John Holmes kicks a field goal, under pressure from Bill Francis, to put Leeds in front against St Helens, for the first time, in the 1978 Wembley final
Leeds and St Helens played a Challenge Cup final for the ages at London’s Wembley on May 13, 1978 with neither side deserving to lose, in a contest that lived up to expectations, with both clubs giants of the game in that era.
Leeds made it back-to-back titles with a 14-12 win, but St Helens could have snatched victory at the death.
St Helens scored a shock try in just the fourth minute when hooker, Graham Liptrot pounced on the ball, after Leeds’ fullback, Willie Oulton spilled a Harry Pinner bomb. Saints were in again in the 13th minute, with Welshman, Bill Francis scoring near the posts from a scrum.
Leeds hit back through Test winger, John Atkinson who raced 30 metres to score after centre, Les Dyl cleverly created an overlap. It was Atkinson’s 400th top grade match and his fifth Wembley appearance. Atkinson, a policeman, was one of the heroes of Great Britain’s Ashes series win in Australia in 1970. Oulton converted Atkinson’s try with a fine kick from the sideline.
St Helens still appeared to be in control, leading 12-5 at halftime. Leeds hooker, David Ward bizarrely chose to kick a field goal early in the second half, after his big men had made good ground up the middle.
Leeds’ centre, Neil Hague set up ex-Wakefield winger, David Smith for a try in the 55th minute, but Oulton missed the conversion for Saints to lead 12-9.
The scores were locked 12-12 when second rower, Phil Cookson blasted through for a try in the 71st minute, with Oulton again missing the conversion. Three minutes later Leeds’ five eighth, John Holmes kicked a field goal with his weaker left foot, to give the ‘Loiners’ the lead for the first time. Ward kicked another field goal with two minutes left.
St Helens should have won on the bell, but Peter Glynn’s pass was deflected by co-centre, Derek Noonan. The pass was designed to cut-out Noonan, and to give winger, Roy Mathias a clear run to the line, But the fact Noonan stuck his arm out, put Mathias off, and he couldn’t control the ball. Leeds’ fans breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“It was one of those things. The ball hit my arm, and jumped up. I grabbed for it, but it had gone,” Noonan said after the game.
Man of the Match, and winner of the Lance Todd Trophy, was St Helens’ Test forward, George Nicholls.
Leeds were coached by former Test centre, Syd Hynes, while St Helens were coached by one of Great Britain’s finest players, Eric Ashton, MBE, who was making his ninth visit to Wembley, his third as a coach. The referee was Huddersfield’s Billy Thompson.
The Challenge Cup was presented to Leeds’ skipper, David Ward by the Early of Derby.
English singer/comedian, Bernard Manning sang the Wembley hymn, ‘Abide with Me’, and the crowd of 95,872 joined in, bringing many to tears, including yours truly. I was on the terraces with my wife, Marie. I was right behind the incident where St Helens had the line at their mercy and butchered it.
Marie and I were enjoying a working holiday in Europe, and bought our tickets from the offices of the York Rugby League Club. We had seen Leeds play Warrington at Warrington’s Wilderspool Stadium back in October, but it was the first time we had seen Saints play that English season. We had seen St Helens play Queensland at Lang Park during their 1976 tour ‘Down Under.’
In a book on the history of Wembley matches 1929-82, the author says the 1978 clash was the kind of match about which spectators will be able to say with pride: ‘I was there’. How right he was.
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