doubt many will readily recall the thrilling encounters in that Yorkshire Cup Competition. Leeds were favoured with luck of the draw and only had to travel for the Final itself. Bramley provided the 1st Round opposition and were easily disposed of by 35 points to 8. One feature of that game was the accurate goal-kicking of Jim Brough, who ?notched? seven goals with apparent ease. Hull were the 2nd Round visitors and they provided a fairly comfortable passage into the Semi-Final, though they were in the game with a chance until Joe Oliver sustained a nasty mouth injury. It was anticipated that Halifax would provide very stern opposition in the Semi-Final, but they failed to make the most of numerous scoring opportunities with tries and goals simply thrown away. And so to the Cup Final.

Never in the history of Rugby League Football had there been such a welter of excitement before the destination of a Trophy was finally established. Two Cup Final replays were necessary before Wakefield Trinity bowed the knee. The first meeting at Dewsbury, where, incidentally, the Dewsbury officials proved their right to stage the Final with an attendance of over 24,000 and receipts of ?1,500 ended with a score of 5 points each. Few could quibble at the result: Wakefield certainly did not deserve to lose, but Leeds, too, deserved to fight again as they had to field a weakened team from the start (Fawcett deputised for Busch), and then had to battle on for fully 50 minutes with only 12 men when Gwyn Parker had to leave the field owing to concussion.

The replay was held at Fartown on the following Wednesday, and those who were present will never forget those last ten thrilling minutes, when Leeds, faced with defeat, (Wakefield were leading 2?0) realised that they had a three-quarter line in which there were three of the fastest men in the League, and that they had a chance if they threw the ball about. With Exley, Horton, Pollard, Smith, and the others fighting with glorious resolution to save their line the game became a magnificent affair. A round of passing ? a kick through by Busch ? a chase by the Leeds speed merchants ? a try saving gallop and dive by Horton ? a scrum five yards out ? Higson diving for the touch down when the ball eludes his grasp -t he kick-out ? Leeds swinging it again and this time Harris is away, with now only Bonner to beat ? Harris tries his famous ?ghost? acceleration but Bonner?s dive pushes him into touch five yards from the line ? Wakefield still penned in their own 25 and the seconds ticking away too quickly for Leeds ? a penalty award to Leeds right out on the touch and Brough makes the fateful decision to go for goal and the match saving points ? a glorious kick but it just misses the mark and rebounds from the upright ? a flurry of tackles ? a pass goes astray ? a scrummage ? and it?s almost all over with only 30 seconds left as Bonner, who had played so well, kicks down the field, thus hoping to transfer play from the Wakefield danger zone ? and there Ralph fields it so cleanly, so coolly, and calmly drops a perfect goal to save the game. A story book finish to a thrilling encounter!!! The teams on that occasion were as follows:

Leeds Brough; Harris, Brogden, Parker, Smith; Ralph, Busch; Higson, Lowe, Satterthwaite, Jubb, Dyer, Aspinall.

Wakefield Bonner; Farrar, Smith, Moore, Smart; Pollard, Burrows; Wilkinson, Field, Hobson, Horton, Exley, Rowan.

The Referee: Mr. Cowell.

The following Wednesday the second replay was held at Parkside and on that occasion Leeds finished as worthy winners by 13 points to nil, with Stan Smith scoring a hat trick against his old team. Thus the Yorkshire Cup came to Headingley once again, and victors and vanquished came out of the ?ordeal by fire? with great credit.

The second half of the season provided an anti-climax, as we failed to maintain our position at the head of the League table and finished in fifth place, though we did win the Yorkshire League Championship.

The decline in our League performances caused some concern, and two more signings were made before the R.L. Cup register closed: Aubrey Casewell, giant forward from Salford and Fred Harris from Leigh. Both were destined to grace the Wembley turf with Leeds at the end of the next Cup competition, but Huddersfield but paid to any hopes they might have had this year when we were beaten in the 1st Round at Headingley by 4 points to 3. Fred Harris was signed in the hope that he would provide the centre skill so sadly lacking since Moores? departure, and we shall read later of the wonderful combination he developed with his namesake, Eric.

Other signings during the year included Cliff Whitehead, loose forward, from Hunslet; and Ronnie Richards, serum half, from Swansea. The former was to put in four valuable years at Headingley but Richards only made twenty appearances in Leeds colours.