1974 Great Britain Lions tour

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The 1974 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 15th tour of Australasia and took place from May to August 1974. A total of 28 matches were played against local club and representative sides during the tour, including a three match Test match series against Australia and New Zealand respectively.

Contents

Touring squad

In March 1974, a 26-man squad was selected for the tour, with Chris Hesketh appointed as captain. [1]

After the squad was selected, Keith Fielding withdrew from the tour as his wife was expecting a baby in June. He was replaced by John Butler. [2] Mike Nicholas was also forced to withdraw due to injuries sustained in the 1974 Challenge Cup final, and was replaced by Jimmy Thompson. [3]

Bill Ramsey and Maurice Richards were called up to replace injured players during the tour. [4]

Results

Australia

26 May 1974
Darwin2 – 41Great Britain
30 May 1974
North Queensland5 – 30Great Britain
2 June 1974
Central Queensland0 – 38Great Britain
4 June 1974
Wide Bay12 – 24Great Britain
6 June 1974
Ipswich8 – 36Great Britain
9 June 1974
Queensland12 – 13Great Britain

First Test

15 June 1974
Australia12 – 6Great Britain
Tries: Orr
Goals: Langlands (4)
[5]
Goals: Clawson (2), Watkins
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 30,280
Referee: Don Lancashire
16 June 1974
Toowoomba16 – 42Great Britain
18 June 1974
Brisbane20 – 15Great Britain
20 June 1974
North Coast9 – 19Great Britain
23 June 1974
North Division NSW14 – 38Great Britain
26 June 1974
West Division NSW10 – 25Great Britain
29 June 1974
New South Wales12 – 9Great Britain
30 June 1974
Illawarra22 – 26Great Britain

Second Test

6 July 1974
Australia11 – 16Great Britain
Tries: Coote, Fulton, Lang
Goals: Cronin
[6]
Tries: Chisnall, Dixon, Gill
Goals: Gray (3)
Drop goals: Gray
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 48,006
Referee: Keith Page
7 July 1979
Monaro7 – 34Great Britain
10 July 1974
Riverina10 – 36Great Britain
13 July 1974
Newcastle14 – 24Great Britain

Third Test

20 July 1974
Australia22 – 18Great Britain
Tries: Coote, Langlands, McCarthy, Williamson
Goals: Langlands (5)
[7]
Tries: Dyl, Richards
Goals: Gray (6)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 55,505
Referee: Keith Page
21 July 1974
Southern NSW16 – 10Great Britain

New Zealand

24 July 1974
North Island17 – 37Great Britain

First Test

27 July 1974
New Zealand13 – 8Great Britain
Tries: Stirling
Goals: Collicoat (5)
[8]
Tries: Bevan, Nash
Goals: Clawson
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 10,466
Referee: John Percival
30 July 1974
Maoris16 – 19Great Britain
1 August 1974
Wellington11 – 39Great Britain

Second Test

4 August 1974
New Zealand8 – 17Great Britain
Goals: Collicoat (4)
[9]
Tries: Dyl, Hesketh, Redfearn
Goals: Gray (4)
Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch
Attendance: 6,316
Referee: Peter Yaxley
6 August 1974
South Islands2 – 33Great Britain

Third Test

10 August 1974
New Zealand0 – 20Great Britain
[10]
Tries: Bevan (2), Dyl, Hesketh
Goals: Gray (4)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 11,574
Referee: John Percival
13 August 1974
Auckland11 – 2Great Britain

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References

  1. Mather, Harold (5 March 1974). "Dream comes true for Hesketh". The Guardian. London. p. 25. ProQuest   185792319.
  2. Mather, Harold (13 March 1974). "Leeds are let down by backs". The Guardian. London. p. 21. ProQuest   185663378.
  3. "Oxley is league's choice". The Guardian. London. 16 May 1974. p. 28. ProQuest   185632872.
  4. "Brain damage suspected". The Canberra Times. 3 July 1974. p. 28 via Trove.
  5. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  6. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  7. "Ashes Series 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  8. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 1". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  9. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 2". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. "New Zealand vs Great Britain 1974 Series - Game 3". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 20 April 2023.