Pat Devery
St George’s superior speed proved the difference as the Sydney club defeated Combined Brisbane 22-17 in an end-of-season floodlit match at the Brisbane Exhibition Grounds.
The crowd was 14,000, but they were not there just to watch the football. Speedway motor racing also was on show on a great night of sports innovation.
St George’s left winger, Stan Root scored the try of the match, a 50 metre effort, which finished with an audacious sidestep to get around Brisbane fullback, Danny O’connor. Brisbane’s right winger, Johnny Schatz also scored a memorable try, beating four defenders before crossing between the posts.
Meanwhile Queenslanders, Harry Bath and Len Kenny, and New South Welshman, Pat Devery, arrived in the UK by flying boat, ready to play for their respective new clubs, Barrow, Leeds and Huddersfield.
One of the first to welcome the trio was former Australian forward, Arthur Clues, who was captain of Leeds.
Another Australian, Vic Hey, was coach of Yorkshire side, Hunslet, but wanted to return to Australia. Tiring from the wait for a sea passage, Hey said he intended to make a playing comeback with Hunslet.
Meanwhile, the touring New Zealand side made England fight all the way, before going down 11-10 in the Fist Test in Leeds before a crowd of 28,445.
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