1970 Rugby League World Cup
Encyclopedia
The fifth Rugby League World Cup
was held in Great Britain
in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Ashes
, were hot favourites, and won all three of their group stage games. All the other nations lost two games each, and Australia qualified for the final largely on the back of an impressive tally of points against New Zealand
.
The final was held at Headingley
, Leeds
. Although Great Britain dominated the possession, the Kangaroos were able to exploit their chances, and ran out unexpected winners in a scrappy game.
Australian centre Bob Fulton
was named the official player of the tournament.
After winning the tournament, the Australian team put the World Cup trophy on display in the Midland Hotel, Bradford. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years.
----
Britain came from 0-4 behind to defeat Australia 11-4 at Headingley with Syd Hynes
scoring the game's only try.
----
The try of the tournament, however, was scored by the sensational French winger Serge Marsolan against New Zealand in a mud-bath at Hull. Marsolan ran from behind his own line for a try fit to win any match but the lackadaisical French lost 15-16.
----
The French put up a great fight against Britain in vile conditions, only to lose 0-6 at Castleford to three penalties from Ray Dutton
.
----
Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.
----
This incredibly exciting game has been described as the tournament's piece de resistance. Aussie centre Bobby Fulton scored a try within seconds of the kick-off - probably the quickest ever in international matches. However, with ten minutes to go and the scores level at 15-15, the French stole the game when stand-off half Jean Capdouze
dropped a monster goal. The Kangaroos' loss to France meant it was Australia's superior points differential (on the back of their pointsfest in the opening game against New Zealand) alone that got them into the final with the undefeated Great Britain team.
. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12-7 victors. The game itself was an extended punch-up. The only surprise was that it took 79 minutes before anyone was sent off. Two sacrificial lambs, Billy Smith of Australia and Sid Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
was held in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1970. Britain, fresh from defeating Australia in the Ashes
Rugby League Ashes
The Ashes is the name given to the trophy awarded to the winner of a best-of-three series of rugby league football test series between Great Britain and Australia...
, were hot favourites, and won all three of their group stage games. All the other nations lost two games each, and Australia qualified for the final largely on the back of an impressive tally of points against New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The final was held at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
. Although Great Britain dominated the possession, the Kangaroos were able to exploit their chances, and ran out unexpected winners in a scrappy game.
Australian centre Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
was named the official player of the tournament.
After winning the tournament, the Australian team put the World Cup trophy on display in the Midland Hotel, Bradford. From there it was stolen and remained unseen for the next 20 years.
Results
Australia beat the Kiwis easily at Wigan in the opening fixture with Eric Simms repeating his form of the 1968 tourney by landing a record ten goals.----
Britain came from 0-4 behind to defeat Australia 11-4 at Headingley with Syd Hynes
Syd Hynes
Sydney "Syd" Hynes is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1960s and '70s, and coach of the 1970s and '80s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Leeds, playing at , i.e...
scoring the game's only try.
----
The try of the tournament, however, was scored by the sensational French winger Serge Marsolan against New Zealand in a mud-bath at Hull. Marsolan ran from behind his own line for a try fit to win any match but the lackadaisical French lost 15-16.
----
The French put up a great fight against Britain in vile conditions, only to lose 0-6 at Castleford to three penalties from Ray Dutton
Ray Dutton
Raymond "Ray" F. Dutton is an English former professional rugby league footballer of the 1970s who at representative level has played for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Widnes, playing at , i.e...
.
----
Britain eliminated New Zealand from the tournament, cruising to victory with five tries to three.
----
This incredibly exciting game has been described as the tournament's piece de resistance. Aussie centre Bobby Fulton scored a try within seconds of the kick-off - probably the quickest ever in international matches. However, with ten minutes to go and the scores level at 15-15, the French stole the game when stand-off half Jean Capdouze
Jean Capdouze
Jean Capdouze was a French rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1960s and 70s. He first played rugby union, representing his country in several test matches before switching to rugby league, playing for the Union Treiziste Catalane club and for France's national team in the 1968 and 1970...
dropped a monster goal. The Kangaroos' loss to France meant it was Australia's superior points differential (on the back of their pointsfest in the opening game against New Zealand) alone that got them into the final with the undefeated Great Britain team.
Final standings
| Team | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | For | Against | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 21 | +23 | 6 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 2 | |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 44 | 89 | −45 | 2 |
Final
The final, which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingly', went completely against expectations. Britain failed to play any decent football despite overwhelming possession. The Kangaroos led 5-4 at half-time with a try to Australian three-quarter, Father John CootesJohn Cootes
John Cootes was an Australian professional rugby league footballer and Roman Catholic priest. An Australian international representative three-quarter and adept goal-kicker, he played club football in Newcastle for Western Suburbs and also later worked as a television commentator and...
. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12-7 victors. The game itself was an extended punch-up. The only surprise was that it took 79 minutes before anyone was sent off. Two sacrificial lambs, Billy Smith of Australia and Sid Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.