Season 1974/75

Being the only team to beat league champions St Helens at Knowsley Road

Fourth place finish was a notable achievement with a number of significant injury breaks particularly affecting our three internationals fresh from the 1974 GB tour of Australia – Nash, Thompson and Bridges.  The side was nevertheless competitive throughout the season based on the performances of Box, Gibbins, Kellett, Newlove, Butler, Smith, Harris and Stone.  Only a degree of inconsistency best demonstrated in March where in between away defeats at Rochdale and Bramley, Rovers pulled off a sensational away victory at St Helens, prevented further progress.  In the Challenge Cup, defeat by Salford in the first round dashed any hopes of a third consecutive Wembley appearance.

As so often in the past “We must sell players to survive” was the message from the committee explaining the sale of Mel Mason to Leeds in January 1975 for £6,000.  Salford put in three offers for Jimmy Thompson which were all rejected and Steve Nash was listed for £40,000 in the face of interest from Australia but as the season finished he was still at Rovers.  An early cup exit and continuing low crowds meant no let-up in the financial pressure.