1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand

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1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
Date23 May  – 19 September
Coach(es)O.B. Glasgow
Tour captain(s) IRFU flag.svg Ronnie Dawson
Test series winners(v Australia) British and Irish Lions (2–0)
(v New Zealand) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand (3–1)
Top test point scorer(s) IRFU flag.svg David Hewitt (16)
1959 British Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand
Summary
PWDL
Total
33 2706
Test match
6303
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2 2 0 0
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
4 1 0 3

In 1959, the British Lions rugby union team toured Australia and New Zealand. The Lions won the two test matches against Australia but lost the international series against the All Blacks by three matches to one. [1] They also played two matches in Canada, on the return leg of the journey.

Contents

Although New Zealand won the series, the results in three of the tests were close. The Lions scored four tries to nil in the first test but six penalties by Don Clarke saw the All Blacks win 18–17. Clarke also scored a late try and conversion to win the second test, 11–8. New Zealand won the third test comfortably by 22–8 to win the series but the fourth test, which the Lions won 9–6, could have gone the All Blacks' way had Clarke not missed a late penalty attempt.

Overall the tourists played thirty-three matches, winning twenty-seven and losing six. In Australia the Lions played six matches, winning five and losing one, to New South Wales. In New Zealand they played twenty-five matches, winning twenty and losing five – in addition to their three test defeats they also lost to Otago and Canterbury. They also played two matches in Canada, winning both.

The tour was notable for the 842 points scored in 33 games, a record number of points for a Lions tour and for the 22 tries scored by Tony O'Reilly, also a Lions tour record.

The touring party was captained by Ronnie Dawson. The manager was A. W. Wilson and the assistant manager was O.B. Glasgow.

Touring party

Management

Backs

Forwards

Results

  Test matches

DateOpponentLocationResultScore
23 May Flag of Victoria (Australia).svg Victoria Melbourne, AustraliaWin53–18
30 May Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales Sydney, AustraliaLoss14–18
2 June Flag of Queensland.svg Queensland Brisbane, AustraliaWin39–11
6 JuneFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Brisbane, AustraliaWin17–6
9 June Flag of New South Wales.svg New South Wales Country Districts Tamworth, AustraliaWin27–14
13 JuneFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia Sydney, AustraliaWin24–3
20 June Hawke's Bay Napier, New ZealandWin52–12
24 June Poverty Bay /
East Coast
Gisborne, New ZealandWin23–14
27 June Auckland Auckland, New ZealandWin15–10
1 JulyNew Zealand Universities Christchurch, New ZealandWin25–13
4 July Otago Dunedin, New ZealandLoss8–26
8 July South Canterbury /
Mid Canterbury /
North Otago
Timaru, New ZealandWin21–11
11 July Southland Invercargill, New ZealandWin11–6
18 JulyFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Dunedin, New ZealandLoss17–18
22 July West Coast-Buller Greymouth, New ZealandWin58–3
25 July Canterbury Christchurch, New ZealandLoss14–20
29 July Marlborough /
Nelson /
Golden Bay-Motueka
Blenheim, New ZealandWin64–5
1 August Wellington Wellington, New ZealandWin21–6
5 August Wanganui Wanganui, New ZealandWin9–6
8 August Taranaki New Plymouth, New ZealandWin15–3
11 August Manawatu /
Horowhenua
Palmerston North, New ZealandWin26–6
15 AugustFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Wellington, New ZealandLoss8–11
19 August King Country /
Counties
Taumarunui, New ZealandWin25–5
22 August Waikato Hamilton, New ZealandWin14–0
25 August Wairarapa /
Bush
Masterton, New ZealandWin37–11
29 AugustFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Christchurch, New ZealandLoss8–22
2 SeptemberNew Zealand Juniors Wellington, New ZealandWin29–9
5 September Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand Māori Auckland, New ZealandWin12–6
9 September Bay of Plenty /
Thames Valley
Rotorua, New ZealandWin26–24
12 September North Auckland Whangārei, New ZealandWin35–13
19 SeptemberFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand Auckland, New ZealandWin9–6
27 September British Columbia Vancouver, CanadaWin16–11
29 SeptemberEastern Canada All-Stars Toronto, CanadaWin70–6

The matches

First Australia Test

6 June
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg6–17 British Lions
Pen: Donald (2)Try: O'Reilly
Smith
Con: Risman
Pen: Hewitt (2)
Drop: Scotland
Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: B.J. O'Callaghan (Australia)

Australia: JK Lenehan (NSW), AR Morton (NSW), JM Potts (NSW), LJ Diett (NSW), KJ Donald (Queensland), AJ Summons (NSW), DM Connor (Queensland), PK Dunn (NSW), PG Johnson (NSW), KJ Ellis (NSW); JH Carroll (NSW), AR Miller (NSW); PT Fenwicke (NSW) Captain, R Outterside (NSW), J Thornett (NSW)

British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, M Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, AB Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, S Millar, GK Smith, WA Mulcahy, RH Williams, A Ashcroft, J Faull

Second Australia Test

13 June
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg3–24 British Lions
Pen: DonaldTry: Dawson
O'Reilly
Price (2)
Risman
Con: Hewitt (2)
Scotland
Pen: Scotland
Sydney Sports Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: A.T. Tierney (Australia)

Australia: JK Lenehan (NSW), AR Morton (NSW), RC Kay (Victoria), LJ Diett (NSW), KJ Donald (Queensland), AJ Summons (NSW), DM Connor (Queensland); KJ Ellis (NSW), PG Johnson (NSW), PK Dunn (NSW); JH Carroll (NSW), AR Miller (NSW), JE Thornett (NSW), R Outterside (NSW), PT Fenwicke (NSW) Captain

British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, D Hewitt, M Price, AJF O'Reilley, AB Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, S Millar, WR Evans, RH Williams, NAA Murphy, RWD Marques, GK Smith

First New Zealand Test

18 July
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg18–17 British Lions
Pen: DB Clarke (6)Try: Jackson
O'Reilly
Price (2)
Con:Risman
Pen: Hewitt
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 41,500
Referee: A.L. Fleury (New Zealand)

New Zealand: DB Clarke (Waikato), PT Walsh (Counties), RF McMullen (Auckland), TR Lineen (Auckland), BE McPhail (Canterbury), RH Brown (Taranaki), RJ Urbahn (Taranaki); WJ Whineray (Canterbury) Captain, RC Hemi (Waikato), IJ Clarke (Waikato), SF Hill (Canterbury), BE Finlay (Manauatu), PFH Jones (North Auckland), EAR Pickering (Waikato), IN MacEwan (Wellington)

British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, MJ Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, ABW Risman, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, BGM Wood, WR Evans, RH Williams, GK Smith, J Faull, NA Murphy

Second New Zealand Test

15 August
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg11–8 British Lions
Try: Caulton (2)
DB Clarke
Con: DB Clarke
Try: Young
Con:Davies
Pen: Davies
Athletic Park, Wellington
Attendance: 53,000
Referee: C.R. Gillies (New Zealand)

New Zealand: DB Clarke (Waikato), ES Diack (Otago), RF McMullen (Auckland), TR Lineen (Auckland), RW Caulton (Wellington), JF McCullough (Taranaki), KC Briscoe (Taranaki), WJ Whineray (Canterbury) Captain, DS Webb (North Auckland), IJ Clarke (Waikato), SF Hill (Canterbury), IN MacEwan (Wellington), CE Meads (Kings Country), RJ Conway (Otago), KR Tremain (Canterbury)

British Lions: TE Davies, JRC Young, MC Thomas, WM Patterson, AJF O'Reilley, MJ Price, REG Jeeps, S Millar, AR Dawson Captain, HF McLeod, RH Williams, WR Evans, A Ashcroft, RWD Marques, NA Murphy

Third New Zealand Test

29 August
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg22–8 British Lions
Try: Caulton (2)
Meads
Urbahn
Con: DB Clarke (2)
Pen: DB Clarke
Drop: DB Clarke
Try: Hewitt
Con: Faull
Pen: Faull
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 57,000
Referee: C.R. Gillies (New Zealand)

New Zealand: DB Clarke (Waikato), RH Brown (Taranaki), TR Lineen (Auckland), RW Caulton (Wellington), JF McCullough (Taranaki), RJ Urbahn (Taranaki), MW Irwin (Otago), RC Hemi (Waikato), WJ Whineray (Canterbury) Captain, SF Hill (Canterbury), IN MacEwan (Wellington), KR Tremain (Canterbury), RJ Conway (Otago), CE Meads (Kings Country)

British Lions: KJF Scotland, PB Jackson, MJ Price, D Hewitt, AJF O'Reilley, JP Horrocks-Taylor, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, AR Dawson Captain, BGM Wood, WR Evans, RH Williams, HJ Morgan, J Faull, GK Smith

Fourth New Zealand Test

19 September
New Zealand  Flag of New Zealand.svg6–9 British Lions
Pen: DB Clarke (2)Try: Jackson
O'Reilly
Risman
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: J.P. Murphy (New Zealand)

New Zealand: DB Clarke (Waikato), BE McPhail (Canterbury), TR Lineen (Auckland), AH Clarke (Auckland), RW Caulton (Wellington), JF McCullough (Taranaki), RJ Urbahn (Taranaki), MW Irwin (Otago), RC Hemi (Waikato), WJ Whineray (Canterbury) Captain, SF Hill (Canterbury), CE Meads (Kings Country), EAR Pickering (Waikato), RJ Conway (Otago), KR Tremain (Canterbury)

British Lions: TE Davies, PB Jackson, D Hewitt, KJF Scotland, AJF O'Reilley, ABW Risman, AA Mulligan, TR Prosser, AR Dawson Captain, HF McLeod, RH Williams, WA Mulcahy, NA Murphy, J Faull, HJ Morgan

References

  1. jmcconnell (23 November 2020). "Classic Match: Heroic 1959 Lions win at Eden Park". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 10 December 2024.