1970 Rugby League World Cup

Last updated

1970 (1970) World Cup  ()
Number of teams4
Host countryFlag of England.svg  England
WinnerFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (3rd title)

Matches played7
Attendance68,710 (9,816 per match)
Points scored205 (29.29 per match)
Top scorer Flag of Australia (converted).svg Eric Simms (37)
Top try scorer Flag of Australia (converted).svg John Cootes (5)
 < 1968
1972 > 

The fifth Rugby League World Cup was held in Great Britain in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Ashes during their Australasian tour earlier in the year (the last time as of 2017 that they would win The Ashes), were hot favourites, and won all three of their group stage games, including defeating Australia 11–4. All the other nations lost two games each, and Australia qualified for the final largely on the back of an impressive tally of points against New Zealand.

Contents

The final was held at Headingley, Leeds. Although Great Britain dominated the possession, the Kangaroos were able to exploit their chances, and ran out unexpected winners in a scrappy game that became known as the "Battle of Leeds".

Australian centre Bob Fulton was named the official player of the tournament.

After winning the tournament, the Australian team put the World Cup trophy on display in the Midland Hotel in Bradford. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years. [1]

Squads

Venues

Headingley in Leeds hosted a group game between Great Britain and Australia and also hosted the World Cup final.

Leeds Wigan Bradford
Headingley Central Park Odsal Stadium
Capacity: 30,000Capacity: 40,000Capacity: 40,000
South Stand, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014) 001.JPG Central park kop.jpg Odsal Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 60082.jpg
Swinton Hull Castleford
Station Road The Boulevard Wheldon Road
Capacity: 35,000Capacity: 16,000Capacity: 15,000
GB v AUS 09-11-1963 at Station Road 1.jpg The Boulevard rugby league ground Hull.jpg Wheldonroadmainstand.jpg

Results

21 October
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg47 – 11Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 9,805

Australia beat the Kiwis easily at Wigan in the opening fixture with Eric Simms repeating his form of the 1968 tourney by landing a record ten goals.


24 October
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg11 – 4Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 15,084

Britain came from 0–4 behind to defeat Australia 11–4 at Headingley with Syd Hynes scoring the game's only try.


25 October
France  Flag of France.svg15 – 16Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
The Boulevard, Hull
Attendance: 3,824

The try of the tournament was scored by the sensational French winger Serge Marsolan against New Zealand in a mud-bath at Hull. Marsolan ran from behind his own line for a try fit to win any match but the lackadaisical French lost 15–16.


28 October
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg6 – 0Flag of France.svg  France
Wheldon Road, Castleford
Attendance: 8,958

The French put up a great fight against Britain in vile conditions, only to lose 0–6 at Castleford to three penalties from Ray Dutton.


31 October
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg27 – 17Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Station Road, Swinton
Attendance: 5,609

Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three. [2]


1 November
Australia  Flag of Australia (converted).svg15 – 17Flag of France.svg  France
Odsal Stadium, Bradford
Attendance: 6,654

This incredibly exciting game has been described as the tournament's piece de resistance. Aussie centre Bobby Fulton scored a try within seconds of the kick-off – probably the quickest ever in international matches. However, with ten minutes to go and the scores level at 15–15, the French stole the game when stand-off half Jean Capdouze dropped a monster goal. The Kangaroos' loss to France meant it was Australia's superior points differential (on the back of their pointsfest in the opening game against New Zealand) alone that got them into the final with the undefeated Great Britain team.

Table

TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 33004421+236Qualified for the World Cup final
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 31026639+272
Flag of France.svg  France 3102323752
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 31024489452
Source: [ citation needed ]

Final

7 November 1970
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg7–12Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
John Atkinson

Goals:
Ray Dutton (1)
Field Goal:
Syd Hynes
[3]
Tries:
John Cootes
Lionel Williamson
Goals:
Eric Simms (2)
Field Goal:
Eric Simms
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 18,776
Referee: Fred Lindop Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body GBR1.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Great Britain
Kit left arm kangaroos.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos1992.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm kangaroos.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts thingoldsides.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks hoops gold.png
Kit socks long.svg
Australia
FB1 Widnes colours.svg Ray Dutton
RW2 Rhinoscolours.svg Alan Smith
RC3 Rhinoscolours.svg Syd Hynes
LC4 Saintscolours.svg Frank Myler (c)
LW5 Rhinoscolours.svg John Atkinson
SO6 Rhinoscolours.svg Mick Shoebottom
SH7 Castleford colours.svg Keith Hepworth
PR8 Castleford colours.svg Dennis Hartley
HK9 Rhinoscolours.svg Tony Fisher
PR10 Saintscolours.svg Cliff Watson
SR11 Fevcolours.svg Jimmy Thompson
SR12 Wigancolours.svg Doug Laughton
LF13 Castleford colours.svg Mal Reilly
Substitutions:
IC14 Redscolours.svg Chris Hesketh
IC15 Rhinoscolours.svg Bob Haigh
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Johnny Whiteley
FB1 South Sydney colours.svg Eric Simms
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Lionel Williamson
RC3 Skolscolours.svg John Cootes
LC4 South Sydney colours.svg Paul Sait
LW5 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Mark Harris
FE6 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Bob Fulton
HB7 St. George colours.svg Billy Smith
PR8 South Sydney colours.svg John O'Neill
HK9 Cronulla colours.svg Ron Turner
PR10 Parramatta colours.svg Bob O'Reilly
SR11 South Sydney colours.svg Bob McCarthy
SR12 Canterbury colours.svg Ron Costello
LK13 South Sydney colours.svg Ron Coote (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 South Sydney colours.svg Ray Branighan
IC15 South Sydney colours.svg Elwyn Walters
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Bath

Having retained the Ashes, Great Britain were favourites to win the final, [4] which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingley' [5] due to its brutality. However it went completely against expectations as Britain failed to play any decent football despite overwhelming possession. The Kangaroos led 5–4 at half-time with a try to Australian three-quarter, Father John Cootes. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12–7 victors. The game itself was an extended punch-up. The only surprise was that it took 79 minutes before anyone was sent off. Two sacrificial lambs, Billy Smith of Australia and Syd Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.

Try scorers

5
4
2
1

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References

  1. "Trophy back home – after 20 years". The Sun-Herald . Fairfax Digital. 2 June 1990. p. 90. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  2. AAP; Reuter (2 November 1970). "Britain has easy Cup win". The Age . p. 18. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  3. Report
  4. Kdouh, Fatima (28 November 2013). "We take a look back at the greatest Rugby League World Cup finals of all time". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  5. Barnes, Steve (13 August 2006). "Questions & Answers". The Sunday Times . UK: Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 1 January 2011.