England in Australia and New Zealand 1946

Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame

Test Matches - Australia - New Zealand - Australia and New Zealand 1946

Details from The Vault and Roland Davis "Great Britain Rugby League Tours"

Gus Risman, making is third tour, led the first post-war Lions, 14 years after his first. Australia were keen to resume Test football as soon as possible after the War, and after some debate the Rugby Football League agreed to send a Lions side.

With limited transport available, the tourists had to travel on the aircraft carrier the Indomitable. The Indomitables, as they became known, are the only side to remain unbeaten in winning an Ashes series in Australia.

Eleven of the party were Welshmen, one of whom, 19 stone Frank Whitcombe, made the most appearances. fellow Bradford Northern player Ernest Ward was the top points scorer. Wingers scored a massive 76 tries - Jim Lewthwaite (Barrow) 25, Arthur Bassett (Halifax) 18, Eric Batten (Bradford Northern) 18 and Albert Johnson (Warrington) 15. Bassett scored 5 tour in the only twp Tests of his career.

Eric Batten followed the footsteps of his famous father Billy, who was a member of the first tour in 1910. In the 94-0 defeat of Mackay, Ernest Ward scored 34 points from 17 goals, two records that still stand.

In the game at Ipswich the penalty count against the tourists was 18 to nil! Despite that they won 29-12.

Australian Leg: Won Test series 2-0, 1 draw

Southern Districts	W 36-14	6,135	Junee
Canberra	W 45-12	5,095	Canberra
New South Wales	W 14-10	51,354	Sydney
South Coast District	L 12-15	13,352	Wollongong
New South Wales	W 21-7	47,085	Sydney
Western District	W 33-2	8,318	Orange
Newcastle	L 13-18	17,134	Newcastle
AUSTRALIA	D 8-8	64,527	Sydney
Northern District	W 61-5	7,270	Tamworth
Queensland	L 24-25	21,500	Brisbane
Wide Bay	W 16-12	6,356	Bundaberg
Central Queensland	W 35-12	7,070	Rockhampton
North Queensland	W 55-16	7,567	Townsville
Mackay	W 94-0	5,044	Mackay
AUSTRALIA	W 14-5	40,500	Brisbane
Brisbane	W 21-15	15,722	Brisbane
Ipswich	W 29-12	5,237	Ipswich
Toowoomba	W 34-5	9,863	Toowoomba
North Coast	W 53-8	6,955	Grafton
AUSTRALIA	W 20-7	35,294	Sydney

Played 20; Won 16; Lost 3; Drew 1

For Tries 146; Goals 100; Points 638

Against Tries 36; Goals 45; Points 198

New Zealand Leg: Lost Test series 1-0

South Island	W 24-12	8,000	Christchurch
West Coast	L 8-17	4,000	Greymouth
Maoris	W 32-8	10,000	Wellington
Auckland	W 9-7	20,000	Auckland
South Auckland	W 42-12	3,000	Huntley
NEW ZEALAND	L 8-13	10,000	Auckland
Auckland	W 22-9	12,400	Auckland

Played 7; Won 5; Lost 2

For Tries 35; Goals 20; Points 145

Against Tries 12; Goals 21; Points 78

Tour Total: Played 27; Won 21; Lost 5

For Tries 181; Goals 120; Points 783

Against Tries 48; Goals 66; Points 276

	App	Tries	Gls	Pts
A Bassett (Halifax)	11	18	0	54
E Batten (Bradford Northern)	13	18	0	54
G Curran (Salford)	16	2	0	6
W Davies (Bradford Northern)	14	5	0	15
J Egan (Wigan)	17	6	0	18
T Foster (Bradford Northern)	10	1	0	3
K Gee (Wigan)	18	1	0	3
W Horne (Barrow)	14	9	6	39
W F Hughes (Workington Town)	13	4	0	12
D Jenkins (Leeds)	11	1	0	3
A Johnson (Warrington)	17	15	3	51
J Jones (Barrow)	11	1	1	5
J Kitching (Bradford Northern)	12	17	0	51
B Knowelden (Barrow)	13	15	0	45
J Lewthwaite (Barrow)	15	25	0	75
T McCue (Widnes)	15	0	0	0
H Murphy (Wakefield Trinity)	1	1	0	3
R Nicholson (Huddersfield)	11	5	0	15
I Owens (Leeds)	18	11	4	41
D Phillips (Oldham)	19	3	0	9
A Risman (Salford)	14	3	31	71
M Ryan (Wigan)	4	4	0	3
E Ward (Bradford Northern)	16	5	43	101
E H Ward (Wigan)	12	5	32	79
F Whitcombe (Bradford Northern)	19	3	0	9
L White (York)	18	6	0	18

First Test, Monday 17th June 1946. Back to top

Australia 8 England 8

Australia: Parkinson; Cooper (t), Jorgenson (g), Bailey (t), Newham; Devery, Grice; Farrell, Watt, Westaway, Clues, Kay, Mulligan

England: A Risman (g); E Batten, E Ward, J Kitching, A Johnson; W Horne (t), T McCue; K Gee, J Egan, F Whitcombe (t), L White, D Phillips, I Owens

Second Test, Saturday 6thJuly 1946. Back to top

Australia 5 England 14

Australia: Parkinson; Cooper (t), Bailey, Jorgenson (g), Newham; Devery, Grice; Farrell, Watt, Westaway, Clues, Kay, Hutchinson

England: E Ward (g); A Bassett (3t), A Risman, E H Ward, A Johnson (t); W Horne, T McCue; K Gee, J Egan, F Whitcombe, L White, D Phillips, I Owens

Third Test, Saturday 20th July 1946. Back to top

Australia 7 England 20

Australia: Parkinson; Cooper, Jorgenson (2g), Eather, White; Devery, Kennedy (t); Farrell, Watt, Armstrong, Clues, Kay, Mulligan

England: E Ward; E Batten, A Risman (3g), E H Ward (g), A Bassett (2t); W Horne, T McCue; K Gee, J Egan, G Curran (t), L White, D Phillips, I Owens (t)

New Zealand Test. Back to top

New Zealand 13 England 8

New Zealand: W S Clarke (5g); Mountford, Robertson, Jordan, Nurse; R J Clarke, Cunningham; Newton, Aynsley, Graham (t), McBride, Gillman, Hardwick

England: J Jones; E Batten (t), E Ward (t,g), B Knowelden, A Johnson; W Davies, T McCue; K Gee, G Curran, R Nicholson, L White, T Foster, I Owens

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Last modified: 21 November 2008