Explore the History and Heritage of Featherstone Rovers
Season 1972/73
| Played | Won | Drew | Lost | F | A | League | League Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 35 | 0 | 10 | 972 | 604 | Northern Rugby League | 2nd of 30 clubs |
Winning the Challenge Cup final at Wembley in dominating fashion
| Leading Try Scorer | Leading Goal Kicker | |
|---|---|---|
| John Newlove 21 | Cyril Kellett 139 |
| Chairman | Club Captain | |
|---|---|---|
| John Jepson | John Newlove |
Given sole autonomy for team selection for the first time, Peter Fox used his talented squad to deliver Rovers best ever finishing league position (2nd) and a glorious Wembley victory. The pack was formidable with powerful props Tonks & Farrar, probably the best hooker in the league Bridges, the peerless Thompson and fast running Rhodes in the second row and hard tackling Stone at loose forward. Behind them Nash was a world class scrum half, the backs with the likes of Mason, Newlove, Smith and Kellett were significantly underrated, and the subs would undoubtedly be first team players elsewhere. Was the best ever Rovers squad? - a case can certainly be made.
The season got off to a slow start with 3 defeats in the first 6 games but then an away win at St Helens and seven consecutive victories kick started the season. When the cup started in January the team was firing on all cylinders. Cup favourites and big spending Salford were dispatched in the first round, away wins at Rochdale and Warrington, led to a dominant semi-final victory over Castleford. The final against Bradford was over after 20 minutes.
Dream Team
| Full Back | ||||||
| Cyril Kellett | ||||||
| Winger | Centre | Centre | Winger | |||
| Paul Coventry | Dave Hartley | John Newlove | Ken Kellett | |||
| Stand Off | Scrum Half | |||||
| Mel Mason | Steve Nash | |||||
| Prop | Hooker | Prop | ||||
| Les Tonks | Keith Bridges | Billy Harris | ||||
| Second Row | Second Row | |||||
| Barry Hollis | Alan Rhodes | |||||
| Loose Forward | ||||||
| Charlie Stone | ||||||
Matches
| Date | Venue | Competition | Opponents | Result | Points For | Points Against | Match Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 August 1972 | Central Park | League | Wigan | L | 20 | 35 | View |
| 23 August 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Salford | W | 27 | 15 | View |
| 27 August 1972 | Post Office Road | Yorkshire Cup | Batley | W | 38 | 8 | View |
| 28 August 1972 | Belle Vue | League | Wakefield Trinity | L | 11 | 35 | View |
| 03 September 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Bradford Northern | W | 20 | 15 | View |
| 05 September 1972 | Headingley | Yorkshire Cup | Leeds | L | 5 | 36 | View |
| 10 September 1972 | Tattersfield | League | Doncaster | W | 22 | 7 | View |
| 17 September 1972 | Post Office Road | League | St Helens | W | 19 | 14 | View |
| 23 September 1972 | Recreation Ground | John Player Trophy | Whitehaven | W | 16 | 11 | View |
| 01 October 1972 | Clarence Street | League | York | W | 24 | 11 | View |
| 08 October 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Wigan | W | 38 | 5 | View |
| 15 October 1972 | Parkside | League | Hunslet | W | 27 | 15 | View |
| 22 October 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Keighley | W | 20 | 2 | View |
| 27 October 1972 | Knowsley Road | League | St Helens | L | 8 | 33 | View |
| 12 November 1972 | McClaren Field | League | Bramley | W | 6 | 0 | View |
| 18 November 1972 | Post Office Road | League | York | W | 11 | 7 | View |
| 24 November 1972 | Knowsley Road | John Player Trophy | St Helens | L | 8 | 24 | View |
| 03 December 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Batley | W | 36 | 14 | View |
| 09 December 1972 | Fartown | League | Huddersfield | W | 10 | 8 | View |
| 16 December 1972 | Post Office Road | League | Doncaster | W | 54 | 0 | View |
| 23 December 1972 | Headingley | League | Leeds | L | 10 | 25 | View |
| 26 December 1972 | Wheldon Road | League | Castleford | L | 8 | 13 | View |
| 07 January 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Hunslet | W | 24 | 10 | View |
| 12 January 1973 | The Willows | League | Salford | L | 12 | 16 | View |
| 21 January 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Halifax | W | 50 | 8 | View |
| 28 January 1973 | Post Office Road | Challenge Cup | Salford | W | 18 | 11 | View |
| 04 February 1973 | Odsal | League | Bradford Northern | W | 26 | 14 | View |
| 10 February 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Bramley | W | 44 | 7 | View |
| 18 February 1973 | Post Office Road | Challenge Cup | Rochdale Hornets | W | 30 | 19 | View |
| 24 February 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Hull Kingston Rovers | W | 23 | 10 | View |
| 25 February 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Huddersfield | W | 22 | 8 | View |
| 04 March 1973 | Wilderspool | Challenge Cup | Warrington | W | 18 | 14 | View |
| 06 March 1973 | Craven Park Hull | League | Hull Kingston Rovers | W | 17 | 14 | View |
| 14 March 1973 | The Boulevard | League | Hull | W | 13 | 8 | View |
| 18 March 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Hull | W | 42 | 15 | View |
| 25 March 1973 | Thrum Hall | League | Halifax | W | 29 | 12 | View |
| 01 April 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Wakefield Trinity | L | 12 | 28 | View |
| 06 April 1973 | Lawkholme Lane | League | Keighley | W | 21 | 8 | View |
| 14 April 1973 | Headingley | Challenge Cup | Castleford | W | 17 | 3 | View |
| 17 April 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Leeds | W | 30 | 17 | View |
| 21 April 1973 | Mount Pleasant | League | Batley | W | 17 | 7 | View |
| 23 April 1973 | Post Office Road | League | Castleford | W | 15 | 0 | View |
| 28 April 1973 | Post Office Road | Play-off | Whitehaven | W | 14 | 4 | View |
| 01 May 1973 | Post Office Road | Play-off | Dewsbury | L | 7 | 24 | View |
| 12 May 1973 | Wembley | Challenge Cup | Bradford Northern | W | 33 | 14 | View |