1947-1948

1st June, 2017 By Phil Daly

The management, whose tremendously hard work and enterprise had been rewarded with that Cup Final appearance at Wembley and a place in the First Four during the previous season, could be excused for imagining that the team would give a good account of itself in this campaign. But this was far from the case and, apart from an unsuccessful appearance in the Yorkshire Cup Final, no major successes came our way.

Recruiting continued at full pressure, and Leeds were fortunate in obtaining the services of Teddy Verrenkamp from Australia. Verrenkamp?s whole-hearted play, and great pluck, were greatly admired at Headingley, but his versatility proved to be his greatest handicap. Rarely in a settled position he gave, however, many fine displays.

Other signings included: Len Kenny, winger, of Australia; Joe Flanagan, forward, from Keighley; Norman Davies, hooker, from Wales; Joe Hulme, forward, who had been recently demobilised: Maurice Ogden, forward and ?Ginger? Downes, stand-off, from local junior teams; and back Pansegrouw, forward, from South Africa. Another welcome addition from H.M. Forces was Dennis Warnor, who resumed his rugby career and soon gained a regular place in the back division. Players transferred included; Des Foreman, to Castleford; Jack Kelly to Dewsbury; and Walter Best, to Featherstone Rovers.

Although our League record was only very moderate, the team rose to great heights on several occasions, especially when meeting the top class Lancashire teams at Headingley.

Leigh, who came with an unbeaten League record, were unable to cope with the brilliant handling and speedy running of the Leeds players, but for all that, they too swung the ball about to make their contribution to as fine a game of rugby football as one could wish to see. T. L. Williams gave a brilliant exhibition in the Leeds centre.

The clash with Wigan, the League leaders, provided another capital game and, on this occasion, the final issue was in the balance until eight minutes from the end. Ted Ward, who had previously kicked three splendid goals, gained the winning points with a magnificent penalty kick from the touch line. If proof were needed that there is ample support for truly competitive games between well matched teams, Leeds and Warrington provided the answer. In spite of a transport workers? strike 30,000 spectators made the long trek to Headingley and they were rewarded with a thrilling exhibition, which ended in a draw at five points each. Warrington were, perhaps, unlucky in not taking both points, as in the last few minutes Bevan and Helme each lost the ball after having crossed the Leeds line.

Bradford Northern were our 1st Round opponents in the Yorkshire Cup Competition, and few Leeds supporters could have been optimistic as Bradford had already gained a convincing League victory at Headingley. Our players, however, rose to the occasion in the 1st Leg and held a six points lead when they turned out for the 2nd Leg at Odsal. This game, in which Bradford could only reduce the Leeds lead to one of four points, was packed with dramatic incident: Bradford were prodigal in the manner in which they threw away scoring chances; Dicky Williams made a thrilling try-saving tackle on Kitching with the line only a yard away; Arthur Clues and Frank Whitcombe were dismissed from the field following an unseemly brawl. Dewsbury were eventually beaten in a gruelling 2nd Round match, but at one stage they were well on top and had it not been for Clues and Williams it is doubtful whether Leeds would have reached the Semi-Final stage, in which they gained a comfortable win over Castleford at Headingley.

The meeting of Wakefield Trinity and Leeds in the Final at Fartown gave the Trinitarians a chance to reverse that R.L. Cup Semi-Final defeat of the previous year. They were holding a lead of seven points to two, and apparently had no cause for anxiety, when Stott put in a long touch-finding kick, but the wind curled it away to Kelly, who initiated a splendid passing movement which carried the ball over seventy yards, and resulted in a try under the posts. Whitehead?s conversion was the final score of the match, and the teams were called upon to meet again at Odsal four days later. The closing minutes of the replay were intensely thrilling as Leeds threw in all they had in one glorious effort to wipe out the Trinity lead of six points: Dicky Williams looked a scorer all over until Perry made a glorious tackle; Flanagan, speeding away like a three-quarter, scored a try which Whitehead converted, to make the score 7-8; and then a Whitehead penalty kick, which could have won the match, hit the upright. Trinity were worthy winners, however, and Leeds had handicapped themselves heavily in the early stages through defensive blunders which had presented tries to Bratley and Wilkinson.

Our interest in the R.L. Cup was short lived. Convincing victories over York in each leg of the 1st Round, resulted in a visit to Central Park and although Wigan were not at their best they were more than good enough for a Leeds team which was handicapped early on through an injury to Bert Cook. The New Zealand touring party turned out a strong team, including ten Test players, for the game at Headingley and they were much too strong for a weakened Leeds team which included two debutants: ?Ginger? Downes, stand-off, and Norman Davies, hooker.

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