1970 Rugby League World Cup

1970 World Cup
Number of teams 4
Host country  England
Winner  Australia (3rd title)
Matches played 7
Attendance 68,710 (9,816 per match)
Points scored 205 (29.29 per match)
Top scorer Australia Eric Simms (37)
Top try scorer Australia John Cootes (5)
 < 1968
1972 > 

The fifth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Ashes, were hot favourites, and won all three of their group stage games. All the other nations lost two games each, and Australia qualified for the final largely on the back of an impressive tally of points against New Zealand.

The final was held at Headingley, Leeds. Although Great Britain dominated the possession, the Kangaroos were able to exploit their chances, and ran out unexpected winners in a scrappy game.

Australian centre Bob Fulton was named the official player of the tournament.

After winning the tournament, the Australian team put the World Cup trophy on display in the Midland Hotel, Bradford. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years.[1]

Squads

Australia

Billy Smith, Bob Fulton, Ron Turner, Eric Simms, Bob McCarthy, Ron Coote, Father John Cootes, Johnny Brown, Ray Brannighan, Bob O'Reilly, John O'Neill, Dennis Pittard, Garry Sullivan, Barry McTaggart, Mark Harris, Ron Costello, Paul Sait, Elwyn Walters, Lionel Williamson. Harry Bath (Coach).

New Zealand

Results

21 October
Australia  47–11  New Zealand
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 9,805

Australia beat the Kiwis easily at Wigan in the opening fixture with Eric Simms repeating his form of the 1968 tourney by landing a record ten goals.

24 October
Great Britain  11–4  Australia
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 15,084

Britain came from 0–4 behind to defeat Australia 11–4 at Headingley with Syd Hynes scoring the game's only try.

25 October
France  15–16  New Zealand
The Boulevard, Hull
Attendance: 3,824

The try of the tournament, however, was scored by the sensational French winger Serge Marsolan against New Zealand in a mud-bath at Hull. Marsolan ran from behind his own line for a try fit to win any match but the lackadaisical French lost 15–16.

28 October
Great Britain  6–0  France
Wheldon Road, Castleford
Attendance: 8,958

The French put up a great fight against Britain in vile conditions, only to lose 0–6 at Castleford to three penalties from Ray Dutton.

31 October
Great Britain  27–17  New Zealand
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 5,609

Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.[2]

1 November
Australia  15–17  France
Odsal Stadium, Bradford
Attendance: 6,654

This incredibly exciting game has been described as the tournament's piece de resistance. Aussie centre Bobby Fulton scored a try within seconds of the kick-off – probably the quickest ever in international matches. However, with ten minutes to go and the scores level at 15–15, the French stole the game when stand-off half Jean Capdouze dropped a monster goal. The Kangaroos' loss to France meant it was Australia's superior points differential (on the back of their pointsfest in the opening game against New Zealand) alone that got them into the final with the undefeated Great Britain team.

Table

Team Played Won Drew Lost  For  Against Difference Points
 Great Britain 3 3 0 0 44 21 +23 6
 Australia 3 1 0 2 66 39 +27 2
 France 3 1 0 2 32 37 −5 2
 New Zealand 3 1 0 2 44 89 −45 2

Final

8 November
Great Britain  7–12  Australia
1 Try:
John Atkinson

1 Goal:
Ray Dutton
1 Drop goal:
Syd Hynes		 2 Tries:
John Cootes
Lionel Williamson
2 Goals:
Eric Simms
1 Drop goal:
Eric Simms
Headingley, Leeds[3]
Attendance: 18,776
Referee/s: Fred Lindop[4] (Great Britain)
Great Britain Posit. Australia
1 Ray DuttonFB1 Eric Simms
2 Alan SmithWG2 Lionel Williamson
3 Syd HynesCE3 John Cootes
4 Frank Myler (c)CE4 Paul Sait
5 John AtkinsonWG5 Mark Harris
6 Mick ShoebottomFE6 Bob Fulton
7 Keith HepworthHB7 Billy Smith
8 Dennis HartleyPR8 John O'Neill
9 Tony FisherHK9 Ron Turner
10 Cliff WatsonPR10 Bob O'Reilly
11 Jimmmy ThompsonSR11 Bob McCarthy
12 Doug LaughtonSR12 Ron Costello
13 Malcolm ReillyLF13 Ron Coote (c)
Chris HeskethRes.Ray Branighan
Bob HaighRes.Elwyn Walters
Johnny WhiteleyCoachHarry Bath

Having retained the Ashes, Great Britain were favourites to win the final,[5] which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingly'[6] due to its brutality. However it went completely against expectations as Britain failed to play any decent football despite overwhelming possession. The Kangaroos led 5–4 at half-time with a try to Australian three-quarter, Father John Cootes. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12–7 victors. The game itself was an extended punch-up. The only surprise was that it took 79 minutes before anyone was sent off. Two sacrificial lambs, Billy Smith of Australia and Sid Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.

References

  1. ↑ "Trophy back home – after 20 years". The Sun-Herald (Fairfax Digital). 2 June 1990. p. 90. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  2. ↑ AAP; Reuter (2 November 1970). "Britain has easy Cup win". The Age. p. 18. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  3. ↑ Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" North West Evening Mail
  4. ↑ Ledger, John (10 October 2008). "Rematch descends into 'bloody mayhem'". Yorkshire Post (UK: Johnston Press Digital Publishing). Retrieved 1 January 2011.
  5. ↑ Kdouh, Fatima (28 November 2013). "We take a look back at the greatest Rugby League World Cup finals of all time". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Barnes, Steve (13 August 2006). "Questions & Answers". The Sunday Times (UK: Times Newspapers Ltd). Retrieved 1 January 2011.

External links