1981-1982

7th June, 2017 By Phil Daly

Never can a run of trophy success have ended in crueler fashion. Having garnered silverware in every campaign from 1966/7, Leeds? sideboard was empty for the first time in almost a generation, but in the most dramatic of circumstances. Knocked out in the early rounds of the Yorkshire Cup, surprisingly ousted by second division opposition in the quarter final of the John Player and with a league position that promised little hope of success in the Premiership; all the glory eggs were in Loiners? challenge cup basket. First division outfits York, Barrow and Wakefield were disposed of and with one play remaining in an incredibly tense semi final at Swinton, blue and amber was seemingly destined to decorate Wembley way and face Hull. In a never-to-be-forgotten split second, all that changed as Widnes? Mick Adams? Hail Mary somehow bounced back off the cross bar into the arms of a surprised Keiron O?Loughlin who had merely to fall over the line to secure a scarcely believable victory for the Chemics.

This was a season that signalled the changing of the guard at Headingley, heralded by the installation of new goal posts at the famous venue. Syd Hynes stood down after six years as coach which yielded seven trophies, and twelve seasons as a truly outstanding player. He was replaced by former full back Robin Dewhurst, whose promising career in the 60s was unluckily cut short by a series of knee injuries, and who was promoted from Colts coach. His assistants were veteran wingers and contemporaries Alan Smith and John Atkinson, with another of the greats from the Roy Francis side, Barry Seabourne, taking up the Colt?s duties. Their reign got off to the best possible start with a Yorkshire Cup victory at their usual Boulevard graveyard, with the side becoming the first to come back from a ten point second half deficit in any cup tie at Hull. Atkinson and John Holmes ? who the club strenuously denied was open to transfer ? scored superb tries, David Ward kicking a crucial drop goal.

Disappointing defeat at home to Bradford in the second round, was followed by three consecutive defeats to open the championship season as the club sent an SOS to Australia as they searched for prop Roy Dickinson who had apparently gone walkabout. Initial transfer dealings were all done with neighbours Bramley; Paul Fletcher moving to McLaren Field for ?8,000 and Peter Lister involved in a swap deal for Billy Woolford. In November, Leeds paid the Villagers a club record ?25,000 for 20 year old, Wigan-based prop Tony Burke. The League season got back on track with home wins over Castleford ? when four players received their marching orders ? and York while Les Dyl appeared for the first time in seven years on the wing ? a position he was to play for England ? and John Atkinson made his 500th appearance for the club. In October, the management surprisingly ventured to Barnstable to sign teenage England rugby union colt?s flanker Kevin Squire, who scored a try on his ?A? team debut at Hull but soon after Phil Cookson announced that he was quitting the club and was listed at ?30,000.

Inconsistent form boded ill for a run in the John Player Cup but dogged home wins over Wigan and holders Warrington with Keith Rayne and Kevin Dick to the fore raised hopes, which came crashing at Oldham; Mick Parrish?s four towering goals proving to be the difference. Undeserved defeat at Wigan followed, with Steve Nicholson?s try at the death, in atrocious conditions clearly being over the dead ball line but again Leeds rallied in December and January. Poor weather meant that they played five consecutive home matches thanks to Headingley?s undersoil heating and won them all with exciting young winger Mark Massa crossing for five tries. Just before the New Year, the club placed a world record price of ?100,000 on Kevin Dick?s head and shelled out a club high ?41,500 to snare Kevin Rayne from Wakefield, having signed a 3 year ?40,000 sponsorship deal with Scottish & Newcastle breweries. Moving out, winger David Smith signed for Bradford after seeming set to join Carlisle and in January, a 14 year association was broken when Graham Eccles ? who was wanted by Wigan ? moved to Wakefield. Hull K.R. offered Paul Rose in exchange for Les Dyl and Steve Pitchford asked for a move before withdrawing the request a month later. A week before the first ever six-figure sponsored Challenge Cup started, Leeds gained confidence with a good win at St Helens and carried that into the tie against York where they posted 8 tries, former prop Jeff Townend kicking the Wasp?s points. Defensive fortitude was the key to further progress; John Atkinson?s two tries the difference in a narrow win at Barrow who had already beaten the Loiners at Craven Park in the league, while Wakefield were accounted for at Belle Vue in the mud thanks to two great tries from Tony Burke; meaning Leeds had not conceded a try in their away run to a post war record 14th semi final. Tragedy struck the week before when ball-handling second rower John Carroll, who was in great form, broke his leg in two places at Whitehaven. After the heart breaking loss to Widnes, Leeds ended the campaign with four wins and three defeats to finish sixth, going out of the Premiership in the opening round, at a rampant Widnes for whom Mike O?Neill scored two tries. Other transfers during the campaign saw Gary Hetherington move to Huddersfield and winger Andy Smith join from Halifax rugby union. Mark Conway and prop Andy Sykes earned Colts international honours in a side managed by Harry Jepson, and England and Great Britain skipper David Ward was granted a testimonial.

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