OVERTURNING the 'team of the century' was York Rugby League Club's response to the growth of soccer in the city.

Huddersfield's free-scoring exploits were the talk of the Northern Union world during the 1912/3 season.

The West Yorkshire side visited Clarence Street as league leaders with 23 victories and only two defeats to their name, scoring 577 points in the process.

In contrast, York were fifth from bottom of the table with five victories and 17 defeats, complete with the scars of an earlier 40-0 drubbing at Fartown.

A crowd of around 4,000 assembled at Clarence Street on February 22, 1913 to watch the so-called 'team of the century' take on the hosts and underdogs, who included nine locals in their line-up.

However, one man was clearly certain the Wasps could perform a memorable giant-killing act.

Captain Frank Boylen was so convinced of a home win that he had brought with him a batch of silk amber and black ties to present to his victorious team-mates in the dressing room.

The visitors took an early lead with a Wrigley goal but York's George Lupton charged down a Huddersfield kick, Raftery scooped up the ball and Georgie Daniel went over for a try.

One observer commented: "The crowd went wild with delight but the 'oh' that went up when Tommy Naylor missed the easy goal kick could be heard for miles."

A pair of Tommy Gleeson tries, converted by Grey and Longstaffe, appeared to have settled the game in the visitors' favour.

But the Wasps' forwards surged towards the Huddersfield line with the ball at their feet and, when the melee was disbanded, Raftery was at the bottom with the ball having scored a try.

Naylor failed with the kick and York trailed 12-6 at half-time, but a drop goal by Piper Lee inspired the home side to new heights.

Boxer Boggin found Daniel and he in turn whipped the ball out wide where Cowmeadow came up with a try, Naylor adding a conversion and later a goal.

The crowd was again sent into raptures when a Huddersfield move broke down and Cowmeadow gathered to score a try, Naylor again converting to give York an unlikely 20-12 victory.

Supporters swarmed around the home dressing room as Boylen handed out his amber and black ties.

The teams were:York: A Lee, Sellers, Oliver, Lavelle, Cowmeadow, Daniel, Boggin, Boylen (captain), F Lee, Lupton, Naylor, Hoyle, Raftery.Huddersfield: Kitchen, Rosenfeld, Gleeson, Wrigley, Moorhouse, Grey, Davies, Gronow, Swindon, Lee, Longstaffe, Clark, Higson.Despite their famous victory, the club was struggling financially and facing opposition from professional football at York City, who began the 1912/3 season in the Midland League.

The team had performed badly in the run up to the Huddersfield game and moves were made to strengthen the squad.

The greatest signing was Boylen, skipper against the league leaders, who as an amateur played three times for England Rugby Union in 1908.

He also turned out for Yorkshire and England under Northern Union rules and had toured Australia with the Northern Union team.

Other signings included George Connell, a former Hull skipper, and local player W Andrews who had a spell at Leeds.

But the Huddersfield adventure proved a rare high in a poor season as the club finished sixth from bottom with ten wins from 29 games.

However, seeds of the club's first trophy success were sown when Forster Todd became the club's president after losing his seat on the board at York City.

The intervention of the First World War interrupted plans for immediate progress under the new president but thereafter the club was seen to be on an upward curve.

The president, who became known as Sir William, won over the supporters with a series of new signings as the club began assembling the bulk of the 1922/3 Yorkshire Challenge Cup winning side.

A further welcome development during the decade was the formation of the York Supporters Club who began their tradition of supplying cash for players by raising money for the signing of A Dennis from Leeds.

lThe fifth article in this occasional series will chart the club's success in Sir William's tenure as president, a period which saw them win their first major honours.

This series of Evening Press articles is being compiled with assistance from York RL historians Ron Smith and Stuart Evans.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.