1954-1955

Whilst the season?s work could in no wise be described as brilliantly successful, it was at least a vast improvement on that of the previous two or three campaigns. Showing far more consistent form, and playing week by week with honest to goodness determination, our players were always in the hunt throughout the season, and they fully merited their Yorkshire League Championship Trophy. This, it was felt, was yet another stage in the evolution of a side which could really put Leeds on the Rugby League map.

Lacking the two Australian tourists, Lewis Jones and Drew Turnbull, the Leeds side which was narrowly defeated at Barrow in the opening League engagement included two close seasons signings: John Sewell, Cumberland County and English Trialist forward, and Derek Wilkinson, centre, from Doncaster. Four days later we met with another reverse at Rochdale but then came seven consecutive victories, five in the League and two in the Yorkshire Cup Competition. Of these victories two gave extreme pleasure: that over the redoubtable Halifax at Headingley by 22 points to 8, and that at the Boulevard by 36 points to 18. During this successful month of September three players were transferred: the extremely versatile and great-hearted Teddy Verrenkamp to Keighley, Geoff Moore to Dewsbury, and Ken Ward, persuaded to come out of retirement, to Doncaster. Lewis Jones, with twelve goals against Hull K.R. in the 1st Round of the Yorkshire Cup, equalled J. H. Potter?s record.

October opened badly with a Yorkshire Cup semi-final defeat at Thrum Hall, and then, following a home win over Keighley, there came two sensational items of news within a few hours: the departure of Arthur Clues, world-famous Australian star forward to Parkside, and the signing of David Rose, Scottish International winger from Huddersfield. The impending transfer of Clues, one of the finest forwards of all time, had been discussed at almost every street corner and in every hostelry in the city for close on a fortnight, but negotiations for Rose had remained ?top secret? and news of his signing came like a bolt from the blue. With Broughton and Turnbull unfit, and Brown to be absent for three weeks as a member of the Great Britain World Cup team the management had taken strong action to supplement the back division. But football ever makes a mockery of all the best laid plans. Rose, originally a reserve, was eventually called upon to join Brown in France, where their displays in that valiant World Cup-winning team brought great honour to their country, their club and themselves. Gordon Brown was, indeed, one of the outstanding players of the whole competition. A grand crowd of almost 18,000 assembled at Headingley for the match with St. Helens to welcome back these two players but it was a sad homecoming: in the opening quarter Leeds revealed brilliant attacking football to gain a lead of six points but defensive lapses then gave St. Helens the initiative and they romped home to a comfortable victory by 21 points to 10. As if that was not enough Dame Fortune decreed that Rose should sustain a fractured leg in the closing minutes.

A great effort was now necessary if the team was to make any real bid for Championship honours, and the players rose to the occasion in grand style so that by the turn of the year we were on the fringe of the ?first four?. But the New Year victory at Thrum Hall was marred by the loss of Billy Blan, who was playing his last game in the Leeds jersey. His request for a transfer to St. Helens, based solely on domestic reasons, caused intense disappointment to officials, players and supporters. Some ten days later, Joe Anderson, prop forward, was signed from Castleford, to whom Alan Horsfall went in part exchange. Anderson too, fell to the Headingley injury ?hoodoo?, sustaining a dislocated shoulder at Parkside in his second game for Leeds.

Having lost only one match of the previous thirteen Leeds went into the Rugby League Cup competition with great confidence, and Huddersfield had to bow the knee at Headingley in the 1st Round. This was a great game which thrilled friend and foe alike. Two spectacular tries, scored by Turnbull and Scholes, in the last thirteen minutes of a thrill-packed match gave Leeds the right to appear in the 2nd Round, but it was a near thing. The luck of the draw called for a trip to Workington which was a tough assignment, but we made it even harder through failing to capitalise on splendid approach work. The first half belonged to Leeds but we had nothing on the scoreboard to indicate our superiority. In the second spell Workington took the initiative and clinched the match with some first class tries.

The battle for championship honours continued at full pressure, and although the programme was not particularly arduous the players were showing signs of staleness. Week by week games hung in the balance until the closing minutes, and by the time Easter came the tension was really on. Hunslet particularly with Clues and Williams, were a big attraction at Headingley on Good Friday evening, and almost 23,000 attended to witness an excellent game which produced all that is best in Rugby football. Leeds ran out worthy winners by 22 points to 12, and thus became assured of the Yorkshire League Championship. Honour was done to all: Clues shone for Hunslet, but the Leeds forwards won the day; Williams had his moments of inspiration for Hunslet, but Stevenson, deputising for the injured Brown at stand-off, was undoubtedly the ?man of the match?.

Only three points were obtained from the remaining three fixtures but Leeds squeezed into third place and thus earned the right to meet Oldham at the Watersheddings in the play-off. Once again we were handicapped by injuries to Lewis Jones and Jeff Stevenson, but our team put up a very good first half performance. As at Workington, however, all our pressure failed to produce points, and in the second half an Oldham victory was never in doubt. Once again that Championship Trophy had eluded the Leeds club, but no group of players ever showed more determination and courage than those to wear the? Blue and Amber? jersey. The skill and teamwork were there too, and one of these days may it be soon. That is the fervent wish of all at Headingley.