Ernest Ward

Not to be confused with the rugby league footballer of the 1900s for England, and Halifax, Ernest Ward
Ernest Ward
Personal information
Born 30 July 1920[1]
Died 1987
Playing information
Position Fullback, Centre, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
≤1941–53 Bradford Northern 391 117 538 1427
1953–56 Castleford 78 9 153 1 335
Total 469 126 691 1 1762
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1946–51 Wales 13 1 25 53
1941–52 England 19 2 26 58
1952 British Empire 1 4 8
1946–52 Great Britain 20 4 22 56
Coaching information
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1953–56 Castleford 105 29 5 71 28
As of 24 October 2012

Ernest Ward (30 July 1920 – 1987) was a Welsh rugby league footballer of the 1940s and '50s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, British Empire, Wales, and England, and at club level for Bradford Northern (Captain), and Castleford, as a Fullback, Centre, or Second-row, i.e. number 1, 3 or 4, or, 11 or 12, during the era of contested scrums, and coaching at club level for Castleford. Ernest Ward was a Private in the British Army during World War II.[2]

Playing career

Bradford Northern

In total he made 391 appearances for Bradford Northern, scoring 117 tries and 538 goals, for a total of 1427 points. He was awarded the Lance Todd Trophy for his man-of-the-match performance in 1949 Rugby League Challenge Cup final.

In September 2006 Ernest was inducted into the Bradford Bulls/Bradford Northern Hall of Fame.

International honours

Ernest Ward won caps for England while at Bradford Northern in 1941 against Wales, in 1945 against Wales (2 matches), in 1946 against France (2 matches), and Wales (2 matches), in 1947 against France, and Wales, in 1948 against France (2 matches), in 1949 against Wales, and France (2 matches), in 1950 against Wales (2 matches), and France, in 1952 against Other Nationalities (2 matches), and Wales, won caps for Wales while at Bradford Northern in 1946 against France, in 1947 against France, England, New Zealand, France, and England, in 1948 against France, England, France, and Australia, in 1949 against England, and France, and in 1951 against Other Nationalities (2 matches),[3] represented British Empire while at Bradford Northern in 1952 against New Zealand, and won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford Northern in 1946 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand, in 1947 against New Zealand (2 matches), in 1948 against Australia (3 matches), in 1950 against Australia (3 matches), and New Zealand (2 matches), in 1951 against New Zealand (3 matches), and in 1952 against Australia (3 matches).[4]

As of September 2010, With 26 goals, Ernest Ward is 4th in the list of England's all-time Goal Scorers, behind George Fairbairn, Andrew Farrell & Kevin Sinfield,[5] with 58 points he is 4th in the list of England's all-time Point Scorers, again behind George Fairbairn, Andrew Farrell & Kevin Sinfield.[6]

Rugby Football League Championship final appearances

Ernest Ward played in Bradford Northern's 26–20 aggregate victory over Halifax in the 1944–45 Rugby Football League Championship final; the 2–9 defeat at Thrum Hall, Halifax, and the 24–11 victory at Odsal Stadium, Bradford.

Challenge Cup Final Appearances

Ernest Ward played in Bradford Northern's 8–3 aggregate victory over Wigan in the 1943–44 Challenge Cup final; the 0–3 defeat at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 15 April 1944, and the 8–0 victory at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 22 April 1944, played and scored 2 conversions in the 8–4 victory over Leeds in the 1946–47 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 3 May 1947, played Centre, i.e. number 4 in the 3–8 defeat by Wigan in the 1947–48 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 1 May 1948,[7] and played, and was man of the match winning the Lance Todd Trophy in Bradford Northern's 12–0 victory over Halifax in the 1948–49 Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 7 May 1949.

County Cup final appearances

Ernest Ward played in Bradford Northern's 5–2 victory over Wakefield Trinity in the 1945 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1945–46 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 3 November 1945.

Other notable Games

Ernest Ward played Fullback for Northern Command XIII against a Rugby League XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 21 March 1942.[2]

Honoured at Bradford

Ernest Ward, has been included in Bradford's; 'Millennium Masters', 'Bull Masters', and in August 2007 he was named in the 'Team of the Century'. Only six players have been included in all three lists, they are; Karl Fairbank, Trevor Foster, James Lowes, Keith Mumby, Robbie Paul, and Ernest Ward.

References

  1. ↑ Ray French's 100 great Rugby League players. London: MacDonald/Queen Anne. 1989. ISBN 978-0-356-17578-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "inside programme, Northern Command v. A Rugby League XIII, 1942". rugbyleagueoralhistory.co.uk. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. ↑ "Top Goal Scorers at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Top Point Scorers at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. ↑ "1947–1948 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.

External links