Three times in the late forties, early fifties Leeds played in major games at the neutral venue of Odsal, Bradford and didn’t win any of them.
Each one became like a pilgrimage, with cars almost bumper to bumper between the two cities causing enormous congestion. For the Challenge Cup semi against Warrington in 1950, it was so bad that we had to park at the Leeds/Bradford boundary and walk miles to the ground. By the time we eventually got in there, near to half-time, the match was as good as over Warrington were so far ahead.
Exactly a year later and at the same stage of the same competition, we were murdering Barrow and planning arrangements for Wembley when the Cumbrians staged an amazing fightback and we finished the match desperately trying to hold on. Arthur Clues, undeniably our hero but with a mean streak, decided to deliberately foul one of the Barrow players right out on the touchline in an effort to play out time and with the conviction that they would miss the shot at goal that would have drawn the game. When their full-back, Stretch, lined up the kick the whole ground fell silent.
We were as convinced as Arthur that he couldn’t possibly get it but when the ball sailed through the posts we were crestfallen and desolate.
The players must have felt the same way because they lost the replay convincingly at Fartown a few days later.
Geoff Caplan
Originally published in 'Headingley Rugby Voices' Recollections of supporters, compiled by Phil Caplan.
www.scratchingshedpublishing.com Twitter @scratchingshed2
Memory added on July 11, 2014
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