Season 1970/71

Performances of Jimmy Thompson for club and country

Rovers late burst of four successive victories saved them from the lowest final League position for 18 seasons.  A squad that looked strong, containing several internationals and many promising juniors, was expected to do much better.  Enormous injury handicaps early season, coupled with a barmy fixture list which meant 18 games by mid-October resulted in a very poor start.  Rovers did make the Yorkshire Cup Final only for an early sending off of hooker Dennis Morgan to spoil any chance of victory.  A controversial defeat by Hull in the second round of the Challenge Cup topped off a run of misfortune. 

Coach Laurie Gant resigned in January and was replaced by a fresh faced Peter Fox.  Jimmy Thompson was the stand out player and proved himself a true international class forward.  Steve Nash missing half the season with injury made his international debut in March.  Vince Farrar demonstrated his versatility by playing in a range of different forward positions to plug gaps caused by the injury glut.  While Nash was injured Terry Hudson took over and a raft of young players emerged - Mel Mason, Keith Bridges, Paul Coventry, Ken Kellett, Charlie Stone, Harold Box – who would drive Rovers future success.