1980-1981

Like the season before, the only solace for the Loiners came in the Yorkshire Cup; in a disappointing campaign which saw them end in their lowest league position since the re-introduction of two divisions in 1973-4.

Their tenth placed finish saw them miss out on the Premiership and at no time during the year did they head the table. Again, that was in part due to a seemingly never ending run of injuries, skipper David Ward one of the first to succumb being out for six weeks with a broken jaw, which prompted the signing of John McNeill from Featherstone as back up. The lengthy treatment list also meant that there were more opportunities for a host of youngsters who had starred in the Colts ranks. Wayne Heron, Peter Lister, half back brothers Andy and Ian Mackintosh, wingers Mark Massa and Terry Naylor, Andy Sykes and Ian Wilkinson ? who had trialed with Scunthorpe United ? all made their senior bows.

Just before the season began, Eddie Cunningham moved to Widnes for ?20,000 citing traveling difficulties from his St Helens home as the reason to cut short his stay, meaning that he played only 26 matches in the blue and amber. There were significant changes off the field as well, the club finally acquiescing to the norm and deciding to switch its match day from Saturday to Sunday. Jack Myerscough was installed as chairman of the RFL and the Leeds board was strengthened by the appointments of Harry Jepson and Dennis Greenwood. Also, Headingley became the first rugby league ground to install an electronic scoreboard.

Off-setting the disappointment of losing their previous record signing, the club moved quickly to splash the cash, landing Wakefield and Great Britain under 24?s hard working, strong running second rower Keith Rayne for a new landmark figure of ?35,000 although he was quickly to fall prey to the injury curse, badly pulling a hamstring soon after his debut in an away defeat at Warrington.

The season started promisingly, with big victories in the newly re-named Webster?s county cup over York and Hunslet which yielded 78 points and 17 tries. In the opening league clash against Hull, a crowd of over 10,000 saw Graham Eccles and world record capture for a prop Trevor Skerrett given their marching orders as Leeds ? courtesy of two Neil Hague drop goals ? held on for victory.

A Maurice Bamford side again stood in the way of their progress in the Yorkshire Cup, the avuncular coach having swapped Halifax for Huddersfield who, despite being underdogs, took Leeds all the way at Headingley in the semi final. Two John Carroll tries proved to be the difference as Leeds qualified for their 20th White Rose decider, equalling Huddersfield?s record with the final set to be played on their Fartown ground.

In the run up, the Loiners hit an alarming slump, losing six of their next eight games and five in succession, including an embarrassing home defeat to a Mick Adams inspired Widnes. Castleford inflicted similar six-try reality check and the New Zealand tourists cantered home 25-5, with Mark Graham ? who the Leeds management made a bid to sign ? posting two tries. With Yorkshire Cup final opponents Hull Kingston Rovers riding high, few gave the Loiners a chance, not least their fans, who barely travelled and were heavily outnumbered. Coach Syd Hynes produced a tactical masterstroke in the three quarters, switching John Atkinson to centre for the first time, Willie Oulton to the wing and Neil Hague to full back. The audacious plan seemed to have backfired when Rovers, inspired by former Loiner Mick Crane, swept into a 7-2 interval lead but with half backs John Holmes and White Rose trophy winner Kevin Dick taking control and Alan Smith registering his 300th career try, Leeds produced a thrilling finale to take the spoils by a point, despite skipper David Ward playing with a broken hand. The victory was particularly sweet for Dick who, after gaining his only two Test caps, was dropped by the selectors for the series decider against the Kiwis although Atkinson?s heroics saw him gain a re-call aged 32 for his 26th Test appearance in place of injured Barrow winger Chris Camilleri.

Continued poor league form prompted the signing of reinforcements with centre David Heselwood, who had earlier rejected overtures from Salford, joining from Roundhay RU and Jeff Townend arriving from Wigan for ?5,000.

More ignominy followed, though, in the first round of the John Player Cup. Drawn away at League newcomers Fulham, and in front of a then record crowd of over 12,500 for the competition, the Londoners triumphed 9-3 with David Eckersley the scourge. A double over St Helens, with Ward leading a sensational second half fight back at Knowsley Road and Heselwood scoring a hat trick ? the only one of the season for the club ? in the home game, was the highlight of more inconsistent league form.

In the re-christened ?Three Fives? Challenge Cup, the most daunting of draws took Leeds to their Boulevard graveyard where although they battled gamely, Terry Naylor scoring their sole touchdown, they went down 14-5 in front of over 15,000 fans. Steve Norton was the home architect and two early defensive errors ultimately proved costly. The season ended with only two wins from the last eight fixtures including losing by a point in a thriller at home to Leigh and a nilling, at Widnes, for the first time since December 1975.

Neil Hague, Kevin Dick and Dave Heron gained Yorkshire selection; David Ward was part of England?s European Championship sides that lost notoriously to France at Headingley and then beat Wales and Colin Cooper and Mark Campbell won Colts international caps against France. Leaving the club during the year were Neil Lean who moved across the city to Hunslet, coached by Paul Daley; Chris Gibson, who denied first team opportunities departed for York, and popular midfield schemer Sammy Sanderson who linked up with Hull K.R. while stalwart centre Les Dyl was granted a benefit.