Career Record for Featherstone
Appearances			Tries	Goals	Drop Goals	Points
Total	Start	Sub
234	234	0	104	4	0	320

There was no more inspiring sight in the Rovers' dismal post-war record in the late 1940s than that of Walt Tennant either streaking across to score a try or pulling off a try-saving tackle. He was a class centre and made his senior debut at home to Warrington on 30 August 1939, three days before war was declared. He had graduated from Girnhill Intermediates, where he played centre with Jack Blackburn. The War Emergency Leagues were introduced from 1939 to 1945, and Tennant relished the opening two seasons with 18 tries in 34 appearances in 1939/40 and 19 tries in 22 appearances in 1940/41; he headed the try-scoring lists on both occasions and helped Rovers to a respectable mid-table position. The highlight of that first season was his Yorkshire Cup final medal when Rovers beat Wakefield Trinity 12-9 in June 1940 and Tennant was outstanding. He scored the first try and then engineered the second. He cut through, beating two men, and as he streaked for the corner he timed his reverse pass to Longley to perfection for the winger to score - an early example of his artistry.

With peace-time football resuming in 1945, he again headed the try-scoring lists with 16 tries and continued to add to his blossoming talent. Against the formidable Bradford Northern side, he was the best tackler on the field in a creditable 5-5 draw, preventing both Kitching and Batten from scoring with incredible tackles. At York in December, he scored a hat-trick and for his third try he beat the opposing wingman and raced 70 yards to score. Rovers lost 21-11 and Tennant later recalled that it must have been unique to have scored six hat-tricks in his career and finish on the losing side in four of the matches.

In 1946, dissatisfied with playing on the wing, he asked for a transfer and joined Wakefield for £700 in March. It must have been the shortest transfer on record because he re-joined Rovers in January 1947. He continued to excel and yet another of many examples of his sheer talent was at home to Hunslet in November 1948 when, having saved a try with a tackle on Bowman, he received the ball from Allman in his own half, ran strongly and straight, and then pretended to kick and hoodwinked Griffiths, the Hunslet full-back, to speed under the posts with several in pursuit. Appointed captain in January 1949, he then made his Yorkshire county debut v Cumberland at Workington on 6 April 1949. A broken finger deprived him of a second appearance against Lancashire as well as the opportunity of breaking his own try-scoring record - he had scored 15 in 27 appearances.

He was granted a testimonial in September 1950, which concluded in May 1951 by which time he had decided to retire. Although only thirty, the major role he had taken in both defence and attack in twelve seasons had taken its toll - but what memories he left behind! He was also proud of the fact that he never appeared in the reserves throughout his whole career.

Biography by Ron Bailey