1958 Great Britain Lions tour
# 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.

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.

* ↑ Age as given in the Rugby League News for the first match against Sydney
* ↑ 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.

| Sydney | Brisbane |
| - | - |
| Sydney Cricket Ground | Brisbane Exhibition Ground |
| Capacity: 70,000 | Capacity: 35,000 |

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 Program | Tries: Dave Bolton Ike Southward Goals: Ike Southward (1) |

* Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 68,777 Referee: Darcy Lawler

| Australia | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Gordon Clifford |
| WG | 2 | Ross Kite |
| CE | 3 | Harry Wells |
| CE | 4 | Brian Carlson |
| WG | 5 | Ian Moir |
| FE | 6 | Tony Brown |
| HB | 7 | Keith Holman |
| PR | 13 | Bill Marsh |
| HK | 12 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 11 | Brian Davies (c) |
| SR | 10 | Rex Mossop |
| SR | 9 | Norm Provan |
| LF | 8 | Kel O'Shea |
| Coach: ||
| Norm Robinson ||
| FB | 9 | Eric Fraser |
| WG | 22 | Ike Southward |
| CE | 14 | Phil Jackson |
| CE | 7 | Alan Davies |
| WG | 23 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 4 | Dave Bolton |
| SH | 19 | Alex Murphy |
| PR | 21 | Alan Prescott (c) |
| HK | 11 | Tommy Harris |
| PR | 24 | Abe Terry |
| SR | 8 | Brian Edgar |
| SR | 16 | Mick Martyn |
| LF | 25 | Johnny Whiteley |
| Coach: ||
| 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.

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 Team | Tries: Ike Southward (2) Jim Challinor Alex Murphy Mick Sullivan Goals: Eric Fraser (5) |

* Brisbane Exhibition Ground, Brisbane Attendance: 33,563 Referee: Darcy Lawler Player of the Match: Alex Murphy

| Australia | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Gordon Clifford |
| WG | 2 | Peter Dimond |
| CE | 3 | Brian Carlson |
| CE | 4 | Greg Hawick |
| WG | 5 | Ross Kite |
| FE | 6 | Tony Brown |
| HB | 7 | Keith Holman |
| PR | 13 | Bill Marsh |
| HK | 12 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 11 | Brian Davies (c) |
| SR | 10 | Rex Mossop |
| SR | 9 | Norm Provan |
| LF | 8 | Kel O'Shea |
| Coach: ||
| Norm Robinson ||
| FB | 9 | Eric Fraser |
| WG | 22 | Ike Southward |
| CE | 3 | Eric Ashton |
| CE | 6 | Jim Challinor |
| WG | 23 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 4 | Dave Bolton |
| SH | 19 | Alex Murphy |
| PR | 17 | Brian McTigue |
| HK | 11 | Tommy Harris |
| PR | 21 | Alan Prescott (c) |
| SR | 25 | Johnny Whiteley |
| SR | 12 | Dick Huddart |
| LF | 15 | Vince Karalius |
| Coach: ||
| 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.

### 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 Program Scorers | 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 Player of the Match: Alex Murphy

| Australia | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Gordon Clifford |
| WG | 2 | Ian Moir |
| CE | 3 | Brian Carlson |
| CE | 4 | Harry Wells |
| WG | 5 | Peter Dimond |
| FE | 6 | Greg Hawick |
| HB | 7 | Keith Holman |
| PR | 13 | Bill Marsh |
| HK | 12 | Ken Kearney |
| PR | 11 | Brian Davies (c) |
| SR | 10 | Rex Mossop |
| SR | 9 | Norm Provan |
| LF | 8 | Kel O'Shea |
| Coach: ||
| Norm Robinson ||
| FB | 9 | Eric Fraser |
| WG | 22 | Ike Southward |
| CE | 3 | Eric Ashton |
| CE | 6 | Alan Davies |
| WG | 23 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 4 | Phil Jackson (c) |
| SH | 19 | Alex Murphy |
| PR | 17 | Abe Terry |
| HK | 11 | Tommy Harris |
| PR | 24 | Brian McTigue |
| SR | 25 | Johnny Whiteley |
| SR | 12 | Dick Huddart |
| LF | 15 | Vince Karalius |
| Coach: ||
| 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.

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

## New Zealand

### 1st Test

* Saturday 26 July

| New Zealand | 15–10 | Great Britain |
| - | - | - |
| Tries: Rex Percy (2) Tom Hadfield Goals: Cyril Eastlake (3) | | Tries: Phil Jackson Mick Sullivan Goals: Eric Fraser (2) |

* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Vic Belsham

| New Zealand | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Cyril Eastlake |
| WG | 2 | Tom Hadfield |
| CE | 3 | Reese Griffiths |
| CE | 4 | George Turner |
| WG | 5 | Neville Denton |
| FE | 6 | George Menzies |
| HB | 7 | Keith Roberts |
| PR | 13 | Joe Rātima |
| HK | 12 | Jock Butterfield |
| PR | 11 | Henry Maxwell |
| SR | 10 | Cliff Johnson (c) |
| SR | 9 | Trevor Kilkelly |
| LF | 8 | Rex Percy |
| Coach: ||
| Travers Hardwick ||
| FB | 9 | Eric Fraser |
| WG | 5 | Frank Carlton |
| CE | 3 | Eric Ashton |
| CE | 6 | Alan Davies |
| WG | 23 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 4 | Phil Jackson (c) |
| SH | 20 | Frank Pitchford |
| PR | 17 | Brian McTigue |
| HK | 1 | Alvin Ackerley |
| PR | 10 | Dennis Goodwin |
| SR | 8 | Dick Huddart |
| SR | 25 | Johnny Whiteley |
| LF | 15 | Vince Karalius |
| Coach: ||
| 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) | | Tries: Mick Sullivan (3) Eric Ashton (2) Alex Murphy Goals: Eric Fraser (7) |

* Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 25,000 Referee: Vic Belsham

| New Zealand | Great Britain |
| - | - |
| FB | 1 | Cyril Eastlake |
| WG | 2 | Tom Hadfield |
| CE | 3 | Reese Griffiths |
| CE | 4 | George Turner |
| WG | 5 | Neville Denton |
| FE | 6 | George Menzies |
| HB | 7 | Keith Roberts |
| PR | 13 | Joe Rātima |
| HK | 12 | Jock Butterfield |
| PR | 11 | Henry Maxwell |
| SR | 10 | Trevor Kilkelly |
| SR | 9 | Cliff Johnson (c) |
| LF | 8 | Rex Percy |
| Coach: ||
| Travers Hardwick ||
| FB | 9 | Eric Fraser |
| WG | 5 | Ike Southward |
| CE | 3 | Eric Ashton (c) |
| CE | 6 | Jim Challinor |
| WG | 23 | Mick Sullivan |
| SO | 6 | Alan Davies |
| SH | 19 | Alex Murphy |
| PR | 8 | Brian Edgar |
| HK | 11 | Tommy Harris |
| PR | 17 | Brian McTigue |
| SR | 8 | Dick Huddart |
| SR | 10 | Dennis Goodwin |
| LF | 15 | Vince Karalius |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Brough ||

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

