1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia | |||||
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Manager | Bill Swift Colin Siddle | ||||
Coach(es) | Jim Amos | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Travers Hardwick | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Des White 107 | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Alister Atkinson 10 | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Des White 36 | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Alister Atkinson 3 Ron McKay 3 Col Geelan 3 | ||||
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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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1948 by to 1951 by 1951-52 to | ||||
Next tour | 1953 by 1953 by to 1955-56 to 1956 by to |
The 1952 New Zealand rugby league tour of Australia was the sixteenth tour by New Zealand's national rugby league team, and the twelfth tour to visit Australia. The thirteen-match tour included three Test Matches.
Captained by Travers Hardwick and coached by Jim Amos, the Kiwis completed a successful tour, winning ten of the thirteen matches. The team recovered from losing the First Test Match, to win – in the space of five days – the Second and Third Tests and claim the series by a two-one margin.
The team was coached by Les Amos and managed by Bill Swift and Colin Siddle. Travers Hardwick was captain in all three Test Matches and in each of the eight other tour matches in which he appeared. Tommy Baxter captained the side against Newcastle.
The Rugby League News published a Team Photo, Player Details (Occupation, Age, Height and Weight) and pen portraits of the tourists: Backs and Forwards which listed their club and provincial team.
Player | Pos. | Age | Weight | Club | Province | Tests on Tour |
Tour Games |
Tries | Goals | FG | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alister Atkinson | Lock | 25 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | Linwood | Canterbury | 3 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
Tommy Baxter | Centre | 22 | 13 st. 8 lb. (86 kg) | Richmond | Auckland | 3 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
David Blanchard | Prop | 27 | 14 st. 0 lb. (89 kg) | Linwood | Canterbury | 3 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Bill Davidson | Hooker | 26 | 13 st. 2 lb. (83 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 12 |
Cyril Eastlake | Centre | 21 | 11 st. 4 lb. (72 kg) | Ellerslie | Auckland | 3 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Robert Edwards | Wing | 25 | 12 st. 0 lb. (76 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 3 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Jimmy Haig | Halfback | 27 | 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) | Marist Brothers Old Boys | Canterbury | 3 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
Travers Hardwick | Lock | 29 | 13 st. 11 lb. (88 kg) | Ngaruawahia | South Auckland | 3 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
Cliff Harris | Centre | 21 | 13 st. 0 lb. (83 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bevan Hough | Wing | 23 | 11 st. 7 lb. (73 kg) | Richmond | Auckland | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Harvey Kreyl | Second-row | 26 | 14 st. 1 lb. (89 kg) | Randwick | Wellington | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Ron McKay | Five-eighth | 20 | 12 st. 7 lb. (79 kg) | Central | Taranaki | 3 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Bill McKenzie | Wing | 27 | 13 st. 6 lb. (85 kg) | Marist Brothers Old Boys | Canterbury | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bill McLennan | Prop | 24 | 16 st. 0 lb. (102 kg) | Blackball | West Coast | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
George Menzies | Five-eighth | 21 | 11 st. 0 lb. (70 kg) | Runanga | West Coast | 2 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Roy Moore | Fullback | 23 | 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) | Mount Albert | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 40 |
Frank Mulcare | Second-row | 23 | 12 st. 12 lb. (82 kg) | Ngahere | West Coast | 3 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
Bob Neilson | Second-row | 28 | 13 st. 12 lb. (88 kg) | Greymouth Marist | West Coast | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Bob O'Donnell | Prop | 26 | 15 st. 0 lb. (95 kg) | Blackball | West Coast | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Joe Rātima | Second-row | 26 | 15 st. 7 lb. (98 kg) | Ponsonby | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Alan Riechelmann | Centre | 21 | 12 st. 10 lb. (81 kg) | Marist Brothers | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Roy Roff | Hooker | 26 | 12 st. 4 lb. (78 kg) | Mount Albert | Auckland | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Jack Russell-Green | Halfback | 26 | 11 st. 5 lb. (72 kg) | Point Chevalier | Auckland | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Des White | Fullback | 25 | 12 st. 3 lb. (78 kg) | Ponsonby | Auckland | 3 | 9 | 1 | 52 | 0 | 107 |
May 28 | Riverina-Western Division | 5–22 | New Zealand | Albert Park, Young | |
Tries: 1 Neville (Fraser) Frazer Goals: 1 Stan Root |
Teams[1] [2] Report[3] [4] |
Tries: 4 Robert Edwards (2) Des White Frank Mulcare Goals: 5 Des White (5) |
Attendance: 3,351 Referee: L. Boyton |
Combined Riverina-Western Division FB: Les Koch ( Gundagai), WG: Neil Kingsmill ( Albury Blues), CE: Neville Brogan ( Young), CE: Clem O'Brien (Geurie), WG: Stan Root ( Narromine), FE: J. Doherty ( Warren), HB: Bob Isaac ( Adelong), LK: Peter O'Connor ( Young), SR: Ted Curran ( Adelong), SR: Neville (Fraser) Frazer ( Dunedoo), PR: Eric Funnell ( Bathurst Railway), HK: Harry Gibbs ( Gundagai), PR: Frank Hogan ( St Patrick's), IJ: Tom Kerwick ( Orange CYMS), Coach: Nevyl Hand. |
May 31 | New South Wales | 15–26 | New Zealand | Sydney Cricket Ground | |
3pm |
Tries: 3 Brian Carlson Ferris Ashton Wally O'Connell Goals: 3 Noel Pidding (3) |
Program Report[5] [6] |
Tries: 4 Bill Davidson Alister Atkinson Robert Edwards Cyril Eastlake Goals: 7 Des White (7) |
Attendance: 49,442 Gate: AU£ 6,836 Referee: George Bishop |
New South Wales FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Brian Carlson (19) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), FE: Wally O'Connell (29) ( Manly), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Wests), LK: Peter Diversi (20) ( Norths), SR: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Easts), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly), PR: Ken Mogg (25) ( South Newcastle). |
June 4 | Monaro-Southern Division | 8–21 | New Zealand | Goulburn | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 4 Bruce Smith (4) |
Teams[7] Report[8] |
Tries: 3 Ron McKay Frank Mulcare Alister Atkinson Goals: 6 Des White (6) |
Attendance: 1,802 Referee: L. Grew |
Combined Monaro-Southern Division FB: Bert Hewitt ( Corrimal), WG: Ron Roberts (24) ( Picton), CE: Doug McRitchie (28) ( Queanbeyan), CE: Harry Wells (20) ( Wollongong), WG: Peter Morton ( Queanbeyan), FE: Bernie (O'Keeffe) O'Keefe ( C.B.C.), HB: Noel Hill ( Thirroul), LK: Jack Quinn ( Gerringong), SR: Jack Perrin ( Queanbeyan), SR: Bruce Smith (25) ( Thirroul), PR: Billy Hodges ( Captain's Flat), HK: Bill Bolt ( C.B.C.), PR: Austin Lawler ( C.B.C.). |
June 7 | Newcastle | 9–7 | New Zealand | Newcastle Sports Ground | |
2.45pm |
Tries: 1 Ivor (Woolfe) Wolfe Goals: 3 Viv Madge (2) Darcy Russell |
Teams[9] [10] Report[11] [12] Report[13] |
Tries: 1 Bevan Hough Goals: 2 Roy Moore (2) |
Attendance: 14,000 Gate: AU£ 2,042 Referee: O. Screen |
Newcastle FB: Gwyn Madge (26) ( Kurri), WG: Ivor (Woolfe) Wolfe ( Lakes United), CE: Viv Madge (30) ( Kurri), CE: Ned Andrews (30) ( Souths), WG: Darcy Russell (23) ( Waratah Mayfield), FE: Warren Foley (18) ( Waratah Mayfield), HB: Bobby Banks (22) ( Centrals), LK: Frank Mayo (22) ( Wests), SR: Tom Anderson (23) ( Norths), SR: Gordon Harley (29) ( Maitland), PR: Doug Hawke (23) ( Norths), HK: Bill Hilliard (23) ( Kurri), PR: George Lawler (24) ( Maitland). |
June 9
2pm |
Australia | 25–13 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Denis Flannery (2) Noel Pidding (2) Albert Paul Goals: 5 Noel Pidding (5) |
Program Report[14] [15] |
Tries: 3 Robert Edwards Tommy Baxter Alister Atkinson Goals: 2 Des White (2) |
Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 56,376 Gate: AU£ 9,090 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( South Sydney), WG: Noel Pidding (25) ( St George), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri Kurri), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman (24) ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), SR: Ferris Ashton (24) ( Eastern Suburbs), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Jack Rooney (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites). |
June 11 | Northern NSW | 12–55 | New Zealand | Tamworth | |
Tries: 2 Colin De Lore Carl Keogh Goals: 3 B. Hillier (2) Carl Keogh |
Teams[16] [17] Report[18] Report[19] [20] |
Tries: 11 Alister Atkinson (3) Bevan Hough (2) Bill McLennan (2) David Blanchard Travers Hardwick Jimmy Haig Tommy Baxter Goals: 11 Des White (11) |
Attendance: 4,732 Gate: AU£ 724 Referee: K. Hilton |
Northern NSW (Combined North Coast-Northern Division) FB: B. Hillier ( North Tamworth), WG: Tom Mills ( Singleton), CE: Norman Young ( West Tamworth), CE: Colin De Lore (Tuncurry), WG: Jim Daley (Bangalow), FE: Kevin (Haydon) Hayden (Kempsey CYM), HB: Carl Keogh ( Gunnedah), LK: A J. Edwards (Murwillumbah), SR: George Alaban (Macksville), SR: Kevin (McKiernan) McKeirnan (Kempsey CYM), PR: Noel Hall ( Grafton), HK: Alf Hardman ( Moree), PR: C. Schaeffer (Macksville). |
June 14 | Queensland | 5–20 | New Zealand | Brisbane Cricket Ground | |
3pm |
Tries: 1 Ron (Roy) Teys Goals: 1 Nev Linde |
Team[21] Report[22] |
Tries: 4 George Menzies (2) Jimmy Haig David Blanchard Goals: 4 Bill Davidson (3) Jimmy Haig |
Attendance: 9,995 Referee: S.W. Chambers |
Queensland FB: Nev Linde (27) ( Tivoli), WG: Des McGovern (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), CE: Eric Webster ( Souths), WG: Denis Flannery (23) ( Ipswich Brothers), FE: Bob Banks (21) ( Toowoomba Newtown), HB: Cyril Connell Jr (22) ( Toowoomba Newtown), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys), SR: Roy Greenwood (Tully), SR: Brian Davies (21) ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Jack Rooney (26) ( Brisbane Brothers), HK: Ron Griffiths (26) ( Ipswich CYM), PR: Gordon Teys ( Toowoomba Valleys). |
June 15 | Central Queensland | 4–35 | New Zealand | Murray Street Grounds, Rockhampton | |
Tries: 0 Goals: 2 Norm Pope (2) |
Team[23] Report[24] |
Tries: 7 Cyril Eastlake (3) Travers Hardwick (2) Roy Roff Bevan Hough Goals: 7 Roy Moore (7) |
Attendance: 3,500 Gate: AU£ 612 Referee: E.Condon |
Central Queensland FB: Norm Pope (20) ( Railways), WG: Leo Jeffcoat ( Brothers), CE: D. Watkins ( Norths), CE: B. Ford ( Brothers), WG: J (Paten) Paton ( Railways), FE: D. White ( Norths), HB: Duncan Jackson ( Norths), LK: Peter Robinson ( Norths), SR: Tony Brown ( Brothers), SR: Noel Joyce ( Brothers), PR: F. Bryson ( Brothers), HK: Vince Hage ( Norths), PR: D. Casey ( Railways). |
June 18 | Central West Queensland | 7–66 | New Zealand | Barcaldine Sports Ground | |
Tries: 1 Leo Quigley Goals: 2 Norm Elliott (2) |
Report[25] |
Tries: 16 Frank Mulcare (3) Joe R?tima (3) Bevan Hough (2) Harvey Kreyl (2) Alister Atkinson (2) Bob Neilson Roy Roff Bill McLennan Jimmy Haig Goals: 9 Roy Moore (9) |
Attendance: 2,400 Referee: Jack Ross |
Central West Queensland FB: Noel Webster ( Longreach), WG: Alan Deasy ( Longreach), CE: Mick Hauff ( Blackall), CE: Mick Irwin ( Blackall), WG: Bill (Chic) Buchester ( Blackall), FE: Leo Quigley ( Blackall), HB: Alf (Alby) O'Brien ( Winton), LK: George Lynn ( Winton), SR: Doug Davis ( Longreach), SR: Col Hauff ( Blackall), PR: Norm Elliott ( Winton), HK: Brian Jisberg ( Barcaldine), PR: Mick Turnbull ( Blackall). |
June 22 | North Queensland | 10–25 | New Zealand | Sports Reserve, Townsville | |
Tries: 2 Dev Dines Neville Wilson Goals: 2 Dev Dines Keith Geary |
Report[26] Photo[27] |
Tries: 5 George Menzies Tommy Baxter Frank Mulcare Travers Hardwick Ron McKay Goals: 5 Des White (5) |
Attendance: 7,953 Gate: AU£ 1,763 Referee: W. Morrison |
North Queensland FB: Frank Gill ( Kangaroos), WG: A. Boundy ( Ivanhoes), CE: Frank Fahey (Ayr), CE: Dev Dines (Mareeba), WG: Norm Stokes (Ayr), FE: Neville Wilson (Charters Towers), HB: Ron O'Connell ( Brothers), LK: Trevor Whitehead (Herbert River), SR: Horrie Robertson (Herbert River), SR: Keith Geary (Souths), PR: E. Kratzman (Tully), HK: Kel O'Shea (18) (Ayr), PR: Ross Primrose (Mackay). |
June 25 | Toowoomba | 15–10 | New Zealand | Toowoomba Athletic Oval | |
Tries: 3 Athol Halpin (2) Bill Beardsworth Goals: 3 Neil Teys (3) |
Report[28] [29] |
Tries: 2 Alan Riechelmann Cyril Eastlake Goals: 2 Roy Moore (2) |
Attendance: 5,901 Gate: AU£ 1,125 Referee: V. Vercoe |
Toowoomba FB: Ken Cronin ( Valleys), WG: Sammy Hunter ( Souths), CE: Russell Brown ( Souths), CE: Athol Halpin ( All Whites), WG: Jim Allen ( All Whites), FE: Bob Banks ( Newtown), HB: Ken McCaffery ( Souths), LK: Ron (Roy) Teys ( Valleys), SR: Gordon Teys ( Valleys), SR: Bill Beardsworth ( Valleys), PR: Vince Soorley ( Newtown), HK: Kev Boshammer ( All Whites), PR: Neil Teys ( Valleys). |
June 28
|
Australia | 25–49 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Col Geelan (3) Ferris Ashton Keith Holman Goals: 5 Noel Pidding (5) |
Report[30] [31] Database Photo[32] [33] |
Tries: 9 Alister Atkinson (2) Ron McKay (2) Tommy Baxter Frank Mulcare Cyril Eastlake Bill Davidson Robert Edwards Goals: 11 Des White (11) |
Brisbane Cricket Ground
Attendance: 29,243 Gate: AU£ 7,396 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill ( South Sydney), WG: Denis Flannery ( Ipswich Brothers), CE: Noel Hazzard (Bundaberg), CE: Gordon Willoughby ( Manly-Warringah), WG: Noel Pidding ( St George), FE: Col Geelan ( Newtown), HB: Keith Holman ( Western Suburbs), LK: Albert Paul ( Lakes United), SR: Ferris Ashton ( Eastern Suburbs), SR: Brian Davies ( Brisbane Brothers), PR: Charlie Gill ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Kevin Hansen ( Western Suburbs). |
July 2
3.30pm |
Australia | 9–19 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: 1 Noel Hazzard Goals: 3 Clive Churchill (3) |
Program Report[34] Database |
Tries: 3 Frank Mulcare Ron McKay Cyril Eastlake Goals: 5 Des White (5) |
Sydney Cricket Ground
Attendance: 44,916 Gate: AU£ 7,799 Referee: George Bishop |
Australia FB: Clive Churchill (25) ( South Sydney), WG: Des McGovern (24) ( Toowoomba All Whites), CE: Rees Duncan (20) ( Kurri Kurri), CE: Noel Hazzard (27) (Bundaberg), WG: Jack Lumsden (22) ( Manly-Warringah), FE: Col Geelan (24) ( Newtown), HB: Col Donohoe (24) ( Eastern Suburbs), LK: Harold (Mick) Crocker (24) ( South Brisbane), SR: Albert Paul (24) ( Lakes United), SR: Tom Tyrrell (24) ( Balmain), PR: Charlie Gill (29) ( Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Kevin Schubert (24) ( Manly-Warringah), PR: Jack Rooney (26) ( Toowoomba All Whites) |
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. 1953 Yearbook covers the 1952 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[35] | 1913-1975 | Copies at SLQ & NLA |
Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players |
- | The Bulimba Cup Era[36] | 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[37] | 1919-2015 | Author's Website | Given Names & Club of Mackay Players |
- | More Than The Foley Shield[38] | 1908-2014 | Author's Website | Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players |