Roger Millward
Manly-Warringah rugby league coach, Ron Willey made a special trip to Craven Park, Hull with the view to signing Great Britain forward, Phil Lowe for the 1974 Sydney premiership.
Lowe had starred for Britain in their win over Australia at Wembley on November 3, and was backing up four days later for his club side, Hull Kingston Rovers in the 10th match of the Kangaroos’ 19 game tour of Britain and France.
Willey had been visiting contacts in Castleford, but after seeing Lowe’s performance in London, headed east to watch the giant second rower against the tourists. Still only 23, 194cm and 108kg Lowe had scored a club record (for a forward) 27 tries for Hull KR in the 1972-73 season. An electrician by trade, Lowe had had difficulty getting regular employment in England’s North, and had found part time work in a European steel mill.
Lowe found his legs cut from under him each time he touched the ball, and he was not done any favours by Hull KR teammates, who struggled to give him space, when they sent passes his way.
The star of the match was Australian centre, Mick Cronin, described as ‘the unassuming publican from Gerringong’ in Rugby League Week editor, Geoff Prenter’s account of proceedings. Cronin added 16 points to the 30 he had scored in his two previous outings, this time scoring two tries and kicking five goals.
The first try came from a reverse pass from five eighth, David Waite, with Cronin leaving Hull KR’s Australian fullback, Bob Smithies, grasping at thin air, thanks to a big sidestep. For the second, Cronin wheeled down the blindside; bumped off Rovers’ Paul Longstaff, and proved too fast for the cover.
Waite, normally an outside back, had an absorbing tussle with Hull KR’s brilliant Test five eighth, Roger Millward. Waite set-up second rower, Bob McCarthy for the first try of the match, in the 11th minute, with a neat pass.
Australia led only 13-7 at halftime, with lightning-fast centre, Ged Dunn having scored for the home side, after Millward pulled off a brilliant intercept. Product of Redcar Rugby Union club, Dunn was a PE teacher.
An all-in-brawl marred the start of the second half, and the home crowd howled their disapproval, when referee, Peter Geraghty, a lithographer from York, awarded the penalty to the tourists. The brawl started after Australian fullback, Graham Eadie tangled with Lowe (They would later become teammates at Manly).
Millward was disappointed with his side’s performance, and his own form.
“I think I tried too hard,” he said.
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“a lithographer from York”
“unassuming publican from Gerringong’ ”
I’m a fan of such extras in info Steve. But doubt you’ll beat Gordon Bray, he lives it. My favourite Gordon was, “the Taranaki pig farmer”. In the professional sports era, we’re missing the extras.
No-one comes near Gordon Bray, in that regard.