The answer was all of the above.
1 - weather. Headingley was almost single handedly saving that CC round. The Leeds - Doncaster game went ahead on the Sunday, the day before Bradford played their tie V Wakefield at the ground, then on Monday it hosted Dewsbury V St Helens. Leeds themselves were back out there on Thursday V Salford for a League fixture. Even Bradford City V Millwall was pencilled in for the Wednesday at one point.

2 - financial inducement. Although originally turned down, Doncaster finally accepted the £2,500 on offer from Leeds and were rewarded with a share of the £14,407 gate receipts from the 7,268 that attended.

That's alarmingly correct.

Doncaster were up 4-10 at the break and Leeds didn't get into the lead until the hour mark when a lucky rebounded kick collected by Roy Powell allowed Cliff Lyons to send David Creasser over. Cliffie then took control to see Leeds home but all the glory went to Doncaster.

That rings a bell, yes.

Leeds were expected to demolish Donny that day but had a reality check instead.

Do you remember Don Robson and the late and great Tony Banham from a decade earlier?

Banham was later landlord of the late and great Fforde Grene boozer IIRC.

What a long and winding Cup year that was for Leeds - 7 ties and still no appearance at Wembley

Swinton (prelim) 30-8
Halifax (a) 24-4 (great win in a year in which Halifax won the title)
Doncaster (away tie but switched to home, 28-10)
Widnes (a) 10-10
Widnes (H, replay) 5-0
HKR (Ell. Rd) 24-24
HKR (replay Ell.Rd) 0-17

Robson I remember as a name but cannot place him. Banham was a Dons legend, despite being from Hull IIRC but with a cockney accent. In the dark days of the late 70s/early 80s he was virtually the only Dons player capable of scoring a try. He was incredibly mobile for such a huge bloke. The last time I saw him was in a pub in London prior to a CC Final in mid 80s. He died not too long after.

Robson and Banham appear in the following superb documentary...

rlAnother Bloody Sundayrl

Hi..Dons fan here:

On the subject of Another Bloody Sunday and Tony Banham. We had reunion in the mid 00's with pretty much everyone from the original film, including opposition players and coaches, Tony's kids were there as guess of honour. Had a good drink and all watched the Documentary together (after months of arguing with Yorkshire television over rights to show it, they agreed to a one off showing if they could cover the event on Calendar). it's still worth a watch. Stewart Piper, the local winger who coined the phrases "Another Bloody Sunday" is still very much associated with the club today. As is Don Brooks, who even by then was the old physio with the sponge.

On the CC draw...am I right in thinking you usually play your cup games on Friday nights?

We have a game on Monday and then a game the Thursday after so assume it'll be Friday.

Some great quotes

"the directors meet in their mobile boardroom"

Every September I can't wait until May when the cricket starts

I am not quite sure what the chairman called Banham in the Huyton game but it didn't sound very PC!!