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Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame |
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Test Matches - Australia - New Zealand - Australia and New Zealand 1958
Details from The Vault and Roland Davis "Great Britain Rugby League Tours"
Alan Prescott, the St. Helens prop making his second tour, led the side. Although he was only to play nine games on the tour, his performance in his last (and his last ever for Great Britain) will ensure his place in history forever. "Prescott's Epic", or the "Battle of Brisbane", ranks alongside Harold Wagstaff's "Rorke's Drift Test" as the greatest performance by any Rugby League team; arguably any team representing this country in ANY sport. The tour started badly with differences of opinion between players and management, but after the first Test defeat in Sydney the Lions did not lose another game until the first Kiwi Test in Auckland - the only defeat in the last 22 games. Jim Brough, a Lion in 1928 and Lions captain in 1936, was the first coach to be in charge of a Lions side. Over 1,000 points were scored on the tour, the only time this has been achieved, and Mick Sullivan scored 38 tries to beat Billy Boston's record from 1954. Warrington's Eric Fraser became only the third Lion to kick a century of goals, with 110 and with 6 tries making him the top points scorer. Winger Ike Southward and centre Eric Ashton both scored ore than 100 points; second rower Mick Martyn scored a record 23 tries for a touring forward; and another second rower Dick Huddart made most (24) appearances. Alex Murphy became the youngest Lion, playing in all three Kangaroo and one Kiwi Test. When hooker Tommy Harris missed the first test in New Zealand a Lions team took the field without a Welshman for the first time in over half a century.
First Test, Saturday 14th June 1958. Back to top Australia 25 Great Britain 8 Australia: Clifford (5g); Kite (t), Wells, Carlson (t), Moir; Brown, Holman; Davies, Kearney, Marsh, Mossop (t), Provan (t), O'Shea (t) Great Britain: E Fraser; I Southward (t,g), P Jackson, A Davies, M Sullivan; D Bolton (t), A Murphy; A Prescott, T Harris, A Terry, M Martyn, B Edgar, J Whiteley Second Test, Saturday 5thJuly 1958. Back to top Australia 18 Great Britain 25 Australia: Clifford (3g); Kite, Hawick, Carlson (t), Dimond (t); Brown, Holman (t); Davies, Kearney, Marsh (t), Mossop, Provan, O'Shea Great Britain: E Fraser (5g); I Southward (2t), E Ashton, J Challinor (t), M Sullivan (t); D Bolton, A Murphy (t); A Prescott, T Harris, B McTigue, R Huddart, J Whiteley, V Karalius Third Test, Saturday 19th July 1958. Back to top Australia 17 Great Britain 40 Australia: Clifford (4g); Moir, Wells, Carlson, Dimond; Hawick (t), Holman (t); Davies, Kearney, Marsh, Mossop, Provan, O'Shea Great Britain: E Fraser (8g); I Southward (t), E Ashton, A Davies (t), M Sullivan (3t); P Jackson, A Murphy (t); A Terry (t), T Harris, B McTigue, R Huddart, J Whiteley (t), V Karalius
First New Zealand Test. Back to top New Zealand 15 Great Britain 10 New Zealand: Eastlake (3g); Hadfield (t), Griffiths, Turner, Denton; Menzies, Roberts; Ratima, Butterfield, Maxwell, Johnson, Kilkelly, Percy (2t) Great Britain: E Fraser (2g); F Carlton, E Ashton, A Davies, M Sullivan (t); P Jackson (t), F Pitchford; B McTigue, A Ackerley, D Goodwin, R Huddart, J Whiteley (t), V Karalius Second New Zealand Test. Back to top New Zealand 15 Great Britain 32 New Zealand: Eastlake (3g); Hadfield (t), Griffiths, Turner, Denton; Menzies, Roberts (t); Ratima, Butterfield, Maxwell, Johnson, Kilkelly, Percy (t) Great Britain: E Fraser (7g);I Southward, E Ashton (2t), J Challinor, M Sullivan (3t); A Davies, A Murphy (t); B McTigue, T Harris, B Edgar, R Huddart, D Goodwin, V Karalius |
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