UK Top Teams : 1971-1980

This is part of a series where top results are scored and tallied up. The Championship is the top 4 teams, scored 6-3-2-1. Then the Premiership again top 4 sides, 6-4-2-2. Challenge Cup finalists, 4-2. League Cup 4-2 (from 1972) Lancashire & Yorkshire Cups, BBC Floodlit Trophy finalists, 3-1.

A break down of competitions shows where the performances shined through.

The League: St Helens got 21 points and Leeds 17.
Finals: St Helens 34 and Leeds 30.
Challenge Cup: Leeds and Widnes with 18 points each.
Lancashire/Yorkshire Cups: Widnes 16 and Leeds 18 respectively.
League Cup: Widnes 14 points and Warrington 10.
BBC Trophy: St Helens 9 points.

In the previous decade, St Helens romped away with the best team award, with Wakefield 2nd. Leeds, Wigan and Castleford came in next as the top five sides. However, things were quite different this time. Saints again were the best side initially but were hunted down by Leeds and had to settle for second best. Widnes, Warrington and Bradford made up the remaining top five places.

For the first in the series, simply click here.
For the next in the series, just click here.

Rk	Team / Year	Tot	80	79	78	77	76	75	74	73	72	71
1	Leeds Rhinos	90	5	7	6	9	7	8	7	13	15	13
2	St Helens RFC	80		1	8	9	16	10	7	3	15	11
3	Widnes Vikings	75	14	18	12	6	10	11	2	1	1
4	Warrington Wolves	43		7	4	4		4	16	8
5	Bradford Bulls	42	14	7	9			4		3	5
6	Salford Red Devils	30	1				11	4	7	5	2
7	Featherstone Rovers	27			1	9	3	1	3	9		1
8	Hull KR	26	7	6	3	1	1	5			3
9	Wigan Warriors	25		2	1			5	3		4	10
10	Leigh Centurions	16	2			1				3		10
11	Castleford Tigers	15			3	11					1
12	Wakefield Trinity	13		3			2	1	3		2	2
13	Dewsbury Rams	11			3		1			7
14	Hull FC	10	8				2
15	Workington Town	6	1	1	3	1
16	Halifax RLFC	5	1								4
17	Rochdale Hornets	3							2		1
18	Bramley Buffaloes	3							3
19	Blackpool Borough	2				2
20	Swinton Lions	1								1
21	York City Knights	1		1
	Total	524	53	53	53	53	53	53	53	53	53	47