1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
Rugby league tour (1948–1949)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1948–49 Kangaroo tour was the seventh Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played thirty-seven matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain, an international match against Wales and two Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1937-38 and a cessation of overseas international tours due to World War II. The next was staged in 1952-53.
Eric Simmonds
Jack Horrigan 16
| 1948–49 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Bill Buckley Eric Simmonds | ||||
| Tour captain(s) | Col Maxwell | ||||
| Top point scorer(s) | John Graves 118 | ||||
| Top try scorer(s) | John Graves 16 & Jack Horrigan 16 | ||||
| Top test point scorer(s) | Keith Froome 15 | ||||
| Top test try scorer(s) | Duncan Hall 4 | ||||
| Summary |
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| Total |
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| Test match |
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| Opponent |
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 Great Britain |
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 Wales |
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 France |
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| Tour chronology | |||||
| Previous tour | 1937-38 | ||||
| Next tour | 1952-53 | ||||
Selection Controversy
Earlier in the season, Newtown's Len Smith had captain-coached the Australians to a series win over the touring New Zealand team. In what turned out to be a selection controversy, Smith, a dual rugby international was then left out of the 1948 Kangaroo Tour squad altogether. After years of dignified silence on the issue Smith, who promptly retired from playing after his non-selection, would claim in the early-mid 1990s that he believed he was left out of the side as the league (NSWRFL) wanted a Mason to captain the side as Smith believed one had captained every Kangaroo touring team since the inaugural Kangaroos in 1908–09.[1]
The squad's leadership
The team was selected with Col Maxwell as captain and Bill Tyquin as vice-captain. Tour co-managers were Bill Buckley and Eric Simmonds.[2][3]
Maxwell captained the team on 12 occasions, including the Second Test against Great Britain.
Tyquin captained the team in 10 matches, including the exhibition match against South Australia and in three Test matches, the two victories over France and the Third Test loss to Great Britain.
Wally O'Connell captained the Kangaroos in the First Test Match against Great Britain, the international against Wales, and on six other occasions (Salford, Cumberland, St Helens, Bradford Northern, Swindon, and Yorkshire). In the matches in which neither Maxwell, Tyquin nor O’Connell played, the Kangaroos were captained by Keith Froome on 3 occasions (Dewsbury, Hull Kingston Rovers, and Lancashire), Billy Thompson on 3 occasions (Castleford, Languedoc, and Cannes) and Doug McRitchie twice (Hull & Leigh).
Touring squad
The Rugby League News published a photo and the names and states of the selected players.[4]
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring.[5]
Benton, Brosnan, Hall, Horrigan, McMahon, Pegg, Thompson, and Tyquin were selected from Queensland clubs. Dimond, Gibbs, Hawke, and Schubert were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney based clubs during the 1948 season.
Note: Tallies in the table above excludes the exhibition match against South Australia.
Match results
The tourists travelled to Marseille aboard the RMS Maloja, making stops in Adelaide, Perth, Colombo, Mumbai and Aden.[6][7][8] A scheduled exhibition match in Perth was cancelled when, due to rough seas in the Great Australian Bight, the arrival of the RMS Maloja into Fremantle was delayed.[9] Also due to delays, arrangements were made to fly the players from Marseille into England. This was accomplished in two flights, with one plane flying into Manchester and the other into the outskirts of London.[10]
Exhibition Match
| August 11 | South Australia  |
5–96 |  Australia |
Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | |
| 2.15pm |
Tries: 1 N. Silver Goals: 1 H. Wood |
[[11] [12] Report] |
Tries: 24 Bobby Dimond (5) Bob Lulham (5) Nevyl Hand (3) Doug McRitchie (2) Bruce Hopkins (2) Alf Gibbs (2) Jack Horrigan Noel Mulligan Vic Bulgin Jack Rayner Johnny Hawke Goals: 12 Jack Horrigan (6) Bruce Hopkins (3) Bill Tyquin Noel Mulligan Henry Benton |
Attendance: 4,000 Referee: B. Burns |
In Great Britain
| September 18 | Huddersfield  |
22–3 | Australia |
Fartown Ground, Huddersfield | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 4 P. Reid (2) R. Robson (2) Goals: 5 J. Bawden (2) P. Devery (2) P. Reid |
[[13] [14] Report] |
Tries: 1 Wally O'Connell Goals: nil |
Attendance: 26,053 Gate: £ 3,530 Referee: S. Adams |
| September 20 | Belle Vue Rangers  |
9–14 | Australia |
Belle Vue, Manchester | |
| 5.45pm |
Tries: 1 S. McCormick Goals: 3 Gregory (3) |
[[15] [16] Report] |
Tries: 4 Bob Lulham (2) Bobby Dimond Les Cowie Goals: 1 Clive Churchill |
Attendance: 7,535 Gate: £ 825 Referee: George S. Phillips |
| September 23 | Hull  |
3–13 | Australia |
The Boulevard, Hull | |
| 5.30pm |
Tries: 1 Madden Goals: 0 |
[[17] [18] Report] |
Tries: 3 Jack Horrigan (2) Johnny Hawke Goals: 2 Keith Froome (2) |
Attendance: 16,616 Gate: £ 2,057 Referee: A. Hill |
| September 25 | Wakefield Trinity  |
19–26 | Australia |
Belle Vue, Wakefield | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 5 Fletcher (2) H. Jones Bratley Booth Goals: 2 Rylance Murphy |
[[19] [20] Report] |
Tries: 6 Pat McMahon (3) Col Maxwell Jack Horrigan Noel Mulligan Goals: 4 Bruce Hopkins (3) Jack Horrigan |
Attendance: 20,040 Gate: £ 2,215 Referee: A.S. Dobson |
| September 29 | Leigh  |
12–24 | Australia |
Kirkhall Lane, Leigh | |
| 5.30pm |
Tries: 2 Sale Clewy Goals: 3 J. Ledgard (3) |
[[21] [22] Report] |
Tries: 4 Bob Lulham Doug McRitchie Les Cowie Duncan Hall Goals: 6 Keith Froome (6) |
Attendance: 12,968 Gate: £ 1,254 Referee: F. Smith |
| October 2 | Salford  |
2–13 | Australia |
The Willows, Salford | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 0 Goals: 1 J. Davies |
[[23] [24] Report] |
Tries: 3 Johnny Hawke (2) Jack Rayner Goals: 2 Keith Froome (2) |
Attendance: 16,627 Gate: £ 1,871 Referee: P. Cowell |
| October 6 | Castleford  |
8–10 | Australia |
Wheldon Road, Castleford | |
| 5.00pm |
Tries: 2 Mugglestone Booth Goals: 1 Staines |
[[25] [26] Report] |
Tries: 2 John Graves (2) Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 14,004 Gate: £ 1,454 Referee: L. Thorpe |
1st Test vs Great Britain
October 9 3.00pm |
| Great Britain |
23–21 |  Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 7 Albert Pimblett (2) Stan McCormick (2) Trevor Foster (2) Dave Valentine Goals: 1 Ernest Ward |
[27] [28] [29] |
Tries: 5 Pat McMahon (2) John Graves Keith Froome Duncan Hall Goals: 3 John Graves (3) |
| October 13 | Cumberland  |
5–4 | Australia |
Recreation Ground, Whitehaven | |
| 5.00pm |
Tries: 1 W. Iveson Goals: 1 J. Bawden |
[[30] [31] Report] |
Tries: nil Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 8,818 Gate: £ 969 Referee: F. Smith |
| October 14 | St Helens  |
10–8 | Australia |
Knowsley Road, St Helens | |
| 4.15pm |
Tries: 2 Greenhall Lawrence Goals: 2 T. Stott (2) |
[[32] [33] Report] |
Tries: 2 Nevyl Hand Les Cowie Goals: 1 John Graves |
Attendance: 20,175 Gate: £ 2,036 Referee: N.T. Railton |
| October 16 | Dewsbury  |
4–14 | Australia |
Crown Flatt, Dewsbury | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: nil Goals: 2 J. Kelly (2) |
[[34] t[35] Report] |
Tries: 2 Jack Horrigan Bobby Dimond Goals: 4 Keith Froome (4) |
Attendance: 13,614 Gate: £ 1,481 Referee: T. Armitage |
| October 18 | Hull Kingston Rovers  |
17–12 | Australia |
Craven Park, Hull | |
| 5.00pm |
Tries: 3 Burke Steele Mills Goals: 4 McWatt (3) Mills |
[[36] [37] Report] |
Tries: 2 Jack Horrigan Les Cowie Goals: 3 John Graves (3) |
Attendance: 7,614 Gate: £ 950 Referee: A. Howgate |
| October 20 | Wigan  |
16–11 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| 4.30pm |
Tries: 4 Ratcliffe (2) Ashcroft Lawrenson Goals: 2 Ted Ward (2) |
[[38] [39] Report] |
Tries: 3 Pat McMahon Kevin Schubert John Graves Goals: 1 John Graves |
Attendance: 28,554 Gate: £ 3,317 Referee: C.F. Appleton |
| October 23 | Barrow  |
5–11 | Australia |
Craven Park, Barrow-In-Furness | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 1 J. Lewthwaite Goals: 1 Spooner |
[[40] [41] Report] |
Tries: 3 William Thompson Alf Gibbs Bill Tyquin Goals: 1 John Graves |
Attendance: 13,143 Gate: £ 1,349 Referee: W. Stockley |
| October 27 | Leeds  |
2–15 | Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: nil Goals: 1 Cook |
[[42] [43] Report] |
Tries: 3 Jack Horrigan (2) Jack Holland Goals: 3 Keith Froome (3) |
Attendance: 13,542 Gate: £ 1,802 Referee: F. Cottam |
| October 30 | Warrington  |
16–7 | Australia |
Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 2 G. Helme J. Featherstone Goals: 5 H. Palin (5) |
[[44] [45] Report] |
Tries: 1 John Graves Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 26,879 Gate: £ 3,608 Referee: L.J. Dalby |
2nd Test vs Great Britain
November 6 3.00pm |
| Great Britain |
16–7 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 4 Johnny Lawrenson (2) Albert Pimblett (2) Goals: 2 Ernest Ward (2) |
[46] [47] [48] |
Tries: 1 Jack Horrigan Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
| November 10 | Bradford Northern  |
7–21 | Australia |
Odsal Stadium, Bradford | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 1 E. Batten Goals: 2 Carmichael (2) |
[[49] [50] Report] |
Tries: 5 Jack Horrigan (3) Pat McMahon (2) Goals: 3 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 13,287 Gate: £ 1,525 Referee: W. Hemmings |
| November 13 | Workington Town  |
10–7 | Australia |
Borough Park, Workington | |
| 11.00am |
Tries: 2 L. Graham A. Pepperell Goals: 2 A. Paskins (2) |
[[51] [52] Report] |
Tries: 1 Les Cowie Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 13,253 Gate: £ 1,419 Referee: C.F. Appleton |
| November 17 | Swinton  |
0–21 | Australia |
Station Road, Swinton | |
| 2.45pm |
Tries: nil Goals: nil |
[[53] [54] Report] |
Tries: 5 Bob Lulham (2) Pat McMahon Jack Horrigan Jack Rayner Goals: 3 Bruce Hopkins (2) Jack Horrigan |
Attendance: 6,041 Gate: £ 663 Referee: J. Kemp |
Only Test vs Wales
November 20 2.30pm |
| Wales |
5–12 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 1 Gareth Price Goals: 1 Ted Ward |
[55] [56] [57] |
Tries: 2 Johnny Hawke Jack Holland Goals: 3 Bruce Hopkins (2) Jack Horrigan |
| November 24 | Yorkshire  |
5–2 | Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| 2.30pm |
Tries: 1 Riches Goals: 1 J. Ledgard |
[[58] [59] Report] |
Tries: nil Goals: 1 Bruce Hopkins |
Attendance: 5,100 Gate: £ 662 Referee: Tom McMahon Jnr |
| November 27 | Halifax  |
8–10 | Australia |
Thrum Hall, Halifax | |
| 2.30pm |
Tries: 2 Ward Kielty Goals: 1 Chalkley |
[[60] [61] Report] |
Tries: 2 Bob Lulham Jack Holland Goals: 2 Jack Horrigan (2) |
Attendance: 6,520 Gate: £ 763 Referee: M. Coates |
| December 4 | Oldham  |
7–27 | Australia |
Watersheddings, Oldham | |
| 2.30pm |
Tries: 1 Glanville Goals: 2 Barraclough (2) |
[[62] [63] Report] |
Tries: 7 Johnny Hawke (2) Duncan Hall (2) Bob Lulham Keith Froome Bill Tyquin Goals: 3 Keith Froome (3) |
Attendance: 14,798 Gate: £ 1,868 Referee: George S. Phillips |
| December 8 | Lancashire  |
13–8 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| 2.30pm |
Tries: 3 S. McCormick (2) E. Ashcroft Goals: 2 H. Palin (2) |
[[64] [65] Report] |
Tries: 2 Pat McMahon Jack Horrigan Goals: 1 Keith Froome |
Attendance: 11,788 Gate: £ 1,378 Referee: George S. Phillips |
| December 11 | Widnes  |
8–18 | Australia |
Naughton Park, Widnes | |
| 2.15pm |
Tries: 2 Jolley Whittaker Goals: 1 Hughes |
[[66] Report] |
Tries: 4 John Graves Len Pegg Col Maxwell Johnny Hawke Goals: 3 John Graves (3) |
Attendance: 10,761 Gate: £ 1,225 Referee: A.S. Dobson |
in France
| December 25 | Pyrenees  |
3–43 | Australia |
Stade Chapou, Toulouse | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 1 Espelugue Goals: nil |
[[67] [68] Report] |
Tries: 9 Bob Lulham (3) Bobby Dimond (2) Keith Froome Noel Mulligan Doug McRitchie Wally O'Connell Goals: 8 Keith Froome (8) |
Attendance: 6,806 Gate: F 949,950 Referee: Bonnemore |
| December 26 | XIII Catalan  |
20–5 | Australia |
Stade Jean Lafou, Perpignan | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 4 Negfier Blanc Maso Case (penalty) Goals: 4 Comes (3) Field goals: De Jean |
[[69] [70] Report] |
Tries: 1 Nevyl Hand Goals: 1 John Graves |
Attendance: 12,254 Gate: F 1,996,510 Referee: Martin |
| January 2 | AS Carcassonne  |
8–13 | Australia |
Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: nil Goals: 4 Llari (4) |
[[71] [72] Report] |
Tries: 3 Duncan Hall Bob Lulham Jack Horrigan Goals: 2 Jack Horrigan (2) |
Attendance: 7,990 Gate: F 1,391,525 Referee: Rene Guidicelli |
| January 8 | Languedoc  |
0–38 | Australia |
Stade de Sauclières, Béziers | |
| Tries: nil Goals: nil |
[[73] Report] |
Tries: 10 Johnny Hawke (2) Les Cowie (2) John Graves Bobby Dimond William Thompson Bruce Hopkins Eddie Brosnan Frank Johnson Goals: 4 John Graves (4) |
Attendance: 2,300 Referee: Goyetz |
1st Test vs France
January 9 3.00pm |
| France |
10–29 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 2 Ode Lespes Ulysse Negrier Goals: 2 Gaston Comes (2) |
[74] [75] [76] |
Tries: 7 Bill Tyquin (2) Pat McMahon Wally O'Connell Fred de Belin Alf Gibbs Duncan Hall Goals: 4 Keith Froome (4) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Gaston Comes | FB | Clive Churchill |
| Ode Lespes | WG | Pat McMahon |
| Joseph Crespo | CE | Doug McRitchie |
| Albert Kaemph | CE | Johnny Hawke |
| Robert Casse | WG | Bob Lulham |
| Pierre Taillantou | SO | Wally O'Connell |
| Jean Dop | SH | Keith Froome |
| Gaston Calixte (c) | PR | Alf Gibbs |
| Ulysse Negrier | HK | Kevin Schubert |
| Élie Brousse | PR | Duncan Hall |
| Louis Mazon | SR | Noel Mulligan |
| Martin Martin | SR | Fred de Belin |
| Andre Beraud | LF | Bill Tyquin (c) |
| January 10 | Cannes | 7–60 | Australia |
Stade Hesperides, Cannes | |
| Tries: 1 Durnand Goals: 2 Fachant (2) |
[[77] [78] Report] |
Tries: 16 John Graves (5) Bobby Dimond (3) Jack Horrigan (2) Les Cowie (2) Fred de Belin (2) Eddie Brosnan Vic Bulgin Goals: 6 Bruce Hopkins (2) John Graves Jack Horrigan Vic Bulgin Jack Rayner |
Attendance: 1,100 Referee: Bernard |
| January 15 | France XIII  |
8–30 | Australia |
Stade Municipal, Valence | |
| 2.30pm |
Tries: 2 Blanc Gacia Goals: 1 Andre |
[[79] [80] Report] |
Tries: 8 Jack Rayner (3) John Graves (2) Bobby Dimond Les Cowie Duncan Hall Goals: 3 John Graves (3) |
Attendance: 4,385 Gate: F 620,250 Referee: Rene Guidicelli |
| January 16 | Lyon/Roanne | 10–29 | Australia |
Stade Municipal, Lyon | |
| 3.00pm |
Tries: 2 Poug Trescazes ()penalty) Goals: 2 Barre teau (2) |
[[79] [81] Report] |
Tries: 7 Johnny Hawke (2) Bill Tyquin (2) Pat McMahon Wally O'Connell Duncan Hall Goals: 4 Keith Froome (4) |
Attendance: 4,514 Gate: F 855,750 Referee: Donnemaure |
| January 17 | Cavaillon | 5–22 | Australia |
Stade Municipal, Avignon | |
| Tries: 1 Prat Goals: 1 Lopez |
[[82] Report] |
Tries: 6 Noel Mulligan (3) John Graves (2) Doug McRitchie Goals: 2 John Graves (2) |
Attendance: 4,500 Referee: Cassan |
2nd Test vs France
January 23 3.00pm |
| France |
0–10 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: nil Goals: nil |
[83] [84] [85] |
Tries: 2 Duncan Hall Noel Mulligan Goals: 2 Keith Froome (2) |
| France | Position | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Jean Barreteau | FB | Clive Churchill |
| Fredo Trescazes | WG | Pat McMahon |
| Paul Dejean | CE | Doug McRitchie |
| Robert Caillou | CE | Johnny Hawke |
| Raymond Contrastin | WG | Bob Lulham |
| Pierre Taillantou | SO | Wally O'Connell |
| Joseph Crespo | SH | Keith Froome |
| Gaston Calixte (c) | PR | Duncan Hall |
| Henri Riu | HK | Kevin Schubert |
| Ulysse Negrier | PR | Alf Gibbs |
| Paul Bartoletti | SR | Fred de Belin |
| Martin Martin | SR | Noel Mulligan |
| Ambroise Ulma | LF | Bill Tyquin (c) |
3rd Test v Great Britain
This Test Match was originally intended to be played on December 18, 1948, Due to dense fog at the ground (Odsal) in the hours prior to the match, play was abandoned and the match rescheduled to occur after the French leg of the tour. Curiously, the fog of December 18 cleared around the scheduled time, 2.45pm, of kick-off.[86][87] The morning of January 29 again saw fog at the ground (Odsal), but this cleared by lunch-time and the postponed match was played out under clear skies.
January 29 2.45pm |
| Great Britain |
23–9 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: 5 George Curran (2) Ernest Ward Stan McCormick Dickie Williams Goals: 4 Ernest Ward (4) |
[88] [89] [90] |
Tries: 3 Duncan Hall Bob Lulham Fred de Belin Goals: nil |