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Virtual Rugby League Hall of Fame |
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Test Matches - Australia - New Zealand - Australia and New Zealand 1974
Details from The Vault and Roland Davis "Great Britain Rugby League Tours"
Salford's Chris Hesketh led the side, which narrowly lost the Ashes 2-1 in the Third Test, and recovered from a First Test defeat in New Zealand to win that series 2-1. A number of Britain' top stars were committed to playing club football in Australia and were therefore not available. Previous Lions Phil Lowe and Doug Laughton; Bill Ashurst, Brian Lockwood and Mick Stephenson would have added valuable experience. Original selections Keith Fielding (Salford) and Mike Nicholas (Warrington) withdrew and were replaced by John Butler and Jimmy Thompson. John Atkinson and John Bates were forced home by injury, and replacements were sent for for the first time - Maurice Richards and Bill Ramsey. David Eckersley also returned home early but was not replaced. Alan and John Bates of Dewsbury became the third brothers to tour but John received a serious injury against Northern Division that ended his career. Injuries forced the use of 24 players in Tests, and coach Jim Challinor was presses into playing against South Island in Greymouth - 16 years after he had played as a Lion in 1958. John Gray was leading points scorer with 111, 53 goals (including one drop goal) and 2 tries. David Redfearn topped the try scorers with 18. Jimmy Thompson appeared in most games (21) - skipper Chris Hesketh featured in 20.
First Test, Saturday 15th June 1974. Back to top Australia 12 Great Britain 6 Australia: Langlands (4g); Orr (t), Fulton (dg), Cronin, Waite; Richardson, Raudonikis; O'Reilly, Walters, Beetson, Sait, Higgs, Coote. Great Britain: P Charlton; D Redfearn, D Watkins (g), C Hesketh, J Bevan; R Millward, S Nash; T Clawson (2g), J Bridges, J Mills, C Dixon, J Thompson, G Nicholls. Sub: D Eckersley for Bridges, J Gray for Nicholls Second Test, Saturday 6th July 1974. Back to top Australia11 Great Britain 16 Australia: Eadie; Waite, Fulton (t), Cronin (g), Orr; Richardson, Raudonikis; O'Reilly, Lang (t), Beetson, Sait, Stevens, Coote. Sub: Branighan for Eadie, McCarthy for O'Reilly Great Britain: P Charlton; L Dyl, D Eckersley, C Hesketh, R Millward; K Gill (t), S Nash; J Mills, J Gray, J Thompson, C Dixon (t), E Chisnall (t), G Nicholls. Sub: S Norton for Gray Third Test, Saturday 20th July 1974. Back to top Australia 22 Great Britain 18 Australia: Langlands (t,5g); Williamson (t), Fulton, Cronin, Branighan; Pickup, Raudonikis; Beetson, Turner, O'Neill, Stevens, McCarthy, Coote. Great Britain: P Charlton; M Richards (t), L Dyl (t), C Hesketh, J Bevan; K Gill, S Nash; T Clawson, J Gray (6g), J Thompson, C Dixon, E Chisnall, G Nicholls. Sub: R Millward for Gill
First New Zealand Test. Back to top New Zealand 13 Great Britain 8 New Zealand: Collicoat (5g); Brereton, Johnsen, O'Sullivan, Kerrigan; Williams, Stirling (t); Proctor, Burgoyne, Gailey, Greengrass, Coll, Ohr. Sub: Robertson for Proctor Great Britain: P Charlton; D Redfearn, L Dyl, C Hesketh, J Bevan (t); K Gill, S Nash (t); T Clawson (g), J Gray, J Thompson, C Dixon, S Norton, G Nicholls. Sub: K Ashcroft for Thompson Second New Zealand Test. Back to top New Zealand 8 Great Britain 17 New Zealand: Collicoat (4g); Brereton, O'Sullivan, Johnsen, Kerrigan; Williams, Stirling; Gailey, Hibbs, Greengrass, Coll, Robertson, Eade. Sub: Mann for Coll Great Britain: P Charlton; D Redfearn (t), C Dixon, L Dyl, M Richards; C Hesketh (t), S Nash; J Mills, J Gray (4g), J Thompson, S Norton, E Chisnall, G Nicholls. Sub: A Bates for Charlton Third New Zealand Test. Back to top New Zealand 0 Great Britain 20 New Zealand: Collicoat; Brereton, O'Sullivan, Johnsen, Kerrigan; Williams, Stirling; Gailey, Hibbs, Mann, Greengrass, Robertson, Eade. Sub: Grunick for Mann Great Britain: P Charlton; D Redfearn, D Willicombe, L Dyl (t), J Bevan (2t); C Hesketh (t), S Nash; T Clawson, J Gray (4g), J Thompson, C Dixon, E Chisnall, G Nicholls. Sub: A Bates for Charlton, W Ramsey for Nash |
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