1985-1986

A campaign of extreme highs and devastating lows was encapsulated in the Loiners? Challenge Cup run. A mammoth journey, which included two replayed ties, eventually fizzled out in the second half of a semi final re-match, although the drama along the way was at times epic. There was much less activity in the closed season but three highly significant landmarks. Almost as surprisingly as Bradford Northern releasing their talismanic coach Peter Fox was Leeds? decision to appoint him.

His trophy record could not be faulted but many wondered whether the style they were achieved in would be antithetical to the fast flowing, attacking traditions at Headingley. He entered the season without a key general; John Holmes bringing the curtain down on a truly outstanding 17 year career that saw the creative genius top the all-time blue and amber appearance charts. Although near-irreplaceable, the Headingley management turned to charismatic Australian pivot Cliff Lyons, who had starred for North Sydney after emerging from country football and had agreed to join Manly, ?the Leeds of Sydney?, after his stint here. Previous year?s leading try scorer, Tony Currie, confirmed his return and the club was also heavily linked with fellow Queensland centre Gene Miles before he signed for Wigan; while also showing an interest in Leigh skipper John Woods as Holmes? possible replacement.

Although terms had been agreed, Canterbury?s Steve O?Brien and Cronulla?s Andrew Ettingshausen gave back word; Leeds recruiting winger Andy Staniland ? whose father Arthur had played nearly 100 times for the club ? from Roundhay Rugby Union, who had previously unearthed John Atkinson. The third key change saw David Ward hand on the captaincy to Dave Heron. Early season headlines centred on Welsh trialist Steve Ford ? brother of Phil ? who played two matches for Leeds as an amateur, scoring a try in a big Yorkshire Cup win over Keighley; Lyons grabbing an eight minute hat trick in that game on his debut. Although offered a contract, Ford headed back to Cardiff to resume his rugby union career and was consequently banned for life by the authorities there. The RFL took up his case and successfully fought the discrimination, commencing the ?free gangway? that subsequently existed between the codes. Six straight wins opened the season, including a post war record 30-14 victory at Oldham which saw Mark Wilson score his first try and a David Creasser led home success against previously unbeaten St Helens.

A biggest-ever win at Dewsbury in the county knock-out saw Castleford come to Headingley in the semi although just prior to it, club President Alfred Sharman, who had been a director for almost fifty years and former chairman of the RL Council, passed away. Cas? 14-10 win, with two late tries down the left, was the start of a horror run for the Loiners who won only once in the next eleven outings up until the Christmas programme. There were two particular low points; the first a league defeat to a Graham Steadman inspired York, the Wasps? first success at Headingley since 1965 and then a woeful John Player Trophy exit at Second Division Barrow where they failed to score a try. The Loiners also narrowly lost out on a first ever win against the New Zealand tourists but earned accolades for standing up well in a physically intimidating encounter which saw Paul Gill and Wilson carried off and Leeds finishing with only twelve fit men. Coach Fox turned to his old club to bring in a trusted lieutenant and signed experienced prop Jeff Grayshon. Having gone two months without a win and conceding six successive home defeats, the tables turned with ten consecutive victories as the calendar changed and Wembley came on the horizon.

A confident New Year?s Day victory over high flying Oldham was the catalyst with Grayshon and Currie in superb form and the ranks were bolstered for the challenge cup tilt by a club record purchase of Batley three quarter Carl Gibson for ?50,000, although hooker Trevor Clark was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign with a badly broken arm. Swinton were comfortably accounted for on an icy night in the Preliminary Round but a trip to Thrum Hall in the midst of a winter freeze was arguably the toughest first round draw on offer. On a treacherous pitch, Leeds put together a magnificent 80 minute display with Gibson claiming a brace and Currie producing a wonder, long range try that included a tremendous side step to bamboozle Joe Kilroy. Second division Doncaster switched their home advantage to Headingley because of the weather ? Bradford versus Wakefield and Dewsbury against St Helens also being played here ? and they were seen off when Lyons came from the bench in the second half. History was then made as Leeds faced the same opposition for four consecutive weeks for the first time.

Having lost away at Widnes and then comprehensively turned the tables with Gibson claiming his first hat trick, all down the South Stand side; the sides met for the fifth straight year in the cup, initially at muddy Naughton Park. Paul Medley was brought into the side and vindicated his selection with two rip-roaring tries but it took a late, angled Creasser penalty -after he had missed five previous shots at goal ? for Leeds to claim the draw their superb defence so richly deserved. Creasser?s kicking was the difference in an absorbing, attritional midweek replay in front of nearly 16,000 fans where, again, defences dominated with Heron exceptional in that regard. Lyons landed a drop goal courtesy of a post and when he was pole-axed soon after, Creasser?s second penalty secured the spoils. Ten days later and the excitement stakes were raised even higher, as Hull K.R. provided the opposition in the semi final at Elland Road.

Described by many as ?the greatest in living memory?, the match had everything including ceaseless drama, no little controversy and some consummate skill that defied the cold and wet. Both sides pulled back ten point deficits, and seemingly lost causes, Leeds the first to dominate with a try from Creasser in the corner and drop goal by Terry Webb. Currie was then put over by Kevin Rayne; Paul Harkin sent off for trying to trip the Aussie in the act of scoring. Lyons dropped a goal but Rovers hauled themselves back into the contest with a hotly-debated score by David Laws who clearly dropped the ball as he dived over. The Robins produced a masterly third quarter with three converted tries to Laws and a brace for the brilliant Mike Smith, and it seemed that they had done enough. Currie forced the Loiners back into the match with his second try and then Medley again showed his searing pace to level; Creasser just missing the conversion and Ward a drop goal. Remarkably, it was Leeds? fourth draw of the season.

There was an anxious wait while Lyons and Currie were cleared to stay on for the replay the following Thursday and at half time, in front of almost 33,000 imploring fans, that was a stalemate with no points being posted and both packs pummeling each other for the crucial first points. They came just after the break thanks to a Harkin drop goal and from then on Rovers dominated, scoring three tries from close in. Despite the crushing disappointment, there was near glory in the Premiership, Phil Owen?s stunning long range try the highlight of a surprise semi final victory at St Helens to end their record-equalling run of 13 successive wins; before narrow defeat at Halifax, conceding the winning try to Tony Anderson three minutes from time.

On the international front, Kevin Rayne celebrated his GB call up with a man of the match performance against France at Wigan; Jeff Grayshon played in the second and third Tests of the drawn series with New Zealand; Roy Powell and David Creasser faced the Kiwis for the under 21?s, Brendan Hill joining them for the home Test with France. Creasser and Dave Heron represented Yorkshire against New Zealand and Hill played alongside Heron in the ?War of the Roses?. Highly sought-after youngsters Martyn Smithson and Paul Delaney were signed and Richard Pratt, Henry Sharp and Errol Johnson bloodied although Terry Webb was surprisingly released at the end of the season with a year of his contract still to run.