Drop goal hero of a quarter of a century ago knew it would be Castleford’s time

Twenty-five years on from that memorable afternoon, when Castleford edged the Robins 15-14 to lift the cup for the first time since the days of Alan Hardisty and Keith Hepworth, the scrum-half recollects his feelings well.

The homecoming was just as spectacular as the events at Wembley as a mass of black and amber descended on to the town’s streets to welcome their heroes back.

“You can imagine after a late night the night before celebrating, we couldn’t wait to get home,” said Beardmore, 25 years on.

“We’d put the video on on the way home but it wasn’t a very good reception and in the end we just wanted to get to this dinner at the Civic Centre with all the local councillors.

“We got back to Ferrybridge Services and changed over into an open top bus to do the rounds of Cas.

“The scenes were absolutely unbelievable. I never imagined there’d be that many people out to see us.

“They’d been fantastic at Wembley and they were there again. It was a great day.”

Beardmore had played a crucial role during the final, scoring one try after kicking through and following up to touch down – just – and his 32nd minute drop goal eventually being decisive as Rovers made a late fightback.

“We were going well in the first half,” he recalled. “We let them in for a try just before half-time with Keith England’s interception to leave it 7-6 but still looked comfortable and we knew there’d be no problem as long as we carried on like we had.

“I still get asked to this day whether I touched it (for the try) but I know I did.

“I raised my arms straight away. I knew I’d scored, it was just a matter of whether Robin Whitfield did or not.

“Thankfully, he did.”

Rovers had been struck by injury problems, international second-rows Chris Burton and Phil Hogan both missing while the redoubtable Gavin Miller had fitness concerns, the Australian loose forward playing but showing none of the form that earned him Man of Steel.

Some moments of magic proved the difference though, Castleford centre Tony Marchant scoring a quality, 60-metre try and their own Australian Jamie Sandy doing likewise, the little winger stepping away with a memorable effort.

“He was a great lad, Jamie,” said Beardmore, who will be linking up shortly for a special reunion with his Cup-winning team-mates. Sandy will be flying in.

“I’ll never forget when we played at York earlier that year. It had snowed hard and really the game should have been called off.

“It had started to thaw but as it melted it was still rock hard underneath.

“I don’t think Jamie had ever seen snow before and he was stood out there absolutely freezing. We had to take him off at half-time and put him in a bath of hot water for about an hour.”

Coach Malcolm Reilly – who had won the cup as a player with Castleford in 1969 and 1970, the last time they succeeded – had masterminded their triumph over Rovers.

“I remember everything about the day,” said Beardmore.

“When I got there I just went for a walk out on the pitch and tried staying there as long as I could, trying to get rid of the nerves,” he added.

“There was about 40,000 in there already and I got interviewed by Harry Gration on the BBC which was a bit nerve-wracking.

“Malcolm didn’t have much to say beforehand. We’d done it all three days prior.

“He was very meticulous with his preparation so there wasn’t a lot to say in the changing rooms apart from go out there and do your jobs.

“We did that but I’ll never forget walking at the start to that rapturous applause, it’s a phenomenal feeling.”

Castleford led 15-6 but when Gary Prohm got his second try Rovers sensed a chance of recovery.

John Lydiat crossed in the 79th minute but Dorahy – who had been an injury doubt himself – could not manage to kick the goal.

It sailed to the left of the uprights from the touchline and relieved Castleford held on for John Joyner to lift the cup once more.

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