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1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

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1973 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
ManagerCharles Gibson
Albert Bishop
Coach(es)Graeme Langlands
Tour captain(s)Graeme Langlands
Bob McCarthy
Tom Raudonikis
Arthur Beetson
Top point scorer(s)Mick Cronin 77
Top try scorer(s)Bob Fulton 20
Top test point scorer(s)Bob Fulton 15
Top test try scorer(s)Bob Fulton 5
Summary
P W D L
Total
19 17 00 02
Test match
05 04 00 01
Opponent
P W D L
 Great Britain
3 2 0 1
 France
2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour1967-68
Next tour1978

The 1973 Kangaroo Tour was the thirteenth Kangaroo Tour, and saw the Australian national rugby league team travel to Europe and play nineteen matches against British and French club and representative rugby league teams, in addition to three Test matches against Great Britain and two Tests against the French. It followed the tour of 1967-68 and the next was staged in 1978.

The squad's leadership

[edit]

The team was captain-coached by Graeme Langlands making his third Kangaroo Tour. Managers of the team were Albert Bishop and Charlie Gibson with Alf Richards as the team trainer.

Touring squad

[edit]

The following players were in the touring squad.[1]

Player Club Position(s) Tests Games Tries Goals F/Goals Points
Arthur Beetson (vc) Eastern Suburbs Roosters Prop 5 16 3 0 0 9
Ray Branighan Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Centre, Wing, Fullback 4 13 7 2 0 25
Mick Cronin Gerringong Lions Centre 2 12 7 28 0 77
Graham Eadie Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Fullback 2 10 4 9 0 30
Bob Fulton Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Centre, Five-eighth 5 14 20 0 1 61
Ted Goodwin St George Dragons Wing, Centre 3 10 7 0 0 21
Bill Hamilton Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop 0 8 1 0 0 3
John Lang Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Qld) Hooker 1 7 2 0 0 6
Graeme Langlands (c) St George Dragons Fullback, Centre 1 8 4 27 0 66
Ken Maddison Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Second-row 4 13 6 0 0 18
Bob McCarthy (vc) South Sydney Rabbitohs Second-row 2 8 4 0 0 12
John O'Neill Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop 1 6 0 0 0 0
Bob O'Reilly Parramatta Eels Prop 4 13 0 0 0 0
Warren Orr Wests Panthers (Qld) Wing 0 6 4 0 0 12
Tim Pickup North Sydney Bears Five-eighth, Halfback 4 12 2 0 0 6
Greg Pierce Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Lock, Second-row 1 8 1 0 0 3
Terry Randall Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Second-row, Lock 0 5 1 0 0 3
Tom Raudonikis (vc) Western Suburbs Magpies Halfback 4 10 3 0 0 9
Steve Rogers Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 0 7 2 0 0 6
Paul Sait South Sydney Rabbitohs Second-row, Lock 4 13 2 0 0 6
Geoff Starling Balmain Tigers Centre, Lock 5 13 8 0 0 24
Gary Stevens South Sydney Rabbitohs Second-row 3 8 1 0 0 3
David Waite Wests Wollongong Wing 4 12 4 0 0 12
Elwyn Walters South Sydney Rabbitohs Hooker 4 15 2 0 0 6
Dennis Ward Western Suburbs Rosellas Halfback 0 8 1 0 0 3
Lionel Williamson Newtown Bluebags Wing 3 9 0 0 0 0

1973 NSWRFL Premiers Manly-Warringah provided a record 6 players to the Kangaroos.

Great Britain

[edit]

The Ashes series against Great Britain saw an aggregate crowd of 36,567 attending the Test series

Test Venues

[edit]

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

London Leeds Warrington
Wembley Headingley Wilderspool
Capacity: 100,000 Capacity: 30,000 Capacity: 15,000
Sunday, 30 September Salford 12 – 15 Australia The Willows, Salford
3.30pm
Tries: 2
Ian Holland
Keith Fielding
Goals: 3
David Watkins (3)
[1] [2]
Tries: 3
Bob Fulton (3)
Goals: 3
Graeme Langlands (3)

Attendance: 11,064
Gate £4,711
Referee: M. J. Naughton

Wednesday, 3 October Wakefield Trinity 9 – 13 Australia Belle Vue, Wakefield
Tries: 1
D. Topliss
Goals: 3
T. Crook (3)
[2] [3]
Tries: 3
Bill Hamilton
Steve Rogers
David Waite
Goals: 2
Graham Eadie (2)

Attendance: 5,863
Gate £2,004
Referee: R. Jackson

Sunday, 7 October Dewsbury 3 – 17 Australia Old Crown Flatt ground, Dewsbury
3.30pm
Tries: nil
Goals: 1
N. Stephenson
Field goals: 1
N. Stephenson
[3] [4]
Tries: 3
Bob Fulton (2)
Paul Sait
Goals: 4
Graeme Langlands (4)

Attendance: 5,865
Gate £2,059
Referee: G. Kershaw

Wednesday, 10 October Castleford 10 – 16 Australia Wheldon Road, Castleford
7.30pm
Tries: nil
Goals: 5
S. Lloyd (5)
[4]
Tries: 4
Graham Eadie
Mick Cronin
Ray Branighan
Ken Maddison
Goals: 2
Graham Eadie (2)

Attendance: 2,419
Gate £947
Referee: K. Allatt

Sunday, 14 October Widnes 10 – 25 Australia Naughton Park, Widnes
3.00pm
Tries: 2
T. Warburton
D. Macko
Goals: 2
R. Dutton (2)
[5] [5]
Tries: 7
Graeme Langlands (2)
Bob Fulton
Warren Orr
Tom Raudonikis
Gary Stevens
Bob McCarthy
Goals: 2
Graeme Langlands
Mick Cronin

Attendance: 5,185
Gate £1,710
Referee: Harry Hunt

Friday, 19 October Oldham 10 – 44 Australia Watersheddings, Oldham
7.30pm
Tries: 2
P. Astbury
J. Blair
Goals: 2
T. Clawson (2)
[6] [6]
Tries: 10
Geoff Starling (4)
Ken Maddison (2)
Bob McCarthy
Paul Sait
Ted Goodwin
Mick Cronin
Goals: 7
Mick Cronin (7)

Attendance: 2,895
Gate £991

Wednesday, 24 October Cumberland Cumbria 2 – 28 Australia Recreation Ground, Whitehaven
2.15pm
Tries: nil
Goals: 1
R. Nicholson
[7] [7]
Tries: 6
Ted Goodwin (2)
David Waite (2)
Graham Eadie
Mick Cronin
Goals: 5
Mick Cronin (5)

Attendance: 3,666
Gate £1,258
Referee: Mick Naughton

Sunday, 28 October Bradford Northern 14 – 50 Australia Odsal, Bradford
3.00pm
Tries: 2
A. Long
G. Joyce
Goals: 4
E. Tees (4)
[8] [8]
Tries: 12
Bob Fulton (4)
Tom Raudonikis (2)
Arthur Beetson (2)
Terry Randall
Tim Pickup
Ted Goodwin
Geoff Starling
Goals: 7
Graeme Langlands (7)

Attendance: 5,667
Referee: F. Lindop

The Ashes series

[edit]

First Test

[edit]

In the first rugby league international played at Wembley since 1963, the Lions shocked the then unbeaten Australian's 21-12 in front of just 9,874 fans. The match had been moved to Wembley from the Central Park ground in Wigan at the request of the Australian team management.

Saturday, 3 November 1973
Great Britain  21 – 12  Australia
Tries:
Phil Lowe (2)
Colin Clarke
Brian Lockwood
Goals:
Terry Clawson (4)
Field Goals:
Steve Nash (1)
[9] [10]
Tries:
Ray Branighan
Bob Fulton

Goals:
Graeme Langlands (3)
Wembley Stadium, London
Attendance: 9,874
Referee: Billy Thompson England
Player of the Match: Phil Lowe
Great Britain
Australia
FB 1 Paul Charlton
RW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)
RC 3 Syd Hynes
LC 4 Chris Hesketh
LW 5 John Atkinson
SO 6 David Topliss
SH 7 Steve Nash
PR 8 Terry Clawson
HK 9 Colin Clarke
PR 10 Brian Lockwood
SR 11 Phil Lowe
SR 12 George Nicholls
LK 13 Ray Batten
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
England Jim Challinor
FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)
RW 2 Ray Branighan
RC 3 Bob Fulton
LC 4 Geoff Starling
LW 5 Ted Goodwin
FE 6 Tim Pickup
HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR 8 Bob O'Reilly
HK 9 Elwyn Walters
PR 10 Arthur Beetson
SR 11 Bob McCarthy
SR 12 Ken Maddison
LF 13 Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Graeme Langlands

Wednesday, 7 November Hull Kingston Rovers 9 – 25 Australia Craven Park, Hull
7.30pm
Tries: 1
G. Dunn
Goals: 3
Roger Millward (3)
[9] [11]
Tries: 5
Mick Cronin (2)
Graham Eadie (2)
Bob McCarthy
Goals: 5
Mick Cronin (5)

Attendance: 5,150
Gate £1,747
Referee: P. Geraghty

Saturday, 10 November Huddersfield 2 – 32 Australia Fartown, Huddersfield
Tries: nil
Goals: 1
F. Davies
[10] [12]
Tries: 8
Bob Fulton (3)
Ray Branighan (2)
Arthur Beetson
David Waite
Mick Cronin
Goals:
Graeme Langlands (4)

Attendance: 1,333
Gate £451
Referee: R. Wood

Sunday, 11 November Leigh 4 – 31 Australia Hilton Park, Leigh
Tries: nil
Goals: 2
J. Fiddler (2)
[11]
Tries: 7
Graeme Langlands (2)
Ted Goodwin
Steve Rogers
Warren Orr
Tim Pickup
John Lang
Goals: 5
Graeme Langlands (5)

Attendance: 2,607
Gate £826
Referee: A. Givvons

Tuesday, 13 November St. Helens 11 – 7 Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens
Tries: 1
F. Wilson
Goals: 4
K. Coslett (4)
[12] [13]
Tries: 1
Geoff Starling
Goals: 2
Mick Cronin (2)

Attendance: 10,013
Gate £3,419
Referee: T. Keane

Sunday, 18 November Featherstone Rovers 13 – 18 Australia Post Office Road, Featherstone
3.00pm
Tries: 2
L. Tonks
W. Harris
Goals: 3
H. Box (3)
Field Goals: 1
S. Nash
[13]
Tries: 4
Ray Branighan (2)
Bob Fulton
Elwyn Walters
Goals: 3
Mick Cronin (3)

Attendance: 5,659
Gate £7,776
Referee: S. Shepherd

Second Test

[edit]

The second test at Headingley in Leeds saw the Australian's tie the series at one game all with a 14-6 win in front of the tours largest attendance of 16,674.

Saturday, 24 November 1973
Great Britain  6 – 14  Australia
Tries:

Goals:
Terry Clawson (3)
[14] [15]
Tries:
Bob McCarthy
Goals:
Graham Eadie (5)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 16,674
Referee: Billy Thompson England
Player of the Match: Graham Eadie
Great Britain
Australia
FB 1 Paul Charlton
RW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)
RC 3 Syd Hynes
LC 4 Chris Hesketh
LW 5 John Atkinson
SO 6 David Topliss
SH 7 Steve Nash
PR 8 Terry Clawson
HK 9 Colin Clarke
PR 10 Brian Lockwood
SR 11 Phil Lowe
SR 12 John Mantle
LK 13 Ray Batten
Substitutions:
IC 14 David Eckersley
IC 15 Colin Dixon
Coach:
England Jim Challinor
FB 1 Graham Eadie
RW 2 Lionel Williamson
RC 3 Geoff Starling
LC 4 Ray Branighan
LW 5 Ted Goodwin
FE 6 Bob Fulton
HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis
PR 8 Bob O'Reilly
HK 9 Elwyn Walters
PR 10 Arthur Beetson
SR 11 Bob McCarthy (c)
SR 12 Gary Stevens
LF 13 Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ken Maddison
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Graeme Langlands

Kangaroos captain-coach Graeme Langlands was ruled out of the second test with a broken hand. To replace him at fullback, Langlands selected Manly-Warringah's 19 year old dual premiership winning fullback Graham Eadie to make his test debut (Eadie, known affectionately as "Wombat", would turn 20 the next day). Eadie was also handed the goal kicking duties on the day and despite a very strong wind making conditions tricky for kickers, kicked 5 goals which proved vital in the Kangaroos 14-6 win over the Lions to keep The Ashes series alive.

After conceding 4 tries in the first test loss at Wembley, the Kangaroos kept their line intact with the Lions only scores coming from 3 goals by prop forward Terry Clawson.

Third Test

[edit]

The Kangaroos won back The Ashes with a hard fought 15-5 win in trying conditions at Warrington. The pitch at Wilderspool was frozen which suited the Australians who were used to playing on hard grounds at home.

Saturday, 1 December 1973
Great Britain  5 – 15  Australia
Tries:
Roger Millward



Goals:
Roger Millward
[16] [17]
Tries:
Ken Maddison (2)
Bob Fulton
Geoff Starling
Elwyn Walters
Goals:
Graham Eadie (0/4)
Ray Branighan (0/2)
Wilderspool, Warrington
Attendance: 10,019
Referee: Billy Thompson England
Player of the Match: Ken Maddison
Great Britain
Australia
FB 1 Paul Charlton
RW 2 Alan Smith
RC 3 Syd Hynes
LC 4 Chris Hesketh
LW 5 Clive Sullivan (c)
SO 6 David Eckersley
SH 7 Roger Millward
PR 8 Terry Clawson
HK 9 Colin Clarke
PR 10 Mick Harrison
SR 11 George Nicholls
SR 12 Phil Lowe
LK 13 Doug Laughton
Substitutions:
IC 14 David Watkins
IC 15 Colin Dixon
Coach:
England Jim Challinor
FB 1 Graham Eadie
RW 2 Lionel Williamson
RC 3 Geoff Starling
LC 4 Ray Branighan
LW 5 David Waite
FE 6 Bob Fulton
HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis (c)
PR 8 Bob O'Reilly
HK 9 Elwyn Walters
PR 10 Arthur Beetson
SR 11 Ken Maddison
SR 12 Gary Stevens
LF 13 Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC 14 Tim Pickup
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Graeme Langlands

With coach Graeme Langlands still out with a broken hand and looking on from the sidelines, the Kangaroos wrapped up the Ashes with a 15-5 win on the frozen ground at Wilderspool. Man of the match Ken Maddison crossed for two tries while Warrington born Bob Fulton, centre Geoff Starling and hooker Elwyn Walters also crossed for tries. For the Lions, their only score came from a try and goal from Hull Kingston Rovers halfback Roger Millward.

France

[edit]
Date Opponent Score Ground Referee Crowd Report
9 December France 9 – 21 Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan G. Jameau (FRA) 5,109
12 December France XIII 12 – 24 Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux 2,523
16 December France 3 – 14 Stade des Minimes, Toulouse M. Caillol (FRA) 7,060

French Tests

[edit]

First test

[edit]
Sunday, 9 December 1973
France  9 – 21  Australia
Tries:
Michel Molinier
André Ruiz

Goals
Roger Garrigue (1)

Field Goals:
Roger Garrigue (1)
[18]
Tries:
Bob Fulton (2)
Ted Goodwin (2)
Geoff Starling
Goals
Ray Branighan (2)
Michael Cronin (1)
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Attendance: 5,109
Referee: Georges Jameau France
France
Australia
FB 1 Maurice de Matos
RW 2 Serge Marsolan
RC 3 Michel Molinier
LC 4 André Ruiz
LW 5 Jean-Claude Marty
SO 6 Patrick Rives
SH 7 Roger Garrigue (c)
PR 8 Christian Carré
HK 9 Jacques Franc
PR 10 Charles Thénégal
SR 11 Jean-Jacques Cologni
SR 12 Jean-Paul Sauret
LK 13 Georges Bonet
Substitutions:
IC 14 Marius Frattini
IC 15 Serge Gleyzes
Coach:
FB 1 Ray Branighan
RW 2 Lionel Williamson
RC 3 Bob Fulton
LC 4 Michael Cronin
LW 5 David Waite
FE 6 Tim Pickup
HB 7 Tommy Raudonikis (c)
PR 8 Arthur Beetson
HK 9 John Lang
PR 10 John O'Neill
SR 11 Greg Pierce
SR 12 Elwyn Walters
LF 13 Geoff Starling
Substitutions:
IC 14 Ted Goodwin
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Graeme Langlands

Second Test

[edit]

Arthur Beetson became the first aboriginal player to captain Australia in a rugby league Test match.

Sunday, 16 December 1973
France  3 – 14  Australia
Tries:
Jacques Franc



Goals:
[19]
Tries:
Ray Branighan
Michael Cronin
Bob Fulton
Ken Maddison
Goals:
Michael Cronin (1)
Stade des Minimes, Toulouse
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Marcel Caillol France
France
Australia
FB 1 José Calle
RW 2 Serge Marsolan
RC 3 Michel Molinier
LC 4 André Ruiz
LW 5 Jean-Claude Marty
SO 6 Michel Mazaré
SH 7 Roger Garrigue (c)
PR 8 Victor Serrano
HK 9 Jacques Franc
PR 10 Christian Carré
SR 11 Jean-Paul Sauret
SR 12 Jean-Jacques Cologni
LK 13 Serge Gleyzes
Substitutions:
IC 14 Georges Bonet
IC 15 Lambert Brunet
Coach:
FB 1 Ray Branighan
RW 2 Ted Goodwin
RC 3 Michael Cronin
LC 4 Geoff Starling
LW 5 David Waite
FE 6 Bob Fulton
HB 7 Tim Pickup
PR 8 Bob O'Reilly
HK 9 Elwyn Walters
PR 10 Arthur Beetson (c)
SR 11 Ken Maddison
SR 12 Gary Stevens
LF 13 Paul Sait
Substitutions:
IC 14
IC 15
Coach:
Australia Graeme Langlands

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Christensen, E.E. (1974). E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book 1974. State Library of NSW, Sydney: New South Wales Rugby League. p. 46.
  2. ^ "Fulton's three tries for 'Roos". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 2 Oct 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  3. ^ "Rogers and Fulton impress". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Oct 1973. p. 20. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  4. ^ "Starling tops in league win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 9 Oct 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  5. ^ "Costly win for Kangaroos". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 16 Oct 1973. p. 20. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  6. ^ "Kangaroos hooker has neck injury". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 22 Oct 1973. p. 12. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  7. ^ "Eadie and Randall Test prospects". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 26 Oct 1973. p. 18. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  8. ^ "Starling rated best Kangaroo". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 30 Oct 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  9. ^ 1st Ashes Test
  10. ^ "Kangaroos lose first Test". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 5 Nov 1973. p. 12. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  11. ^ "Manly continues to seek Phil Lowe". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 9 Nov 1973. p. 22. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  12. ^ "Kangaroos score 32-2 victory". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 12 Nov 1973. p. 11. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  13. ^ "Eadie Injury A Blow To Kangaroos". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 15 Nov 1973. p. 26. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  14. ^ 2nd Ashes Test
  15. ^ "League series even after 14-6 win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 26 Nov 1973. p. 14. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  16. ^ 3rd Ashes Test
  17. ^ "15-5 victory clinches Test series". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 Dec 1973. p. 16. Retrieved 26 Dec 2021.
  18. ^ 1st Test - France vs Australia
  19. ^ 2ns Test - France vs Australia
[edit]