Great Britain in Australia and New Zealand 1950

Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame

Test Matches - Australia - New Zealand - Australia and New Zealand 1950

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

Ernest Ward, making his second tour, led the side; but after winning the first Test 6-4, all remaining Tests were lost along with the Ashes for the first time in 30 years.

Wigan provided a record seven players for the First Test - Ryan, Ratcliffe, Ashcroft, Hilton, Bradshaw, Gee and Egan. Along with Jack Cunliffe they set a record of eight players from one club on tour.

Ernest Ward led the kicking again with 52, and with 7 tries as well toped the point scorers with 125. Former Harlequins and England Rugby Union player Tom Danby was top try scorer with 34.

The side attracted large crowds at all games, with an all time tour record of 70,419 against New South Wales at Sydney.

Australian Leg: Lost Test series 2-1

Western Australia	W 87-4	7,000	Perth
Morano Division	W 37-10	4,000	Canberra
Newcastle	W 21-10	22,210	Newcastle
Riverina Division	W 23-13	8,000	Cootamundra
New South Wales	W 20-13	70,419	Sydney
AUSTRALIA	W 6-4	47,215	Sydney
North Coast	W 37-7	7,542	Kempsey
Queensland	L 14-15	22,148	Brisbane
North Queensland	W 39-18	9,750	Townsville
Central Queensland	W 88-0	7,000	Rockhampton
Wide Bay & Burnett	W 84-9	5,100	Gympie
AUSTRALIA	L 3-15	35,000	Brisbane
Toowoomba	W 44-12	7,000	Toowoomba
Brisbane	W 18-8	15,100	Brisbane
Ipswich	W 18-13	5,000	Ipswich
Northern Division	W 41-4	5,400	Gunnedah
New South Wales	W 10-0	24,788	Sydney
Southern Division	L 11-18	7,500	Wollongong
AUSTRALIA	L 2-5	47,178	Sydney

Played 19; Won 15; Lost 4

For Tries 133; Goals 102; Points 603

Against Tries 22; Goals 56; Points 178

New Zealand Leg: Lost Test series 2-0

Wellington	W 40-15	4,500	Wellington
NEW ZEALAND	L 10-16	10,000	Christchurch
West Coast	W 21-15	5,500	Greymouth
Auckland	W 26-17	17,000	Auckland
South Auckland	W 51-5	4,000	Huntley
NEW ZEALAND	L 21-20	20,000	Auckland

Played 6; Won 4; Lost 2

For Tries 37; Goals 25; Points 161

Against Tries 16; Goals 20; Points 88

Tour Total: Played 25; Won 19; Lost 6

For Tries 170; Goals 127; Points 764

Against Tries 38; Goals 76; Points 266

	App	Tries	Gls	Pts
E Ashcroft (Wigan)	11	5	0	15
T Bradshaw (Wigan)	15	1	0	3
J Cunliffe (Wigan)	17	14	8	58
A Daniels (Halifax)	5	5	0	15
T Danby (Salford)	18	34	0	102
J Egan (Wigan)	15	3	0	9
J Featherstone (Warrington)	14	10	0	30
K Gee (Wigan)	14	1	9	21
E Gwyther (Belle Vue Rangers)	15	2	0	6
F Higgins (Widnes)	14	4	0	12
J Hilton (Wigan)	12	22	0	66
W Horne (Barrow)	5	2	13	32
J Ledgard (Leigh)	12	2	37	80
H Murphy (Wakefield Trinity)	13	2	1	8
D Naughton (Widnes)	8	2	0	6
F Osmond (Swinton)	10	4	0	12
A Pepperell (Workington Town)	11	7	0	21
D Phillips (Belle Vue Rangers)	12	7	0	21
R Pollard (Dewsbury)	9	5	6	27
G Ratcliffe (Wigan)	11	6	0	18
M Ryan (Wigan)	12	4	1	14
R Ryan (Warrington)	12	5	0	15
H Street (Dewsbury)	15	2	0	6
K Traill (Bradford Northern)	15	7	0	21
E Ward (Bradford Northern)	15	7	52	125
R Williams (Leeds)	15	7	0	21

First Test, Monday 12th June 1950. Back to top

Australia 4 Great Britain 6

Australia: Churchill; Pidding (2g), McRitchie, Middleton, Troy; Stanmore, Holman; Holland, Schubert, Hall, Thompson, Belin, Cowie

Great Britain: M Ryan; G Ratcliffe, E Ward, E Ashcroft, J Hilton (2t); R Williams, T Bradshaw; K Gee, J Egan, E Gwyther, R Ryan, F Higgins, H Street

Second Test, Saturday 1stJuly 1950. Back to top

Australia 15 Great Britain 3

Australia: Churchill (g); Flannery, Andrews, Middleton, Graves (t,g); Stanmore, Holman (t); Holland (g), Schubert, Thompson, Crocker, Belin, Cowie

Great Britain: J Ledgard; G Ratcliffe, E Ward, E Ashcroft, T Danby (t); R Williams, T Bradshaw; K Gee, J Egan, E Gwyther, H Murphy, F Higgins, H Street

Third Test, Saturday 22nd July 1950. Back to top

Australia 5 Great Britain 2

Australia: Churchill (g); Roberts (t), Middleton, McRitchie, Troy; Stanmore, Holman; Holland, Schubert, Hall, Crocker, Purcell, Cowie

Great Britain: J Ledgard; T Danby, E Ward (g), E Ashcroft, J Hilton; J Cunliffe, T Bradshaw; K Gee, J Egan, E Gwyther, D Phillips, F Higgins, H Street

First New Zealand Test. Back to top

New Zealand 16 Great Britain 10

New Zealand: White (5g); Forrest, Baxter, Robertson, Hough; Barchard (t), Haig; Newton, Davidson, Johnson, Hurndell, McBride, Hardwick (t)

Great Britain: J Ledgard; R Pollard (t), E Ashcroft, E Ward (2g), J Hilton; R Williams (t), A Pepperell; K Gee, J Egan, J Featherstone, R Ryan, F Higgins, K Traill

Second New Zealand Test. Back to top

New Zealand 20 Great Britain 13

New Zealand: White (2g); Forrest, Baxter, Robertson (t), Hough (t); Barchard (t), Haig (2t,g); Newton, Davidson (g), Johnson, Hurndell, McBride, Hardwick

Great Britain: J Cunliffe; T Dan, E Ward (t,2g), H Street, J Hilton; R Williams, T Bradshaw; K Gee, J Egan, J Featherstone (t), R Ryan (t), F Higgins, K Traill

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Last modified: 21 November 2008