1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand

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The 1914 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the second ever

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 Northern Rugby Football Union to represent it on the tour of Australasia. The Union's tour manager was John Clifford.[2][3][4][5]

Name Club Position Appearances Tests Tries
Goals
 Points
Jack Chilcott Huddersfield Forward 11 3 1 0 3
James Clampitt
 		Broughton Rangers Forward 11 1 2 0 6
Douglas Clark Huddersfield Forward 6 3 1 0 3
Percy Coldrick Wigan Forward 10 4 6 0 18
William Davies Leeds Three-quarter back 13 2 13 2 43
Alfred Francis Hull Three-quarter back 3 0 6 0 18
Walter Guerin Hunslet Forward 8 0 1 14 31
Billy Hall Oldham Three-quarter back 12 4 6 0 18
Dave Holland
 		Oldham Forward 12 4 7 0 21
Billy Jarman Leeds Forward 9 2 3 1 11
Bert Jenkins Wigan Three-quarter back 10 2 8 0 24
Arthur Johnson Widnes Forward 12 2 7 2 25
Fred Longstaff Huddersfield Forward 8 2 2 4 14
Stan Moorhouse Huddersfield Three-quarter back 10 2 19 0 57
Jack O'Garra Widnes Half-back 8 0 5 0 15
Stuart Prosser Halifax Half-back 8 1 3 0 9
Dick Ramsdale Wigan Forward 9 4 1 0 3
Jack Robinson Rochdale Hornets Three-quarter back 5 2 4 3 18
Johnny Rogers Huddersfield Half-back 7 1 2 3 12
Walter Roman Rochdale Hornets Forward 7 0 1 0 3
John Smales Hunslet Forward 7 0 2 0 6
Fred Smith
 		Hunslet Half-back 12 4 2 0 6
Gwyn Thomas Wigan Full-back 6 1 1 3 9
Harold Wagstaff (c) Huddersfield Three-quarter back 13 4 11 4 41
Frank Williams Halifax Three-quarter back 7 2 7 0 21
Alf Wood
 		Oldham Full-back 9 2 1 47 97

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.[6]

The Australian team was captained in all three

Ashes Tests by North Sydney skipper Sid Deane.[7]

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
Sunday 24 May
South Australia
0 – 101
Northern Union
 		Hawthorn Oval, Adelaide
Tries:

Goals: 		[8] Tries:
Alf Wood

Goals:
Alf Wood (15)
Jack Robinson (1)
Attendance: 2,500

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:

Dave Holland, Percy Coldrick, John Smales

Saturday 6 June
Metropolis
38 – 10
Northern Union
 		Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Harold Horder (2), Sid Deane, Arthur Halloway, Bill Kelly, Ray Norman
Goals:
Wally Messenger (9)
Field Goals:
Howard Hallett (1) 		[9] Tries:
Dave Holland, Stuart Prosser
Goals:
Joseph Guerin (1)
Johnny Rogers
(1)
Attendance: 50,257
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

Metropolis:

Ed Courtney, Frank Burge

Northern Union:

Dave Holland, John Smales

Monday 8 June New South Wales 11 – 3
Northern Union
 		Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Tries:
Bill Kelly, Ray Norman
Goals:
Harold Horder (3)
Wally Messenger (1) 		[10] Tries:
Harold Wagstaff
Goals:
Attendance: 49,000
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

NSW:

Ed Courtney, Frank Burge. Res – Charles Fraser

Northern Union:

Dave Holland, Jack Chilcott

Saturday 13 June
Queensland
10 – 18
Northern Union
Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
Tries:
Herbert McCabe, Charles Scott
Goals:
Henry Bolewski (2) 		[11] Tries:
Alfred Francis (2), Frank Williams (2)
Goals:
Gwyn Thomas (1)
Joseph Guerin (1)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: C. Turner

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:

Fred Smith, Jack O'Garra, Joseph Guerin, Douglas Clark, Fred Longstaff, Dick Ramsdale, John Smales, Jack Chilcott

Wednesday 17 June Ipswich 8 – 45
Northern Union
 		North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich
Tries:

Goals: 		[12] Tries:
Alfred Francis (5), Stan Moorhouse (3), Harold Wagstaff (2), Arthur Johnson
Goals:
Harold Wagstaff (4)
Billy Jarman (1)
Arthur Johnson (1)
Attendance: 2,000

Northern Union:

James Clampitt, Walter Roman, Percy Coldrick, Fred Longstaff

Saturday 20 June
Queensland
8 – 22
Northern Union
Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
Tries:

Goals:
Henry Bolewski (4) 		[13] Tries:
Stan Moorhouse (2), Percy Coldrick, Billy Hall, Johnny Rogers, Harold Wagstaff
Goals:
Fred Longstaff (1)
Gwyn Thomas (1)
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Jack Roche

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

Wednesday 24 June Newcastle 18 – 35
Northern Union
 		Newcastle Sports Ground, Newcastle
Tries:
Arthur Baber, J. Coleman, W. Coleman, P. Scully
Goals:
W. Coleman (1)
J. Maloney (1)
P. Scully (1) 		[14] Tries:
Alf Wood
(4)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: E. Rees

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:

Dave Holland, John Smales, Arthur Johnson

First test

Future

ANZAC Test
would be named.

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



Goals:
Henry Bolewski (1) 		[18]
 Tries:
Stan Moorhouse (2)
Doug Clark
Dave Holland
Jack Robinson
Goals:
Fred Longstaff (2)
Jack Robinson (2)
Australia
Northern Union
FB 1 Howard Hallett
WG 2 Henry Bolewski
CE 3 Sid Deane (c)
CE 4 Bill Kelly
WG 5 Harold Horder
FE 6 Ray Norman
HB 7 Arthur Halloway
PR 13
Ed Courtney
HK 12 Sandy Pearce
PR 11 Frank Burge
SR 10 Con Sullivan
SR 9
Paddy McCue
LK 8 Jack Watkins
Coach:
FB 1 Billy Jarman
WG 2 Jack Robinson
CE 3 Bert Jenkins
CE 4 Harold Wagstaff (c)
WG 5 Stan Moorhouse
SO 6 Billy Hall
SH 7
Fred Smith
PR 13
Dave Holland
HK 12 Percy Coldrick
PR 11 Dick Ramsdale
SR 10 Jack Chilcott
SR 9 Fred Longstaff
LF 8 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.[19] Henry Bolewski was the only Queensland player selected in the Australian side.

Second test

Monday 29 June
Australia  12 – 7
Northern Union
Tries:
Frank Burge
Charles Fraser
Wally Messenger
Goals:
Wally Messenger (3) 		[20]
 Tries:
Percy Coldrick


Goals:
Johnny Rogers (2)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.
Australia
Northern Union
FB 1 Howard Hallett
WG 2 Dan Frawley
CE 3 Sid Deane (c)
CE 4 Wally Messenger
WG 5 Bob Tidyman
FE 6 Charles Fraser
HB 7 Arthur Halloway
PR 13
Ed Courtney
HK 12 Sandy Pearce
PR 11 Frank Burge
SR 10 Bob Craig
SR 9 Con Sullivan
LK 8 Billy Cann
Coach:
FB 1 Gwyn Thomas
WG 2 Frank Williams
CE 3 Harold Wagstaff (c)
CE 4 Billy Hall
WG 5 Jack Robinson
SO 6 Johnny Rogers
SH 7
Fred Smith
PR 13 Billy Jarman
HK 12 Dick Ramsdale
PR 11 Percy Coldrick
SR 10
Dave Holland
SR 9 Douglas Clark
LF 8 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.[21]

Thursday 2 July Western Districts 3 – 42
Northern Union
 		Bathurst Showgrounds, Bathurst
Tries:
A. Dawson
Goals: 		[22] Tries:
Alf Wood
(2)
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: E. Rees

Western Districts: 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:

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. Melbourne had to wait another 78 years until they hosted their first test, in the Ashes Series of 1992. 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.[23] The tourists were instructed by the Northern Union officials to play and do their duty for England.[24]

Saturday 4 July
Australia  6 – 14
Northern Union
Tries:
Wally Messenger[25]
Sid Deane
Goals: 		[26]
 Tries:
Alf Wood
(4)
Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 34,420
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.
Australia
Northern Union
FB 1 Howard Hallett
WG 2 Bob Tidyman
CE 3 Wally Messenger
CE 4 Sid Deane (c)
WG 5 Dan Frawley
FE 6 Charles Fraser
HB 7 Arthur Halloway
PR 13
Ed Courtney
HK 12 Sandy Pearce
PR 11 Frank Burge
SR 10 Con Sullivan
SR 9 Bob Craig
LK 8 Billy Cann
Coach:
FB 1
Alf Wood
WG 2 Frank Williams
CE 3 Harold Wagstaff (c)
CE 4 Billy Hall
WG 5 William Davies
SO 6 Stuart Prosser
SH 7
Fred Smith
PR 13 Jack Chilcott
HK 12 Dick Ramsdale
PR 11 Percy Coldrick
SR 10
Dave Holland
SR 9 Douglas Clark
LF 8 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.[27] 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.[28] '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.[29] This lifted his teammates in defence and the British managed to win 14–6.

Saturday 15 August New South Wales 15 – 21
Northern Union
 		Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Tries:
Sid Pearce, Bob Tidyman
Goals:
Albert Burge
(3) 		[30] Tries:
Alf Wood
(6)
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Tom McMahon Sr.

NSW:

Ed Courtney, Bob Craig, Albert Burge, Frank Burge
. Res –

Northern Union:

James Clampitt, Dick Ramsdale, Fred Longstaff, Jack Chilcott, Arthur Johnson

This game was played on the return leg from New Zealand

New Zealand

See also: 1914 New Zealand rugby league season

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

Saturday 11 July Wellington 7 – 14
Northern Union
 		Newtown Park, Wellington
Tries:

Goals: 		[31] Tries:
Jack Chilcott, Billy Hall, Joseph Houghton, Gwyn Thomas
Goals:
Joseph Guerin (1)
Attendance: 5,000

Northern Union:

James Clampitt

Saturday 18 July Hawke's Bay 7 – 30
Northern Union
 		Nelson Park, Napier
Tries:

Goals: 		[32] Tries:

Goals:
Attendance: 4,000
Thursday 23 July Taranaki 11 – 43
Northern Union
 		Taumata Park, Eltham
Tries:

Goals: 		[33] Tries:

Goals:
Attendance: 2,000
Saturday 25 July Auckland 12 – 34
Northern Union
 		Auckland Domain, Auckland
Tries:

Goals: 		[34] Tries:
Alf Wood
(5)
Attendance: 13,000

Auckland:

Charlie Savory, Joe Bennett, Stan Walters, Bob Mitchell, Harold Hayward, Jim Clark

Northern Union:

Dave Holland

Northern Union defeated Auckland 34–12 in front of 13,000 fans. The gate earned the Auckland Rugby League NZ£650.[35]

Thursday 30 July Wanganui 12 – 57
Northern Union
 		Cooks Gardens, Whanganui
Tries:

Goals: 		[36] Tries:
Alf Wood
(9)
Attendance: 3,000

Northern Union:

James Clampitt, Fred Longstaff, Percy Coldrick, Walter Roman

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

Goals:
Karl Ifwersen
(2) 		[37]
 Tries:
Alf Wood
(2)
Auckland Domain, Auckland
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: A. Ferguson New Zealand
New Zealand
Northern Union
FB 1 Arthur Hardgrave
WG 2 Karl Ifwersen
CE 3 Stan Weston
CE 4 George Bradley (c)
WG 5 Billy Wilson
FE 6 Frank Barclay
HB 7 Bill Bussell
PR 13 Charles Savory
HK 12 Ernest Button
PR 11 James Parker
SR 10 Vic Banks
SR 9 Bob Mitchell
LK 8 Stan Walters
Coach:
FB 1
Alf Wood
WG 2 William Davies
CE 3 Bert Jenkins
CE 4 Harold Wagstaff (c)
WG 5 Stan Moorhouse
SO 6 Billy Hall
SH 7
Fred Smith
PR 13
Dave Holland
HK 12 Percy Coldrick
PR 11 Dick Ramsdale
SR 10 Fred Longstaff
SR 9 Arthur Johnson
LF 8
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.[38]

References

  1. ^ Hadfield, David (11 July 2009). "Great Sporting Moments: Australia 18 Great Britain 25, Brisbane, 1958". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. 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. ^ Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.19 1913–1914. League Publications.
  6. ^ "Cheapening the Jumper". stevericketts.com.au. Stve Ricketts. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Sid Deane". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  8. ^ South Australia vs Northern Union
  9. ^ Metropolis vs Northern Union
  10. ^ New South Wales vs Northern Union
  11. ^ Queensland vs Northern Union
  12. ^ Ipswich vs Northern Union
  13. ^ Queensland vs Northern Union
  14. ^ Newcastle vs Northern Union
  15. ^ Cunneen, Chris. "Horder, Harold Norman (1894–1978)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  16. The Brisbane Courier
    . trove.nla.gov.au. 24 June 1914. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  17. ^ "Bill Kelly". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  18. ^ 1st Ashes Test
  19. ^ On this day Archived 2011-11-25 at the Wayback Machine at therhinos.co.uk
  20. ^ 2nd Ashes Test
  21. ^ "sportsmem.com.au". 1914 Australian RL Jersey Maroon & Blue Hoops. Michael Fahey – Sports Memorabilia Australia. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  22. ^ Western Districts vs Northern Union
  23. ^ "The Legend of Rorke's Drift". Sports Post. rl1895.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2004. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  24. ISBN 0-415-39614-X
    .
  25. ^ "Player Profile – Wally Messenger". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Archived from the original on 2012-08-27. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  26. ^ 3rd Ashes Test
  27. ^ rugby.widnes.tv. "Arthur Johnson". Hall of Fame. Widnes Vikings. Retrieved 11 May 2012.
  28. ISBN 1-86395-266-7
    .
  29. ^ "Arthur Johnson". Hall of Fame. Widnes RLFC. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  30. ^ New South Wales vs Northern Union
  31. ^ Wellington vs Northern Union
  32. ^ Hawke's Bay vs Northern Union
  33. ^ Taranaki vs Northern Union
  34. ^ Auckland vs Northern Union
  35. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4
    .
  36. ^ Wanganui vs Northern Union
  37. ^ New Zealand vs Northern Union
  38. ^ New Zealand vs England 1914 rugbyleagueproject.org
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