1920 Great Britain Lions tour

S. Foster and J. Wilson Harold Wagstaff Ben Gronow (136)Saxton Irvin History of Rugby League: No.25 1919–1920 League Publications 14 Billy Stone (24) 25 21 0 4 6 4 0 2 AUS 3 1 0 2 NZL 3 3 0 0 1914 1924 The 1920 Great Britain Lions tour was the third British national rugby league team or 'Lions' tour of Australasia, where it was winter and matches were played against the Australian and New Zealand national sides, as well as several local teams. In Australia, the three-Test match series was won by the hosts. In New Zealand another three-Test series was played and won by the visitors. The tour was a success and brought in a handsome profit.Tony Collins Rugby League in Twentieth Century Britain: A Social and Cultural History 2006 Routledge UK 23 9781134221455 https://books.google.com/books?id=RweAAgAAQBAJ 18 August 2014 Tony Collins (historian) Touring squad At the 1919–20 Northern Rugby Football Union season's conclusion, the following Great Britain squad was assembled by the Northern Rugby Football Union to represent it on the tour of Australasia. Mr S Foster and Mr J Wilson were the team managers. Although it was a Great Britain tour, the team played as 'England' during the games. England Joe Bowers, forward for Rochdale Hornets Joe Cartwright, hooker for Leigh Douglas Clark, forward for Huddersfield Billy Cunliffe, forward for Warrington Joe Doyle, three-quarter back for Barrow Frank Gallagher, forward for Dewsbury Herman Hilton, forward for Oldham Arthur Johnson, forward for Widnes Ernest Jones, half back for Rochdale Hornets Alf Milnes, hooker for Halifax Jonty Parkin, half back for Wakefield Trinity William Reid, forward for Widnes Arthur Skelhorne, forward for Warrington Cyril Stacey, fullback for Halifax Squire Stockwell, three-quarter back for Leeds Billy Stone, three-quarter back for Hull Harold Wagstaff (captain), three-quarter back for Huddersfield Alf Wood, fullback for Oldham Wales Jim Bacon, three-quarter back for Leeds Evan Davies, three-quarter back for Oldham Ben Gronow, forward for Huddersfield Danny Hurcombe, three-quarter back for Wigan Bobby Lloyd, half back for Halifax George Rees, player for Leeds Johnny Rogers, half back for Huddersfield Gwyn Thomas (vice-captain), fullback for Huddersfield Australia The first leg of the tour was Australia, where the game of rugby league football was in its twelfth year since splitting away from rugby union in 1908. The tour included places such as Orange, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Tamworth as well as the standard main venues of Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney and Ipswich.Cheapening the Jumper http://stevericketts.com.au/tag/toowoomba/ stevericketts.com.au Steve Ricketts 21 August 2014 Test venues The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. Brisbane Sydney Sydney Brisbane Exhibition Ground Sydney Cricket Ground Royal Agricultural Showground Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 50,000 200px 200px 200px The opening match of the tour on 5 June took place between rounds 5 and 6 of the fifteen-round 1920 NSWRFL season, and saw a Metropolis (Sydney) team host the tourists at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Saturday, 5 June Metropolis Western Suburbs 16 20 – 27 Database Program Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Harold Horder (3), George McGowan Goals: Harold Horder (3) Charles Fraser (1) Tries: Johnny Rogers (2), Squire Stockwell (2), Arthur 'Chick' Johnson Goals: Ben Gronow (6) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 65,000 Tom McMahon Sr. In front of an overflow crowd of 65,000 the visitors ran out 27–20 winners. Wednesday, 9 June Orange Ipswich 16 8 – 50 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101016422 Football - England v. Orange Orange Leader Orange 11 Jun 1920 16 Nov 2020 4 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: T. Dalton (2) Goals: C. Plowman (1) Tries: Jim Bacon (4), Danny Hurcombe (2), William Reid, Joe Bowers, Joe Doyle, Herman Hilton, Cyril Stacey Goals: Alf Wood (7) Wade Park, Orange 3,000 E. Allen As the preliminary match to the New South Wales versus Britain game on 12 June, Sydney University's first intervarsity match against Queensland University under rugby league rules was played before a crowd of 60,000.Geoffrey Sherington & Steve Georgakis Sydney University Sport 1852-2007: More Than a Club 2008 Sydney University Press Australia 172 9781920898915 https://books.google.com/books?id=5I0j6WRsTYQC 18 August 2014New South Wales Rugby Football League. The Rugby League News Sydney N.S.W. Rugby Football League Trove 1920 Programme - Queensland University v. Sydney University 1 7 (12 June 1920) http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-626757719 nla.obj-626757719 14 Nov 2020 Sydney won 26–14. Saturday, 12 June New South Wales New South Wales 16 42 – 6 Database Program Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Frank Burge (2), Charles Fraser, Herb Gilbert, Reg Latta, George McGowan, Sandy Pearce, Jack 'Junker' Robinson Goals: Frank Burge (9) Tries: Goals: Ben Gronow (3) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 60,000 Tom Dickenson Albert Johnston captained New South Wales in two matches against the visiting Lions.Whiticker Alan Albert Johnston http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/albert-johnston/summary.html rugbyleagueproject.org Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates 19 August 2014 Wednesday, 16 June New South Wales New South Wales 16 10 – 18 Database Program Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Viv Farnsworth, Jack 'Junker' Robinson Goals: Charles Fraser (1) Ray Norman (1) Tries: Herman Hilton, William Reid Goals: Ben Gronow (6) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 55,000 Tom McMahon Sr. Saturday, 19 June Queensland Queensland 16 15 – 25 Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Neville Broadfoot, Walter Paten, Bill Richards Goals: Henry Fewin (1) Walter Paten (1) Bill Richards (1) Tries: Jim Bacon (4), Squire Stockwell Goals: Ben Gronow (5) Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane 20,000 Laurie Kearney On Saturday, 19 June, the tourists played a match against Queensland before a crowd of around 20,000 at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground.League Football: England team at Brisbane http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=DOM19200621.2.70 24 August 2014 Dominion Press Association 228 21 June 1920 The Queensland side featured Mick Bennett, Neville Broadfoot, Jeff Daly, Harry Fewin, Thomas Johnson, Jack Maguire, Patrick Moran, Claud O'Donnell, Walter Paten, Norm Potter, Bill Richards, Stan Ryan, E. Sabine, Colin Thompson, and J. Thompson.Queensland Representative Players http://www.qrl.com.au/about/qld-rep-players.html qrl.com.au Queensland Rugby League 19 August 2014 The British team was F G Thomas, J A Bacon, J Doyle, H Wagstaff, F Stockwell, R Lloyd, J Rogers, H Hilton, W Reid, G Rees, R Gronow, E Milnes and E Johnston. Refereed by L H Kearney, the visitors, after leading 13–10 at half-time, won the game 25–15.British Team: League footballers defeat Queensland http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15894744 24 August 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald 21 June 1920 Monday, 21 June Wide Bay Glebe 16 13 – 34 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216959703 Football - England v. Wide Bay Bundaberg Mail Bundaberg 22 Jun 1920 16 Nov 2020 4 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: J. Bradley, F. Heidke, W. Marles Goals: A. Toft (2) Tries: Harold Wagstaff (2), Jim Bacon, Herman Hilton, Jonty Parkin, Squire Stockwell, Billy Stone Goals: Ben Gronow (5) The Reserve, Bundaberg 4,000 Les Tallon Tuesday, 22 June Central Queensland Central Comets 16 15 – 26 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article53890614 English Footballers The Morning Bulletin Rockhampton 23 Jun 1920 16 Nov 2020 6 National Library of Australia Balmain 16 Northern Union Tries: C. Bannon, T. Barnes, G. Price Goals: D. McIvor (3) Tries: Billy Cunliffe, Evan Davies, Ernest Jones, William Reid, Arthur Skelhorne, Squire Stockwell Goals: Alf Wood (4) George Street Ground, Rockhampton W. Thorpe Thursday, 24 June Ipswich Ipswich 16 12 – 40 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120736053 A Record Attendance The Queensland Times Ipswich 25 Jun 1920 16 Nov 2020 5 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: Jim McBrien, Colin Thompson Goals: Walter Paten (3) Tries: Joe Doyle (2), Cyril Stacey (2), Squire Stockwell (2), Jim Bacon, Bobby Lloyd, William Reid Goals: Ben Gronow (3) Alf Wood (2) North Ipswich Reserve, Ipswich 5,000 H. Francis First test The first test of the 1920 Ashes series was played on the 26th of June at the Brisbane Exhibition Ground before a crowd of 32,000. It was refereed by local whistleblower Laurie Kearney.Representative Referees http://www.brlrefs.com/roll_representative.htm brlrefs.com Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association 20 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140822003217/http://www.brlrefs.com/roll_representative.htm 2014-08-22 dead Albert Johnston was selected to captain Australia in the opening Test of the series in the absence of champion centre Herb Gilbert. Despite a last minute reshuffling of the team which saw Johnston move to halfback. #eeeeee Saturday, 26 June AUS 8 – 4 https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/ashes-series-1920/game-1/australia-vs-england/summary.html Ashes Series 1920 Series - Game - Australia 8 def. England 4 www.rugbyleagueproject.org 8 April 2023 GBR Northern Union Tries: Frank Burge Charles Fraser Goals: Harold Horder (1) Tries: Goals: Ben Gronow (2) Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane 32,000 Laurie Kearney AUS AustraliaPosit.Northern UnionHarry FewinFBGwyn ThomasDick VestWGBilly StoneViv FarnsworthCEDanny HurcombeNeville BroadfootCEHarold Wagstaff (c)Harold HorderWGJim BaconCharles FraserSOJohnny RogersAlbert Johnston (c)SHJonty ParkinNorm PotterPRArthur JohnsonSandy PearceHKAlf MilnesBill SchultzPRBen GronowBill RichardsSRFrank GallagherFrank BurgeSRHerman HiltonBert GrayLFDouglas Clark Australia won the match 8–4.Australia v Great Britain: the history http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_league/2098221.stm news.bbc.co.uk 9 July 2002 BBC 21 August 2014 Monday, 28 June Toowoomba Wigan 16 28 – 48 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article253160474 The Match The Toowoomba Chronicle Toowoomba 29 Jun 1920 16 Nov 2020 7 National Library of Australia Balmain 16 Northern Union Tries: Edwin Brown, G. Hawthorne, L. Melbusch, Fred Prouton, W. Smith Goals: Fred Prouton (3) Edwin Brown (2) Tries: Billy Stone (5), Harold Wagstaff (2), William Reid, Cyril Stacey, Squire Stockwell Goals: Alf Wood (9) Athletic Oval, Toowoomba 3,000 J. Steele Second test Albert Johnston lost the Australian captaincy on Herb Gilbert's return and played at five-eighth in the second Ashes Test. The match was played on the 3rd of July at the Sydney Cricket Ground and attracted 67,739 spectators, then a record attendance for any sport at the SCG.SCG Timelines https://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=2522 sydneycricketground.com.au Sydney Cricket Ground 20 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20160827182413/https://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/DownloadDocument.ashx?DocumentID=2522 27 August 2016 dead #eeeeee Saturday, 3 July AUS 21 – 8 Database Program GBR Northern Union Tries: Viv Farnsworth Herb Gilbert Harold Horder Norm Potter Dick Vest Goals: Frank Burge (1) Harold Horder (1) Field Goals: Charles Fraser Tries: Frank Gallagher Arthur Johnson Goals: Ben Gronow (1) Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney 40,000 Tom McMahon Sr. AUS AustraliaPosit.Northern UnionCharles FraserFBGwyn ThomasDick VestWGJim BaconViv FarnsworthCEHarold Wagstaff (c)Herb Gilbert (c)CEDanny HurcombeHarold HorderWGBilly StoneAlbert JohnstonSOJohnny RogersDuncan ThompsonSHBobby LloydBill SchultzPRBen GronowSandy PearceHKAlf MilnesNorm PotterPRArthur JohnsonFrank BurgeSRHerman HiltonBert GraySRDouglas ClarkBill RichardsLFFrank Gallagher Australian halfback Duncan Thompson starred in the match,Whiticker Alan Duncan Thompson http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/duncan-thompson/summary.html rugbyleagueproject.org Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates 19 August 2014 which was won by the hosts 21–8. With this Australia secured the Ashes for the first time on home soil. Wednesday, 7 July Tamworth New South Wales 16 10 – 27 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105122992 England Wins Daily Observer (Tamworth) Tamworth 8 Jul 1920 16 Nov 2020 1 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: H Hassan, Ted Taplin Goals: J Orchard (2) Tries: Jonty Parkin (3), Evan Davies (2), Frank Gallagher, Herman Hilton Goals: Ben Gronow (3) Tamworth Oval, Tamworth 3,000 H. Flynn Third test The third Test was played on the 10th of July in Sydney, with Great Britain winning 23–13. #eeeeee Saturday, 10 July AUS 13 – 23 Database Program GBR Northern Union Tries: Frank Burge Bert Gray Duncan Thompson Goals: Frank Burge (2) Tries: Herman Hilton (2) Billy Stone (2) Jim Bacon Goals: Johnny Rogers (3) Squire Stockwell (1) RAS Showground, Sydney 32,000 Tom McMahon Sr. AUS AustraliaPosit.Northern UnionCharles FraserFBGwyn Thomas (c)Dick VestWGJohnny RogersViv FarnsworthCEBilly StoneHerb Gilbert (c)CEJim BaconHarold HorderWGSquire StockwellAlbert JohnstonSOErnest JonesDuncan ThompsonSHJonty ParkinNorm PotterPRArthur SkelhorneSandy PearceHKJoe CartwrightBill SchultzPRBilly CunliffeFrank BurgeSRHerman HiltonBert GraySRDouglas ClarkBill RichardsLFFrank Gallagher Wednesday, 25 August Newcastle Halifax 16 10 – 17 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162646425 England v. Newcastle Newcastle Morning Herald Newcastle 25 Aug 1920 16 Nov 2020 5 National Library of Australiahttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138824009 Football - League Game Newcastle Morning Herald Newcastle 26 Aug 1920 16 Nov 2020 3 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: P. Gray, H. Williams Goals: Dan Davies (1) H. Williams (1) Tries: Jonty Parkin (2), Jim Bacon, Evan Davies, Danny Hurcombe Goals: Arthur Johnson (1) Newcastle Showgrounds, Newcastle 2,000 E. Brien The British also played two matches against a Newcastle rugby league team that featured Dan "Laddo" Davies.Team of the Century http://www.westrosellas.com.au/page16383/-TEAM-OF-THE-CENTURY-.aspx westrosellas.com.au Western Suburbs Rosellas 21 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20160316070143/http://www.westrosellas.com.au/page16383/-TEAM-OF-THE-CENTURY-.aspx 16 March 2016 The first game was on the 25th of August and the tourists won 17–10. The second was on the 28th which they also won 24–3.1920 – 1929 http://www.newcastlerugbyleague.com.au/history/1920-1929/ newcastlerugbyleague.com.au Newcastle Rugby League 21 August 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140207053422/http://www.newcastlerugbyleague.com.au/history/1920-1929/ 7 February 2014 dead Saturday, 28 August Newcastle Newcastle Foundation 16 3 – 24 Database Reporthttp://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138830534 Saturday's Football Newcastle Morning Herald Newcastle 30 Aug 1920 16 Nov 2020 3 National Library of Australia Great Britain 16 Northern Union Tries: William Bell Goals: Tries: Bobby Lloyd, Evan Davies, Ben Gronow, Herman Hilton, Ernest Jones Goals: Ben Gronow (3) Newcastle Number 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle 12,000 E. Brien New Zealand 1920 New Zealand rugby league season The British team played a three-Test series against New Zealand just as it did against Australia. Karl Ifwerson captained the Kiwis against the tourists.Tony Collins A Social History of English Rugby Union 2009 Routledge UK 170 9781134023356 https://books.google.com/books?id=kvJ8AgAAQBAJ 18 August 2014 Tony Collins (historian) After losing their first game to Auckland, the tourists won all three Tests.John Coffey & Bernie Wood 100 Years: Māori Rugby League, 1908-2008 2008 Huia Publishers New Zealand 73 9781869693312 https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC 18 August 2014 In the Test at Wellington, the British were behind on the scoreboard 10–0, but made it 10–6 before Douglas Clark forced his way over the line for the match-winning try which Ben Gronow converted, giving the visitors an 11–10 victory.Douglas Clark http://www.huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk/Archive/Written/Players/Douglas_Clark.html huddersfieldrlheritage.co.uk Huddersfield Rugby League Heritage Project 21 August 2014 The second Test was played in Christchurch on Saturday, 7 August, and was won by the tourists 19 points to 3.Rugby League: England defeats New Zealand http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15901491 24 August 2014 The Sydney Morning Herald 10 August 1920 Both the game against Auckland and the final Test versus the Lions attracted nearly 40,000 spectators to Auckland's Domain ground – the biggest ever New Zealand sporting crowds to that time. Tuesday 3 August the touring England side played a mid week match against a King Country XIII in Taumarunui in front of a 4000 strong Crowd at Taumarunui Domain. England won easily 47–3. Wagstaffe scored twice in the first half for the visitors along with one a piece for Stockwell and Milne. Doran got one back for King Country. The halftime score was 16–3. In the 2nd spell, Stockwell scored 2 tries and Wagstaffe, Bowers, Doyle and Johnston one each. The final score was 47–3.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz England easily beats King county Gisborne Times 30 August 1920 10 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GIST19200804.2.32?end_date=30-08-1920&items_per_page=10&page=6&query=taumarunui&snippet=true&start_date=20-07-1920 8 April 2023 References 2 Category:Great Britain national rugby league team tours Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand Category:Rugby league tours of Australia Category:Rugby league tours of New Zealand 1920 1920