1977–78 Northern Rugby Football League season
Introduction 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.John Player Trophy Winners were Warrington beating Widnes 9-4 in the finalRugby 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 (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.
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
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''' 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