Warrington :: 31
Hull FC :: 20
date: August 1972
By Alan Domville & Eddie Fuller
When Warrington last entertained Hull in the first match of a new season, in August 1972, the game signalled the start of nothing less than a whole new ball game. It was the first game in which we would experience what have become two enduring features of the modern game – the six-tackle rule and the use of timekeepers.
It was also the start of a campaign that would take Wire to the top of the league – but not beyond the championship semi-final.
One of the Wires’ heroes in a convincing 31-20 win was Wilf Briggs, playing at full back instead of stand off. He silenced critics of his play quite brilliantly by scoring three tries and kicking three goals and a total of 17 points.
Wilf had joined his home town team the previous season after learning his skills with the successful Cadishead and Irlam side at Hollins Green, restoring a half back partnership with the irresistible Johnny Lowe. Wilf had also played for Leigh and Oldham before being brought to Wilderspool at the behest of player – coach Alex Murphy. Wilf’s brother Barry by then had emigrated to Australia.
Another hero against Hull was wearing Wilf's number 6 shirt: Derek Noonan who had played on, as you could in those days, with blood streaming from his nose until the game was made safe.
Making his league debut that day was hooker Kevin Ashcroft, another of Alex’s former stars at Leigh, who under another new rule could strike in the scrum with either foot. Not a rule that would be required to endure!
Also new were popular Dennis Curling from Aberavon on the right wing, who scored a try, and another Welsh star, Clive Jones at loose forward. All had also figured in the precious week’s Locker Cup “friendly” against Wigan.
Bobby Wanbon, who made up our soon-to-be-feared front row with Ashcroft and Dave Chisnall, also came from Aberavon.
Hull’s line-up included the Great Britain international captain Clive Sullivan whose name is now perpetuated by Humberside highway along which we travel to the KC Stadium. They were being coached by the former Warrington favourite Roy Francis, just starting his second stint at the Boulevard.
Other Warrington tries that day came from another Welsh star, Frank Reynolds, a trialist playing alongside him in the centre and parry Gordon while Toby du Toit also kicked a goal.
Hull entertained Warrington at the Boulevard in their first matches of the 1983-4 and 1994-5 seasons and both games ended in draws. And it is almost exactly 25 year to the day since we opened our new stand at Wilderspool with a game against Hull, a game won 18-16.
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