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The 1954 Great Britain Lions tour was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team of Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and August 1954. Captained by Dickie Williams, the tour involved a schedule of 32 games: 22 in Australia and 10 in New Zealand, with two three-match Test Series against both nations.
The tour began inauspiciously, with Great Britain losing four of their first seven matches, including the First Test against Australia in Sydney. Moving into the Queensland leg, the Lions' results improved, and they won all nine of their matches in the state. This included victory in the Second Test in Brisbane.
A common feature of many of the tour matches was rough play, punches being throw in and out of tackles. The July 10 match against New South Wales was abandoned by the referee seventeen minutes into the second half due to persistent brawling by the players.
One week after the abandoned game, Australia won the Third Test to claim the Ashes by a 2–1 margin.
Moving to New Zealand, Great Britain lost the Second Test, but recovered to win the Third Test and the series, by a 2–1 margin.
The tour concluded with three matches in five days back in Australia at Sydney, Canberra and Maitland.
Despite being a British team – five of the squad were Welsh, two from Scotland and hooker Tom McKinney from Northern Ireland – the team played, and were often referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.
1954 Great Britain Lions tour | |||||
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Manager | Hector Rawson Tom Hesketh | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Dickie Williams | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Lewis Jones (278) | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Billy Boston (36) | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Lewis Jones (50) | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Billy Boston (6) | ||||
Summary |
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Total |
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Test match |
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Opponent |
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Australia |
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New Zealand |
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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1950 | ||||
Next tour | 1958 |
This was the first Lions tour where the touring party travelled to Australia by air, instead of by ship.[1]
Player | Pos. | Age [nb 1] |
Weight | Club | Tests on Tour |
Games in Aus |
Games in NZ [nb 2] |
Tries | Goals | FG | Points [nb 3] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ernie Ashcroft | Centre | 29 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | Wigan | 5 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33 | |
Billy Boston | Wing | 20 | 13 st. 9 lb. (87 kg) | Wigan | 5 | 12 | 36 | 0 | 0 | 108 | |
Jim Bowden | Prop | 22 | 14 st. 5 lb. (91 kg) | Huddersfield | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Brian Briggs | Second-row | 21 | 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) | Huddersfield | 1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Alf Burnell | Halfback | 26 | 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) | Hunslet | 1 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
Ted Cahill | Fullback | 27 | 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) | Rochdale Hornets | 8 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 | ||
Frank Castle | Wing | 29 | 5 st. 9 lb. (36 kg) | Barrow | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
Jack Cunliffe | Fullback | 31 | 11 st. 9 lb. (74 kg) | Wigan | 1 | 10 | 9 | 29 | 0 | 85 | |
Doug Greenall | Centre | 26 | 11 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) | St Helens | 1 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 39 | |
Geoff Gunney | Second-row | 20 | 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) | Hunslet | 3 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
Tommy Harris | Hooker | 25 | 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) | Hull | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Gerry Helme | Halfback | 31 | 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) | Warrington | 5 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
John Henderson | Prop | 24 | 14 st. 7 lb. (92 kg) | Workington | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
Phil Jackson | Centre | 22 | 13 st. 10 lb. (87 kg) | Barrow | 6 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 | |
Lewis Jones | Centre | 23 | 12 st. 6 lb. (79 kg) | Leeds | 6 | 13 | 8 | 125 | 2 | 278 | |
Tom McKinney | Hooker | 26 | 14 st. 7 lb. (92 kg) | Salford | 4 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
Terry O'Grady | Wing | 19 | 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) | Oldham | 5 | 10 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 84 | |
Charlie Pawsey | Second-row | 29 | 14 st. 13 lb. (95 kg) | Leigh | 4 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Alan Prescott | Prop | 26 | 14 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) | St Helens | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Raymond Price | Five-eighth | 29 | 11 st. 11 lb. (75 kg) | Warrington | 3 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 24 | |
Nat Silcock | Second-row | 24 | 15 st. 2 lb. (96 kg) | Wigan | 3 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
Ken Traill | Lock | 28 | 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) | Bradford Northern | 2 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
Andrew Turnbull | Wing | 23 | 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) | Barrow | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
Dave Valentine | Lock | 27 | 13 st. 10 lb. (87 kg) | Huddersfield | 5 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
Jack Wilkinson | Prop | 24 | 14 st. 8 lb. (93 kg) | Halifax | 3 | 14 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
Dickie Williams | Five-eighth | 29 | 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) | Hunslet | 3 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
May 19 | Western Division | 11–29 | Great Britain | Bathurst | |
Tries: 1 Keith Deacon Goals: 4 Ken Fogarty (4) |
Team[2] Report[3] |
Tries: 5 Billy Boston (2) Alf Burnell Nat Silcock Terry O'Grady Goals: 7 Lewis Jones (7) |
Attendance: 5,281 Gate: AU£ 1,289 Referee: Dave Cohen |
Western Division: FB: Ron Beaumont ( Canowindra), WG: P. Weldon (Trangie), CE: Joe Cohen ( Wellington), CE: Laurie Burke ( St Patrick's), WG: Peter Marks ( Warren), FE: Peter Bracken ( Parkes), HB: Keith Deacon (Dubbo), LK: R. Harben ( Baradine), SR: Frank Hogan ( St Patrick's), SR: Ron Potter (Our Boys), PR: R. Border (Coonabarabran), HK: Ken Fogarty ( Forbes), PR: Bryan Cameron (Trangie), Coach: Frank Bell (Arms Factory). |
May 22 | Newcastle | 11–10 | Great Britain | Newcastle Sports Ground | |
Tries: 1 Bobby Banks Goals: 4 Dave Parkinson (4) |
Teams[4][5] Report[6] |
Tries: 2 Frank Castle Andrew Turnbull Goals: 2 Ted Cahill (2) |
Attendance: 22,825 Gate: AU£ 3,880 Referee: J. Underwood |
Newcastle: FB: Dave Parkinson (age 31) ( Cessnock), WG: Bill Callinan ( Maitland), CE: Geoff Hawkey (20) ( Centrals), CE: Frank Threlfo (22) ( Maitland), WG: Don Adams (21) ( Maitland), FE: Merv Walters ( Cessnock), HB: Bobby Banks (24) ( Waratah Mayfield), LK: Barry Levido (24) ( Cessnock), SR: Don Schofield (23) ( Cessnock), SR: Doug Chappell (23) ( Kurri), PR: Fred Brown (26) ( Maitland), HK: Bob Crane (30) ( Norths), PR: Doug Hawke (24) ( Norths), Coach: Frank Hawthorne ( Centrals). |
May 26 | Riverina | 26–36 | Great Britain | Wagga Showground | |
2.30pm |
Tries: 4 Jim Denaher (2) Doug Cameron (2) Goals: 7 Johnny Graves (7) |
Teams[7][8] Report[9][10] Photo[11] |
Tries: 8 Charlie Pawsey Ernie Ashcroft Tom McKinney Andrew Turnbull Phil Jackson Geoff Gunney Terry O'Grady Alf Burnell Goals: 6 Ted Cahill (6) |
Attendance: 13,000 Gate: AU£ 1,565 Referee: Eric McIlhatton |
Riverina: FB: Peter McGrath ( Temora), WG: Johnny Graves ( Cootamundra), CE: Wal Towers ( Gundagai), CE: Gerry Lowe ( Cowra), WG: Jim Denaher (Ungarie), FE: Brian Longhurst ( Gundagai), HB: Doug Cameron ( Young), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Young), SR: Len Henman ( Temora), SR: Kenneth Fitzgerald ( Tarcutta), PR: Nevyl Hand ( Gundagai), HK: Ken Mulrooney ( Kangaroos), PR: G. Robinson ( Young). |
May 29 | Sydney | 32–25 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 6 Johnny Dougherty (3) Merv Lees Keith Holman Roy Bull Goals: 7 Clive Churchill (7) |
Program Report[12][13] |
Tries: 5 Dickie Williams Lewis Jones Dave Valentine Billy Boston John Henderson Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 50,889 Gate: AU£ 7,115 Referee: Darcy Lawler |
Sydney: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Ross Kite (22) ( St George), CE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), CE: Merv Lees (21) ( St George), WG: Kevin Hole (21) ( St George), FE: Johnny Dougherty (22) ( Souths), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Roy Bull (24) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Don Evenden (24) ( Norths). |
May 30 | Southern Division | 17–17 | Great Britain | Wollongong Showground | |
Tries: 3 Darcy Russell Harry Wells Col Donohue Goals: 4 Darcy Russell (4) |
Team[14] Report[15][16] |
Tries: 3 Terry O'Grady (2) Frank Castle Goals: 4 Ted Cahill (3) Jack Cunliffe |
Attendance: 15,435 Gate: AU£ 2,573 Referee: Harold Gillard |
Southern Division: FB: Darcy Russell ( Wests), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C.), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), CE: Johnny Rouse ( Nowra), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Wests), FE: Col Donohue ( Corrimal), HB: Noel Hill ( Thirroul), SR: Noel Mulligan (28) ( C.B.C.), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), LK: Jack Quinn ( Gerringong), PR: Austin Lawler ( C.B.C.), HK: Neville Gosson (Bargo), PR: Bruce Noble (21) ( Jamberoo). |
June 5 | New South Wales | 22–11 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 4 Keith Holman Roy Bull Noel Pidding Brian Carlson Goals: 5 Clive Churchill (3) Noel Pidding (2) |
Program Report[17][18] |
Tries: 3 Frank Castle (3) Goals: 1 Ted Cahill |
Attendance: 55,518 Gate: AU£ 8,062 |
New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), CE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Johnny Dougherty (22) ( Souths), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Roy Bull (28) ( Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (24) ( St George), PR: Jim Evans (24) ( Newtown). |
Australia | 37–12 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 7 Ken McCaffery (2) Norm Provan Kel O'Shea Duncan Hall Noel Pidding Brian Carlson Goals: 8 Noel Pidding (8) |
Program Report[19][20][21][22] Database |
Tries: 2 Nat Silcock Phil Jackson Goals: 3 Lewis Jones (3) |
June 12 |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 65,885 Gate: AU£ 16,842 Referee: Darcy Lawler |
Australia: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), CE: Ken McCaffery (22) ( Toowoomba Souths), CE: Alex Watson (24) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Bob Banks (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Harold Crocker (26) ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Kel O'Shea (20) (Ayr), PR: Roy Bull (28) ( Manly-Warringah), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs). |
June 14 | Brisbane | 4–34 | Great Britain | Brisbane Exhibition Ground | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 Norm Pope (2) |
Team[23][24] Report[25] Report[26][27] |
Tries: 8 Terry O'Grady (3) Gerry Helme (2) Billy Boston Lewis Jones Brian Briggs Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 20,000 Gate: AU£ 2,875 Referee: T. Hempenstall |
Brisbane: FB: Norm Pope (22) ( Valleys), WG: Wally McDonald (27) ( Valleys), CE: Noel Hurley ( Valleys), CE: Alex Watson (22) ( Wests), WG: Garry Barnett ( Valleys), FE: Keith Brown ( Wynnum), HB: Ken Booth ( Easts), LK: Jack Jones ( Valleys), SR: Stan Hassum ( Norths), SR: Norm McFadden ( Valleys), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Wests), HK: Johnny Flynn ( Wests), PR: Don Davey ( Norths). |
June 19 | Queensland | 32–34 | Great Britain | Brisbane Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 6 Ken McCaffery (2) Bob Buckley Alex Watson Denis Flannery Duncan Hall Goals: 7 Norm Pope (7) |
Team[28] Report[29][30] |
Tries: 8 Billy Boston (3) Lewis Jones Terry O'Grady Gerry Helme Dave Valentine Charlie Pawsey Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 29,000 Gate: AU£ 5,244 Referee: Frank Ballard |
Queensland: FB: Norm Pope (age 22) ( Valleys), WG: Bob Buckley (23) (Ayr), CE: Alex Watson (22) ( Wests), CE: Ken McCaffery (24) ( Toowoomba Souths), WG: Denis Flannery (26) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Bob Banks (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr (26) ( Toowoomba Newtown), LK: Kel O'Shea (20) (Ayr), SR: Brian Davies (24) ( Booval Swifts), SR: Bernie Drew (25) ( Ipswich Railways), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Wests), HK: Alan Hornery (28) ( Booval Swifts), PR: Jack Rooney (27) ( Toowoomba All Whites). |
June 20 | Wide Bay | 14–60 | Great Britain | Maryborough Showground | |
Tries: 2 Cec Cooper Noel Hawthorne Goals: 4 B. Jamieson (2) Jim Gowdie (2) |
Teams[31] Report[32] |
Tries: 14 Terry O'Grady (5) Billy Boston (4) Raymond Price (2) Geoff Gunney Alf Burnell Doug Greenall Goals: 9 Jack Cunliffe (9) |
Attendance: 5,912 Gate: AU£ 1,147 Referee: N. Saunders |
Wide Bay: FB: Angie Venardos (North Coast), WG: Jim Gowdie (Gympie), CE: Cec Cooper (Bundaberg), CE: Noel Hawthorne (North Coast), WG: B. Jamieson (Gympie), FE: Ted Barnes (Bundaberg), HB: D. Nixon (Bundaberg), LK: M. Ziebath (Lower South Burnett), SR: Don Bowes (Rovers), SR: H. Symonds (Bundaberg), PR: P. Iszlaub (Lower South Burnett), HK: Keith Weston (Western Suburbs), PR: WP. Hegerty ( Cherbourg). |
June 22 | Nth Qld Southern Districts | 7–28 | Great Britain | Mackay | |
Tries: 1 Ike Sturgeon Goals: 2 Doug Shew (2) |
Teams[33][34] Report[35] |
Tries: 6 Lewis Jones (2) Doug Greenall Billy Boston Jim Bowden Jack Wilkinson Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 5,860 Gate: AU£ 1,250 Referee: Maurice Weis |
North Queensland Southern Districts/Zone: FB: Lou Della-Vedova ( Magpies), WG: Bill Rasmussen ( Bucas), CE: Ike Sturgeon ( Marian), CE: Ron O'Brien ( Bucas), WG: Brian Dimmock ( Collinsville), FE: Les Kieseker ( Magpies), HB: Doug Shew ( Marian), LK: Hume Ronald ( Carltons), SR: Kevin Elliott ( Magpies), SR: Charlie Ogilvie ( Magpies), PR: Ross Ryan ( Bucas), HK: Don McKenzie ( Magpies), PR: Ross Primrose ( Carltons). |
June 24 | Far North Queensland | 18–39 | Great Britain | Parramatta Park, Cairns | |
Tries: 4 Allan Cripps (2) Pat Farrell Jim Fallon Goals: 3 Bill Allendorf (3) |
Teams[36] Report[37] |
Tries: 9 Jack Cunliffe (2) Doug Greenall (2) Tommy Harris Raymond Price Alf Burnell Dickie Williams Geoff Gunney Goals: 6 Jack Cunliffe (6) |
Attendance: 6,545 Gate: AU£ 1,305 Referee: V. Renton |
Far North Queensland (North Queensland Northern Districts/Zone): FB: Frank Gill ( Kangaroos), WG: Allan Cripps (Uniteds), CE: R. Shambrook ( Kangaroos), CE: Pat Farrell (Herbert River), WG: R. Horn ( Kangaroos), FE: Hugh Kelly (22) ( Ivanhoes), HB: Dick Chant ( Ivanhoes), Jim Fallon (Mareeba), HK: R. Carter (Innisfail), Ossie Cumner (Ingham), Bill Allendorf ( Brothers), Danny Clifford (Tully), C. Blankensee ( Ivanhoes). The following were initially selected for the match but due to injury did not play: Gordon Farrelly ( Kangaroos), Mickey Shannon (Herbert River), N. McHardie and Eddie Kratzman (Tully). For the Great Britain team, the account for this match in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book remarks that hooker Tommy Harris played on the wing but omits his name from the accompanying Great Britain team list, which lists Alan Prescott twice, as half-back and prop. On the morning of the match (June 24) the team chosen as published in The Courier-Mail lists 14 players, with one to be omitted. This team differs from that given in the yearbook. The local, Cairns Post match report mentions within the text the eight point-scorers, but no other British players: FB: Ted Cahill, WG: Tommy Harris, CE: Jack Cunliffe, CE: Doug Greenall, WG: Dickie Williams, FE: Raymond Price, HB: Alf Burnell and Geoff Gunney. Hooker Tom McKinney was identified as playing in The Courier-Mail match report, winning "the scrums, 25 to 16, after leading 18 to 12 at half-time." Alan Prescott was listed in both The Courier-Mail team list and the yearbook, but not mentioned in The Courier-Mail or Cairns Post match reports. Four players listed in both The Courier-Mail team list but not in the yearbook, and not mentioned in the yearbook are: PR: Jack Wilkinson, John Henderson, Brian Briggs and Ken Traill. The above-named 14 players are credited with a match appearance in the Squad statistics. The following four players listed only in the yearbook are not credited with an appearance for this Far North Queensland match: LK: Dave Valentine, SR: Charlie Pawsey, SR: Nat Silcock, PR: Jim Bowden. |
June 27 | North Queensland | 13–39 | Great Britain | Townsville | |
3pm |
Tries: 1 Bob Buckley Goals: 5 Nev Linde (5) |
Teams[33][38] Report[39] Photo[40] |
Tries: 9 Terry O'Grady (4) Billy Boston (4) Phil Jackson Goals: 6 Lewis Jones (6) |
Attendance: 8,360 Gate: AU£ 1,821 Referee: R. Allison |
North Queensland: FB: Nev Linde (age 23) (Ayr), WG: Bob Buckley (Ayr), CE: Gordon Farrelly ( Kangaroos), CE: Graham Laird ( Magpies), WG: Graham \ Geoff Nash (Tully), FE: Brian Dimmock ( Collinsville), HB: Jack Russell-Green (Ayr), LK: Ross Primrose ( Carltons), SR: Roy Greenwood (Tully), SR: Bill Duell (Ayr), PR: Jack (Jerry) McAuliffe ( Brothers), HK: Ron Griffiths ( Ivanhoes), PR: Hume Ronald ( Carltons), Coach: Len Pegg (age 32). |
June 29 | Central Queensland | 12–21 | Great Britain | Murray Street rugby league ground | |
Tries: 2 Des McGovern Alf Bawden Goals: 3 Matt McCoy (3) |
Team[41] Report[42][43] |
Tries: 5 Jack Cunliffe Nat Silcock Doug Greenall Geoff Gunney Raymond Price Goals: 3 Ted Cahill (2) Jack Cunliffe |
Attendance: 5,200 Gate: AU£ 1,047 Referee: H. Gilbert |
Central Queensland: FB: Rex Morrison ( Norths), WG: Des McGovern (26) ( Railways), CE: Matt McCoy (30) ( Fitzroys), CE: Cec Cooper (28) ( Brothers), WG: Joe Jackson (Gladstone), FE: George Williams ( Fitzroys), HB: Duncan Jackson ( Lifesavers), LK: Alf Bawden ( Fitzroys), SR: Ray (Neilsen) Nielson ( Fitzroys), SR: John Perrin ( Norths), PR: R. Gutheridge ( Fitzroys), HK: L. Tynan ( Railways), PR: B. Cridland ( Norths). |
Australia | 21–36 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Brian Carlson (2) Norm Provan Duncan Hall Keith Holman Goals: 3 Noel Pidding (3) |
Teams[44] Report[45][46] Database |
Tries: 6 Billy Boston (2) Charlie Pawsey Dickie Williams Phil Jackson Gerry Helme Goals: 8 Lewis Jones (8) |
July 3 |
Australia: FB: Clive Churchill ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding ( Maitland), CE: Noel Hazzard (Roma), CE: Alex Watson ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Brian Carlson ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Bob Sullivan ( North Sydney), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Harold Crocker ( Parramatta), SR: Norm Provan ( St George), SR: Kel O'Shea (Ayr), PR: Duncan Hall ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), HK: Ken Kearney ( St George), PR: Roy Bull ( Manly-Warringah). |
July 4 | Toowoomba | 14–25 | Great Britain | Toowoomba Athletic Oval | |
Tries: 2 Cyril Connell Jr Bevan Hoyle Goals: 4 Bevan Hoyle (4) |
Team[47] Report[48] |
Tries: 5 Raymond Price (2) Billy Boston Doug Greenall Jack Cunliffe Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 13,310 Gate: AU£ 3,321 Referee: Vic Lynagh |
Toowoomba: FB: Bevan Hoyle ( Souths), WG: Bill Monkland ( All Whites), CE: Noel Hazzard (Roma), CE: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Alan Norris ( Valleys), FE: Bob Banks ( Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr ( Newtown), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Valleys), SR: Don Furner ( Souths), SR: Bill Beardsworth ( Valleys), PR: Vince Soorley ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), PR: Neil Teys ( Newtown), Coach: Duncan Thompson ( Toowoomba). |
July 7 | Northern NSW | 14–44 | Great Britain | Grafton | |
Tries: 2 Noel McKay Barry McConnell Goals: 4 Brian Graham (4) |
Team[49] Report[50][51] |
Tries: 10 Billy Boston (6) Jack Cunliffe (2) Doug Greenall (2) Goals: 7 Jack Cunliffe (7) |
Attendance: 6,380 Gate: AU£ 1,221 Referee: Wal Sneddon |
Northern NSW: FB: Brian Graham (17) ( South Grafton), WG: John Rowlings ( Armidale), CE: Bruce Grace ( Gunnedah), CE: Jim Daley (Casino All Stars), WG: George Smith ( Nambucca), FE: Noel McKay (18) ( Bowraville), HB: Barry McConnell (Tweed), LK: Les Reid ( Scone), SR: Monty Porter ( East Tamworth), SR: George Alaban (Diggers), PR: Harry Melville ( Scone), HK: Alf Hardman ( Moree), PR: Arthur Henderson ( Moree). |
July 10 | New South Wales | 17–6 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 3 Merv Lees (2) Roy Bull Goals: 4 Noel Pidding (4) |
Program Report[52][53] |
Tries: 2 Jack Cunliffe Jack Wilkinson Goals: 0 |
Attendance: 27,869 Gate: AU£ 3,671 Referee: Aub Oxford |
New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), CE: Merv Lees (21) ( St George), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), FE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Peter Diversi (22) ( Norths), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Jim Evans (24) ( Newtown), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Roy Bull (24) ( Manly). |
Australia | 20–16 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 4 Alex Watson Harry Wells Noel Pidding Peter Diversi Goals: 4 Noel Pidding (4) |
Program Report[54][55] |
Tries: 4 Dickie Williams (2) Ernie Ashcroft Dave Valentine Goals: 2 Lewis Jones (2) |
July 17 |
Sydney Cricket Ground Attendance: 67,577 Gate: AU£ 17,717 Referee: Darcy Lawler |
Australia: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( South Sydney), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), CE: Harry Wells (22) ( Wollongong), CE: Alex Watson (22) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), WG: Noel Pidding (27) ( Maitland), FE: Bob Banks (23) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Peter Diversi (22) ( North Sydney), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Kel O'Shea (21) (Ayr), PR: Brian Davies (23) ( Booval Swifts), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Duncan Hall (28) ( Brisbane Western Suburbs), |
July 21 | New Zealand Māori | 4–14 | Great Britain | Auckland | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 R. Haggie (2) |
Teams[56] Report[57] |
Tries: 4 Ernie Ashcroft (2) Doug Greenall Frank Castle Goals: 1 Jack Cunliffe |
Attendance: 1,728 |
For Māori the following 14 players were selected, with one to be omitted: R. Haggie, A. Berryman, J. Gibbons, J. Wright, T. Penny, William Sorensen, G. Turner, J. Wills, D. Diamond, John Yates, H. Maxwell, N. Rakena, R. Royal, J. Ratima. |
New Zealand | 7–27 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 1 John Bond Goals: 2 Jim Haig Des White |
Teams[58] Report[59][60] Database |
Tries: 7 Billy Boston (4) Ernie Ashcroft (2) Tommy Harris Goals: 3 Lewis Jones (3) |
July 24 |
Whangarei Attendance: 22,097 Referee: J. Griffin |
New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Cyril Eastlake ( Auckland), CE: Ron McKay ( Taranaki), CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Jim Edwards ( Auckland), FE: George Menzies (West Coast), HB: Jim Haig, PR: Cliff Johnson ( Auckland), HK: Roy Roff, PR: William McLennan (West Coast), SR: John Bond ( Canterbury), SR: Frank Mulcare, LK: Alister Atkinson ( Canterbury). |
July 27 | Wellington | 18–61 | Great Britain | ||
Tries: 4 P. Jones (2) Williams Rowels Goals: 3 Gordon (3) |
Report[61] |
Tries: 13 Terry O'Grady (4) Billy Boston (3) Doug Greenall (3) Dickie Williams Jack Cunliffe Tom McKinney Goals: 11 Lewis Jones (11) |
Attendance: 3,103 |
New Zealand | 20–14 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 2 John Butterfield Frank Mulcare Goals: 7 Des White (7) |
Database Report[62][63] |
Tries: 2 Terry O'Grady Jack Wilkinson Goals: 4 Lewis Jones (4) |
July 31 |
Wingham Park, Greymouth Attendance: 4,240 Referee: M. Seagar |
New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Jim Edwards ( Auckland), CE: Ron Ackland, CE: Tommy Baxter, WG: Vern Bakalic, FE: William Sorensen ( Auckland), HB: Jim Haig, PR: Cliff Johnson (Auckland ), HK: Lory Blanchard ( Canterbury), PR: William McLennan (West Coast), SR: John Butterfield ( Canterbury), SR: Frank Mulcare, LK: Alister Atkinson ( Canterbury). |
August 4 | South Island | 11–32 | Great Britain | ||
Tries: 1 Jim Haig Goals: 4 John Butterfield (3) John Bond |
Result[64] |
Tries: 6 Terry O'Grady (2) Phil Jackson (2) Alf Burnell Jack Wilkinson Goals: 7 Lewis Jones (7) |
Attendance: 1,154 |
August 7 | Canterbury | 14–60 | Great Britain | ||
Tries: 2 John Butterfield Clark Goals: 4 John Bond (4) |
Result[65][66] |
Tries: 12 Billy Boston (4) Terry O'Grady (3) Alf Burnell (2) Geoff Gunney (2) Alan Prescott Goals: 12 Lewis Jones (12) |
Attendance: 1,544 |
August 9 | North Island | 7–42 | Great Britain | Pukekura Park, New Plymouth | |
Tries: 1 Goals: 2 |
Result[67][68] |
Tries: 8 Goals: 9 |
Attendance: 2,448 |
August 11 | South Auckland | 14–26 | Great Britain | Hamilton | |
Tries: 2 G. Dow Worth Goals: 4 George (4) |
Report[69] |
Tries: 6 Ernie Ashcroft (3) Jack Cunliffe Dave Valentine Gerry Helme Goals: 4 Jack Cunliffe (4) |
Attendance: 1,683 |
New Zealand | 6–12 | Great Britain |
---|---|---|
Tries: 0 Goals: 3 Des White (3) |
Database Report[70] |
Tries: 2 Terry O'Grady Raymond Price Goals: 3 Lewis Jones (3) |
August 14 |
Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 6,186 Referee: W. Wilkinson |
New Zealand: FB: Des White, WG: Jim Edwards ( Auckland), CE: Ron Ackland, CE: Jim Austin ( Auckland), WG: Tommy Baxter, FE: William Sorensen (Auckland ), HB: Jim Haig, PR: Cliff Johnson ( Auckland), HK: Lory Blanchard ( Canterbury), PR: William McLennan (West Coast), SR: John Butterfield ( Canterbury), SR: Frank Mulcare, LK: Alister Atkinson ( Canterbury). |
August 16 | Auckland | 5–4 | Great Britain | Carlaw Park, Auckland | |
Tries: 1 Roy Roff Goals: 1 Ian Grey |
Report[71] |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 Lewis Jones (2) |
Attendance: 4,949 |
August 18 | New South Wales | 35–15 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
Tries: 9 Ross Kite (2) Jack Rayner (2) Brian Carlson (2) Keith Holman Dick Poole Norm Provan Goals: 4 Ross Kite (2) Keith Holman Clive Churchill |
Program Teams[72] Report[73] |
Tries: 3 Lewis Jones Dave Valentine Raymond Price Goals: 3 Lewis Jones (3) |
Attendance: 20,295 Gate: AU£ 2,815 Referee: J. O'Brien |
New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (age 27) ( Souths), WG: Brian Carlson (21) ( C.B.C. Wollongong), CE: Dick Poole (23) ( Newtown), CE: Merv Lees (21) ( St George), WG: Ross Kite (22) ( St George), FE: Greg Hawick (23) ( Souths), HB: Keith Holman (26) ( Wests), LK: Peter Diversi (22) ( Norths), SR: Norm Provan (22) ( St George), SR: Jack Rayner (33) ( Souths), PR: Jim Evans (24) ( Newtown), HK: Ken Kearney (28) ( St George), PR: Roy Bull (24) ( Manly). |
August 21 | Southern NSW | 21–66 | Great Britain | Manuka Oval, Canberra | |
2.30pm |
Tries: 3 Angus Miller (2) , Allan Hawke Goals: 6 Johnny Graves (6) |
Team[74][75] Report[76][77] |
Tries: 12 Nat Silcock (2) Dickie Williams (2) Brian Briggs (2) Phil Jackson Jack Wilkinson Ken Traill Doug Greenall Jim Bowden Dave Valentine Goals: 15 Lewis Jones (15) |
Attendance: 3,253 Gate: AU£ 690 Referee: j. McIlhatton |
Southern NSW: FB: Keith Barnes ( Wollongong), WG: Jack Lumsden ( Wests), CE: Col Johnson ( Cooma Rovers), CE: Alan (Allan) Hawke ( Norths), WG: Johnny Graves ( Cootamundra), FE: Jim / Jack Gartner (Adaminaby), HB: Doug Cameron ( Young), LK: Noel Mulligan ( C.B.C.), SR: Angus Miller ( Berry), SR: Stan Greenwood ( Yass), PR: Ron (Ralph) Foster ( Norths), HK: Billy Rayner ( Yass), PR: Bill Hodges ( Wollongong). |
August 22 | Coalfields | 28–22 | Great Britain | Maitland | |
Tries: 6 Gus Gray (2) Bobby Banks Doug Hawke Ray Allsop Lester Batey Goals: 5 Dave Parkinson (5) |
Report[78] |
Tries: 4 Ernie Ashcroft (2) Lewis Jones Nat Silcock Goals: 5 Lewis Jones (5) |
Attendance: 9,585 Gate: AU£ 2,058 Referee: Wal Sneddon |
Newcastle Coalfields: FB: Dave Parkinson ( Cessnock), WG: Don Adams ( Maitland), CE: Bill Sneddon ( Cessnock), CE: Colin De Lore ( Lakes United), WG: Lester Batey ( Cessnock), FE: Ray Allsop ( Lakes United), HB: Bobby Banks ( Waratah Mayfield), LK: Gus Gray ( Lakes United), SR: Doug Hawke ( Norths), SR: Tom Pitman ( Lakes United), PR: Jack Mantle ( Norths), HK: Bob Crane ( Norths), PR: Fred Brown ( Maitland). |
Brian Carlson, Clive Churchill, Keith Holman, Ken Kearney, and Norm Provan all appeared in seven matches against Great Britain - in each instance three games for Australia, three for New South Wales and one for Sydney. The most tries scored against the Lions was six, by Brian Carlson. Keith Holman and Ken McCaffery each scored four tries. Noel Pidding scored the most points against the tourists, with 51 from three tries and 21 goals in five matches.
In the Test Series the leading scorers were Noel Pidding 36 (Australia) and Des White 22 (New Zealand). Lewis Jones scored the most points for the Lions against both opponents, 30 against Australia and 20 against New Zealand.
Billy Boston scored six tries in the six tests, including four against New Zealand. Dickie Williams scored three tries against Australia. Brian Carlson scored three tries in the Ashes Tests for Australia. No New Zealander scored more than a single try in their three Test series.
Acronym | Item | Years | Database App | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct Online Access | ||||
RLN | Rugby League News | 1920-1973 | Trove | Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles |
RLP | Rugby League Project | 1907–present | RLP Website | Test Match teams & scorers. |
Sun | The Sun (Sydney) | 1910-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
DT | The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) | 1931-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
CM | The Courier-Mail | 1933-1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Articles. |
- | Various Australian Regional Newspapers | up to 1954 | Trove | Match Reports, Given Names of Players |
- | New Zealand Newspapers | up to 1950 | Papers Past | Match Reports. |
Offline Resources | ||||
EECYB | E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book | 1946-1978 | Copies at State Library of NSW | Teams, Point Scorers, Report. 1955 Yearbook covers the 1954 tour. |
QRLG | Queensland Rugby League Gazette | 1950-1955 | Copies at State Library of Qld | Program for matches in Brisbane. Collection is predominantly of representative matches. |
RRLG | Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette | 1951-1968 | Copies at State Library of Qld | Program for matches in Rockhampton. Collection includes club as well as Rockhampton and Central Queensland representative matches. |
- | Ipswich Versus International Teams[79] | 1913-1975 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players |
- | The Bulimba Cup Era[80] | 1925-1972 | Copies at SLQ & NLA | Clubs of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane players. This book includes Bulimba Cup match reports and team lists. |
- | A History of Mackay Rugby League[81] | 1919-2015 | Author's Website | Given Names & Club of Mackay Players |
- | More Than The Foley Shield[82] | 1908-2014 | Author's Website | Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players |
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