Upset win in English league

Press, 9 May 1983, Page 24

Upset win in English league

NZPA-Reuter London

In spite of a try from the New Zealander, James Leuluai, Hull’s dream of becoming the first English rugby league side to win the domestic treble was shattered by the under-dogs, Featherstone Rovers, in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley yesterday. Hull, already the Division One champions and due to play Widnes in next Saturday’s Premiership final, crashed 14-12 after leading 12-5 midway through the second half. The second row forward, David Hobbs, deservedly collected the man-of-the-match award after scoring Featherstone’s two tries. Featherstone took an early lead through Hobbs’ eighth minute try and stretched it to 5-0 before half-time with a penalty by Steve Quinn. The first half was marred by injuries to the Hull scrum-half, Kevin Harkin, and the Featherstone centre, John Gilbert, both of whom went off with concussion, and a fight between the Hull captain, David To-

pliss, and Featherstone’s skipper, Terry Hudson. Hull were much more determined in the second half and soon equalised when Lee Crooks was awarded a penalty try for obstruction. Crooks slotted home the conversion.

Paul Rose, the Hull forward sent off for 10 minutes for his high stiff-arm tackle which injured Gilbert, then provided the vital pass which let in Leuluai for the second try. Crooks converted and added two more points with a penalty. Featherstone, reduced to 12 men after Hudson was ordered into the sin bin for 10 minutes following another scrap with Topliss, pulled back to 12-7 with a Quinn penalty. Hobbs dummied through for his second try in the 73rd minute and the accurate Quinn levelled with a conversion.

Hobbs thought he had clinched Featherstone’s victory minutes later with a drop goal, but this was disallowed, and it was left to Quinn to complete the recovery with his third penalty two minutes from time.