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1910 Great Britain Lions tour

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1910 Great Britain Lions tour
ManagerJ. Clifford and J. H. Houghton
Tour captain(s)James Lomas
Top point scorer(s)James Lomas (136)[1]
Top try scorer(s)Bert Jenkins (14)[1]
Summary
P W D L
Total
18 14 1 3
Test match
3 3 0 0
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
2 2 0 0
 New Zealand
1 1 0 0
Tour chronology
Next tour1914

The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team,[2] "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia, and their first as the visiting team, before travelling to Auckland to take on New Zealand. The tour was a huge promotional and financial success for what was then known as the "Northern Union" game[3] and helped set the pattern for regular, alternating test match series between Britain and Australia.[4] It is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of rugby league.[5]

Despite the selection of several Welsh players in the touring squad, the team is sometimes referred to as "England". They went south from Manchester in early April to London, then travelled by ship for six weeks before reaching Australia.[6] Led by Salford captain James Lomas,[7] the tour was a huge success for the Lions who won all their test matches with Lomas topping the tour scoring charts with 136 points in 13 games.[8]

Touring squad

[edit]
The British touring squad, who wore red and white hooped jerseys.

The team originally scheduled to tour consisted of eighteen internationals: nine English, eight Welsh and one Scottish.[9] All players were from clubs that participated in the 1909–10 Northern Rugby Football Union season's Championship. The players were also accompanied by joint managers, J. H. Houghton and J. Clifford as well as trainer D. Murray.[10]

Several Australians (including Jim Devereux, Dan Frawley and Andy Morton) also appeared for the tourists as guest players in a match against Newcastle on 18 June 1910.[1]

Name Club Position Appearances Tests Tries Goals Points
Albert Avery Oldham Forward 11 2 7 0 21
Jack Bartholomew Huddersfield Three-quarter back 5 0 3 1 11
Billy Batten Hunslet Three-quarter back 12 3 5 1 17
Frank Boylen Hull Forward 7 0 1 5 13
Ephraim Curzon Salford Forward 6 1 3 0 9
James Davies Huddersfield Half-back 5 0 1 0 3
Fred Farrar Hunslet Three-quarter back 4 0 4 1 14
Tom Helm[a] Oldham Forward 0 0 0 0 0
Bert Jenkins Wigan Three-quarter back 11 2 14 0 42
Chick Jenkins Ebbw Vale Three-quarter back 10 0 3 4 17
Bill Jukes Hunslet Forward 12 3 10 0 30
Herbert Kershaw Wakefield Trinity Forward 10 2 5 0 15
Jim Leytham Wigan Three-quarter back 12 3 12 5 46
James Lomas (c) Salford Three-quarter back 13 3 10 53 136
Tommy Newbould Wakefield Trinity Half-back 7 1 2 0 6
Dick Ramsdale Wigan Forward 7 2 2 0 6
Joe Riley Halifax Three-quarter back 9 1 11 0 33
George Ruddick Broughton Rangers Forward 9 1 2 0 6
Jim Sharrock Wigan Full-back 9 3 0 3 6
Frank Shugars Warrington Forward 12 1 1 0 3
Fred Smith Hunslet Half-back 12 2 4 0 12
Johnny Thomas Wigan Half-back 12 3 7 12 45
Billy Ward Leeds Forward 4 1 1 0 3
Fred Webster Leeds Forward 14 3 3 0 9
Billy Winstanley Leigh Forward 14 2 5 0 15
Frank Young Leeds Full-back 2 0 0 0 0

Australian leg

[edit]

The Australian leg of the tour took place during the 1910 NSWRFL season, the third season of rugby league football in Australia since the game's split from rugby union.

Test Venues

[edit]

The two Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Versus New South Wales

[edit]

Before the test series, the British played three matches against New South Wales, losing the first 14 – 28 and the second 20 – 27.

10,000 people saw the match on 29 May whose margin never went beyond more than five points.[11]

11 June
New South Wales 10 – 23 Northern Union
Tries:
Jack Hickey, Dally Messenger
Goals:
Dally Messenger (2) 		Tries:
James Lomas (2), Frank Shugars
Goals:
James Lomas (4)
Jim Leytham (1)
Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 27,000[12]

This was the third match and first win of the visitors' series against New South Wales, with their captain, Jim Lomas featuring prominently.[13]

Ashes series

[edit]

Sydney's Royal Agricultural Showground was the venue for the first Ashes test on Australian soil.[14] Five former Wallaby teammates made their rugby league test debuts for Australia in this match: Charles Russell, John Barnett, Bob Craig, Jack Hickey, and Chris McKivat.

18 June
Australia  20 – 27 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
John Barnett
Jack Hickey
Dally Messenger
Charlie Woodhead
Goals:
Dally Messenger (4) 		Tries:
Bill Jukes, (3)
Jim Leytham (2)
Billy Batten
Johnny Thomas
Goals:
Jim Leytham (1)
James Lomas (1)
Johnny Thomas (1)
Royal Agricultural Showground, Sydney
Attendance: 42,000
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.
Australia Posit. Northern Union
Charles Russell FB Jim Sharrock
Charles Woodhead WG Jim Leytham
Jack Hickey CE Jim Lomas (c)
Dally Messenger (c) CE Bert Jenkins
Albert Broomham WG Billy Batten
Bill Farnsworth FE/SO Johnny Thomas
Chris McKivat HB/SH Tommy Newbould
Bill Noble PR Billy Ward
John Barnett HK Fred Webster
Bill Spence PR Bill Jukes
Ed Courtney SR Dick Ramsdale
Con Sullivan SR Ephraim Curzon
Robert Craig LF Albert Avery

This day also featured a goal-kicking contest between the two sides' captains, Dally Messenger and Jim Lomas, won 3-2 by Lomas

Australia Posit. Northern Union
Doug McGregor FB Jim Sharrock
Charles Woodhead WG Billy Batten
Jack Hickey CE Jim Lomas (c)
Herbert Messenger CE Joe Riley
Bill Heidke (c) WG Jim Leytham
Bill Farnsworth FE/SO Fred Smith
Chris McKivat HB/SH Tommy Newbould
Herb Brackenrigg PR George Ruddick
Robert Craig HK Herbert Kershaw
Edward Buckley PR Fred Webster
Bob Tubman SR Bill Jukes
John Barnett SR Billy Winstanley
Harold Nicholson LF Dick Ramsdale

This match also featured a goal-kicking contest, between Dally Messenger, Jim Lomas and Herb Brackenrigg, which the latter won. Queensland's Bill Heidke was awarded the captaincy for this match, the first non-New South Welshman to achieve this honour.[16] In the second test, Australia had gotten off to an early lead over the visitors at 11 nil. Jim Leytham's four tries in this match would remain an unbeaten Ashes record.[17]

The British had thus won the series in two tests.[18][19]

The British team in Brisbane.

Versus Australasia

[edit]

It was decided that after the Ashes series, a combined "Australasia" team, comprising the best players of Australia and New Zealand would play a series of matches against the touring Britons. The Australian jersey's sky blue with maroon hoops had black hoops added to it for these matches.[20]

9 July
Australasia 13 – 13 Northern Union
Tries: V Farnsworth, E Courtney, C McKivatt
Goals: H Messenger (2) 		Tries: J Leytham, A Avery, B Winstanley
Goals: J Lomas, J Thomas
Royal Agricultural Society Showground, Sydney
Attendance: 45,000[21]
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

The British team were conveyed on to the ground by a group of "Jack tars" in port at Sydney who took the place of the horses that were to pull the drag.[22]

The first points came from an individual effort from Viv Farnsworth that led to him scoring in the corner. Great Britain replied with a penalty goal through Jim Lomas. Courtney got the next try, which Brackenrigg failed to convert. Then it was the visitors' turn to score, with a try to Leytham out wide. Lomas missed the kick, so Australasia were leading 8 – 5 at the half time break. They extended their lead to 13 – 5 before The British made a strong comeback to level the scores with a late try before full-time.[23]

13 July
Australasia 32 – 15 Northern Union
Tries:
V Farnsworth, H Messenger, H Brackenrigg, B Spence
Goals:
H Messenger (5), H Brackenrigg (3), C McKivat (2) 		Tries:
Riley (2), B Winstanley
Goals:
J Thomas (3)
Wentworth Park, Sydney
Attendance: 15,000[24]

At one stage Great Britain were leading 15 – 5 but at half time were trailing 15 – 17.[25] They scored no more points in the second half, as Australasia overran them.

In the evening following the match, the touring Britons left for New Zealand on the Maheno. The next time the two sides would meet was during the 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain.

New Zealand leg

[edit]
See also: 1910 New Zealand rugby league season

The British team arrived in Auckland on 17 July and were met by officials of the newly formed New Zealand Rugby League before being given a mayoral reception the following morning.[26] During the tour the Lions donated the Northern Union Cup which was awarded to Auckland for inter-provincial competition and is still contested today.[27]

20 July
Māori  0 – 29 Northern Union
Tries:
B Jenkins (4), J Lomas, F Smith
Goals:
J Lomas (4)
Victoria Park, Auckland
Attendance: 6,000[28]
Referee: Mr Sharrock

The first match was played in weather described as atrocious against a New Zealand Māori team captained by Whiri Winiata and featuring Albert Asher who had played with the victorious Australasia team back in Australia. The first international try scored on New Zealand soil was by Halifax winger, Joe Riley[citation needed] and this was followed by a hat-trick of tries by Wigan centre Bert Jenkins. Great Britain led 23 – 0 at half-time. In the second half, Fred Smith scored a fourth try for the visitors.

23 July
Auckland 9 – 52 Northern Union
Tries:
Seagar, A Asher, Griffin
Goals:
Jackson 0/2 		Tries:
Jenkins, Jukes (2), Avery, Riley (3), Leytham (2), Kershaw, Lomas, Winstanley
Goals:
Lomas 8/11, Leytham 1/1
Victoria Park, Auckland
Attendance: 10,000[29]
Referee: Jack Stanaway

The Auckland side was; Alf Chorley, L Nolan, G Smith, Albert Asher, Alf Jackson, Ronald MacDonald, Len Farrant, Fred Jackson (c), Charles Dunning, Jim Griffin, Alex Stanaway, H Fricker, George Seagar. Emergencies; Syd Riley, Arthur Carlaw, J Bennett, Jim Rukutai, Bob Mitchell.[30]

{{{date}}}
Rotorua 18 – 54 Northern Union
Nirai McRae[31]

Versus New Zealand

[edit]

New Zealand wore the colours of Red and Yellow with Black bands for the Test match. It was the only time that they wore these colours.[32]

30 July
New Zealand  20 – 52 United Kingdom Northern Union
Tries:
Ernie Buckland
Ned Hughes
Ronald MacDonald
George Seagar



Goals:
Fred Jackson (4) 		[1]
 Tries:
Albert Avery (3)
Bert Jenkins (2)
Herbert Kershaw (2)
Jim Leytham (2)
Jim Lomas
Fred Smith
Johnny Thomas
Goals:
Jim Lomas (6)
Johnny Thomas (1)
Field Goals:
Jim Sharrock (1)
Domain Cricket Ground, Auckland
Attendance: 16,000
Referee: Jack Stanaway
New Zealand Posit. Northern Union
Alf Chorley FB Jim Sharrock
Ernie Buckland WG Jim Leytham
Albert Asher CE Jim Lomas (c)
Ernie Asher CE Bert Jenkins
Charles James WG Billy Batten
Frank Woodward SO Johnny Thomas
Ronald MacDonald SH Fred Smith
Charles Dunning (c) PR Fred Webster
Pat Hannigan HK Billy Winstanley
Ned Hughes PR Herbert Kershaw
Fred Jackson SR Bill Jukes
George Seagar SR Frank Shugars
Jim Griffen LF Albert Avery

The touring British side had been invited to play another match in Australia, so left Auckland for Sydney on 1 August on the SS Maheno after a hearty send-off.[33]

Return leg

[edit]

On their way back to England, a portion of the touring Britons stopped in Sydney for one more game against a New South Wales second XIII, as there was already a New South Wales team playing against Queensland in Brisbane.

6 August
New South Wales 2nd XIII 12 – 50 Northern Union
Sydney
Attendance: 20,000[34]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Helm was injured on the journey to Australia and did not play in any games on the tour.[1]
  1. ^ a b c d Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.15 1909–1910. League Publications. p. 20.
  2. ^ "The History of Rugby League". Rugby League Information. napit.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  3. ^ Collins, Tony (2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A social and cultural History. UK: Routledge. p. 8. ISBN 0-415-39614-X.
  4. ^ Collins, Tony (2006). Rugby's great split: Class, Culture and the Origins of Rugby League Football. UK: Taylor & Francis. p. 199. ISBN 0-203-96997-9.
  5. ^ Barraclough, Neil. "Review". Best in the Northern Union, by Tom Mather. rugbyleaguebooks.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  6. ^ Wilson, Andy (10 June 2010). "England players see France romp as serious business". The Guardian. UK: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  7. ^ Tom Bergin; Dorothy N. Pearce; Stanley Shaw (1975). Salford: a City and its past. UK: City of Salford [Cultural Services Department]. p. 134. ISBN 978-0-904981-00-1.
  8. ^ newsandstar.co.uk (17 March 2010). "Name Man of the Match Award after Cumberland Legend". News & Star. UK: CN Group. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012.
  9. ^ "NORTHERN UNION TEAM". Evening Post. Vol. LXXIX, no. 113. New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. 14 May 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  10. ^ "The British (N.R.U.) Football Team". Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  11. ^ United Press Association (30 May 1910). "NELSON RUGBY LEAGUE". Colonist. Vol. LII, no. 12806. New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  12. ^ Wanderer (15 June 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 54. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  13. ^ "NORTHERN UNION TEAM". The Evening Post. Vol. LXXIX, no. 137. New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. 13 June 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  14. ^ McAteer, Paddy (1 February 2010). "Pride of Lions lives on". North-West Evening Mail. UK: CN Group. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012.
  15. ^ The Wanderer (6 July 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. p. 62.
  16. ^ Lex Marinos (2008). From a Federation Game to a League of Nations (PDF). Australia: Australian Society for Sports History. p. 7.
  17. ^ "New trophy will honour Lancaster's rugby great". Lancashire Evening Post. UK: Johnston Publishing Ltd. 12 December 2003. Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  18. ^ Fagan, Sean (2010). "Australian Rugby League – Results". RL1908.com. Australia. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  19. ^ news.bbc.co.uk (16 October 2001). "Ashes battles of the past". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  20. ^ Fagan, Sean (2009). "To Wattle Gold and Gum Green Jerseys". RL1908.com. Australia. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  21. ^ "NORTHERN LEAGUE". The Evening Post. Vol. LXXX, no. 9. New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. 11 July 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  22. ^ Wanderer (13 July 1910). "Football". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 55. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  23. ^ Fagan, Sean (2009). The Meeting of the Giants. Australia: RL1908.com. Archived from the original on 21 October 2006. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  24. ^ Wanderer (20 July 1910). "Football". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 55. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  25. ^ Press Association (14 July 1910). "Football". Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. XXXVII, no. 12198. New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. p. 7. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  26. ^ Press Association (18 July 1910). "English Team in Auckland". Evening Post. Vol. LXXX, no. 15. New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  27. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.39.
  28. ^ John Coffey; Bernie Wood (2008). 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908–2008. New Zealand: Huia Publishers. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
  29. ^ "FOOTBALL". Evening Post. Vol. LXXX, no. 21. New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. 25 July 1910. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  30. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  31. ^ John Coffey; Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008. Huia Publishers. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
  32. ^ John Coffey and Bernie Wood, The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League, Hodder Moa, Auckland, 2007, p. 39.
  33. ^ Press Association (2 August 1910). "The British Northern Team". Poverty Bay Herald. Vol. XXXVII, no. 12214. New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 7. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  34. ^ Wanderer (10 August 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 63. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
[edit]
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