1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season


The 1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season was the 83rd season of rugby league football. Sixteen English clubs competed for the Northern Rugby Football League Championship with Widnes claiming the title by finishing the season on top of the League.

Season summary

League Champions were Widnes for the first time. Bradford Northern's last game was cancelled as Featherstone Rovers were on strike, consequently Bradford Northern finished 2nd on percentages.
Hull FC, New Hunslet, Bramley and Dewsbury were demoted to the Second Division.
Leeds were 14-12 Challenge Cup Winners over St. Helens.
John Player Trophy Winners were Warrington beating Widnes 9-4 in the final
Rugby League Premiership Trophy Winners were Bradford Northern beating Widnes 17-8 in the final.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners were Hull Kingston Rovers beating St. Helens 26-11 in the final.
2nd Division Champions were Leigh, and they, Barrow, Rochdale Hornets and Huddersfield were promoted to the First Division.
Workington Town beat Wigan 16–13 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Castleford beat Featherstone Rovers 17–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.

League Tables

First Division Championship

Second Division Championship

Champions Play-offs Promoted Relegated

Challenge Cup

Leeds beat St Helens 14-12 in the final played at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 13 May 1978 before a crowd of 96,000.
This was Leeds’ eleventh Cup Final win in fifteen appearances and their second in successive years.

League Cup

Premiership

Statistics

The following are the top points scorers in the 1977–78 season.
Most tries
PlayerTeamTries
Stuart WrightWidnes33
Keith FieldingSalford31
Eddie CunninghamSt. Helens30
John BevanWarrington30
Steve FentonCastleford30
Green VigoWigan29
Peter GlynnSt. Helens28
David SmithLeeds28
Terry MorganYork27
Bruce BurtonCastleford27

Most goals
PlayerTeamGoals
Geoff PimblettSt. Helens178
Steve HesfordWarrington158
John WoodsLeigh149
Iain McCorquodaleWorkington Town138
Paul WoodsWidnes122
David WatkinsSalford110
Keith MumbyBradford Northern107
Sammy LloydCastleford104
Neil FoxBradford Northern95
Willie OultonLeeds80