Leeds V Widnes
10th April 1983
Referee: Kevin Allatt (Southport)
Result: 10-5 Half Time: 10-0
ATT: 4,081

Leeds:
Tony Binder
Alan Smith, Neil Hague, Ian Wilkinson, Andrew Smith
John Holmes, Mark Conway
Andy Sykes, David Ward, Keith Rayne
Dave Heselwood, Des Armitage, Mark Campbell
Subs:
Pat Mitchell, Paul Whitehead (DNP)

Tries: Alan Smith, Mark Campbell
Goals: Mark Conway (2)

Widnes:
Mick Burke
Fred Newton, Eric Hughes, Joe Lydon, John Myler
David Hulme, Andy Gregory
Mike O'Neill, Keith Elwell, Kevin Tamati
Fred Whitfield, Eric Prescott, Mick Adams
Subs:
Steve O'Neill, Les Gorley

Try: Hulme
Goal: Lydon

IIRC the game was on RL Action, Scrumdown or whatever the programme was called in '83.

I remember that game. We'd been 4 points clear at the top that year, right up until the last 3rd of the season then we couldn't buy a win - until good old Widnes came to town. We did have a remarkable record against Widnes in the league, even we were really awful. We had a huge injury list as I remember.

Eddie Rombo played nine times for Leeds and scored four tries. The scorcher at Castleford was his first for the club and he scored two in a Challenge Cup win at home to Dewsbury the following week and his final try came in his final appearance away at Rochdale. Rochdale were so afraid of Leeds' wide men they moved the touchline in 10 metres to the minimum. The game IIRC was played at Spotland.

A winger and a centre in the back row with another winger on the bench.

I can remember being "less than confident" when the team changes were announced over the tannoy, let's put it that way.

Click twice on the top image to read the text. Another example of the YEP disconnect between headline and article content.



And another from the game:

Is that Craig Innes on the floor?

I'd have perhaps gone for Gary Mercer. They both played in the match so it's one or the other.

And while I've got this scrapbook out

Quite an achievement for a RL player -




And what a fantastic night even if it were only for two comp points -



We mentioned this last week somewhere on here - with a Leeds connection



Right you can get back on topic now.

Cheers Teev. My uncle played in that game.

One of my earliest rugby memories is sitting on the wall at Headingley right near the pitch cheering him on.

I'm guessing it wasn't uncle Jamie, Vila, Sonny or Audley.

So one of uncle Terry, Mike, Dave, Alex, Mark, Wayne, Colin, Glyn, Brendon or Tony?

None of the above...

It's Brendan.

Gav’s Half-caste

I'm pretty certain that i went along to watch his first ever Leeds match, it was a pre-season game/or even a possible lazenby cup game against Bramley at McLaren Field

I can recall a quote from Rombo which goes along the lines of:
[i"You've signed the worlds best full back in John Gallagher, why not now go and sign the worlds best winger"?[/i

If it was the same year we signed John Gallagher, it was a pre-season game at Bramley, one of two we played that year, the other being at (Ryedale) York.

After the Bramley game I went onto the ptich and shook John Gallagher's hand and welcomed him to Leeds. Some say that the rot set in from there........

Lol not quite lad. Born and bred Yorkie me.

Uncle Bren played for York, Featherstone, Hull and Doncaster during his pro days. Although he was never close to playing for Leeds as far as I know.

As you were...

Thank you kind sir, I stand fully corrected!

Don't suppose that you could tell me the team line up's from that seasons opening fixture between Donny and Leeds at Tattersfield i believe could you?

That was definately the game mate, i wasn't sure if it was a pre season friendly or infact a Lazenby cup match?

mark o neill......nrl winner as captain looked the part until first game in leeds colours broke a shoulder

Carlyle? Sorry about the 'Brendon' if incorrect you'll have to take it up with Phil Caplan reporting for the League Express.

Is that Donny Leeds game where Alan Tait decided to see how hard his head was by sliding into it?

Was right in front of me, and I felt it, never mind Spud!!!

It was Leeds and Doncaster's third game of the season rather than opener. Leeds and Donny were both undefeated before the match.

Doncaster:
Jamie Bloem
Mark Roache, Dave Evans, Audley Pennant, Max Tomlinson
Alex Green, Brendan Carlyle
Wayne Jackson, Sonny Whakaru, Vila Matautia
Tony Miller, Glyn Lingard, Rocky Turner
Subs:
John Ellis, Ian Fletcher

Leeds:
Graham Holroyd
Alan Tait, Kevin Iro, Craig Innes, Francis Cummins
Garry Schofield, Patrick Entat
Esene Faimalo, James Lowes, Harvey Howard
Gary Mercer, Richie Eyres, Ellery Hanley
Subs:
George Mann, Neil Harmon

Remembered mostly for Tait's appointment with a concrete post:

Thanks TVOC, you answered my question, and provided pic. What a star

Better than that as I didn't even see your question until after I'd accidentally answered it.

Cheers for answering mine as well

You proved to me that my old neighbour did infact take part in the game, i didn't know whether to believe him or not as he only made a handful of appearances for Donny

And he spelt my Uncles name right too, which can be more than said for the official match video, who had a 'B.Carlisle' at 7 that day...