The Holy Grail is captured 1961-1970
Lewis Jones' greatest achievement - and probably Leeds' finest hour - came in 1961. For the first time in the club's history the Rugby League Championship finally came to rest at Headingley.
Under the captaincy of the 'Golden Boy', Leeds defeated the powerful Warrington side at Odsal in the Championship Final by 25 points to 10. Lewis Jones gave an inspirational display in a team which included Australian full-back Ken Thornett, tenacious forwards Don Robinson and Jack Fairbank, the free-scoring Springbok Wilf Rosenberg and the former Roundhay RU centre Derek Hallas, who scored two tries. The team that won that historic match was: Thornett, Rosenberg, Hallas, Hattee, Ratcliffe, Jones, Evans, Robinson, Simms, T Whitehead, Fairbank, Goodwin, Shaw.
Following Leeds' first championship victory in their history the club went into temporary decline until the mid-sixties when the club embarked on a comprehensive youth policy, which would take Leeds into the most illustrious spell in their history. Despite reaching the Yorkshire Cup Final in 1961 and 1964, Leeds lost on both occasions to Wakefield9-19 and 18-2 respectively. However, from 1966 to 1975 Leeds won no less than 20 major trophies.
1966 saw Leeds finish the season as League Leaders and Yorkshire League Champions however progress in the Championship playoff was curtailed against Castleford in the 2nd round. But this was just a taster! In 1967-68 the Yorkshire League Champion and League Leaders trophies were joined by the Challenge Cup as Leeds beat Wakefield in the notorious Watersplash Final. A torrential down pour at Wembley ruined the game and the game ebbed and flowed throughout. Leeds extended their lead to 11-7 through a Bev Risman penalty with a minute to go, however straight from the kick off Wakefield winger Hirst kicked ahead and scored next to the posts. Man of the match Don Fox had a simple conversion to win the game but pushed the ball wide and Leeds had secured the win. The team that day was: Risman, A Smith, Hynes, B Watson, Atkinson, Shoebottom, Seabourne, Clark (c), Crosby, K Eyre, Ramsey, A Eyre, Batten. Subs: Langley, M Joyce.
Leeds finished top of the table in four successive seasons, between 1967-70, as well as winning the 1968 Challenge Cup. This momentous period for Leeds would not be possible without the astute leadership of coaches Roy Francis and Dereck 'Rocky' Turner who between them won every honour inthe game.
There was double joy in 1969 when Leeds won their second Championship. The men from Headingley had beaten Castleford in the Yorkshire Cup Final earlier that season at Wakefield before meeting the same team in the Championship Final at Odsal. Leeds were trailing by 3 points in the last five minutes, before John Atkinson scored a try which was converted by Bev Risman to secure the Championship. The team that day: Risman, Cowan, Hynes, B Watson, Atkinson, Shoebottom, Seabourne, Clark, Crosby, K Eyre, M Joyce, Ramsey, Batten. Subs: Langley, Hick.
Leeds finished the decade in the Championship Play Off Final again, losing out to St Helens at Odsal. But there was some consolation with the winning of the European Club Championship, beating Perpignan at Headingley, 31-5.
