Season 1983/84

Spectacular 79th minute winning try by Dave Barends against Bradford which ensured First Divison survival.

After the Challenge Cup win expectations were high but it turned into another season battling against relegation.  Smith, Gibbins, Marsden, Lyman, Slatter and Gilbert all spent most of the season injured, and this coupled with the retirement of Handscombe and Kellett, meant the team was virtually unrecognisable from the famous Wembley winners. There were some notable league victories against Wigan and Widnes but it needed a desperately close victory over Bradford towards the end of the season to ensure safety.  Cup football didn’t offer much relief.  Out in the first round of the Challenge Cup and Yorkshire Cup, for once Rovers managed to make the third round of the John Player Trophy after a great victory over Hull, only to fail narrowly away at St Helens in the next round.

A raft of players came into the club to plug the injury gaps.  Some were more successful than others.  By far the best was Deryck Fox who almost instantly claimed the scrum half berth after a couple of ‘A’ team games demonstrated his obvious talent.  Finally after years of fund raising by supporters floodlights were finally installed at Post Office Road and the first game under the new lights was played on 7 October 1983 against Wakefield.