1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain
The 1911–12 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain was the second ever Kangaroo tour and was actually a tour by an "Australasian" squad including four New Zealand players in addition to twenty-four Australian representatives.[1] It took place over the British winter of 1911-12 and this time, to help promote the game of Rugby league in New Zealand, the Northern Rugby Football Union invited a combined Australian and New Zealand team. They became the first tourists to win the Ashes.[2] and the last to do so on British soil for over half a century.[3] The tour was a success in performance and organisation. Matches were well attended, the squad's touring payments were maintained throughout and the players all shared in a bonus at the tour's end.
Touring squad
Prior to the tour a three-way series of matches between New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand was organised as a basis of selection for the tour.[4] The New South Welshmen dominated the touring side, with four New Zealanders and only one Queenslander selected. However counted amongst the New South Welshmen was Con Sullivan, who had moved to Australia from New Zealand a few years before. Due to family and business commitments, rugby league great Dally Messenger declined to tour with the 1911-12 Kangaroos.[5] His friend and team-mate Sandy Pearce also chose not to go.[6] Chris McKivat who had captained the 1908 Wallabies to Olympic Gold was at age 32 a natural selection as tour captain. The Heads/Middleton reference describes McKivat as being revered on that tour – a magnificent general, tough, durable and an inspiration to the men around him. It quotes Johnny Quinlan the tour co-manager "He always set a splendid example in conduct and training – a natural leader"[7] Tour vice-captain was Paddy McCue. Tour managers were Charles H Ford and John Quinlan. The team sailed to England on the RMS Orvieto. The tourists were paid £4/5/ per week and received a bonus of £178 each.[8]
New South Wales
All eight teams of the New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership were represented in the touring squad.
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New Zealand
The New Zealand players that accompanied the Australians on tour have been listed in the Australian Rugby League's Kangaroos players register.[9]
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Queensland
Robert "Harold" Nicholson of Queensland was also selected for the tour but withdrew.[10]
Tour schedule
Played: 35 Won: 28 Drew: 2 Lost: 5 Ashes: Australia 2-0
Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Match 1 | 23 September 1911 | Midlands/Southern England | The Butts Ground, Coventry | Won | 20–11 | 3,000 |
Match 2 | 25 September 1911 | Yorkshire | Bramall Lane, Sheffield | Won | 33-13 | 4,000 |
Match 3 | 30 September 1911 | Broughton Rangers | Wheater's Field, Broughton | Won | 18-8 | 12,000 |
Match 4 | 2 October 1911 | Lancashire | Ewood Park, Blackburn | Won | 25-12 | 5,000 |
Match 5 | 7 October 1911 | Wales | Bridgend Field, Ebbw Vale, Wales | Won | 28-20 | 7,000 |
Match 6 | 11 October 1911 | Widnes | Lowerhouse Lane, Widnes | Won | 23-0 | 5,000 |
Match 7 | 14 October 1911 | St Helens RLFC | Knowsley Road, St Helens | Won | 16-5 | 12,000 |
Match 8 | 18 October 1911 | England XIII | Craven Cottage, London | Won | 11–6 | 6,000 |
Match 9 | 22 October 1911 | Hunslet | Parkside, Hunslet | Draw | 3–3 | 4,000 |
Match 10 | 25 October 1911 | Northern League XIII | Goodison Park, Everton | Won | 16-3 | 6,000 |
Match 11 | 28 October 1911 | Wigan | Central Park, Wigan[11] | Lost | 2-7 | 25,000 |
Match 12 | 1 November 1911 | Swinton | Station Road, Swinton | Won | 28-9 | 4,000 |
Match 13 | 4 November 1911 | Hull F.C. | The Boulevard, Hull | Won | 26-7 | 6,000 |
Match 14 | 8 November 1911 | England | St James' Park, Newcastle | Won | 19-10 | 5,317 |
Match 15 | 11 November 1911 | Oldham | The Watersheddings, Oldham | Lost | 8-14 | 10,000 |
Match 16 | 15 November 1911 | Leigh | Mather Lane, Leigh | Won | 13-12 | 6,000 |
Match 17 | 18 November 1911 | Wakefield Trinity | Belle Vue, Wakefield | Won | 24-10 | 5,000 |
Match 18 | 22 November 1911 | Cumberland | Athletic Ground, Maryport | Won | 5-2 | 6,000 |
Match 19 | 25 November 1911 | Barrow | Cavendish Park, Barrow-in-Furness | Won | 44-8 | 6,500 |
Match 20 | 29 Novembeer 1911 | Runcorn RFC | Canal Street, Runcorn | Won | 23-7 | 2,000 |
Match 21 | 2 December 1911 | Huddersfield | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield | Lost | 7-21 | 17,000 |
Match 22 | 6 December 1911 | England XIII | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | Lost | 3-5 | 3,000 |
Match 23 | 9 December 1911 | Salford | The Willows, Salford | Won | 6-3 | 4,000 |
Match 24 | 13 December 1911 | York | Wigginton Road, York | Won | 16-8 | 1,500 |
Match 25 | 16 December 1911 | England | Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland | Draw | 11-11 | 8,000 |
Match 26 | 20 December 1911 | / Wales/West England | Ashton Gate, Bristol | Won | 23-3 | 1,000 |
Match 27 | 23 December 1911 | Rochdale | Athletic Grounds, Rochdale | Won | 18-6 | 4,500 |
Match 28 | 26 December 1911 | Halifax | Thrum Hall, Halifax | Won | 23-5 | 10,000 |
Match 29 | 30 December 1911 | Warrington | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | Won | 34-6 | 8,500 |
Match 30 | 1 January 1912 | England | Villa Park, Birmingham | Won | 33-8 | 4,000 |
Match 31 | 6 January 1912 | Leeds | Headingley, Leeds | Won | 8-6 | 1,000 |
Match 32 | 13 January 1912 | Hull Kingston Rovers | Craven Street, Hull | Won | 5-2 | 7,000 |
Match 33 | 20 January 1912 | Barrow | Cavendish Park, Barrow-in-Furness | Won | 22-5 | 1,500 |
Match 34 | 27 January 1912 | Batley | Mount Pleasant, Batley | Lost | 5-13 | 2,000 |
Match 35 | 31 January 1912 | Northern League XIII | Central Park, Wigan | Won | 20-12 | 2,000 |
Match 36 | 3 February 1912 | Runcorn RFC | Canal Street, Runcorn | Won | 54-6 | 1,500 |
Test matches
First Ashes Test
Test # 12
8 November 1911 |
England | 10 – 19 | Australasia |
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Tries: Will Davies (2) Goals: Johnny Thomas (2) |
[12] | Tries: Viv Farnsworth (2) Howard Hallett Billy Cann Arthur Francis Goals: Billy Cann (1) Arthur Francis (1) |
In this match, Australia's Charles Fraser became Australia's youngest Test player at 18 years and 301 days, a record which would stand until 2007.
Second Ashes Test
Test # 13
16 December 1911 |
England | 11 – 11 | Australasia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Harold Wagstaff (2) Jim Lomas Goals: Alf Wood |
[13] | Tries: Dan Frawley Chris McKivat Charlie Russell Goals: Arthur Francis (1) |
McKivat lead the way for Australia dominating the rucks and scoring a vital try. Renowned Australian journalist Claude Corbett was acting as one of the touch judges and referee Renton, over-ruled his goal decision on one of the Australian conversion attempts. [14]
Third Ashes Test
Test # 14
1 January 1912 |
England | 8 – 33 | Australasia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Doug Clark Jim Lomas Goals: Alf Wood (1) |
[15] | Tries: Tom Berecry (2) Dan Frawley (2) Paddy McCue (2) Chris McKivat (2) Viv Farnsworth Goals: Dan Frawley (2) Herb Gilbert (1) |
Great Britain only needed to win the third Test to tie the series and keep the Ashes but were reduced to 12 men early in the encounter after an injury to Dick Ramsdale. Great Britain led 8-0 early but had no answer to the Australian attack as they ran in nine tries. [16]
This would be the first (and final) time the Kangaroos would win The Ashes on British soil until the 1963-64 Kangaroo tour.
References
- ↑ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
- ↑ "The history of rugby league". centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ Cunneen, Chris (2001). The best ever Australian Sports Writing. Australia: Black Inc. p. 321. ISBN 1-86395-266-7. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ Fagan, Sean. "New Zealand 'Kangaroos'". rl1908.com. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ Cuneen, Chris (2006). "Messenger, Herbert Henry (Dally) (1883 - 1959)". Australian dictionary of biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ Kristine, Corcoran. "Pearce, Sidney Charles (Sandy) (1883–1930)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ↑ Ian Heads & David Middleton (2008). A Centenary of Rugby League. MacMillan Publishers. p. 47.
- ↑ W. A. Cann (1946-06-12). "1908-09 Kangaroos blazed R. L. trail". Sydney Morning Herald, The. p. 9. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ ARL. "Australian Kangaroos players register". australianrugbyleague.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ QRL. "QRL History". Queensland representatives. qrl.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-06.
- ↑ "1911 Tour Match: Wigan 7 Australia 2". cherryandwhite.co.uk. RLFANS.COM. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
- ↑ 1st Ashes Test
- ↑ 2nd Ashes Test
- ↑ Alan Whiticker, Captaining the Kangaroos (2004) New Holland p44
- ↑ 3rd Ashes Test
- ↑ Alan Whiticker, Captaining the Kangaroos (2004) New Holland p44
External links
- "Australian tour of Great Britain". hunterlink.net. Archived from the original on 11 May 2006.
- Ashes series 1911 at rugbyleagueproject.org
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