Great Rugby League Tackles

Reet up my street is this one.

Nothing- and I repeat- nothing, will beat the ‘ball n all – two on one’ tackle I witnessed Keith Mumby pull off back in 1977. Mumby was of course a renowned textbook tackler, but his bringing down of a Widnes player during a 5-5 home draw on December 11th of that year will not be bettered- in my opinion.

Around the late 70’s Northern were becoming a force to be reckoned with, while the Chemics had put a team together that would dominate much of the next ten to twelve years. Memories of a game played 33 years ago tend to fade, and I’m sure other fans who attended the game that day will have their own recollections- but as I remember.

The teams went into the game placed first and second respectively, with Northern having won their first eleven games (22 points) and Widnes three points behind. Widnes had beaten Northern 14-10 in a JPT cup semi final game one week earlier at Naughton Park.

Widnes had gone ahead 5-0 with an early try from Stuart Wright, and it wasn’t till three-quarter time that Northern drew level with a try from Alan Redfearn. However, onto the tackle; halfway through the first half Reg Bowden broke from around his own twenty five, and with David Eckersley in support and only Mumby to beat, it looked odds on Widnes would go 10-0 ahead- three points for a try in those days.

However, Bowden’s unload to Eckersley and Mumby’s tackle on him seemed to happen in one simultaneous motion, and in a very tight game, with defences on top, Widnes’s opportunity had gone. Yet Mumby was so good, had Bowden dummied, you had the feeling he would’ve nailed him as well.

I think it was this game another strange incident occurred. With the scores tied at 5-5 Mumby took a penalty kick under the posts, and apparently to most in attendance, just clearing the crossbar with a high speed skimmer. To the surprise of all those who thought the ball had gone over, the touch judge’s flags stayed down. Even Keith turned thinking the ball had gone over, and turned again in disbelief when he understood the goal had not stood.

Had Northern sneaked the win, it would have made little difference, as Widnes won the league by a few points. However, Northern beat Widnes in the end of season Premiership final at Swinton 17-8.

Teams on that day were- Northern- Mumby, Barends, Austin, Evans, Redfearn D, Wolford, Redfearn A, Van Bellen, Jarvis, Forsyth, Thompson, Trotter, Haigh. Subs, Dyson & Slater. Widnes- Eckersley, Wright, Aspey, George, Woods, Hughes, Bowden, Mills, Elwell, Shaw, Adams, Hull, Laughton. Subs, Myler & Dearden.

The crowd of 10.080 was the biggest at Odsal for eight years.

Quiz question – related to this story. How is it possible for a team with 44 points, to achieve a higher place finish, than a team with 45 points- with no points deductions involved?