1936 Great Britain Lions tour explained

Manager:W. Poppleton and R.F. Anderton
Captain:Jim Brough
Matchplayed:25
Matchwon:22
Matchdraw:0
Matchlost:3
Testplayed:5
Testwon:4
Testdraw:0
Testlost:1
Opponent1:Australia
Played1:3
Won1:2
Draw1:0
Lost1:1
Opponent2:New Zealand
Played2:2
Won2:2
Draw2:0
Lost2:0
Previous:1932
Next:1946

The 1936 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 1936. The tour involved a schedule of 24 games, 16 in Australia including a three-test series against Australia for the Ashes and a further 8 in New Zealand including a two-test series against New Zealand.

Captained by Jim Brough the Lions returned home having won 21 and lost 3 of their games. They won the Ashes against Australia 2–1 and made a clean sweep against New Zealand winning both test matches.

Despite being a British team the team played as, and were universally referred to by both the press at home and away, as England.

Squad

A 26-man squad was selected for the tour with the names announced in March 1936 with Jim Sullivan named as captain.[1] Two weeks after the squad was named, Sullivan withdrew from the squad due to the illness of his wife,[2] the Rugby Football League (RFL) made Leeds Jim Brough captain, moved Billy Belshaw from the centres to fullback and called up Wigan's Gwyn Davies to the vacancy in the centres.[3] The squad that assembled in April 1936 comprised:

Backs! Name! Club
s
Leeds
Liverpool Stanley
Threequarters
Right wings
Wigan
Salford
Left wings
Leeds
Salford
s
Castleford
Leeds
Salford
Half-backs
s
Salford
Huddersfield
s
Salford
Widnes
Forwards! Name! Club
Front row
s
Swinton
York
s
Widnes
Liverpool Stanley
Warrington
Keighley
Back row
s
Warrington
Barrow
Swinton
Wakefield Trinity
s
Hunslet
Hull F.C.

The two team managers were W. Poppleton of Bramley and R.F. Anderton of Warrington.[1]

Schedule and results

The majority of the team sailed from Tilbury on 17 April 1936 on board the SS Cathay with the Leeds and Warrington players together with Hunslet's Harry Beverley departing by train on 24 May to meet the rest of the team at Marseilles. The split departure was due to the players being involved in the Challenge Cup final on 18 April and in Beverley's case due to a family illness.[4] The team arrived in Melbourne on 25 May and travelled to Sydney by train the following day.[5]

DateOpponentsVenueScore (GB first)AttendanceNotes
30 May Sydney Firstsalign="center" [6] 52,984 Program
3 June Southern Districts align="center" [7] 6,000 Southern Districts was a representative team for teams playing in New South Wales Country Rugby League group 20.
6 June Sydney Cricket Ground align="center" [8] 49,519 Program
10 June Western Districts align="center" [9] [10] 7,000 This Western Districts side was the representative team for teams playing in New South Wales Country Rugby League group 11.
13 June align="center" [11] 24,722
15 June align="center" [12] [13] 4,000 Wide Bay was a representative team drawn from clubs in the Wide Bay division of the Queensland Rugby League.
17 June Mackay align="center" [14] 5,000
20 June North Queensland align="center" [15] [16] 8,000 North Queensland was the representative team for teams in the Queensland Rugby League Northern Division
23 June Central Queensland align="center" A game was scheduled against the representative team of the Queensland Rugby League Central Division but was postponed due to flooding.[17] The English team managers had been considering requesting postponement of the game due to the number of injuries the squad has suffered in the preceding games.[18]
27 June align="center" [19] [20] 10,000 Newcastle was the representative team for teams in the Newcastle Rugby League. This was the first victory by a representative side from the New South Wales Country Rugby League over England.
29 June Sydney Cricket Ground align="center" [21] [22] 69,320 First Ashes Test. Program
1 July Ipswich align="center" [23] [24] 3,000
4 July Brisbane Cricket Ground align="center" [25] [26] 29,486 Second Ashes Test
8 July Toowoomba align="center" [27] 10,000
11 July Brisbane Cricket Ground align="center" [28] 10,374
15 July Northern Districts align="center" [29] [30] 6,980 Northern Districts was the representative team for clubs in Group 19 of the New South Wales Country Rugby League. During the match England forward, Jack Arkwright, was sent off twice. After the first sending off, the opposing captain, J Kingston, appealed to the referee for Arkwright to continue to play. The referee rescinded the sending off but towards the end of the game dismissed Arkwright again for punching an opponent.
18 July Sydney Cricket Ground align="center" [31] [32] 53,546 Third Ashes Test. Program
20 July Western Districts align="center" [33] [34] 6,000 This Western Districts team was the representative team for clubs in Group 10 of the New South Wales Country Rugby League
25 July align="center" [35] 26,000
28 July align="center" [36]
1 August align="center" [37]
4 August align="center" [38] 3,000
6 August align="center" [39]
8 August align="center" [40] [41] 25,000 First Test
13 August align="center" [42] 4,000
15 August align="center" [43] [44] 17,000 Second Test

Following the conclusion of the tour, the squad returned home sailing from Auckland on 18 August aboard the and arriving in Southampton on 17 September 1936.[45] [46]

Ashes series

First test

AustraliaPositionEngland
FB2. Billy Belshaw
WG5. Alan Edwards
CE12. Stan Brogden
10. David Brown (c)CE3. Arthur Atkinson (c)
12. Alan RidleyWG7. Jack Morley
11. Ernie NormanFE/SO11. Emlyn Jenkins
15. Viv ThicknesseHB/SH
PR17. Nat Silcock
HK20. Harry Field
PR19. Jack Miller
5. Joe PearceSR23. Martin Hodgson
4. Les HeidkeSR18. Harry Woods
6. Wally PriggLK/LF25. Harry Beverley

The first Ashes test was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 29 June 1936. Interest in the game was so high that within half an hour of the gates opening at 9 am the ground was full despite kick-off not being until 3 pm.[47]

Prior to the kick-off the newly instituted Courtney Goodwill Trophy was presented to Henry Flegg of the Australian Rugby League Board of Control by Ernest Farrar on behalf of the trophy donor, Roy Courtney.[48]

Injury to England captain, Jim Brough, meant a re-organisation for the England team with Billy Belshaw playing at full-back and Arthur Atkinson captaining the side. After Australian captain, David Brown scored an early penalty it was England who scored the first try when Harry Beverley scored from a scrum close to the Australian line. With the resulting conversion attempt missed England led 3–2. The lead was not to last long as Brown kicked another penalty soon after to give Australia a 4–3 advantage. These were the only scores of the first half but before half-time props Nat Silcock (England) and Ray Stehr (Australia) were sent off for fighting during a scrum.[47]

The second half was all Australia's as they scored four converted tries through Brown with two and one each for Joe Pearce and Alan Ridley to lead 24–3 before Beverley scored a consolation try for England just before the end which Martin Hodgson converted.[47] [49]

Second test

AustraliaPositionEngland
FBJim Brough (c)
style=background:#eee;"WGAlan Edwards
style=background:#eee;"CEBilly Belshaw
David Brown (c)style=background:#eee;"CEGus Risman
Alan Ridleystyle=background:#eee;"WGStan Brogden
Ernie Normanstyle=background:#eee;"FE/SOEmlyn Jenkins
Viv Thicknessestyle=background:#eee;"HB/SH
style=background:#eee;"PR
style=background:#eee;"HKTommy Armitt
style=background:#eee;"PRHarry Woods
Joe Pearcestyle=background:#eee;"SRMartin Hodgson
Les Heidkestyle=background:#eee;"SRJack Arkwright
Wally Priggstyle=background:#eee;"LK/LFHarry Beverley

The second test was played in Brisbane a week after the first test. An unchanged Australian side were looking for a first Ashes series win since 1920.[50] England made several changes with Brough returning as captain at fullback with Belshaw returning to the centres in place of the injured Atkinson alongside Gus Risman as Brogden moved out to the wing in place of Morley. Watkins replaced McCue at scrum-half while in the forwards Arkwright and Armitt replaced Miller and Field.

On a pitch that was heavy after a lot of rain, England made the better start winning more possession from the scrum than the Australians and this pressure led to the first try when Alan Edwards scored in the corner. A Gus Risman penalty increased England's lead to 5–0 before Australia drew level with a try from winger Arch Crippin. Retrieving a dropped England pass on his own 25yd line Crippin ran the length of the pitch beating fullback Brough to score under the posts, leaving a simple conversation for Jack Beaton to level the scores.

In the second half, Edwards scored a second try for England form a scrum in much the same fashion as his first try and a successful conversion by Risman gave England a 10–5 lead which Australia reduced to a three-point lead when David Brown kicked a goal. The final points of the game came from Martin Hodgson as he kicked a penalty resulting from offside close to the Australian line.[51] [52]

Third test

AustraliaPositionEngland
FB2. Billy Belshaw
WG6. Alan Edwards
CE12. Stan Brogden
10. David Brown (c)CE9. Gus Risman (c)
12. Alan RidleyWG4. Barney Hudson
FE/SO11. Emlyn Jenkins
7. Fred GilbertHB/SH
PR
HK16. Tommy Armitt
PR22. Jack Arkwright
5. Joe PearceSR23. Martin Hodgson
4. Les HeidkeSR
6. Wally PriggLK/LF25. Harry Beverley
The deciding test in the series was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground of 18 July 1936. England made only one change from the side that won the second test with Belshaw replacing Brough, who was injured, as fullback and bringing Barney Hudson into the centres. In the absences of Brough, Gus Risman captained the side for the first time. Australia made two changes, giving a debut to half-back Fred Gilbert and recalling Peter Madsen three years after his previous international appearance. Madsen was played at hooker, not his normal position - all his previous caps were at prop-forward - a decision later criticised in the Australian press.[53]

Australia scored first with David Brown kicking a penalty halfway through the first half. About five minutes before the end of the half England prop, Jack Arkwright and his Australian counterpart, Ray Stehr were both sent off for fighting. This was the second time in the series that Stehr had been sent off and subsequently he was banned for three games while Arkwright was suspended until 31 July.[54] With time running out in the first half England scored the only try of the half as Stan Brogden kicked over the Australian backs and Barney Hudson collected the ball to score in the corner. With Martin Hodgson converting the try, England led 5–2 at half-time.

In the second half the greater weight and skill of the English forwards saw England dominating play at the scrum, by the end of the game England had won 41 scrums to Australia's 14.[53] England's second try came from a scrum as Emlyn Jenkins passed to Brogden who scored. Hodgson converted to make England's lead 10–2. A further Hodgson goal made it 12–2 before Australia scored a try in the last minutes of the match as Vic Hey touched down following a break through the English defence by Wally Prigg. With Brown adding the conversion to bring the scores to 12–7, the last minutes were tense but England held on to win the match and the series.[55]

New Zealand test series

First test

New ZealandPositionEngland
FBBilly Belshaw
style=background:#eee;"WGAlan Edwards
style=background:#eee;"CEStan Brogden
style=background:#eee;"CEGus Risman (c)
style=background:#eee;"WGBarney Hudson
style=background:#eee;"FE/SOEmlyn Jenkins
style=background:#eee;"HB/SH
style=background:#eee;"PR
style=background:#eee;"HKTommy Armitt
style=background:#eee;"PRHarry Field
style=background:#eee;"SRMartin Hodgson
style=background:#eee;"SR
Puti Watene (c) style=background:#eee;"LK/LFAlec Troup
The English came into the first test at Carlaw Park, Auckland with the same back line up from the third test in Australia and only two changes in the forwards with Field and Troup replacing Arkwright and Beverley. The game was one where the defences held the upper hand as England's dominance in the scrums was matched by New Zealand's backs controlling more of the open play. The first half only saw one score with New Zealand captain Puti Watene kicking the goal which gave New Zealand a 2–0 lead at the interval.

The first try went to England when from a scrum near the halfway line a passing movement along the threequarter line ended with winger Alan Edwards scoring in the corner. This gave England a narrow 3–2 lead which then changed hands twice as Watene and Hodgson traded goals. England then scored another try, again from a scrum, as stand-off Emlyn Jenkins ran through the New Zealand defensive line to score. With the conversion missed the score was 8–4 to England, two further penalties for Watene and Hodgson increased the score to 10–6. New Zealand tried to score in the dying minutes of the game but Thomas Trevarthan could only manage a field goal with the last play of the game to give England a 10–8 victory.[56] [57]

Second test

New ZealandPositionEngland
FBBilly Belshaw
style=background:#eee;"WGAlan Edwards
style=background:#eee;"CEStan Brogden
style=background:#eee;"CEGus Risman (c)
style=background:#eee;"WGBarney Hudson
style=background:#eee;"FE/SOEmlyn Jenkins
style=background:#eee;"HB/SH
style=background:#eee;"PR
style=background:#eee;"HKTommy Armitt
style=background:#eee;"PRHarry Field
style=background:#eee;"SRJack Arkwright
style=background:#eee;"SR
Puti Watene (c) style=background:#eee;"LK/LFAlec Troup

The second test was played a week after the first, again at Carlaw Park in Auckland. England made one change with Jack Arkwright replacing Martin Hodgson in the forwards. New Zealand made two changes bringing Claude Dempsey in at fullback and Ted Mincham on the wing.

England opened the scoring with a Gus Risman penalty before Puti Watene levelled the score with a penalty. New Zealand had a try disallowed before England scored their first try as Arkwright scored from a try. Risman converted to make the score 7–2. Further tries from Alan Edwards and Jack Miller together with a Risman conversion gave England a 15–2 half-time advantage.

The start of the second half saw New Zealand with the advantage as a try by Joe Cootes sandwiched between two Watene penalties, and a Watene conversion brought New Zealand within four points of England. A further attack by New Zealand which would have closed the gap to one-point ended with England extending their lead as Barney Hudson intercepted a New Zealand pass and scored a try. Risman's conversion and a second try for Arkwright made the score 23–11 to England. Just before full-time England stand-off Emlyn Jenkins was sent off for arguing with the referee.[58] [59] [60]

Notes and References

  1. News: R.L. players for Australia . . 5 March 1936 . 19 . ((27,645)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  2. News: Australian Tour Vacancy to be Filled To-Day . . 18 March 1936 . 19 . ((27,656)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  3. News: Tour In Australia: Brough as Captain, G. Davies to Fill Vacancy . . 19 March 1936 . 19 . ((27,657)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  4. News: Last Seven Players Depart to Join Advance Party . . 19 March 1936 . 19 . ((27,687)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  5. News: English Rugby League Team . . 45 . 22 . 27 May 1936 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: England Lucky To Beat Sydney In Stirring League Encounter . . 1731 . 31 May 1936 . 1 (Sporting Section) . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: English Football Team's Visit . . XXI . 43 . 5 June 1936 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: Rugby League: England Beaten . . 8 June 1936 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: West's Epic Effort Against Englishmen. . Dubbo . 11 Jun 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: English team defeat Western Districts . . 9 . 2727 . 11 June 1936 . 20 May 2017 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  11. News: English Rugby League Team . . 45 . 25 . 17 June 1936 . 12 . National Library of Australia.
  12. News: Rugby League - The English Match. . Maryborough . 17 Jun 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  13. News: England V Wide Bay. . . LVIII . 144 . 16 June 1936 . 10 . National Library of Australia.
  14. News: Record crowd sees exciting rugby league match . . 70 . 145 . 18 June 1936 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  15. News: English Footballers. . Townsville . 22 Jun 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  16. News: Canter for England . . 1891 . 21 June 1936 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  17. News: Rugby League match cancelled . . 61 . 24 June 1936 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  18. News: Heavy list of injured . . 16 June 1936 . 20 . ((27,732)) . subscription . .
  19. News: Newcastle's Great Victory. . Newcastle . 27 Jun 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  20. News: Newcastle defeats England . . ((10,728)) . Queensland, Australia . 29 June 1936 . 8 . National Library of Australia.
  21. News: 24 - 8 Australia wind League Test . . ((20,347)) . 29 June 1936 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  22. News: England win the Second Test . . 9 . ((15,810)) . 29 June 1936 . subscription . .
  23. News: Ipswich Forwards Game But Too Light. . Ipswich . 2 Jul 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  24. News: Easy Win . . 8266 . 1 July 1936 . 35 (COUNTRY EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
  25. News: Second Test . . ((214,623)) . 4 July 1936 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  26. News: England win the Second Test . . 1 . ((15,815)) . 4 July 1936 . subscription . .
  27. News: England beats Toowoomba . . 27 . 8719 . 9 July 1936 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  28. News: England Wins Well . . 11 July 1936 . 1 (SPORTS FINAL) . National Library of Australia.
  29. News: English Invasion. . Armidale . 15 Jul 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  30. News: Englishmen win . . ((10,743)) . 16 July 1936 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  31. News: England retains Ashes . . 27 . 8728 . 20 July 1936 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
  32. News: England retain Rugby League Ashes . . 18 July 1936 . ((14,282)) . subscription . .
  33. News: English League Players Win. . Lithgow . 21 Jul 1936 . 17 Nov 2020 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  34. News: England Has An Easy Victory . . 8282 . 20 July 1936 . 20 (COUNTRY EDITION) . . Corbett. Claude.
  35. News: Fast League . . 12 . ((22,481)) . 27 July 1936 . National Library of New Zealand.
  36. News: 48 To 8 . . 7 . 30 July 1936 . 26 . CXXII . National Library of New Zealand.
  37. News: Exciting League . . 11 . 22487 . 3 August 1936 . National Library of New Zealand.
  38. News: Impressive display . . 19 . 5 August 1936 . 31 . CXXII . National Library of New Zealand.
  39. News: Nine left . . 12 . 7 August 2017 . LXVII . 186 . National Library of New Zealand.
  40. News: Hard, rugged test . . 17 . 10 August 1936 . 35 . CXXII . National Library of New Zealand.
  41. News: Desperate First Test with New Zealand . . 8 August 1936 . 1 . ((15,845)) . subscription . .
  42. News: The League Code . . 17 . ((22,497)) . 14 August 1936 . National Library of New Zealand.
  43. News: Football Test . . 12 . 17 August 1936 . ((22,499)) . National Library of New Zealand.
  44. News: Rugby League tour ends with victory . . 15 August 1936 . 3 . ((15,851)) . subscription . .
  45. News: Match against Maoris . . 8 August 1936 . ((22,492)) . 16 . National Library of New Zealand.
  46. News: Touring Teams arrive back home . . 18 September 1936 . 3 . ((26,163)) . subscription . .
  47. News: Rugby League. Australia wins Test. . . ((30,730)) . 30 June 1936 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  48. News: Unique Trophy . . 29 June 1936 . 4 (SPORTS FINAL) . National Library of Australia.
  49. News: Rugby League Test: England beaten 24 points to eight . . 7 . ((18,142)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  50. News: England's Surprise In Rugby Test . . 1460 . 4 July 1936 . 4 (First Edition) . National Library of Australia.
  51. News: Rugby League: England's Day . . ((18,636)) . 6 July 1936 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  52. News: England turn the tables . . 6 July 1936 . 15 . ((27,749)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  53. News: England completely outshone Australia to win Rugby League Ashes . . ((20,289)) . 20 July 1936 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  54. News: Arkwright out till July 31 . . 22 July 1936 . 10 (CITY FINAL) . National Library of Australia.
  55. News: England retain Rugby League Ashes . . 9 . 18 July 1936 . ((14,282)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  56. News: Hard League . . 10 August 1936 . ((22,493)) . 12 . National Library of New Zealand.
  57. News: Narrow victory for England . . 8 August 1936 . 3 . ((14,300)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.
  58. News: Final League Test. England win . . 17 August 1936 . 13 . LXVII . 194 . National Library of New Zealand.
  59. News: Rugby League. Second test won by England . . 7 . ((21,863)) . 17 August 1936 . National Library of New Zealand.
  60. News: England wind up with a win . . 9 . 15 August 1936 . ((14,306)) . subscription . British Newspaper Archive.