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Kangaroo
Tour: 1911-1912
Sean Fagan of RL1908.com
 They
came home as heroes, unbeaten in the Tests, and winners of 29 of
their 36 matches.
It
would be more than half a century before another Kangaroo touring
team could match their glittering achievements.
The
28-man team, average age of 24, represented Australasia. It included
4 New Zealanders. With racy backs and ball-running forwards who
ignored traditional tight rucking and scrummaging, the Kangaroos
hit British football with bombshell impact.
They
disposed with the traditional mode of tight play in favour of speed,
passing plays and above all, backing up the ball-runner. The heavy
English forwards were run off their legs.
They
won 29 and drew two matches out of 36 and became the first touring
team to win the Ashes. Magnificently led by Glebe's Chris McKivat,
they were: -
1) The first team to win a Test against England.
2) The first to win the Ashes, something no other Kangaroos could
do until 1963-64.
3) The first team to go through an Ashes Test series undefeated
(not matched until 1979).
The
side was rich in outstanding players with halfback and captain McKivat
an inspiring leader (playing in 31 of 36 matches). He was supported
by a string of tough and brilliant players: centres Herb Gilbert
and Viv Farnsworth, fullbacks Howard Hallett and the teenager Charles
"Chook" Fraser, Billy Farnsworth, Tedda Courtney, Con Sullivan,
Dan Frawley, Paddy McCue, Tom Berecy and "Pony" Halloway.
Johnny
Quinlan (Manager) said of Viv Farnsworth: "He was one of the greatest
footballers anyone could hope to see, equally brilliant in attack
and defence, and one of the most punishing tacklers I have ever
seen. His deeds must never be forgotten."
Tour
Details:
1911/12
v England
1st Test
- 8 November : won 19-10 / St. James' Park, Newcastle (5,317)
2nd Test - 16 Dec : drawn 11-all / Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh (8,000)
3rd Test - 1 January : won 33-8 / Villa Park, Birmingham (4,000)
RECORD:
P: 35 W: 28 D: 2 L: 5 FOR: 619 AGST: 281
TEST SERIES: Won 2-0, one drawn.
AGGREGATE
ATTENDANCE: 216,000
v
Midlands/Southern England W 20-11 3,000 Coventry
v Yorkshire W 33-13 4,000 Sheffield
v Broughton Rovers W 18-8 12,000 Broughton
v Lancashire W 25-12 5,000 Blackburn
v Wales W 28-20 7,000 Ebbw Vale
v Widnes W 23-0 5,000 Widnes
v St Helens W 16-5 12,000 St Helens
v England W 11-6 6,000 Fulham
v Hunslet D 3-3 4,000 Hunslet
v Northern League W 16-3 6,000 Everton
v Wigan L 2-7 25,000 Wigan
v Swinton W 28-9 4,000 Swinton
v Hull W 26-7 6,000 Hull
v ENGLAND W 19-10 5,317 @ St. James Park, Newcastle
v Oldham L 8-14 10,000 Oldham
v Leigh W 13-12 6,000 Leigh
v Wakefield Trinity W 24-10 5,000 Wakefield
v Cumberland W 5-2 6,000 Maryport
v Barrow W 44-8 6,500 Barrow
v Runcorn W 23-7 2,000 Runcorn
v Huddersfield L 7-21 17,000 Huddersfield
v England L 3-5 3,000 Nottingham
v Salford W 6-3 4,000 Salford
v York W 16-8 1,500 York
v ENGLAND D 11-11 8,000 @
Tynecastle
Park, Edinburgh
v Wales/West England W 23-3 1,000 Bristol
v Rochdale Hornets W 18-6 4,500 Rochdale
v Halifax W 23-5 10,000 Halifax
v Warrington W 34-6 8,500 Warrington
v ENGLAND W 33-8 4,000 @
Villa Park,
Birmingham
v Leeds W 8-6 1,000 Leeds
v Hull Kingston Rovers W 5-2 7,000 Hull
v Barrow W 22-5 1,500 Barrow
v Batley L 5-13 2,000 Batley
v Northern League W 20-12 2,000 Wigan
v Runcorn W 54-6 1,500 Runcorn
EASTERN
SUBURBS 2 (Dan Frawley, Bob Williams)
GLEBE 2 (Chris McKivat Capt., Peter Burge)
SOUTH SYDNEY 4 (Bill Cann, Steve Darmody, Herb Gilbert, Howard Hallett)
NORTH SYDNEY 2 (Tom Berecry, Albert Broomham, Con Sullivan)
NEWTOWN 6 (Viv Farnsworth, Bill Farnsworth, Paddy McCue, Joe Murray,
Bill Noble, Webby Neill, Charlie Russell)
BALMAIN 4 (Bob Craig, Charles Fraser, Arthur Halloway, Chris McMurtrie)
WESTERN SUBURBS 1 (Ed Courtney)
ANNANDALE 1 (Bob Stuart)
NEW ZEALAND 4
(Arthur Francis, George Gillett, Charlie Savory, Frank Woodward)
QUEENSLAND 0
NSW COUNTRY 0
Copyright
© 2006 - Sean Fagan. All rights reserved - the article above may
not be reproduced (in full or part) in any form without written
permission.
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