1950-1951

5th June, 2017 By Phil Daly

1950-1951

This was almost 1949-50 all over again: 5th in the League, R.L. Cup Semi-Finalists, and knocked out of the Yorkshire Cup Competition by Huddersfield. On this occasion, however, there was some consolation in winning the Yorkshire League Championship.

There was only one close season signing of note: Bruce Ryan, the Australian winger, from Hull. Ryan, who was to wear the Leeds jersey for only two seasons, had exceptional ability but rarely did he produce the form of which he was undoubtedly capable.

Before the season was a week old, there was another addition to the playing strength, and Bernard Poole made his debut in the second row at Bramley. Poole, who also was transferred from Hull, displayed in that game the relentless tackling, enthusiastic backing up, and wholehearted endeavour which were to be the hallmark of each of his subsequent performances.

Early League successes raised hopes of a Yorkshire Cup triumph, but after gaining comfortable victories over Featherstone Rovers in each leg of the 1st Round we had to play ?second fiddle? to Huddersfield at Headingley. The Fartowners gained a convincing win by 29 points to 2, but there was little to choose between the teams until careless play by the Leeds backs presented Huddersfield with two gift tries which virtually settled the issue.

Following this reverse, however, our players gained eight consecutive victories and many will recall some of these games with pleasure: the brilliant tries scored by Bruce Ryan at the Boulevard and Parkside; the rally at Fartown when, with only fifteen minutes left for play, tries by Ryan and Cook and two glorious touch-line conversions by Cook, gave us a thrilling victory by the odd point.

Consistently good performances enabled the team to be challenging strongly for Championship honours, when the R.L. Cup Competition opened in February. Oldham were 1st Round visitors to Headingley. Few present observed the game as the field was shrouded in fog, but our players established a lead of 18 points, which proved more than sufficient although they met with defeat in the second leg at Watersheddings. It was anticipated that Leigh would provide very stiff opposition in the 2nd Round but they were sadly lacking in determination and Cup-Tie fervour so that our players gained an unexpectedly easy victory. Favoured with yet another home draw, Leeds had to give their very best to subdue the Halifax pack in the 3rd Round, but a merited win took us into the Semi-Final.

Those who were superstitious shook their head when it was announced that Odsal was to be the venue for our meeting with Barrow, and their pessimism was more than justified when it was announced that Bartlett and McMaster would be unable to play owing to injury. A weakened Leeds team had, however established a lead of nine points shortly after the interval and the game appeared to be ?in the bag? eight minutes from the end when the score stood at 14-7. But then Barrow staged a rally which was as thrilling as anything ever seen on a Rugby field: their forwards threw in all they had in one tremendous effort which had Leeds reeling. but it was Horne who showed the way with a long reverse pass to Toohey, which opened the way to the line for Lewthwaite. Stretch?s conversion brought Barrow to within two points, and Leeds, now obviously very rattled, were defending desperately in their own ?25? when Clues was penalised. Stretch calmly took the kick in an electric atmosphere and notched the goal which gave Barrow the right to fight again. The teams were as follows:-Leeds-Cook; Turnbull, Feather, Procter, Ryan; Williams, Watson; Horsfall, Kearney, Hopper, Clues, Poole, Clarkson. Barrow-Stretch; Lewthwaite, Jackson Goodwin, Castle; Horne, Toohey; Longman, McKinnetl. Hartley, Grundy, Atkinson, Ayres. Our players were naturally suffering under a psychological handicap when the replay took place at Fartown four days later. Barrow started where they finished at Odsal and there could be no possible argument as to their right to go to Wembley, their victory by 28 points to 13 being fully merited.

That disappointing display at Odsal not only destroyed our hopes of a Cup triumph but also undermined that vital enthusiasm and spirit which could yet have taken us to the Rugby League Championship play-off. The League programme ended in gloom and frustration: only one game was won out of the remaining six and there were constant problems presented by numerous injuries.

Cook established a new Club record with 150 goals for the season, whilst Turnbull, with 33 tries, established a post-war record.

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