1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand

The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the second ever British national rugby league team or 'Lions' tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, as well as several local teams. The tour repeated the promotional and financial success of the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia and became famous for the third and deciding Ashes test, known as the "Rorke's Drift Test" due to a backs-to-the wall British victory against all odds.[1]

Touring squad

At the 1913–14 Northern Rugby Football Union season's conclusion, the following Great Britain squad was assembled by the NRFU to represent it on the tour of Australasia. The Union's tour manager was John Clifford.[2][3][4]

Australia

The first leg of the tour was Australia, where the game of rugby league football was in its seventh year since splitting away from rugby union in 1908. the tourists ventured to Adelaide, Melbourne, Ipswich and Bathurst, as well as Sydney, Brisbane and Newcastle.[5]

The Australian team was captained in all three Ashes Tests by North Sydney skipper Sid Deane.[6]

Test venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. All three tests took place in Sydney.

Sydney Sydney
Royal Agricultural Showground Sydney Cricket Ground
Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 60,000

South Australia: J. Lawson, R. Cooksley, O. Howard, E. Dutton, P. Knowles, W. Oldfield, M. Moran, C. Fincham, J. Sorensen, F. Stewart, J. Carr, A. Shuttleworth, P. Jackson. Res – L. Scott

Northern Union: Alf Wood (c), Jack Robinson, William Davies, Bert Jenkins, Frank Williams, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, James Clampitt, Billy Jarman, Arthur Johnson, Dave Holland, Percy Coldrick, John Smales

Metropolis: Howard Hallett, Harold Horder, Sid Deane (c), Bill Kelly, Wally Messenger, Ray Norman, Arthur Halloway, Jack Watkins, Sid Pearce, Con Sullivan, Paddy McCue, Ed Courtney, Frank Burge

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Frank Williams, William Davies (c), Bert Jenkins, Jack Robinson, Stuart Prosser, Johnny Rogers, Joseph Guerin, James Clampitt, Walter Roman, Billy Jarman, Dave Holland, John Smales

NSW: Howard Hallett, Harold Horder, Sid Deane (c), Bill Kelly, Wally Messenger, Ray Norman, Arthur Halloway, Jack Watkins, Sid Pearce, Con Sullivan, Paddy McCue, Ed Courtney, Frank Burge. Res – Charles Fraser

Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, William Davies, Harold Wagstaff (c), Bert Jenkins, Stan Moorhouse, Billy Hall, Johnny Rogers, Percy Coldrick, Douglas Clark, Arthur Johnson, Billy Jarman, Dave Holland, Jack Chilcott

Queensland: Mick Bolewski (c), Herbert McCabe, Walter Bolewski, Henry Bolewski, William Beavis, Daniel Rowley, Evan Lewis, Jack Egan, Thomas Dean, Harold Bawden, Charles Scott, William Pritchard, James Adams

Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams, Harold Wagstaff (c), William Davies, Alfred Francis, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, Joseph Guerin, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff, Dick Ramsdale, John Smales, Jack Chilcott

Northern Union: Billy Jarman, Stan Moorhouse, Harold Wagstaff (c), Billy Hall, Alfred Francis, Stuart Prosser, Fred Smith, Arthur Johnson, Joseph Guerin, James Clampitt, Walter Roman, Percy Coldrick, Fred Longstaff

Queensland: Mick Bolewski (c), Herbert McCabe, John Birkett, Henry Bolewski, William Beavis, Thomas Hennessy, Evan Lewis, Jack Egan, Thomas Dean, Peter Olsen, Charles Scott, William Pritchard, Don Jeffrey

Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Frank Williams, Harold Wagstaff (c), Bert Jenkins, Stan Moorhouse, Billy Hall, Johnny Rogers, Percy Coldrick, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff, Dick Ramsdale, Billy Jarman, Jack Chilcott

Newcastle: J. Maloney (c), P. Scully, W. Coleman, E. Brien, G. Johns, J. Coleman, F. Bell, F. Grahame, H. Williams, Stan Carpenter, J. Quinn, Arthur Baber, C. Perkins

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Alfred Francis, Harold Wagstaff (c), William Davies, Jack Robinson, Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, Walter Roman, James Clampitt, Joseph Guerin, Dave Holland, John Smales, Arthur Johnson

First test

Future Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame inductee Harold Horder was selected to make his Test debut for this match.[14] On the other wing was the only Queenslander selected in the home side, Henry Bolewski.[15] Also selected to debut for his adopted country was New Zealander, Bill Kelly,[16] after whom the trophy contested in the ANZAC Test would be named.

Saturday 27 June
Australia  5 – 23 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
Ray Norman



Goals:
Henry Bolewski (1)		 [17] Tries:
Stan Moorhouse (2)
Doug Clark
Dave Holland
Jack Robinson
Goals:
Fred Longstaff (2)
Jack Robinson (2)
RAS Showground, Sydney
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Tom McMahon, Sr.
Australia
Northern Union
FB1 Howard Hallett
WG2 Henry Bolewski
CE3 Sid Deane (c)
CE4 Bill Kelly
WG5 Harold Horder
FE6 Ray Norman
HB7 Arthur Halloway
PR13 Ed Courtney
HK12 Sandy Pearce
PR11 Frank Burge
SR10 Con Sullivan
SR9 Paddy McCue
LK8 Jack Watkins
Coach:
FB1 Billy Jarman
WG2 Jack Robinson
CE3 Bert Jenkins
CE4 Harold Wagstaff (c)
WG5 Stan Moorhouse
SO6 Billy Hall
SH7 Fred Smith
PR13 Dave Holland
HK12 Percy Coldrick
PR11 Dick Ramsdale
SR10 Jack Chilcott
SR9 Fred Longstaff
LF8 Douglas Clark
Coach:

The first test of the 1914 Ashes series was played in Sydney before a crowd of around 40,000. Leeds forward Billy Jarman, making his debut for Great Britain missed a conversion attempt from in front of the posts.[18] Henry Bolewski was the only Queensland player selected in the Australian side.

Second test

Monday29 June
Australia  12 – 7 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
Frank Burge
Charles Fraser
Wally Messenger
Goals:
Wally Messenger (3)		 [19] Tries:
Johnny Rogers (2)


Goals:
Fred Longstaff (2)
Jack Robinson (2)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Tom McMahon, Sr.
Australia
Northern Union
FB1 Howard Hallett
WG2 Dan Frawley
CE3 Sid Deane (c)
CE4 Wally Messenger
WG5 Bob Tidyman
FE6 Charles Fraser
HB7 Arthur Halloway
PR13 Ed Courtney
HK12 Sandy Pearce
PR11 Frank Burge
SR10 Bob Craig
SR9 Con Sullivan
LK8 Billy Cann
Coach:
FB1 Gwyn Thomas
WG2 Frank Williams
CE3 Harold Wagstaff (c)
CE4 Billy Hall
WG5 Jack Robinson
SO6 Johnny Rogers
SH7 Fred Smith
PR13 Billy Jarman
HK12 Dick Ramsdale
PR11 Percy Coldrick
SR10 Dave Holland
SR9 Douglas Clark
LF8 Jack Chilcott
Coach:

After being humiliated in the first Test, the Australians bounced back to narrowly win the second 12–7 at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Charles Fraser and Frank Burge scoring and Wally Messenger kicking 3 goals.[20]

Newcastle: E. Hawke, A. Bassett, A. Dawson, H. Gunn, E. Lockhard, R. Trefrey, Edward Coyne, D. Gander, Arch Moncreiff (c), D. Reece, P. Smith, R. Murphy, D. Haynes

Northern Union: Alf Wood (c), Frank Williams, Billy Hall, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser, Johnny Rogers, Walter Roman, James Clampitt, Joseph Guerin, John Smales, Billy Jarman, Arthur Johnson

Third test

The third and deciding Ashes test had originally been scheduled for Melbourne in August, but the New South Wales Rugby Football League unilaterally rescheduled it for Sydney on 4 July to maximise profits. The British protested that it would be their third test match in seven days and several of their first team were out with injuries, but the NSWRFL got its way.[22] The tourists were instructed by the Northern Union officials to play and do their duty for England.[23]

Saturday 4 July
Australia  6 – 14 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
Wally Messenger[24]
Sid Deane
Goals:		 [25] Tries:
William Davies
Arthur Johnson
Goals:
Alf Wood (4)
Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 34,420
Referee: Tom McMahon, Sr.
Australia
Northern Union
FB1 Howard Hallett
WG2 Bob Tidyman
CE3 Wally Messenger
CE4 Sid Deane (c)
WG5 Dan Frawley
FE6 Charles Fraser
HB7 Arthur Halloway
PR13 Ed Courtney
HK12 Sandy Pearce
PR11 Frank Burge
SR10 Con Sullivan
SR9 Bob Craig
LK8 Billy Cann
Coach:
FB1 Alf Wood
WG2 Frank Williams
CE3 Harold Wagstaff (c)
CE4 Billy Hall
WG5 William Davies
SO6 Stuart Prosser
SH7 Fred Smith
PR13 Jack Chilcott
HK12 Dick Ramsdale
PR11 Percy Coldrick
SR10 Dave Holland
SR9 Douglas Clark
LF8 Arthur Johnson
Coach:

Within the first minutes of the match, Great Britain were down a man due to an injury to Frank Williams. Forward Arthur 'Chick' Johnson, the Widnes club's first international representative, was shifted to the wing to take Williams' place.[26] At half time the British were leading 9–3. Ten minutes into the second half, they had lost Douglas Clark and Billy Hall to injuries so were reduced to ten men.[27] 'Chick' Johnson, playing out of position on the wing, then used the unorthodox method of dribbling the ball ahead with his feet to score a try.[28] This lifted his teammates in defence and the British managed to win 14–6.

NSW: George Challis, Tom Leggo, Bob Tidyman, Charles Fraser, George Bain, Les Cubitt, Arthur Halloway (c), Bob Williams, Sid Pearce, Ed Courtney, Bob Craig, Albert Burge, Frank Burge. Res –

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Stan Moorhouse, Harold Wagstaff (c), Bert Jenkins, William Davies, Billy Hall, Johnny Rogers, Percy Coldrick, James Clampitt, Dick Ramsdale, Fred Longstaff, Jack Chilcott, Arthur Johnson

This game was played on the return leg from New Zealand

New Zealand

Originally scheduled to take place during the Ashes series, the New Zealand leg was postponed until afterwards.

Northern Union: Gwyn Thomas, Joseph Houghton, Billy Hall, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser, Fred Smith, Joseph Guerin, Billy Jarman, Jack Chilcott, John Smales, Walter Roman, James Clampitt

Auckland: Tom Cross, Charles Woolley, Karl Ifwersen, Edward Fox, Thomas McClymont, Arthur Hardgrave, Charles Webb, Charlie Savory, Joe Bennett, Stan Walters, Bob Mitchell, Harold Hayward, Jim Clark

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Stan Moorhouse, Billy Hall, Bert Jenkins, William Davies, Johnny Rogers, Fred Smith, Dick Ramsdale, Arthur Johnson, Jack Chilcott, Fred Longstaff, Percy Coldrick, Dave Holland

Northern Union defeated Auckland 34–12 in front of 13,000 fans. The gate earned the Auckland Rugby League NZ₤650.[34]

Northern Union: Alf Wood, Stan Moorhouse, Harold Wagstaff (c), Bert Jenkins, William Davies, Jack O'Garra, Stuart Prosser, Dick Ramsdale, Joseph Guerin, James Clampitt, Fred Longstaff, Percy Coldrick, Walter Roman

Saturday 1 August
New Zealand  13 – 16 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
Billy Wilson (2)
Vic Banks

Goals:
Karl Ifwersen (2)		 [36] Tries:
Stan Moorhouse (2)
Arthur Johnson
William Davies
Goals:
Alf Wood (2)
Auckland Domain, Auckland
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: A. Ferguson New Zealand
New Zealand
Northern Union
FB1 Arthur Hardgrave
WG2 Karl Ifwersen
CE3 Stan Weston
CE4 George Bradley (c)
WG5 Billy Wilson
FE6 Frank Barclay
HB7 Bill Bussell
PR13 Charles Savory
HK12 Ernest Button
PR11 James Parker
SR10 Vic Banks
SR9 Bob Mitchell
LK8 Stan Walters
Coach:
FB1 Alf Wood
WG2 William Davies
CE3 Bert Jenkins
CE4 Harold Wagstaff (c)
WG5 Stan Moorhouse
SO6 Billy Hall
SH7 Fred Smith
PR13 Dave Holland
HK12 Percy Coldrick
PR11 Dick Ramsdale
SR10 Fred Longstaff
SR9 Arthur Johnson
LF8 James Clampitt
Coach:

New Zealand lost the sole Test match 13–16. Billy Wilson scored two tries, Vic Banks scored one and Karl Ifwersen kicked two goals.[37]

References

  1. ↑ Hadfield, David (11 July 2009). "Great Sporting Moments: Australia 18 Great Britain 25, Brisbane, 1958". The Independent. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "The English Team". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "ENGLAND v. METROPOLIS—NORTHERN UNION RULES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Touring Teams". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  5. ↑ "Cheapening the Jumper". stevericketts.com.au. Stve Ricketts. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "Sid Deane". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  7. ↑ South Australia vs Northern Union
  8. ↑ Metropolis vs Northern Union
  9. ↑ New South Wales vs Northern Union
  10. ↑ Queensland vs Northern Union
  11. ↑ Ipswich vs Northern Union
  12. ↑ Queensland vs Northern Union
  13. ↑ Newcastle vs Northern Union
  14. ↑ Cunneen, Chris. "Horder, Harold Norman (1894–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  15. ↑ "FOOTBALL: "Australian" League Team". The Brisbane Courier. trove.nla.gov.au. 24 June 1914. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Bill Kelly". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  17. ↑ 1st Ashes Test
  18. ↑ On this day at therhinos.co.uk
  19. ↑ 2nd Ashes Test
  20. ↑ "sportsmem.com.au". 1914 Australian RL Jersey Maroon & Blue Hoops. Michael Fahey – Sports Memorabilia Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  21. ↑ Western Districts vs Northern Union
  22. ↑ "The Legend of Rorke's Drift". Sports Post. rl1895.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  23. ↑ Collins, Tony (2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain. UK: Routledge. p. 8. ISBN 0-415-39614-X.
  24. ↑ "Player Profile – Wally Messenger". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Archived from the original on 2012-08-27. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  25. ↑ 3rd Ashes Test
  26. ↑ rugby.widnes.tv. "Arthur Johnson". Hall of Fame. Widnes Vikings. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  27. ↑ Headon, David (2001). The best ever Australian sports writing: a 200 year collection. Australia: Back Inc. p. 367. ISBN 1 86395 266 7.
  28. ↑ "Arthur Johnson". Hall of Fame. Widnes RLFC. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  29. ↑ New South Wales vs Northern Union
  30. ↑ Wellington vs Northern Union
  31. ↑ Hawke's Bay vs Northern Union
  32. ↑ Taranaki vs Northern Union
  33. ↑ Auckland vs Northern Union
  34. ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  35. ↑ Wanganui vs Northern Union
  36. ↑ New Zealand vs Northern Union
  37. ↑ New Zealand vs England 1914 rugbyleagueproject.org
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