1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand

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

The 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand was the first international tour of the Great Britain national rugby league team,[1] "The Lions". They played the second ever Ashes series against Australia 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[2] and helped set the pattern for regular, alternating test match series between Britain and Australia.[3] It is regarded as one of the most important events in the history of rugby league.[4]

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.[5] Led by Salford captain James Lomas,[6] 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.[7]

Touring squad

The team originally scheduled to tour consisted of eighteen internationals: nine English, eight Welsh and one Scottish.[8] 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.[9]

England

Wales

Scotland

Australian leg

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

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

Sydney Brisbane
Royal Agricultural Showground Brisbane Exhibition Ground
Capacity: 50,000 Capacity: 35,000

Versus New South Wales

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.[10]

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[11]

This was the third match and first win of the visitors' series against New South Wales, with their captain, Jim Lomas featuring prominently.[12]

Ashes series

Sydney's Royal Agricultural Showground was the venue for the first Ashes test on Australian soil.[13] Five former Wallaby team mates 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/s: Tom McMahon, Sr.
Australia Posit. Northern Union
Charles RussellFBJim Sharrock
Charles WoodheadWGJim Leytham
Jack HickeyCEJim Lomas (c)
Dally Messenger (c)CEBert Jenkins
Albert BroomhamWGBilly Batten
Bill FarnsworthFE/SOJohnny Thomas
Chris McKivatHB/SHTommy Newbould
Bill NoblePRBilly Ward
John BarnettHKFred Webster
Bill SpencePRBill Jukes
Ed CourtneySRDick Ramsdale
Con SullivanSREphraim Curzon
Robert CraigLFAlbert 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 McGregorFBJim Sharrock
Charles WoodheadWGBilly Batten
Jack HickeyCEJim Lomas (c)
Herbert MessengerCEJoe Riley
Bill Heidke (c)WGJim Leytham
Bill FarnsworthFE/SOFred Smith
Chris McKivatHB/SHTommy Newbould
Herb BrackenriggPRGeorge Ruddick
Robert CraigHKHerbert Kershaw
Edward BuckleyPRFred Webster
Bob TubmanSRBill Jukes
John BarnettSRBilly Winstanley
Harold NicholsonLFDick 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.[15] 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.[16]

The British had thus won the series in two tests.[17][18]

The British team in Brisbane.

Versus Australasia

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.[19]

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[20]
Referee/s: 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.[21]

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.[22]

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[23]

At one stage Great Britain were leading 15 – 5 but at half time were trailing 15 – 17.[24] 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

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.[25]

20 July
Aotearoa Māori  0 – 29 [[Image:|16px|]] Northern Union
Tries:
B Jenkins (4), J Lomas, F Smith
Goals:
J Lomas (4)
Victoria Park, Auckland
Attendance: 6,000[26]
Referee/s: 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 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[27]
Referee/s: 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.[28]

Rotorua 18 – 54 Northern Union
Nirai McRae[29]

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.[30]

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



Goals:
Fred Jackson (4)		 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/s: Jack Stanaway
New Zealand Posit. Northern Union
Alf ChorleyFBJim Sharrock
Ernie BucklandWGJim Leytham
Albert AsherCEJim Lomas (c)
Ernie AsherCEBert Jenkins
Charles JamesWGBilly Batten
Frank WoodwardFE/SOJohnny Thomas
Ronald MacDonaldHB/SHFred Smith
Charles Dunning (c)PRFred Webster
Pat HanniganHKBilly Winstanley
Ned HughesPRHerbert Kershaw
Fred JacksonSRBill Jukes
George SeagarSRFrank Shugars
Jim GriffenLFAlbert Avery

The touring 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.[31] During the tour the Lions donated the Northern Union Cup which was awarded to Auckland for inter-provincial competition and is still contested today.[32]

Return leg

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[33]

References

  1. ↑ "The History of Rugby League". Rugby League Information. napit.co.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
  2. ↑ Collins, Tony (2006). Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A social and cultural History. UK: Routledge. p. 8. ISBN 0-415-39614-X. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  3. ↑ 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. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  4. ↑ Barraclough, Neil. "Review". Best in the Northern Union, by Tom Mather. rugbyleaguebooks.com. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Andy (10 June 2010). "England players see France romp as serious business". guardian.co.uk. UK: Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  6. ↑ Tom Bergin; Dorothy N. Pearce; Stanley Shaw (1975). Salford: a City and its past. UK: City of Salford [Cultural Services Department]. p. 134. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  7. ↑ 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. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  8. ↑ "NORTHERN UNION TEAM". Evening Post. LXXIX (113). New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. 14 May 1910. p. 14. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  9. ↑ "The British (N.R.U.) Football Team". Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  10. ↑ United Press Association (30 May 1910). "NELSON RUGBY LEAGUE". Colonist. LII (12806). New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 1. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  11. ↑ Wanderer (15 June 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 54. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  12. ↑ "NORTHERN UNION TEAM". The Evening Post. LXXIX (137). New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. 13 June 1910. p. 3. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  13. ↑ 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. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  14. ↑ The Wanderer (6 July 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. p. 62.
  15. ↑ Lex Marinos (2008). From a Federation Game to a League of Nations (PDF). Australia: Australian Society for Sports History. p. 7.
  16. ↑ "New trophy will honour Lancaster's rugby great". Lancashire Evening Post. UK: Johnston Publishing Ltd. 12 December 2003. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  17. ↑ Fagan, Sean (2010). "Australian Rugby League – Results". RL1908.com. Australia. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  18. ↑ news.bbc.co.uk (16 October 2001). "Ashes battles of the past". BBC Sport. UK: BBC. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  19. ↑ Fagan, Sean (2009). "To Wattle Gold and Gum Green Jerseys". RL1908.com. Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  20. ↑ "NORTHERN LEAGUE". The Evening Post. LXXX (9). New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. 11 July 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  21. ↑ Wanderer (13 July 1910). "Football". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 55. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  22. ↑ Fagan, Sean (2009). The Meeting of the Giants. Australia: RL1908.com. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  23. ↑ Wanderer (20 July 1910). "Football". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 55. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  24. ↑ Press Association (14 July 1910). "Football". Poverty Bay Herald. XXXVII (12198). New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. p. 7. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  25. ↑ Press Association (18 July 1910). "English Team in Auckland". Evening Post. LXXX (15). New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 3. Retrieved 19 March 2011.
  26. ↑ John Coffey; Bernie Wood (2008). 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908–2008. New Zealand: Huia Publishers. p. 61. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  27. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Evening Post. LXXX (21). New Zealand: natlib.govt.nz. 25 July 1910. p. 11. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
  28. ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4.
  29. ↑ John Coffey; Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908–2008. Huia Publishers. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
  30. ↑ John Coffey and Bernie Wood, The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League, Hodder Moa, Auckland, 2007, p. 39.
  31. ↑ Press Association (2 August 1910). "The British Northern Team". Poverty Bay Herald. XXXVII (12214). New Zealand: National Library of New Zealand. p. 7. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  32. ↑ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.39.
  33. ↑ Wanderer (10 August 1910). "FOOTBALL". The Sydney Mail. Australia. p. 63. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
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