1936 Great Britain Lions tour

Last updated

1936 Great Britain Lions tour
ManagerW. Poppleton and R.F. Anderton
Tour captain(s) Jim Brough
Summary
PWDL
Total
25 220003
Test match
05040001
Opponent
PWDL
Australia
3 2 0 1
New Zealand
2 2 0 0
Tour chronology
Previous tour 1932
Next tour 1946

The 1936 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1936. The tour involved a schedule of 24 games, 16 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes and a further 8 in New Zealand including a two-test series against New Zealand.

Contents

Captained by Jim Brough the Lions returned home having won 21 and lost 3 of their games. They won the Ashes against Australia 2–1 and made a clean sweep against New Zealand winning both test matches.

Despite being a British team the team played as, and were universally referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.

Squad

A 26-man squad was selected for the tour with the names announced in March 1936 with Jim Sullivan named as captain. [1] Two weeks after the squad was named, Sullivan withdrew from the squad due to the illness of his wife, [2] the Rugby Football League (RFL) made Leeds fullback Jim Brough captain, moved Billy Belshaw from the centres to fullback and called up Wigan's Gwyn Davies to the vacancy in the centres. [3] The squad that assembled in April 1936 comprised:

Backs
NameClub
Fullbacks
Jim Brough Leeds
Billy Belshaw Liverpool Stanley
Threequarters
Right wings
Jack Morley Wigan
Barney Hudson Salford
Left wings
Stanley Smith Leeds
Alan Edwards Salford
Centres
Arthur Atkinson Castleford
Fred Harris Leeds
Gwyn Davies Wigan
Gus Risman Salford
Half-backs
Stand-offs
Emlyn Jenkins Salford
Stan Brogden Huddersfield
Scrum-halfs
Billy Watkins Salford
Tommy McCue Widnes
Forwards
NameClub
Front row
Hookers
Tommy Armitt Swinton
Harry Field York
Props
Nat Silcock Widnes
Harry Woods Liverpool Stanley
Jack Miller Warrington
Hal Jones Keighley
Back row
Second-rows
Jack Arkwright Warrington
Alec Troup Barrow
Martin Hodgson Swinton
Mick Exley Wakefield Trinity
Loose forwards
Harry Beverley Hunslet
Harold Ellerington Hull F.C.

The two team managers were W. Poppleton of Bramley and R.F. Anderton of Warrington. [1]

Schedule and results

The majority of the team sailed from Tilbury on 17 April 1936 on board the SS Cathay with the Leeds and Warrington players together with Hunslet's Harry Beverley departing by train on 24 May to meet the rest of the team at Marseilles. The split departure was due to the players being involved in the Challenge Cup final on 18 April and in Beverley's case due to a family illness. [4] The team arrived in Melbourne on 25 May and travelled to Sydney by train the following day. [5]

DateOpponentsVenueScore (GB first)AttendanceNotes
30 May Sydney Firsts Sydney Cricket Ground Won 15–3 [6] 52,984
3 JuneSouthern DistrictsThe Showground, Leeton Won 35–13 [7] 6,000Southern Districts was a representative team for teams playing in New South Wales Country Rugby League group 20.
6 June New South Wales Sydney Cricket GroundLost 14–18 [8] 49,519
10 JuneWestern DistrictsSpicer Park, Parkes Won 33–16 [9] [10] 7,000This Western Districts side was the representative team for teams playing in New South Wales Country Rugby League group 11.
13 June Queensland Brisbane Cricket Ground Won 35–13 [11] 24,722
15 June Wide Bay Maryborough, Queensland Won 35–8 [12] [13] 4,000Wide Bay was a representative team drawn from clubs in the Wide Bay division of the Queensland Rugby League.
17 JuneMackayThe Show Grounds, Mackay Won 40–17 [14] 5,000
20 JuneNorth Queensland Townsville Won 39–3 [15] [16] 8,000North Queensland was the representative team for teams in the Queensland Rugby League Northern Division
23 JuneCentral Queensland Rockhampton Postponed and not re-arrangedA game was scheduled against the representative team of the Queensland Rugby League Central Division but was postponed due to flooding. [17] The English team managers had been considering requesting postponement of the game due to the number of injuries the squad has suffered in the preceding games. [18]
27 June Newcastle Newcastle Lost 21–16 [19] [20] 10,000Newcastle was the representative team for teams in the Newcastle Rugby League. This was the first victory by a representative side from the New South Wales Country Rugby League over England. [20]
29 June Australia Sydney Cricket GroundLost 24–8 [21] [22] 69,320First Ashes Test.
1 JulyIpswich Ipswich Won 23–3 [23] [24] 3,000
4 July Australia Brisbane Cricket GroundWon 12–7 [25] [26] 29,486Second Ashes Test
8 JulyToowoomba Toowoomba Won 10–8 [27] 10,000
11 July Brisbane Firsts Brisbane Cricket GroundWon 35–13 [28] 10,374
15 JulyNorthern Districts Armidale Won 19–15 [29] [30] 6,980Northern Districts was the representative team for clubs in Group 19 of the New South Wales Country Rugby League. During the match England forward, Jack Arkwright, was sent off twice. After the first sending off, the opposing captain, J Kingston, appealed to the referee for Arkwright to continue to play. The referee rescinded the sending off but towards the end of the game dismissed Arkwright again for punching an opponent. [30]
18 July Australia Sydney Cricket GroundWon 12–7 [31] [32] 53,546Third Ashes Test.
20 JulyWestern Districts Lithgow Won 36–14 [33] [34] 6,000This Western Districts team was the representative team for clubs in Group 10 of the New South Wales Country Rugby League
25 July Auckland Carlaw Park, Auckland Won 22–16 [35] 26,000
28 July Wellington Basin Reserve, Wellington Won 48–8 [36]
1 August South Island The Show Grounds, Addington Won 17–3 [37]
4 August Taranaki Pukekura Park, New Plymouth Won 35–4 [38] 3,000
6 August South Auckland Huntly Won 21–6 [39]
8 August New Zealand Carlaw Park, Auckland Won 10–8 [40] [41] 25,000First Test
13 August Northland Jubilee Park, Whangārei Won 34–0 [42] 4,000
15 August New Zealand Carlaw Park, Auckland Won 23–11 [43] [44] 17,000Second Test

Following the conclusion of the tour, the squad returned home sailing from Auckland on 18 August aboard the SS Akaroa and arriving in Southampton on 17 September 1936. [45] [46]

Ashes series

Test venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

First test

29 June 1936
3:00 pm AEDT
Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg 24 – 8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England
Tries: Dave Brown (2)
Joe Pearce
Alan Ridley
Goals: Dave Brown (4)
Jack Beaton (2)
Tries: Harry Beverley (2)
Goals: Martin Hodgson
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 63,920
Referee: Lal Deane
AustraliaPositionEngland
13. Jack Beaton FB 2. Billy Belshaw
9. Arch Crippin WG 5. Alan Edwards
8. Vic Hey CE 12. Stan Brogden
10. David Brown (c) CE 3. Arthur Atkinson (c)
12. Alan Ridley WG 7. Jack Morley
11. Ernie Norman FE/SO 11. Emlyn Jenkins
15. Viv Thicknesse HB/SH 14. Tommy McCue
1. Ray Stehr PR 17. Nat Silcock
2. Percy Fairall HK 20. Harry Field
3. Frank Curran PR 19. Jack Miller
5. Joe Pearce SR 23. Martin Hodgson
4. Les Heidke SR 18. Harry Woods
6. Wally Prigg LK/LF 25. Harry Beverley

The first Ashes test was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 June 1936. Interest in the game was so high that within half an hour of the gates opening at 9 am the ground was full despite kick-off not being until 3 pm. [47]

Prior to the kick-off the newly instituted Courtney Goodwill Trophy was presented to Henry Flegg of the Australian Rugby League Board of Control by Ernest Farrar on behalf of the trophy donor, Roy Courtney. [48]

Injury to England captain, Jim Brough, meant a re-organisation for the England team with Billy Belshaw playing at full-back and Arthur Atkinson captaining the side. After Australian captain, David Brown scored an early penalty it was England who scored the first try when Harry Beverley scored from a scrum close to the Australian line. With the resulting conversion attempt missed England led 3–2. The lead was not to last long as Brown kicked another penalty soon after to give Australia a 4–3 advantage. These were the only scores of the first half but before half-time props Nat Silcock (England) and Ray Stehr (Australia) were sent off for fighting during a scrum. [47]

The second half was all Australia's as they scored four converted tries through Brown with two and one each for Joe Pearce and Alan Ridley to lead 24–3 before Beverley scored a consolation try for England just before the end which Martin Hodgson converted. [47] [49]

Second test

4 July 1936
3:00 pm AEDT
Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg 7 – 12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England
Tries: Arch Crippin
Goals: Dave Brown
Jack Beaton
Tries: Alan Edwards (2)
Goals: Gus Risman (2)
Martin Hodgson
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Brisbane
Attendance: 29,486
Referee: Fred Moynihan
AustraliaPositionEngland
Jack Beaton FB Jim Brough (c)
Arch Crippin WG Alan Edwards
Vic Hey CE Billy Belshaw
David Brown (c) CE Gus Risman
Alan Ridley WG Stan Brogden
Ernie Norman FE/SO Emlyn Jenkins
Viv Thicknesse HB/SH Billy Watkins
Ray Stehr PR Nat Silcock
Percy Fairall HK Tommy Armitt
Frank Curran PR Harry Woods
Joe Pearce SR Martin Hodgson
Les Heidke SR Jack Arkwright
Wally Prigg LK/LF Harry Beverley

The second test was played in Brisbane a week after the first test. An unchanged Australian side were looking for a first Ashes series win since 1920. [50] England made several changes with Brough returning as captain at fullback with Belshaw returning to the centres in place of the injured Atkinson alongside Gus Risman as Brogden moved out to the wing in place of Morley. Watkins replaced McCue at scrum-half while in the forwards Arkwright and Armitt replaced Miller and Field.

On a pitch that was heavy after a lot of rain, England made the better start winning more possession from the scrum than the Australians and this pressure led to the first try when Alan Edwards scored in the corner. A Gus Risman penalty increased England's lead to 5–0 before Australia drew level with a try from winger Arch Crippin. Retrieving a dropped England pass on his own 25 yards (23 m) line Crippin ran the length of the pitch beating fullback Brough to score under the posts, leaving a simple conversation for Jack Beaton to level the scores.

In the second half, Edwards scored a second try for England form a scrum in much the same fashion as his first try and a successful conversion by Risman gave England a 10–5 lead which Australia reduced to a three-point lead when David Brown kicked a goal. The final points of the game came from Martin Hodgson as he kicked a penalty resulting from offside close to the Australian line. [51] [52]

Third test

18 July 1936
3:00 pm AEDT
Australia Flag of Australia (converted).svg 7 – 12 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England
Tries: Vic Hey
Goals: Dave Brown (2)
Tries: Stan Brogden
Barney Hudson
Goals: Martin Hodgson (3)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 53,546
Referee: Lal Deane
AustraliaPositionEngland
13. Jack Beaton FB 2. Billy Belshaw
9. Arch Crippin WG 6. Alan Edwards
11. Ernie Norman CE 12. Stan Brogden
10. David Brown (c) CE 9. Gus Risman (c)
12. Alan Ridley WG 4. Barney Hudson
8. Vic Hey FE/SO 11. Emlyn Jenkins
7. Fred Gilbert HB/SH 13. Billy Watkins
1. Ray Stehr PR 17. Nat Silcock
2. Peter Madsen HK 16. Tommy Armitt
3. Frank Curran PR 22. Jack Arkwright
5. Joe Pearce SR 23. Martin Hodgson
4. Les Heidke SR 18. Harry Woods
6. Wally Prigg LK/LF 25. Harry Beverley

The deciding test in the series was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground of 18 July 1936. England made only one change from the side that won the second test with Belshaw replacing Brough, who was injured, as fullback and bringing Barney Hudson into the centres. In the absences of Brough, Gus Risman captained the side for the first time. Australia made two changes, giving a debut to half-back Fred Gilbert and recalling Peter Madsen three years after his previous international appearance. Madsen was played at hooker, not his normal position - all his previous caps were at prop-forward - a decision later criticised in the Australian press. [53]

Australia scored first with David Brown kicking a penalty halfway through the first half. About five minutes before the end of the half England prop, Jack Arkwright and his Australian counterpart, Ray Stehr were both sent off for fighting. This was the second time in the series that Stehr had been sent off and subsequently he was banned for three games while Arkwright was suspended until 31 July. [54] With time running out in the first half England scored the only try of the half as Stan Brogden kicked over the Australian backs and Barney Hudson collected the ball to score in the corner. With Martin Hodgson converting the try, England led 5–2 at half-time.

In the second half the greater weight and skill of the English forwards saw England dominating play at the scrum, by the end of the game England had won 41 scrums to Australia's 14. [53] England's second try came from a scrum as Emlyn Jenkins passed to Brogden who scored. Hodgson converted to make England's lead 10–2. A further Hodgson goal made it 12–2 before Australia scored a try in the last minutes of the match as Vic Hey touched down following a break through the English defence by Wally Prigg. With Brown adding the conversion to bring the scores to 12–7, the last minutes were tense but England held on to win the match and the series. [55]

New Zealand test series

First test

8 August 1936
3:00 pm NZDT
New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg 8 – 10 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England
Goals: Puti Watene (3)
Thomas Trevarthan
Tries: Alan Edwards
Emlyn Jenkins
Goals: Martin Hodgson (2)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: P. Rogers
New ZealandPositionEngland
Jack Hemi FB Billy Belshaw
Len Scott WG Alan Edwards
Wally Tittleton CE Stan Brogden
Thomas Trevarthan CE Gus Risman (c)
Lou Brown WG Barney Hudson
Arthur Kay FE/SO Emlyn Jenkins
Roy Powell HB/SH Billy Watkins
Bill McNeight PR Jack Miller
Billy Glynn HK Tommy Armitt
Jim Calder PR Harry Field
Joe Cootes SR Martin Hodgson
Frank Pickrang SR Harry Woods
Puti Watene (c) LK/LF Alec Troup

The English came into the first test at Carlaw Park, Auckland with the same back line up from the third test in Australia and only two changes in the forwards with Field and Troup replacing Arkwright and Beverley. The game was one where the defences held the upper hand as England's dominance in the scrums was matched by New Zealand's backs controlling more of the open play. The first half only saw one score with New Zealand captain Puti Watene kicking the goal which gave New Zealand a 2–0 lead at the interval.

The first try went to England when from a scrum near the halfway line a passing movement along the threequarter line ended with winger Alan Edwards scoring in the corner. This gave England a narrow 3–2 lead which then changed hands twice as Watene and Hodgson traded goals. England then scored another try, again from a scrum, as stand-off Emlyn Jenkins ran through the New Zealand defensive line to score. With the conversion missed the score was 8–4 to England, two further penalties for Watene and Hodgson increased the score to 10–6. New Zealand tried to score in the dying minutes of the game but Thomas Trevarthan could only manage a field goal with the last play of the game to give England a 10–8 victory. [56] [57]

Second test

15 August 1936
3:00 pm NZDT
New Zealand Flag of New Zealand.svg 11 – 23 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg England
Tries: Joe Cootes
Goals: Puti Watene (4)
Tries: Jack Arkwright (2)
Alan Edwards
Barney Hudson
Jack Miller
Goals: Gus Risman (4)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 17,000
Referee: Morris Wetherill
New ZealandPositionEngland
Claude Dempsey FB Billy Belshaw
Ted Mincham WG Alan Edwards
Wally Tittleton CE Stan Brogden
Thomas Trevarthan CE Gus Risman (c)
Lou Brown WG Barney Hudson
Arthur Kay FE/SO Emlyn Jenkins
Roy Powell HB/SH Billy Watkins
Bill McNeight PR Jack Miller
Billy Glynn HK Tommy Armitt
Jim Calder PR Harry Field
Joe Cootes SR Jack Arkwright
Frank Pickrang SR Harry Woods
Puti Watene (c) LK/LF Alec Troup

The second test was played a week after the first, again at Carlaw Park in Auckland. England made one change with Jack Arkwright replacing Martin Hodgson in the forwards. New Zealand made two changes bringing Claude Dempsey in at fullback and Ted Mincham on the wing.

England opened the scoring with a Gus Risman penalty before Puti Watene levelled the score with a penalty. New Zealand had a try disallowed before England scored their first try as Arkwright scored from a try. Risman converted to make the score 7–2. Further tries from Alan Edwards and Jack Miller together with a Risman conversion gave England a 15–2 half-time advantage.

The start of the second half saw New Zealand with the advantage as a try by Joe Cootes sandwiched between two Watene penalties, and a Watene conversion brought New Zealand within four points of England. A further attack by New Zealand which would have closed the gap to one-point ended with England extending their lead as Barney Hudson intercepted a New Zealand pass and scored a try. Risman's conversion and a second try for Arkwright made the score 23–11 to England. Just before full-time England stand-off Emlyn Jenkins was sent off for arguing with the referee. [58] [59] [60]

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References

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  23. ↑ "Ipswich Forwards Game But Too Light". The Queensland Times . Ipswich: National Library of Australia. 2 July 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
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  26. ↑ "England win the Second Test" . Hull Daily Mail . No. 15,815. 4 July 1936. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ↑ "England beats Toowoomba". The Daily Examiner . Vol. 27, no. 8719. 9 July 1936. p. 1 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ↑ "England Wins Well". The Telegraph . 11 July 1936. p. 1 (SPORTS FINAL) – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ↑ "English Invasion". Armidale Express . Armidale: National Library of Australia. 15 July 1936. p. 4. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  30. 1 2 "Englishmen win". Cairns Post . No. 10,743. 16 July 1936. p. 7 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ↑ "England retains Ashes". The Daily Examiner . Vol. 27, no. 8728. 20 July 1936. p. 3 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ↑ "England retain Rugby League Ashes" . Yorkshire Evening Post . No. 14,282. 18 July 1936 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. ↑ "English League Players Win". Lithgow Mercury . Lithgow: National Library of Australia. 21 July 1936. p. 2. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  34. ↑ Corbett, Claude (20 July 1936). "England Has An Easy Victory". The Sun . No. 8282. p. 20 (COUNTRY EDITION) – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ↑ "Fast League". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22,481. 27 July 1936. p. 12 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  36. ↑ "48 To 8". Evening Post . Vol. CXXII, no. 26. 30 July 1936. p. 7 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  37. ↑ "Exciting League". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22487. 3 August 1936. p. 11 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  38. ↑ "Impressive display". Evening Post . Vol. CXXII, no. 31. 5 August 1936. p. 19 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  39. ↑ "Nine left". Auckland Star . Vol. LXVII, no. 186. 7 August 2017. p. 12 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  40. ↑ "Hard, rugged test". Evening Post . Vol. CXXII, no. 35. 10 August 1936. p. 17 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  41. ↑ "Desperate First Test with New Zealand" . Hull Daily Mail . No. 15,845. 8 August 1936. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ↑ "The League Code". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22,497. 14 August 1936. p. 17 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  43. ↑ "Football Test". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22,499. 17 August 1936. p. 12 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  44. ↑ "Rugby League tour ends with victory" . Hull Daily Mail . No. 15,851. 15 August 1936. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ↑ "Match against Maoris". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22,492. 8 August 1936. p. 16 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  46. ↑ "Touring Teams arrive back home" . Western Daily Press . No. 26,163. 18 September 1936. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. 1 2 3 "Rugby League. Australia wins Test". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 30,730. 30 June 1936. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
  48. ↑ "Unique Trophy". The Telegraph . 29 June 1936. p. 4 (SPORTS FINAL) – via National Library of Australia.
  49. ↑ "Rugby League Test: England beaten 24 points to eight" . Northern Daily Mail . No. 18,142. p. 7 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ↑ "England's Surprise In Rugby Test". Sporting Globe . No. 1460. 4 July 1936. p. 4 (First Edition) – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ↑ "Rugby League: England's Day". Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate . No. 18,636. 6 July 1936. p. 15 – via National Library of Australia.
  52. ↑ "England turn the tables" . Yorkshire Post . No. 27,749. 6 July 1936. p. 15 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. 1 2 "England completely outshone Australia to win Rugby League Ashes". Maryborough Chronicle, Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser . No. 20,289. 20 July 1936. p. 2 – via National Library of Australia.
  54. ↑ "Arkwright out till July 31". The Telegraph . 22 July 1936. p. 10 (CITY FINAL) – via National Library of Australia.
  55. ↑ "England retain Rugby League Ashes" . Yorkshire Evening Post . No. 14,282. 18 July 1936. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  56. ↑ "Hard League". The New Zealand Herald . No. 22,493. 10 August 1936. p. 12 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  57. ↑ "Narrow victory for England" . Yorkshire Evening Post . No. 14,300. 8 August 1936. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  58. ↑ "Final League Test. England win". Auckland Star . Vol. LXVII, no. 194. 17 August 1936. p. 13 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  59. ↑ "Rugby League. Second test won by England". The Press . No. 21,863. 17 August 1936. p. 7 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  60. ↑ "England wind up with a win" . Yorkshire Evening Post . No. 14,306. 15 August 1936. p. 9 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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