DECEMBER, 1952
Veteran rugby league journalists described the Third Test between Australia and Great Britain at Bradford’s Odsal Stadium as the worst example of unruly and distasteful football they had ever seen.
The same journalists blasted referee, Arthur Dobson for not taking sterner action, in a match won 27-7 by the touring Kangaroos, who salvaged pride after Britain won the first two Tests, in Leeds and Manchester.
The BBC’s Eddie Waring said the players had given a display of fisticuffs that would have done credit to Madison Square Garden
Britain’s vice-captain, Ernest Ward refused to shake hands with the Australians after the whistle blew full time in the Third Test, walking straight from the field and ignoring rival skipper, Clive Churchill, who had trotted towards him.
The violence seemed to have been triggered by a sharp exchange of words between giant English forward, Charlie Pawsey and Australian winger, Noel Pidding in the 10th minute. The worst incident was an all-in-brawl close to the main grandstand, early in the second half. It took Dobson five minutes to sort out the contestants and to re-start play.
British lock, Ken Traill had this to say after the game: “None could say our forwards, or the Aussie pack, were footballers today. We acted like animals. Like busy bees, fighting over a bun. I have never played in a rougher match, and I was surprised the referee let it get that way.”
Britain played with 12 men for 70 minutes, not because of a dismissal – they lost winger, Frank Castle from Barrow, with a busted shoulder and replacements were not allowed. Australia also played much of the game with 12 men, after second rower, Duncan Hall was marched, after he belted Ward. Hall had to walk through a hostile, yelling crowd on the terraces, to the dressing rooms on top of the hilltop bowl, which is Odsal. Australian cricketer, Cecil Pepper escorted him and parried several blows aimed at Hall by spectators, before two policemen closed in, to protect him. (Pepper was playing cricket professionally in England).
Winger, Tom Ryan made a fine Test debut for Australia, scoring two good tries within four minutes, late in the second half. Ryan had also scored two tries in the lead-up game to the Test – an 18-7 win over Widnes.
Centre, Noe Hazzard’s legitimate tackles flattened several Englishmen, leaving them in need of treatment.
Australian hooker, Ken ‘Killer’ Kearney gave his side a 2-1 share of the ball from the scrums. Kearney, who had toured Britain and France with the 1947 Wallabies, was a controversial replacement for Kevin Schubert, who had played in the first two Tests and was highly regarded by the British.
After the match a solid mass of policemen stood on the landing outside the Australian’s dressing room, but the crowd left quietly.
The Australians were to leave for France for the next leg of the tour, and most of the players went to the barbers in Leeds, to get short haircuts, because they had heard that the price for a haircut in France was exorbitant. Showing a fine sense of humour, British Rugby League Council chairman, Bennett Manson caused a gale of laughter at the farewell dinner for the Kangaroos, when he announced, on behalf of the French Rugby League president (Paul Barriere) that the Australians would receive haircuts free, while in France.
On a more serious note, Manson told the press, after the Australians departure for France, that the violent Third Test had set the code back 20 years in Britain. The Australians felt the British press had exaggerated the extent of the brawling, because the journalists were angered by the fact their champion side had been brought back to earth.
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Thanks Steve, those were the days.