WHEN Warrington got off to a bad start to their 1947/48 season, the club's ambitious officials decided to do something about it.

Chairman J. S. Tilling and his directors swooped for Warrington-born Harold 'Moggy' Palin from Swinton and wasted no time in introducing to the front row close season signings Bill Darbyshire and Bill 'Spiv' Riley, both prop forwards.

It made all the difference! Warrington went two months without defeat.

Warrington became aware that they had to do something to make the most of their talented wingers, Bevan and Albert Johnson. So they strengthened their centre department with the capture of Albert Pimblett from Halifax and then Bryn Knowelden. Utility back Stan Powell also landed at Wilderspool.

The result was that Warrington went undefeated in 20 games from December 1947 to April 1948, won the Lancashire League and gained a place in the Championship top four play-off.

In the semi-final play-off, tries from Bevan 2, Pimblett 2, and hooker Dave Cotton, plus a goal from Palin, was enough to end the hopes of Huddersfield at Wilderspool.

The Championship final was at Maine Road, home of Manchester City FC, with 69,341 supporters paying receipts of £9,700 to see the clash with Bradford Northern.

Bevan and Pimblett crossed the whitewash again, with Powell adding the third as Wire secured an historical 15-5 success. And just for the record, Cotton won the scrums against Northern's Darlinson 38-28. Warrington were champions for the very first time!

The team on that special day was: Les Jones, Brian Bevan, Albert Pimblett, Bryn Knowelden, Stan Powell, Jack Fleming, Gerry Helme, Bill Derbyshire, Dave Cotton, Bill Riley, Jim Featherstone, Bob Ryan, and Harold Palin.

Pimblett proved to be an inspirational signing for Warrington that season. Not only did he score 19 tries himself but was provider for many of the 57 that Bevan scored, nine higher than the record he set in the previous year.

There was another signing that season, Australian Harry Bath, who joined the club from Barrow in March, too late to be able to play in the top four play-offs. He was a world class second row who was to become a tower of strength to Warrington RLFC