On this day in 1914, Hull FC claimed their first-ever Challenge Cup Final victory against Wakefield at Thrum Hall – Club Historian Bill Dalton looks back at the action from 109 years ago.
The memorable day arrived that Hull, at long last, would achieve cup success for which they had long craved in their 50th year of existence. The weather was sunny, albeit windy. The two Yorkshire teams did battle and Hull, after a titanic struggle, were to have their name inscribed on a trophy.
This was the fifth occasion that two Yorkshire teams had contested the final and Hull had been one of the combatants on four of those occasions. By virtue of their league positions (Hull 4th and Wakefield 17th), Hull were favourites to reverse the 1909 result. An inducement was offered to the Hull players when P.R.Davies, Tailoring Specialists, offered each of them a pair of trousers to win the cup!
Wakefield started promisingly though, and a good chance was lost when Johnson, taking a cross field kick from Poynton, raced clear only to trip up, allowing Alf Francis to tackle him. They missed a number of drop-goal attempts and both Ned Rogers for Hull and Millican for Wakefield missed goal attempts.
Half-time was reached scoreless, but early in the second period, after Batten had set the scene with a blistering break down the field, referee Jimmy May sent Herbert Kershaw off for kicking Francis in the tackle. Batten continued to torment Trinity with his breaks and Hull were denied a score when his pass went astray, and the referee also disallowed a Dick Taylor touchdown for a forward pass.
The contest remained 0-0 until seven minutes from the end when Batten put in another storming run to put Jack Harrison in at the left hand corner. Although, Billy was carried off a couple of minutes later with a knee injury, he had done his job and it was fitting that Herb Gilbert took over his mantle to put Alf Francis in at the opposite corner to double the margin of victory. Ned Rogers was unsuccessful with the conversions.
Herb Gilbert, as Captain, had the distinction of becoming the first Colonial player to receive the Challenge Cup (from Alderman W.H.Ingham, Mayor of Halifax).
Afterwards, The ‘Athletic News’ was fulsome in its praise for Billy Batten’s performance in the final: “In the daring raids of Hull in the second half it was Batten who, with the ball under his arm, ploughed through the ranks of the defenders and left beaten opponents in his triumphal course. His courage and determination without doubt inspired his colleagues to rally round in the closing stages of the game”
So, Billy and Herb had delivered the Challenge Cup at long last to their worshiping fans. An estimated 60,000 citizens lined the route from North Ferriby to the Hull City Hall as the team journeyed by Horse Drawn Charabanc. Their overwhelming joy was justified as it would be some 68 years before the trophy again graced the Boulevard.
Hull: Ned Rogers, Jack Harrison, Billy Batten, Herb Gilbert, Alf Francis, Jimmy Devereux, Billy Anderson, Tom Herridge, Billy Holder, Dick Taylor, Joe Hammill, Alf Grice, Steve Darmody.
Tries: Harrison (73), Gilbert (77)
Goals: Rogers (0/3)
Wakefield: Leonard Land, Benjamin Johnson, Willian Lynch, Thomas Poynton, Bruce Howarth, Jonty Parkin, William Millican, Albert Dixon, Arthur Kenealy Crossland, William Beattie, Herbert Kershaw, Ernest Parkin, Arthur Burton.
Tries: None
Goals: None
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