Hornets Win The Challenge Cup
22 April 1922
1922 saw the club’s most glorious moment. Hornets won the Northern Union Challenge Cup on Saturday 22 April, beating favourites Hull 10-9 at Headingley, Leeds.
According to the official match programme on the day; “The Hull side are reported to be in splendid condition and are popular favourites. Hornets’ backs are generally supposed to be much weaker than the men from Hull.” However due to the ferocity of their play, the Hornets forward pack had become known as “The Terrible Six”.
The ground’s capacity was tested with the game played in front of a crowd of 34,700 – a Cup Final record at the time. At one stage, crush barriers gave way and mounted police had to keep spectators off the field.
It was also the last time the venerable trophy would be contested under the Northern Union name.
22 April 1922
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| Hornets Captain Jack Bennett with the Northern Union Challenge Cup |
According to the official match programme on the day; “The Hull side are reported to be in splendid condition and are popular favourites. Hornets’ backs are generally supposed to be much weaker than the men from Hull.” However due to the ferocity of their play, the Hornets forward pack had become known as “The Terrible Six”.
The ground’s capacity was tested with the game played in front of a crowd of 34,700 – a Cup Final record at the time. At one stage, crush barriers gave way and mounted police had to keep spectators off the field.
It was also the last time the venerable trophy would be contested under the Northern Union name.
The victory was a real underdog's tale:
"Eight years after winning the trophy for the first time, Hull were back in the final and looking to get their hands on the cup again.
Hull went into the final as favourites to beat a Rochdale side regarded by the press at the time as inferior.
Hull still had Billy Batten in their ranks and the Great Britain great was a major factor in the game remaining so close with his tackling holding back wave after wave of Rochdale attacks.
Hull took the lead after 10 minutes when Kennedy charged down a kick by Heaton and the centre gathered the ball to run clear and score.
Attempting to convert his own try, he hit the posts and the ball rebounded back at him, a miss that would ultimately cost Hull.
The Hornets hit back with Welsh forward Dicky Paddon kicking two penalties, before Tommy Fitton squeezed in at the corner.
At 7-3 down Hull came back thanks to Batten sending Prescott over, but the lead was soon extended again as Fitton got a second.
The Airlie Birds staged another comeback with second-row forward Bob Taylor going over in the dying minutes. At just one-point behind the conversion would win it, but Billy Stone missed and the Hornets celebrated."
The Creation of a Legend
Hornets Cup Final hooker Jack Bennett was on his way to establishing himself as a top quality player. He played 236 times for Hornets - and went on to play 210 games for Wigan. As well as a Challenge Cup final with Hornets, at Wigan he went on to win the Championship Final, the Lancashire League, two Lancashire cup finals - and another Challenge Cup, in Wigan's 13–2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1929 final at Wembley on Saturday 4 May 1929. PLUS he won four England caps (two while at Hornets) and seven GB caps (six while at Hornets). A bons fide Hornets legend.
The Creation of a Legend
Hornets Cup Final hooker Jack Bennett was on his way to establishing himself as a top quality player. He played 236 times for Hornets - and went on to play 210 games for Wigan. As well as a Challenge Cup final with Hornets, at Wigan he went on to win the Championship Final, the Lancashire League, two Lancashire cup finals - and another Challenge Cup, in Wigan's 13–2 victory over Dewsbury in the 1929 final at Wembley on Saturday 4 May 1929. PLUS he won four England caps (two while at Hornets) and seven GB caps (six while at Hornets). A bons fide Hornets legend.
