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 In June 1977, the International Rugby League Board imposed a four-year ban on international transfers. The ban was primarily put in place as a response to the growing number of English players being recruited by Australian clubs.
The 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.
2nd Division Champions were Leigh, and they, Barrow, Rochdale Hornets and Huddersfield were promoted to the First Division.
League Tables
First Division Championship TeamPldWDLPFPAPts1Widnes302424613241502Bradford Northern292126500291443St. Helens302217678384454Hull Kingston Rovers3016311495419355Wigan3017112482435356Salford3016014470446327Featherstone Rovers2915212443452328Leeds3015114512460319Warrington30150155613673010Castleford30132155155832811Workington Town30114154065192612Wakefield Trinity30121173934502513Hull30103173584802314New Hunslet30110193185182215Bramley3054212816081416Dewsbury3022262075896
Second Division Championship TeamPldWDLPFPAPts1Leigh262105538231422Barrow262105521234423Rochdale Hornets262105437200424Huddersfield261808502324365York261628447286346Oldham261709419325347Keighley2611312357337258Swinton2611114369385239Whitehaven26102142773262210Huyton2692152503522011Doncaster2690173045281812Batley2651202334961113Blackpool Borough2651202625431114Halifax2620241825314
Champions Play-offs Promoted Relegated
Cups 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.
Player's No.6 Trophy
The Player's No.6 Trophy winners were Warrington beating Widnes 9-4 in the final.
Premiership
Rugby League Premiership Trophy Winners were Bradford Northern beating Widnes 17-8 in the final.
County cups
Workington Town (from Cumbria) beat Wigan 16–13 to win the Lancashire County Cup, and Castleford beat Featherstone Rovers 17–7 to win the Yorkshire County Cup.
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy
BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Winners were Hull Kingston Rovers beating St. Helens 26-11 in the final.
Statistics The following are the top points scorers in the 1977–78 season.
Most tries Player Team Tries Stuart Wright Widnes 33 Keith Fielding Salford 31 Eddie Cunningham St. Helens 30 John Bevan Warrington 30 Steve Fenton Castleford 30 Green Vigo Wigan 29 Peter Glynn St. Helens 28 David Smith Leeds 28 Terry Morgan York 27 Bruce Burton Castleford 27
Most goals (including drop goals) Player Team Goals Geoff Pimblett St. Helens 178 Steve Hesford Warrington 158 John Woods Leigh 149 Iain McCorquodale Workington Town 138 Paul Woods Widnes 122 David Watkins Salford 110 Keith Mumby Bradford Northern 107 Sammy Lloyd Castleford 104 Neil Fox Bradford Northern 95 Willie Oulton Leeds 80
References
Sources 1977–78 Rugby Football League season at wigan.rlfans.com The Challenge Cup at The Rugby Football League website