1958 Great Britain Lions tour

The 1958 Great Britain Lions tour was the Great Britain national rugby league team's 11th tour of Australia and New Zealand and took place from May to November 1958. The Lions played 26 games on tour including the three test Ashes series against Australia and two tests against New Zealand.[1]

1958 Great Britain Lions tour
ManagerB. Manson &
Tom Mitchell
Coach(es)Jim Brough
Tour captain(s)Alan Prescott
Top point scorer(s)Eric Fraser 238
Top try scorer(s)Mick Sullivan 38
Top test point scorer(s)Eric Fraser 44
Top test try scorer(s)Mick Sullivan 8
Summary
P W D L
Total
30 27 01 02
Test match
05 03 00 02
Opponent
P W D L
 Australia
3 2 0 1
 New Zealand
2 1 0 1
Tour chronology
Previous tour1954
Next tour1962

The Great Britain squad was coached by Jim Brough. The team captain was Alan Prescott from St Helens while Phil Jackson from Barrow was the tour vice-captain. The team managers were Mr B. Manson and Tom Mitchell.

The tour saw a record AU£78,417 in gate receipts with the Lions taking home a profit in excess of £40,000.

Touring squad

During the tour, players used numbers 1–26 in positional order, with full-backs as numbers 1 and 2. The Rugby League News published a photo of the touring squad and pen pictures of some players in two groups: one, and two.

Player Pos. Age
[nb 1]		 Weight Club Tests
on
Tour		 Games
in
Aus		 Games
in
NZ
[nb 2]		 Tries
in
Aus		 Goals
in
Aus		 FG Points
in
Aus		 Total
Points
Alvin AckerleyHooker3014 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Halifax1121003
Harry ArcherStand-off2313 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) Workington070000
Eric AshtonCentre2313 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) Wigan4132013086116
Dave BoltonFullback, Stand-off2111 st. 6 lb. (73 kg) Wigan2860018
Frank CarltonWing2211 st. 10 lb. (74 kg) St Helens16160048
Jim ChallinorWing, Centre2313 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Warrington2970021
Alan DaviesCentre, Stand-off2513 st. 8 lb. (86 kg) Oldham415110033
Brian EdgarProp, Second-row2214 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Workington2113009
Eric FraserFullback2713 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Warrington5135820179238
Dennis GoodwinCentre, Prop, Second-row2815 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) Barrow282006
Tommy HarrisHooker3013 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) Hull4103009
Dick HuddartSecond-row2114 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Whitehaven417150045
Ken JacksonProp2914 st. 10 lb. (93 kg) Oldham060000
Phil Jackson (vc)Centre, Stand-off2514 st. 12 lb. (94 kg) Barrow3940012
Vince KaraliusSecond-row, Loose forward2514 st. 6 lb. (92 kg) St Helens4112006
Mick MartynSecond-row2214 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Leigh112150045
Brian McTigueCentre, Prop2714 st. 4 lb. (91 kg) Wigan412311031
Glyn MosesFullback3013 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) St Helens0121003
Alex MurphyScrum-half, Centre1911 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) St Helens415153051
Frank PitchfordScrum-half2411 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) Oldham1870021
Alan Prescott (c)Centre, Wing, Loose forward3015 st. 10 lb. (100 kg) St Helens290000
Ike SouthwardWing2312 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) Workington4121320079165
Mick SullivanWing2411 st. 12 lb. (75 kg) Wigan512200060114
Abe TerryProp2416 st. 0 lb. (102 kg) St Helens2102006
Johnny WhiteleySecond-row, Loose forward2714 st. 8 lb. (93 kg) Hull41070021
William WookeyWing2214 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) Workington0760018
  1. Age as given in the Rugby League News for the first match against Sydney
  2. Other than the Test Matches, team lists for the tour matches in New Zealand not available to the author at the time of page creation.

Australian leg

Test venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. As per normal to maximise the gate, two tests were played at the 70,000 capacity Sydney Cricket Ground.

18 May Southern Districts 18–36 Great Britain Wollongong Showground, Wollongong
Result[2]
21 May Western Districts 24–24 Great Britain Wade Park, Orange
Scorers[3]
24 May Newcastle 16–35 Great Britain Newcastle Sportsground, Newcastle

Attendance: 21,126
28 May Northern NSW 17–27 Great Britain Scully Park, Tamworth
Scorers[4]
31 May Sydney 15–20 Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Program
Attendance: 48,692
Referee: Darcy Lawler
4 June Riverina 10–29 Great Britain Leeton

Attendance: 6,000
7 June New South Wales 10–19 Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Program
Attendance: 52,963
Referee: Col Pearce

The final match before the first Test was often viewed by the home side as a chance to soften up the tourists and that was certainly the case in a violent clash which saw four players dismissed by referee Col Pearce – Vince Karalius (Great Britain); Greg Hawick, Rex Mossop and Peter Dimond (NSW).

The Ashes

The three Ashes series tests drew an aggregate attendance of 171,060.

1st Test
Saturday 14 June
Australia  25–8  Great Britain
Tries:
Brian Carlson
Ross Kite
Rex Mossop
Kel O'Shea
Norm Provan
Goals:
Gordon Clifford (5)		 Database[5]
Program
 Tries:
Dave Bolton
Ike Southward



Goals:
Ike Southward (1)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 68,777
Referee: Darcy Lawler Australia
Australia
Great Britain
FB1 Gordon Clifford
WG2 Ross Kite
CE3 Harry Wells
CE4 Brian Carlson
WG5 Ian Moir
FE6 Tony Brown
HB7 Keith Holman
PR13 Bill Marsh
HK12 Ken Kearney
PR11 Brian Davies (c)
SR10 Rex Mossop
SR9 Norm Provan
LF8 Kel O'Shea
Coach:
Australia Norm Robinson
FB9 Eric Fraser
WG22 Ike Southward
CE14 Phil Jackson
CE7 Alan Davies
WG23 Mick Sullivan
SO4 Dave Bolton
SH19 Alex Murphy
PR21 Alan Prescott (c)
HK11 Tommy Harris
PR24 Abe Terry
SR8 Brian Edgar
SR16 Mick Martyn
LF25 Johnny Whiteley
Coach:
England Jim Brough

After going through the tour undefeated before the test, the Lions ran into a hungry Australian side who led 10–0 after just 10 minutes and led 18–0 at halftime in front of 68,777 fans at the SCG.

16 June Brisbane 29–34 Great Britain Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane

Referee: Jack Casey
21 June Queensland 29–34 Great Britain Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane

Player of the Match: Brian Davies
22 June Central Division 19–61 Great Britain Browne Park, Rockhampton
Result[6]
26 June Wide Bay 25–50 Great Britain Bundaberg
28 June Far North Queensland 8–78 Great Britain Cairns
28 June North Queensland 17–78 Great Britain Townsville

Lions test fullback Eric Fraser kicked 15 goals from 18 attempts in the match. Dick Huddart crossed for 4 tries while Eric Ashton and Mick Martyn each scored 3 tries.

2nd Test
Saturday 5 July
Australia  18–25  Great Britain
Tries:
Brian Carlson
Peter Dimond
Keith Holman
Bill Marsh
Goals:
Gordon Clifford (3)		 Database[7]
Team[8]
 Tries:
Ike Southward (2)
Jim Challinor
Alex Murphy
Mick Sullivan
Goals:
Eric Fraser (5)
Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane
Attendance: 33,563
Referee: Darcy Lawler Australia
Player of the Match: Alex Murphy
Australia
Great Britain
FB1 Gordon Clifford
WG2 Peter Dimond
CE3 Brian Carlson
CE4 Greg Hawick
WG5 Ross Kite
FE6 Tony Brown
HB7 Keith Holman
PR13 Bill Marsh
HK12 Ken Kearney
PR11 Brian Davies (c)
SR10 Rex Mossop
SR9 Norm Provan
LF8 Kel O'Shea
Coach:
Australia Norm Robinson
FB9 Eric Fraser
WG22 Ike Southward
CE3 Eric Ashton
CE6 Jim Challinor
WG23 Mick Sullivan
SO4 Dave Bolton
SH19 Alex Murphy
PR17 Brian McTigue
HK11 Tommy Harris
PR21 Alan Prescott (c)
SR25 Johnny Whiteley
SR12 Dick Huddart
LF15 Vince Karalius
Coach:
England Jim Brough

Inspired by captain Alan Prescott who played on until the end despite breaking his right arm in just the 3rd minute of the game, Great Britain leveled the series at 1–all with a 25–18 win over Australia in Brisbane. The injury ended Prescott's tour as a player. At half time, Prescott was offered a pain killing injection but refused, telling team manager Tom Mitchell "I just can’t got off, Tom. We would be two men short. We have got to win, so I had better help the boys". Great Britain also lost Dave Bolton with a broken collar bone after just 17 minutes.

With Vince Karalius and Brian McTigue providing the muscle and teenage scrum-half Alex Murphy providing the class, the Lions had the measure of Australia this day.

9 July Toowoomba 19–36 Great Britain Toowoomba Athletic Oval, Cairns

Attendance: 7,500
13 July NSW North Coast 15–56 Great Britain Oakes Oval, Lismore

Attendance: 5,541

3rd Test

Former Australian captain Ken Kearney played his 31st and last test.

Saturday 19 July
Australia  17–40  Great Britain
Tries:
Greg Hawick
Keith Holman
Norm Provan



Goals:
Gordon Clifford (4)		 Database[9]
Program
Scorers[10]
 Tries:
Mick Sullivan (3)
Alan Davies
Alex Murphy
Ike Southward
Abe Terry
Johnny Whiteley
Goals:
Eric Fraser (8)
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 68,720
Referee: Jack Casey Australia
Player of the Match: Alex Murphy
Australia
Great Britain
FB1 Gordon Clifford
WG2 Ian Moir
CE3 Brian Carlson
CE4 Harry Wells
WG5 Peter Dimond
FE6 Greg Hawick
HB7 Keith Holman
PR13 Bill Marsh
HK12 Ken Kearney
PR11 Brian Davies (c)
SR10 Rex Mossop
SR9 Norm Provan
LF8 Kel O'Shea
Coach:
Australia Norm Robinson
FB9 Eric Fraser
WG22 Ike Southward
CE3 Eric Ashton
CE6 Alan Davies
WG23 Mick Sullivan
SO4 Phil Jackson (c)
SH19 Alex Murphy
PR17 Abe Terry
HK11 Tommy Harris
PR24 Brian McTigue
SR25 Johnny Whiteley
SR12 Dick Huddart
LF15 Vince Karalius
Coach:
England Jim Brough

Great Britain wrapped up The Ashes with a comprehensive 40–17 win over Australia in front of another 68,000+ crowd at the Sydney Cricket Ground. As he had done in the second test in Brisbane, 19 year old St Helens scrum-half Alex Murphy tormented the home side and was awarded the Man of the Match. Following the game, Lions players chaired injured captain Alan Prescott (carrying The Ashes cup) on a lap of honour of the ground.

The following matches took place after the New Zealand leg of the tour.

14 August Representative Colts v Great Britain Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Program

In this game against the NSWRFL's Representative Colts (U/21), future Australian captain Reg Gasnier played his first game against Great Britain.

17 August Coalfields v Great Britain Maitland Showground, Maitland
23 August Western Australia v Great Britain Claremont Showground, Perth

New Zealand

1st Test
Saturday 26 July
New Zealand  15–10  Great Britain
Tries:
Rex Percy (2)
Tom Hadfield
Goals:
Cyril Eastlake (3)		 [11]
 Tries:
Phil Jackson
Mick Sullivan
Goals:
Eric Fraser (2)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Vic Belsham New Zealand
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB1 Cyril Eastlake
WG2 Tom Hadfield
CE3 Reese Griffiths
CE4 George Turner
WG5 Neville Denton
FE6 George Menzies
HB7 Keith Roberts
PR13 Joe Rātima
HK12 Jock Butterfield
PR11 Henry Maxwell
SR10 Cliff Johnson (c)
SR9 Trevor Kilkelly
LF8 Rex Percy
Coach:
New Zealand Travers Hardwick
FB9 Eric Fraser
WG5 Frank Carlton
CE3 Eric Ashton
CE6 Alan Davies
WG23 Mick Sullivan
SO4 Phil Jackson (c)
SH20 Frank Pitchford
PR17 Brian McTigue
HK1 Alvin Ackerley
PR10 Dennis Goodwin
SR8 Dick Huddart
SR25 Johnny Whiteley
LF15 Vince Karalius
Coach:
England Jim Brough

Just a week after their Ashes triumph over Australia, Great Britain were brought back down to earth by a committed New Zealand side 15–10 at Carlaw Park in Auckland.

2nd Test
Saturday 9 August
New Zealand  15–32  Great Britain
Tries:
Tom Hadfield
Rex Percy
Keith Roberts
Goals:
Cyril Eastlake (3)		 [12]
 Tries:
Mick Sullivan (3)
Eric Ashton (2)
Alex Murphy
Goals:
Eric Fraser (7)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Vic Belsham New Zealand
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB1 Cyril Eastlake
WG2 Tom Hadfield
CE3 Reese Griffiths
CE4 George Turner
WG5 Neville Denton
FE6 George Menzies
HB7 Keith Roberts
PR13 Joe Rātima
HK12 Jock Butterfield
PR11 Henry Maxwell
SR10 Trevor Kilkelly
SR9 Cliff Johnson (c)
LF8 Rex Percy
Coach:
New Zealand Travers Hardwick
FB9 Eric Fraser
WG5 Ike Southward
CE3 Eric Ashton (c)
CE6 Jim Challinor
WG23 Mick Sullivan
SO6 Alan Davies
SH19 Alex Murphy
PR8 Brian Edgar
HK11 Tommy Harris
PR17 Brian McTigue
SR8 Dick Huddart
SR10 Dennis Goodwin
LF15 Vince Karalius
Coach:
England Jim Brough

With Alex Murphy returning from injury, Great Britain outclassed New Zealand 32–15 in front of 25,000 at Carlaw Park.

References
  1. 1958 Great Britain Lions tour at Rugby League Project
  2. "English League Team Wins At Wollongong". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 19 May 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  3. "West Holds U.K. Side To Draw". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 22 May 1958. p. 24. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. "Englishmen Challenged". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 29 May 1958. p. 3. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. 1st Ashes Test
  6. "England Has Easiest Win Of Tour". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 23 June 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. 2nd Ashes Test
  8. "Hawick Chosen To Play In Second Test". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 30 June 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  9. 3rd Ashes Test
  10. "England Wins Test With Record Score". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 21 July 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. 1st Test – New Zealand vs Great Britain
  12. 2nd Test – New Zealand vs Great Britain
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