1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia

The 1992 Great Britain Lions tour of Australasia was a tour by the Great Britain national rugby league team, nicknamed the 'Lions', of Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand which took place between May and July 1992. The tour was the last of such length undertaken by the Great Britain team, and included a test match against Papua New Guinea, a three-test series against Australia for The Ashes, and a two-test series against New Zealand for the Baskerville Shield, all interspersed with matches against local club and representative teams.

Taking place following the conclusion of England's 1991–92 Rugby Football League season and during Australia's 1992 Winfield Cup premiership season, the tour led to friction between the Great Britain team's management and the Australian Rugby League over match scheduling and promotion. For the first time ever, a Lions tour was shown live on television in the United Kingdom through Sky Sports. The commentators for the tour were Eddie Hemmings and former Lions World Cup hooker Mike Stephenson who had a greater insight into the Australian game having spent most of the 1970s and 1980s, playing, coaching and commentating in the Sydney premiership. The Lions finished the tour with thirteen wins and four losses and a profit of £244,645. Unfortunately for the Lions, three of their losses came in the Test matches, two against Australia and one against New Zealand with the other loss coming against Sydney club side Parramatta.

Touring squad

A 32-man squad was selected for the tour, including 13 players from Wigan, setting a record for the number of players supplied by one club. One of the Wigan players selected was Andy Gregory, who had announced his international retirement in 1990, but made himself available for selection after being persuaded to reconsider his decision. From the originally selected squad, Leeds scrum-half Bobbie Goulding was dropped due to suspension, and Widnes' Welsh international Jonathan Davies (who had spent part of 1991 playing with Sydney club Canterbury-Bankstown) withdrew from the squad due to injury. Aston, Hulme, Sampson, McNamara, Myers and Harrison were called up during the tour to replace injured players.

Hull F.C. winger Paul Eastwood was the leading point scorer on tour with 58 from 3 tries and 23 goals (he was also the leading goal kicker on tour). Wigan winger Martin Offiah, who before the tour was the undisputed "fastest player in rugby league", was the leading try scorer with 7.

The coach was former Great Britain international Mal Reilly, marking his fourth Lions tour after appearing as a player on the successful 1970 tour and coaching the 1988 and 1990 touring teams. The assistant coach was Widnes coach and the Rugby Football League's Director of Coaching Phil Larder. The team manager was RFL and Wigan President Maurice Lindsay. Ellery Hanley was the tour captain, but due to injury only played in one game on tour. Garry Schofield was subsequently named the Test captain while Featherstone Rovers halfback Deryck Fox was the team captain when either Hanley or Schofield weren't playing.

Name Club Apps Tests Tries Goals Drop goals Points Notes
Mark Aston Sheffield Eagles 4 0 0 0 0 0
Denis Betts Wigan 11 6 2 0 0 8
Paul Broadbent Sheffield Eagles 2 0 0 0 0 0
Phil Clarke Wigan 9 6 3 0 0 12
Gary Connolly St Helens 13 4 3 0 0 12
Neil Cowie Wigan 5 0 0 0 0 0
Lee Crooks Castleford 7 2 0 1 0 2
Martin Dermott Wigan 8 4 0 0 0 0
John Devereux Widnes 9 1 2 1 0 10
Paul Eastwood Hull 9 5 4 23 0 62
Shaun Edwards Wigan 10 6 4 0 0 16
Kevin Ellis Warrington 8 0 3 0 1 13
Karl Fairbank Bradford Northern 11 2 3 0 0 12
Deryck Fox Featherstone Rovers 9 0 0 14 0 28
Andy Gregory Wigan 5 1 0 0 0 0
Graeme Hallas Hull Kingston Rovers 8 0 2 1 0 10
Steve Hampson Wigan 7 1 1 0 0 4
Ellery Hanley Leeds 1 0 0 0 0 0
Karl Harrison Halifax 8 4 0 0 0 0
Les Holliday Widnes 3 0 0 0 0 0
Paul Hulme Widnes 8 3 0 0 0 0
Alan Hunte St Helens 9 0 6 0 0 24
Lee Jackson Hull 8 2 1 0 0 4
Michael Jackson Wakefield Trinity 8 2 0 0 0 0
Paul Loughlin St Helens 5 2 0 7 0 14
Ian Lucas Wigan 3 1 0 0 0 0
Joe Lydon Wigan 11 5 3 0 1 13
Billy McGinty Wigan 9 4 1 0 0 4
Steve McNamara Hull 4 0 1 0 0 4
David Myers Wigan 4 0 0 0 0 0
Paul Newlove Featherstone Rovers 12 5 3 0 0 12
Sonny Nickle St Helens 3 1 0 0 0 0
Martin Offiah Wigan 7 6 7 0 0 28
Andy Platt Wigan 9 6 2 0 0 8
Daryl Powell Sheffield Eagles 9 6 0 0 0 0
Dean Sampson Castleford 2 0 0 0 0 0
Garry Schofield Leeds 9 6 3 0 2 14
Kelvin Skerrett Wigan 9 5 1 0 0 4
Graham Steadman Castleford 8 5 2 4 0 16

Papua New Guinea

The first country the touring Lions visited was Papua New Guinea.

Highlands Zone 15 – 24 Great Britain Danny Leahy Oval, Goroka
Tries:
P. Singapar, Gigmai Ongugo
Goals:
Gigmai Ongugo (2)
A.Tete
Tries:
Garry Schofield (2), Paul Eastwood, Denis Betts
Goals:
Paul Loughlin (4)

Attendance: 7,000

Islands Zone 22 – 38 Great Britain Queen Elizabeth Park, Rabaul
Tries:
J. Alunga (2), W. Langa
Goals:
N. Eremas (4)
Tries:
Karl Fairbank (2), Graeme Hallas, Kevin Ellis, Alan Hunte, Joe Lydon, Kelvin Skerrett
Goals:
Graham Steadman (3)
Deryck Fox (2)

Attendance: 5,000

This match saw the most points scored of any match on the tour.


31 May 1992
Papua New Guinea  14 – 20  Great Britain
Tries:
Matthew Elara
Kini Tani
Richard Wagambi
Goals:
Aquila Emil

Tries:
Martin Offiah (2)
Paul Eastwood
Phil Clarke
Goals:
Paul Loughlin (2)
Lloyd Robson Oval, Port Moresby
Attendance: 7,294
Referee: Eddie Ward Australia
Papua New Guinea
Great Britain
FB 1 Phillip Boge
RW 2 Joshua Kouoru
CE 3 Richard Wagambie
CE 4 August Joseph
LW 5 Kini Tani
FE 6 Aquila Emil
HB 7 Ngala Lapan (c)
PR 8 Ben Biri
HK 9 Michael Matmillo
PR 10 Kera Ngaffin
SR 11 Bobby Ako
SR 12 Joe Gispe
LK 13 Matthew Elara
Substitutions:
IC 14 Korul Sinemau
IC 15 Michael Angara
IC 16 S Kapan
IC 17 Nande Yer
Coach:
FB 1 Steve Hampson
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
CE 3 Garry Schofield (c)
CE 4 Paul Loughlin
LW 5 Martin Offiah
SO 6 Daryl Powell
SH 7 Shaun Edwards
PR 8 Lee Crooks
HK 9 Martin Dermott
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Karl Fairbank
LF 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 14 Joe Lydon
IC 15 Kelvin Skerrett
IC 16 Paul Newlove
IC 17 Sonny Nickle
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Australia

The Lions next traveled to Australia to contest The Ashes series. The Ashes series attracted 103,419 fans across the three tests, including the first ever Ashes test played in Melbourne. This was the largest Ashes attendance in Australia since 133,791 had attended the 1974 Ashes series and easily eclipsed the 66,792 of 1979, the 75,480 of 1984 and the 67,554 who attended the 1988 series.

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues. For the first time an Ashes test was played outside of the traditional rugby league states of New South Wales and Queensland.

Sydney Melbourne Brisbane
Sydney Football Stadium Princes Park Lang Park
Capacity: 42,500 Capacity: 32,000 Capacity: 32,500

Tuesday, 2 June Queensland Residents 10 – 14 Great Britain Townsville Sports Reserve, Townsville
Tries:
Peter Hamilton (1)
Goals:
Gerard Kerr (3/5)
Tries:
Graeme Hallas (1)
Billy McGinty (1)
Shaun Edwards (1)
Goals:
John Devereux (1/4)
Joe Lydon (0/1)
Shaun Edwards (0/1)

Attendance: 4,181
Referee: John Willey
Queensland
Great Britain
FB 1 Brett Schultz
RW 2 Troy White
CE 3 Peter Hamilton
CE 4 Ken Robertson
LW 5 Gerard Kerr
FE 6 Jason Hetherington
HB 7 Craig Grauf (c)
PR 8 Eric Kennedy
HK 9 Kevin Marty
PR 10 Bradley Pike
SR 11 Steele Retchless
SR 12 Matt Clifford
LK 13 Craig Spark
Substitutions:
IC 14 Paul Fisher
IC 15 Neil Smith
IC 16 Steve Mills
IC 17 Steven Bella
Coach:
Ross O'Reilly
FB 1 Joe Lydon
RW 2 Graeme Hallas
RC 3 Gary Connolly
LC 4 Kevin Ellis
LW 5 Alan Hunte
SO 6 Shaun Edwards
SH 7 Andy Gregory (c)
PR 8 Ian Lucas
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Neil Cowie
SR 11 Karl Fairbank
SR 12 John Devereux
LF 13 Billy McGinty
Substitutions:
IC 14 Deryck Fox
IC 15 Kelvin Skerrett
IC 16 Paul Newlove
IC 17 Denis Betts
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Saturday, 6 June Canberra Raiders 12 – 24 Great Britain Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Tries:
Jason Croker, Michael Spinks
Goals:
Ricky Stuart (1)
Adam Friend (1)
Tries:
Andy Platt (2), Paul Eastwood, Alan Hunte, Paul Newlove
Goals:
Paul Loughlin (1)
Graham Steadman (1)

Attendance: 4,728
Referee: Greg McCallum
Canberra Raiders
Great Britain
FB 1 Brett Mullins
RW 2 Sean Hoppe
CE 3 Brendan Norton
CE 4 Scott Gale
LW 5 Jason Croker
FE 6 Chris O'Sullivan
HB 7 Ricky Stuart (c)
PR 8 Darrell McDonald
HK 9 Steve Stone
PR 10 David Woods
SR 11 Ian Graham
SR 12 Gary Coyne
LK 13 Craig Bellamy
Substitutions:
IC 14 Adam Friend
IC 15 James Hunt
IC 16 Ken Nagas
IC 17 Michael Spinks
Coach:
Australia Tim Sheens
FB 1 Graham Steadman
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
CE 3 Paul Newlove
CE 4 Paul Loughlin
LW 5 Alan Hunte
SO 6 Garry Schofield (c)
SH 7 Andy Gregory
PR 8 Kelvin Skerrett
HK 9 Martin Dermott
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Michael Jackson
LF 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 14 Les Holliday
IC 15 Deryck Fox
IC 16
IC 17 Gary Connolly
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

In what can only be described as bad scheduling, the Lions faced the Canberra Raiders on a Saturday night with the Raiders due to play a club game against Parramatta the next afternoon. This saw Raiders coach Tim Sheens not playing the likes of Australian test players Mal Meninga, Bradley Clyde, Steve Walters and Laurie Daley, as well as David Furner, Phil Blake, Darren Fritz, Brett Hetherington and Paul Osborne. It also saw Canberra go into the match with 7 players on the bench, though Sheens would only use the regulation 4. Andy Gregory served notice of his form by leading the Lions to a 20-6 half time lead, though he aggravated a groin injury when he put in a grubber kick for one of Andy Platt's two tries late in the first half and with the first test less than a week away did not return for the second half.


Monday, 8 June Illawarra Steelers 10 – 11 Great Britain Steelers Stadium, Wollongong
Tries:
Ryan Girdler (1)
Aaron Whittaker (1)
Goals:
Ryan Girdler (1/2)
Tries:
Graeme Hallas (1)
Shaun Edwards (1)
Goals:
John Devereux (1/2)
Field Goals:
Kevin Ellis (1/1)
Shaun Edwards (0/1)

Attendance: 10,021
Referee: Graham Annesley
Illawarra Steelers
Great Britain
FB 1 Brett Docherty
RW 2 Brendan O'Meara
CE 3 Ryan Girdler
CE 4 Paul McGregor
LW 14 Jonathan Britten
FE 6 Aaron Whittaker
HB 15 Mick Neil
PR 8 Steve Waddell
HK 9 Dean Schifilliti
PR 12 Craig Teitzel
SR 16 Dave Gallagher
SR 11 John Cross (c)
LK 13 Ian Russell
Substitutions:
IC 10 David Walsh
IC 17 Neil Piccinelli
IC 18 Bill Dunn
IC 19 Andrew Pauls
Coach:
Australia Graham Murray
FB 1 Steve Hampson
RW 2 John Devereux
CE 3 Gary Connolly
CE 4 Daryl Powell
LW 5 Graeme Hallas
SO 6 Kevin Ellis
SH 7 Shaun Edwards (c)
PR 8 Ian Lucas
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Lee Crooks
SR 11 Karl Fairbank
SR 12 Les Holliday
LF 13 Billy McGinty
Substitutions:
IC 14 Alan Hunte
IC 15 Michael Jackson
IC 16 Deryck Fox
IC 17 Neil Cowie
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

With the first test only three days after the game, Steelers coach Graham Murray was without the services of goal kicking Australian test winger Rod Wishart. The Steelers, in their first and only game against an international touring side, almost pulled off an upset until a late Kevin Ellis field goal sealed a tense 11–10 win for the tourists.


The Ashes series

The 1992 Ashes series was the final Ashes series to date played in Australia and attracted 103,459 spectators over the three tests. This compared favourably to the 75,480 aggregate of the 1984 Ashes series in Australia and the 67,554 aggregate of the 1988 series in Australia. A large number of English fans followed their team on the tour, but with Great Britain's wins in the final test of 1988 and the first test of the 1990 series, public interest had risen with Australia, although still winning, proving less dominant than during the 1980s.

After 4 of the previous 5 Ashes series had been controlled by French referees (Julien Rascagneres in 1982 and 1986, Francois Desplas in 1988 and Alain Sablayrolles in 1990 – none of whom spoke any English), which had brought numerous complaints from both sides regarding their incompetency, the Rugby League International Federation, ARL and RFL agreed to the use of New Zealand referee Dennis Hale (who had been a touch judge in the 1988 Rugby League World Cup final) for all three tests.

First Test

With Ellery Hanley out injured, Mal Reilly appointed five-eighth Garry Schofield as British captain for the first test. The Australians stuck with most of those who had won the 1991 Trans-Tasman Test series against New Zealand, with only winger Michael Hancock in for an injured Willie Carne, prop Glenn Lazarus (for Craig Salvatori) and second rowers Paul Sironen and Bob Lindner returning to the side with Newcastle Knights prop forward Paul Harragon making his test debut. Peter Jackson was also re-called to the side after Dale Shearer who had been selected in the centres had been ruled out with injury. Shearer, who had been widely tipped never to play test football again after a poor Game 1 against New Zealand the previous year, had starred at fullback for Queensland in the State of Origin series and was selected in the centres for all three tests, but was an injury withdrawal on each occasion. Jackson's recall at five-eighth saw Laurie Daley moved to the centres.

Friday, 12 June
Australia  22 – 6  Great Britain
Tries:
Mal Meninga (2)
Paul Sironen
Michael Hancock
Goals:
Rod Wishart (3/6)

Tries:
Joe Lydon


Goals:
Lee Crooks (1/2)
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 40,141
Referee: Dennis Hale New Zealand
Player of the Match: Bradley Clyde
Australia Position Great Britain
Andrew Ettingshausen FB Graham Steadman
Rod Wishart WG Paul Newlove
Mal Meninga (c) CE Daryl Powell
Laurie Daley CE Paul Loughlin
Michael Hancock WG Martin Offiah
Peter Jackson FE/SO Garry Schofield (c)
Allan Langer HB/SH Andy Gregory
Paul Harragon PR Kelvin Skerrett
Steve Walters HK Martin Dermott
Glenn Lazarus PR Lee Crooks
Paul Sironen SR Denis Betts
Bob Lindner SR Andy Platt
Bradley Clyde LF Phil Clarke
David Gillespie Res. Joe Lydon
Brad Mackay Res. Shaun Edwards
Brad Fittler Res. Ian Lucas
Kevin Walters Res. Michael Jackson
Bob Fulton Coach Mal Reilly

Lions winger Martin Offiah made two clean breaks down his left wing in the first half after poor Australian kicks and defence had given him two opportunities to showcase his speed, but he was put into touch by Australian fullback Andrew Ettingshausen on both occasions when only about 15 metres from scoring (despite being probably the quickest player in the Australian team, ET later admitted that had he needed to chase him, Offiah would have had too much pace). The first break came from a sweeping backline movement which saw Offiah into open space. He easily outpaced Allan Langer, but Ettingshausen's desperate push was enough for him to put a foot into touch. On the second occasion, a poor mid-field kick from Langer and poor defence from both Mal Meninga and Rod Wishart who attempted a two-man tackle on Offiah, only to collide with each other and fall off. This again saw him into open space with again only Ettinghausen to beat, but the Australian fullback was equal to the task and easily bundled the flying winger into touch.

Man of the match Bradley Clyde and Kangaroos captain Mal Meninga, with two tries, had a night to remember, leading the home side to a 22-6 win. The Lions only try came midway through the second half to replacement back Joe Lydon who put in a clever grubber behind Hancock who couldn't turn and chase in time which saw Lydon score in the corner.

The attendance of 40,141 at the Football Stadium was the largest crowd for an Australia vs Great Britain test in Sydney since 55,505 saw the final test of the 1974 Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It was also the first test match played since Australia defeated France in front of 50,077 at the Sydney Cricket Ground during 1977 Rugby League World Cup to attract a crowd of over 40,000 in Sydney.


Tuesday 16 June NSW Country 6 – 24 Great Britain Pioneer Oval, Parkes
Tries:
John Connolly
Goals:
Brian Quinton (1)
Tries:
Gary Connolly, Paul Eastwood, Graham Steadman
Goals:
Paul Eastwood (6)

Attendance: 8,014
Referee: Steve Albert
NSW Country
Great Britain
FB 1 Paul Beath
RW 2 Scott Roskell
CE 3 John Connelly
CE 4 David Krause
LW 5 Brian Quinton
FE 6 Michael Twigg
HB 7 Tony Price
PR 8 Troy Wilson
HK 9 Trevor Crow (c)
PR 10 Kevin Marr
SR 11 Graeme Tutt
SR 12 Andrew Stephan
LK 13 Alex Corvo
Substitutions:
IC 14 John Crooks
IC 15 Steve Linnane
IC 16 Craig Breen
IC 17 Mark Oldfield
Coach:
Australia Frank Fish
FB 1 Steve Hampson
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
CE 3 John Devereux
CE 4 Gary Connolly
LW 5 Alan Hunte
SO 6 Kevin Ellis
SH 7 Deryck Fox (c)
PR 8 Neil Cowie
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Karl Fairbank
SR 11 Les Holliday
SR 12 Paul Hulme
LF 13 Billy McGinty
Substitutions:
IC 14 Graham Steadman
IC 15 Paul Loughlin
IC 16 Andy Gregory
IC 17 Joe Lydon
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Friday, 19 June Parramatta Eels 22 – 16 Great Britain Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta
Tries:
Mark Laurie (1)
Michael Buettner (1)
Scott Mahon (1)
Stu Galbraith (1)
Goals:
Michael Buettner (3/4)
Tries:
Martin Offiah (2)
Shaun Edwards (1)
Goals:
Paul Eastwood (2/3)
Sin Bin:
Shaun Edwards (1)

Attendance: 18,220
Referee: Eddie Ward
Parramatta Eels
Great Britain
FB 2 Danny Crnkovich
RW 15 Michael Erickson
CE 14 Scott Mahon
CE 4 Michael Buettner
LW 5 Lee Oudenryn
FE 6 Brett Kenny (c)
HB 7 Stu Galbraith
PR 8 John Fearnley
HK 9 Shane Flanagan
PR 10 Greg Drake
SR 11 Cameron Blair
SR 12 Chris King
LK 13 Mark Laurie
Substitutions:
IC 16 Mark Horo
IC 17 Phil Tiernan
IC 18 Ryan Schofield
IC 19 Robert Muchmore
Coach:
Australia Mick Cronin
FB 1 Gary Connolly
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
CE 3 Daryl Powell
CE 4 Paul Newlove
LW 5 Martin Offiah
SO 6 Garry Schofield (c)
SH 7 Shaun Edwards
PR 8 Karl Harrison
HK 9 Martin Dermott
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Paul Hulme
LF 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 15 Lee Crooks
IC 17 Karl Fairbank
IC
IC
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Lions winger Martin Offiah, generally regarded at the time as the fastest player in rugby league, participated in a highly publicised 100 metre foot race with Parramatta Eels speedster Lee Oudenryn before the tour match against the Eels. With both players decked out in their full football gear, including boots, Offiah's fastest player standing took a beating when Oudenryn (a former soccer player who had only played 5 games of first grade before the Lions game) won by a yard. Rumours soon surfaced (allegedly started by former Kangaroos hooker Benny Elias) that with Offiah the odds-on favourite, a few of his Lions teammates had heavily backed the Eels flyer to win and that Offiah had tanked so they could collect. Offiah would get his revenge later in the night with 2 tries, one a long range try where Oudenryn failed to make ground on him in a 50-metre chase. The match against Parramatta also saw the largest non-test crowd of the Lions tour with 18,220 in attendance. In what was another piece of bad scheduling, this game on a Friday night was played only two days before the Eels were due to play a club game against Manly Warringah.


Tuesday, 23 June Newcastle Knights 0 – 22 Great Britain Marathon Stadium, Newcastle
Tries:
Goals:
Tries:
Alan Hunte (2)
Joe Lydon (1)
Karl Fairbank (1)
Goals:
Deryck Fox (3/3)
John Devereux (0/2)

Attendance: 9,758
Referee: Bill Harrigan
Newcastle Knights
Great Britain
FB 1 Robbie O'Davis
RW 2 Tony Herman
CE 3 John Schuster
CE 4 David Smith
LW 5 Shane Mackley
FE 6 Michael Hagan (c)
HB 7 Matthew Rodwell
PR 8 Mark Sargeant
HK 9 Max Chapman
PR 10 Sam Stewart
SR 11 Glenn Miller
SR 12 David Mullane
LK 13 Marc Glanville
Substitutions:
IC 14 Robbie McCormack
IC 15 Steve Fulmer
IC 16 Wayne Richards
IC 17 Steve Crowe
Coach:
Australia David Waite
FB 1 Joe Lydon
LW 2 Alan Hunte
CE 3 Gary Connolly
CE 4 John Devereux
RW 5 Graeme Hallas
SO 6 Kevin Ellis
SH 7 Deryck Fox
PR 8 Karl Harrison
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Paul Broadbent
SR 11 Michael Jackson
SR 12 Steve McNamara
LF 13 Ellery Hanley (c)
Substitutions:
IC 14 Mark Aston
IC 15 Paul Hulme
IC 16 David Myers
IC 17 Karl Fairbank
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Against a strong Newcastle side that was missing only Australian test front rower Paul Harragon, the Lions achieved their only clean sheet of the tour with a 22–0 win at the Marathon Stadium. Winger Alan Hunte, reportedly the second fastest player in the squad behind only Martin Offiah, grabbed 2 tries in the win.


Second Test

For the second test Britain fielded an all-Wigan forward pack, and with Andy Gregory injured, Shaun Edwards came in at scrum half-back for his first start against the Australians in test football. The Australians went in with an almost unchanged side, though David Gillespie came into the front row with Glenn Lazarus moving to the bench and Chris Johns came into the side for Brad Fittler who was unavailable for personal reasons (Fittler's Penrith Panthers teammate Ben Alexander, the younger brother of Penrith captain and former Australian test halfback Greg Alexander, was killed in a motor vehicle accident 5 days prior to the test).

The match, played at the Princes Park Australian rules football ground under temporary lighting, was the first ever Ashes test in Australia played in Melbourne. The cold, wet conditions suited the Lions who levelled the series with a resounding 33-10 win after going into half-time with a 22-0 lead in front of 31,005 fans.

Friday, 26 June
Australia  10 – 33  Great Britain
Tries:
Bob Lindner
Chris Johns



Goal:
Mal Meninga (1)

Tries:
Phil Clarke
Paul Newlove
Garry Schofield
Graham Steadman
Martin Offiah
Goals:
Paul Eastwood (6/7)
Field goal:
Garry Schofield
Princes Park, Melbourne
Attendance: 31,005
Referee: Dennis Hale New Zealand
Player of the Match: Garry Schofield
Australia Position Great Britain
Andrew Ettingshausen FB Graham Steadman
Rod Wishart WG Paul Eastwood
Laurie Daley CE Daryl Powell
Mal Meninga (c) CE Paul Newlove
Michael Hancock WG Martin Offiah
Peter Jackson FE/SO Garry Schofield (c)
Allan Langer HB/SH Shaun Edwards
David Gillespie PR Kelvin Skerrett
Steve Walters HK Martin Dermott
Paul Harragon PR Andy Platt
Paul Sironen SR Denis Betts
Bob Lindner SR Billy McGinty
Bradley Clyde LF Phil Clarke
Brad Mackay Res. Joe Lydon
Glenn Lazarus Res. Paul Hulme
Kevin Walters Res. Gary Connolly
Chris Johns Res. Karl Harrison
Bob Fulton Coach Mal Reilly

The second test, played on a cold and wet night at Melbourne's Princes Park, saw Australian captain Mal Meninga equal Reg Gasnier's record of 36 tests for Australia. It turned out that the conditions (as well as the slippery surface), suited the Lions with many claiming it was more like English weather than Australian.

The British got off to a 4 - 0 lead after some penalties kicked by Paul Eastwood early in the first half. A brawl started by Australian forward Paul Harragon got the Lions another penalty and they decided to attack the Kangaroos' line. From the resulting good field position, first receiver Philip Clarke was able to throw a dummy and make a break through the defensive line to dive over for the first try of the match. It was then converted by Eastwood, so the visitors led 10 - 0. The next try for Great Britain came when replacement half Shaun Edwards got the ball mid-field and made a break before kicking it ahead into Australia's in-goal area. Several players from both sides came racing through to dive on the ball but the Lions' Paul Newlove was the only one who got his hand on it. Next, Garry Schofield scored a brilliant individual try when he chipped ahead from about fifteen metres out and after running into Australian second rower Paul Sironon, then beat the Australian defence to dive on it after Andrew Ettingshausen went what television commentator Graeme Hughes called "ice skating" on the slippery in-goal surface. Great Britain thus went into the break leading 22 - 0.

Schofield kicked a drop goal to open the scoring in the second half, making it 23 nil. Australia then got their first try fifteen minutes into the second half when Bob Lindner got the ball at first receiver close to the line and reached out from the tackle to touch the ball down. The next try came from Chris Johns (who had come on to the wing to replace an injured Rod Wishart) who ran onto replacement half Kevin Walters' pass from about fifteen metres out through a gap in the defence to score. Back in Australia's half, British fullback Graham Steadman got the ball at first receiver about twenty metres out and outpaced Andrew Ettingshausen down the right sideline to score in the corner, sealing the match for the tourists. The British then added to their score when Schofield got the ball around mid-field, chipped it over the defence and regarthered it. He found Martin Offiah in support, the speedy winger beating Australian fullback Ettingshausen in a race for the left corner. This left the final score at 33 - 10, equalling Great Britain's largest ever winning margin and Australia's second-largest ever losing margin


Tuesday, 30 June Gold Coast Seagulls 10 – 28 Great Britain Seagulls Stadium, Tweed Heads
Tries:
Ray Herring (2)
Goals:
Wayne Bartrim (1/2)
Tries:
Gary Connolly (2)
John Devereux (1)
Steve McNamara (1)
Steve Hampson (1)
Goals:
Deryck Fox (4/6)

Attendance: 9,753
Referee: David Manson
Gold Coast Seagulls
Great Britain
FB 1 Danny Peacock
RW 2 Clinton Mohr
CE 3 Terry Cook
CE 16 Adrian Vowles
LW 5 David Bouveng
FE 4 Mathew Donovan
HB 7 Ali Davys
PR 8 Ian Stains
HK 9 Ray Herring (c)
PR 10 Keith Neller
SR 11 Paul Galea
SR 12 Mike McLean
LK 13 Wayne Bartrim
Substitutions:
IC 14 Kevin Campion
IC 15 Robin Thorne
IC 17 Scott Sattler
IC 19 Jamie Goddard
Coach:
Australia Wally Lewis
FB 1 Steve Hampson
LW 2 Alan Hunte
CE 3 John Devereux
CE 4 Gary Connolly
RW 5 Graeme Hallas
SO 6 Kevin Ellis
SH 7 Deryck Fox (c)
PR 8 Lee Crooks
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Karl Fairbank
SR 11 Steve McNamara
SR 12 Paul Hulme
LF 13 Mark Aston
Substitutions:
IC 14 David Myers
IC 15 Karl Harrison
IC 16 Michael Jackson
IC 17 Paul Broadbent
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Former Australian test skipper, Gold Coast captain/coach Wally Lewis, was a late withdrawal for the Seagulls with a hamstring injury.


Third Test

The third and final test was allocated points for the 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup.

By playing in this, his 37th test match, Australian captain Mal Meninga became his country's most-capped test player, breaking the record of former Australian captain Reg Gasnier who was on hand to congratulate Meninga on his achievement. Meninga also equalled Keith Holman's record for most tests against Great Britain (11). His try and four goals also brought his total of points scored in Anglo-Australian test matches to 108, overtaking Neil Fox's record.

Friday, 3 July
Australia  16 – 10  Great Britain
Tries:
Laurie Daley
Mal Meninga
Goals:
Mal Meninga (4)

Tries:
Martin Offiah

Goals:
Paul Eastwood (3)
Lang Park, Brisbane
Attendance: 32,313
Referee: Dennis Hale New Zealand
Player of the Match: Paul Sironen
Australia Position Great Britain
Andrew Ettingshausen FB Graham Steadman
Willie Carne WG Paul Eastwood
Mal Meninga (c) CE Daryl Powell
Brad Fittler CE Paul Newlove
Michael Hancock WG Martin Offiah
Laurie Daley FE/SO Garry Schofield (c)
Allan Langer HB/SH Shaun Edwards
Paul Harragon PR Kelvin Skerrett
Steve Walters HK Martin Dermott
Glenn Lazarus PR Andy Platt
Paul Sironen SR Denis Betts
Bob Lindner SR Billy McGinty
Bradley Clyde LF Phil Clarke
David Gillespie Res. Paul Hulme
Kevin Walters Res. Karl Harrison
Chris Johns Res. Gary Connolly
John Cartwright Res. Joe Lydon
Bob Fulton Coach Mal Reilly

The third test at Lang Park in Brisbane was played in warm, dry conditions in total contrast to the second test. Mal Meninga (4) and Paul Eastwood (2) traded goals for the only scores in the first half. Lions captain Garry Schofield had the best scoring opportunity of the first half when put into a gap only 10 metres out from the Australian line, but the pass from Paul Newlove was called forward by referee Dennis Hale. Late in the half a fight erupted with rival hookers Steve Walters (Aust) and Martin Dermott (GB) trading blows. Meninga then kicked a penalty goal to give the home side an 8-4 lead at half time.

Laurie Daley scored the first try of the game midway through the second half. Andrew Ettingshausen played the ball only 5 metres out from the Lions line and Brad Fittler, back in the side after missing the Melbourne test, ran infield from dummy half. He stepped back inside and popped a pass to Daley who juggled the ball, but managed to get through the tackle of Schofield and Shaun Edwards to get it down for a try amidst howls of protests from Phil Clarke who was claiming a knock on. Meninga missed the difficult conversion but the Aussies led 12-4. Then with 15 minutes remaining, Meninga put the Aussies further ahead with a try from a Laurie Daley kick. Meninga won the race to the ball despite a number of Lions converging before powering through the tackle of Edwards and Denis Betts to plant the ball down and give the Aussies a match winning 16-4 lead. Martin Offiah finally showed his speed to give the Lions some hope in the last 5 minutes, After Dermott hit Meninga in a side on tackle which caused the Australian captain to spill the ball, Offiah toed ahead a loose ball 30 metres out from his line before regathering and racing 50 metres to score under the posts with only Kevin Walters in pursuit. Eastwood converted to see the Lions trim the lead to 16-10, but that was as close as they got as the Australian's held out Great Britain to retain The Ashes that they had held since 1974.

Australian forward Brad Clyde was awarded with the Harry Sunderland Medal for the Player of the Series.

The Ashes series was televised in Australia by Seven Network with commentary provided by Graeme Hughes, Pat Welsh and former Australian captain Wally Lewis.

New Zealand

Wednesday, 8 July Auckland 8 – 14 Great Britain Carlaw Park, Auckland
Tries:
D. Macintosh
Goals:
D. Macintosh (2)
Tries:
Alan Hunte, Kevin Ellis
Goals:
Deryck Fox (3)

Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Jim Stokes

This was Great Britain's first win over the Auckland representative side since 1979, Auckland had played five with three wins, one loss and one draw against both Great Britain and Australian touring sides since then.


First Test

Sunday, 12 July
New Zealand  15 – 14  Great Britain
Tries:
Tony Kemp
Richie Blackmore
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (2/3)
Gavin Hill (1/1)
Field goals:
Daryl Halligan (1)

Tries:
Shaun Edwards
Phil Clarke
Goals:
Paul Eastwood (3/3)
Palmerston North Showgrounds, Palmerston North
Attendance: 11,548
Referee: Bill Harrigan Australia
Player of the Match: Gary Freeman
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB 1 Matthew Ridge
RW 2 Sean Hoppe
RC 3 Kevin Iro
LC 4 Tony Kemp
LW 5 Ritchie Blackmore
FE 6 Dean Clark
HB 7 Gary Freeman (c)
PR 8 Brent Stuart
HK 9 Duane Mann
PR 10 Brent Todd
SR 11 Gavin Hill
SR 12 Quentin Pongia
LF 13 Brendon Tuuta
Substitutions:
IC 14 Daryl Halligan
IC 15 Mike Kuiti
IC 16 Tea Ropati
IC 17 Mark Woods
Coach:
New Zealand Howie Tamati
FB 1 Graham Steadman
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
RC 3 Daryl Powell
LC 4 Gary Connolly
LW 5 Martin Offiah
SO 6 Garry Schofield (c)
SH 7 Shaun Edwards
PR 8 Kelvin Skerrett
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Billy McGinty
LK 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 14 Joe Lydon
IC 15 Paul Hulme
IC 16 Karl Harrison
IC 17
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

Canterbury 6 – 17 Great Britain Addington Showgrounds, Christchurch
Tries:
Maea David
Goals:
Mike Culley
Tries:
Paul Newlove, Kevin Ellis, Alan Hunte
Goals:
Deryck Fox (3)
Field Goals:
Joe Lydon (1)

Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Des O'Sullivan

Second Test

Great Britain's victory in Auckland ensured that they would face Australia in the World Cup Final in October later in the year.

Sunday, 19 July
New Zealand  16 – 19  Great Britain
Tries:
Gary Freeman
Sean Hoppe
Brent Todd
Goals:
Matthew Ridge (2)

Tries:
Lee Jackson
Denis Betts
Martin Offiah
Goals:
Paul Eastwood (3)
Field Goals:
Garry Schofield (1)
Carlaw Park, Auckland
Attendance: 10,233
Referee: Bill Harrigan Australia
Player of the Match: Garry Schofield
New Zealand
Great Britain
FB 1 Matthew Ridge
RW 2 Sean Hoppe
RC 3 Kevin Iro
LC 4 Tony Kemp
LW 5 Ritchie Blackmore
FE 6 Dean Clark
HB 7 Gary Freeman (c)
PR 8 Brent Stuart
HK 9 Duane Mann
PR 10 Brent Todd
SR 11 Gavin Hill
SR 12 Quentin Pongia
LF 13 Brendon Tuuta
Substitutions:
IC 14 Daryl Halligan
IC 15 Mike Kuiti
IC 16 Tea Ropati
IC 17 Mark Woods
Coach:
New Zealand Howie Tamati
FB 1 Graham Steadman
RW 2 Paul Eastwood
RC 3 Daryl Powell
LC 4 Gary Connolly
LW 5 Martin Offiah
SO 6 Garry Schofield (c)
SH 7 Shaun Edwards
PR 8 Karl Harrison
HK 9 Lee Jackson
PR 10 Andy Platt
SR 11 Denis Betts
SR 12 Billy McGinty
LK 13 Phil Clarke
Substitutions:
IC 14 Paul Newlove
IC 15 Michael Jackson
IC 16 John Devereux
IC 17 Karl Fairbank
Coach:
England Mal Reilly

This page was last updated at 2023-12-24 23:56 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari