ROVERS 20 V ST HELENS 6
CHALLENGE CUP 3RD ROUND 1959
Joe Mullaney
The teams:-
ROVERS:
COOPER, SMITH, GREATOREX, HUNT, WOOLFORD, MULLANEY, MARCHANT, ANDERSON, FAWLEY, JONES, CLAMP, HOCKLEY, CLAWSON
SCORERS:
WOOLFORD - T
MULLANEY - 2T, DG
HOCKLEY - T
CLAWSON - 3G
ST HELENS: MOSES, VOLLENHOVEN, GREENHALL, FEARIS, PRINSLOO, HOWARD, MURPHY, A TERRY, BOWDEN, BRIGGS, F TERRY, HUDDART, KARALIUS
SCORERS:
VOLLENHOVEN - T
MURPHY - T
All who witnessed this performance were present at one of the finest challenge cup victories
ever seen at Post Office Road. This game is without doubt a landmark in the history of
Featherstone Rovers.
Of course there have been other notable victories, such as, the third round victory against
the mighty Wigan in 1952 as well as the magnificent 5-0 victory achieved, ironically also
against St Helens, 12 months earlier. That particular match saw Rovers not only overcome
the mighty St Helens team but also the atrocious weather conditions - blizzard conditions
throughout!
Some had said that the victory was down to the conditions. So destiny decided that
St Helens were to be given the chance to put the record straight and this time the
conditions were perfect for Saints attractive brand of Rugby League!
In front of a record 17,531 crowd - which still stands today- the Rovers took on once again
one of the finest sides of the generation. It should be noted that this Saints side had
only lost 3 games that season and they were hell bent on revenge. In the event the Rovers
turned a display of RL football of the highest order. - inspired by the Rovers stand-off,
Joe Mullaney in what was perhaps his most memorable game.
Joe was soon in the limelight with the first of a number of dazzling runs which were
constantly torment the Saints defence. Breaking from Rovers first scrum he put Hunt in
space who cleverly kicked ahead, putting pressure on Vollenhoven, who lost out to Clawson
who regathered and sent Woolford, who was in support racing in for the try. The Saints
soon hit back and only 4 minutes later Vollenhoven levelled the scores bursting through
Coopers last ditch tackle.
An end to end battle ensued before Rovers once again took the lead. On 22minutes, following
a splendid run by Kenny Greatorex, Joe Mullaney was there in support to touch down for his
first of two tries. His second try came only 8 minutes later and again Kenny Greatorex was
involved in the build up. Terry Clawson managed a conversion and although Alex Murphy
pulled 3 points back with a try just before half time, Rovers fully deserved to go in at the
break 5 points to the good.
Rovers set off the second half in fine style. The second half was only 3 minutes old when
Marchant, whose whole hearted tackling had been an inspiration throughout, burst through the
Saints line of defence and found Hockley in support. He shrugged off two would be tacklers
to score near the posts to give Terry Clawson an easy conversion. From then on, try as they
might there was no way back for the star studded Saints side. The unfancied Rovers -except
by the loyal Rovers faithful - simply snuffed out every attack thrown at them. A Joe
Mullaney - easily the man of the match - dropped goal and a Terry Clawson penalty underlined
the supremacy that Rovers had on the day to run out comfortable winners.
Great Players- Great Games
1. Jim Denton and his brother Sid .
Joe Mullaney