In Malcolm Reilly’s second full season as player-coach since returning from Australia, Castleford were beginning to show signs of a return to the kind of success last experienced in the previous decade. Having already beaten Leigh to claim a fourth BBC2 Floodlit Trophy win in December 1976, the club was on its way to finishing 3rd in the league – their highest finish since 1969/70.

After very difficult away wins against St Helens and Leeds followed by a semi-final win against Widnes, the team had a golden chance of winning the Players No 6 Trophy when they faced Second Division Blackpool Borough in the final at The Willows, Salford.

However, nothing could be taken for granted as Blackpool had beaten three top-division clubs - Barrow, Workington and Leigh - on their way to the final. Borough were determined to enjoy their unexpected day out at the final and marked the day before kick-off by presenting Malcolm Reilly with a giant stick of Blackpool rock!

Castleford were almost at full strength with only one change from the team that had won at Leigh in their last match. Trevor Briggs came into the team on the left wing for his first appearance in two months. He replaced Alan Lowndes who had suffered an arm injury at Leigh in what was to prove the last of his 201 appearances for the club. Alan Dickinson had recovered from a rib injury to retain his place in the pack.

Castleford: 1 Wraith 2 Fenton 3 Joyner 4 Johnson 5 Briggs 6 Burton 7 Stephens 8 Kahn 9 Spurr 10 Dickinson 11 Reilly 12 Lloyd 13 Norton Subs: 14 Pickerill 15 Orr (both unused)

Blackpool Borough: 1 Reynolds 2 Heritage 3 Machen 4 Pitman 5 Robinson 6 Marsh 7 Newall 8 Hamilton 9 Allan 10 Egan 11 Gamble 12 Groves 13 Pattinson Subs: 14 Lamb 15 Hurst

Referee: M Naughton (Widnes)

Attendance: 4,512

Bright start doesn't last

The game started very brightly for Cas as full-back Geoff Wraith ran onto a pass from Steve Norton to race 60 yards to score the first try after just two minutes. But the procession that many people might have predicted didn’t materialise as Blackpool, aided by dominance in the scrums, came back strongly. Keeping the ball tight, Blackpool pressed and two lapses in the Cas defence resulted in tries by hooker Allen and prop-forward Egan. Both were converted by Egan to give Blackpool a 10-5 lead and Cas were looking a little rattled. A penalty by Sammy Lloyd brought Cas closer before Gary Stephens scored a solo try straight from a scrum to level the scores. Then seconds before half-time Phil Johnson took two defenders over the line with him to put Cas back in front. But just when it looked like Cas were finally getting on top, they had another shock when Blackpool centre Machen intercepted a pass to race away to score a try midway through the second half. Egan kicked his third goal to level the scores again.

Class finally tells

Fortunately for the Cas faithful, mercurial stand-off half Bruce Burton then stepped up to turn the game in Cas’ favour. Following clever play by Stephens and Wraith, he raced 60 yards to score his 26th try of the season. Shortly after he was obstructed when chasing his own kick and Lloyd kicked the penalty to give Cas a 20-15 lead. Cas were finally on top and completed the scoring with a spectacular try from a scrum near their own line. The three-quarters combined to send John Joyner away for a long distance try which finally secured the win.

So the favourites finally prevailed but not before having an almighty scare from a Blackpool team who, despite this cup run, finished the season 2nd bottom in the Second Division. The player of the match award was shared by Gary Stephens – who had a hand in four of the Cas tries – and Howard “Smiler” Allen, the Blackpool hooker who scored a try and inspired his team throughout the final.