Cecil Aynsley
Encyclopedia
Cecil "The Red Flyer" Aynsley (1902 – 1975) was an Australia
n rugby league
footballer of the 1920s and 30s. A Queensland state
and Australian
representative winger, and talented goal-kicker he scored a try in each of his four national representative appearances.
Born in Charters Towers, Queensland
, Aynsley began his rugby league career in 1921 playing for the Western Suburbs Panthers
in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. Three years later he made his debut for Australia against the touring Great Britain
side playing in all three Test matches, scoring on each occasion.
During the 1925 season with he toured New Zealand
with the Queensland team. He had a tremendous tour scoring 34 tries in only eleven matches. This leading to the local press proclaiming him as "the Gloaming
of rugby league" after the Australian race-horse which enjoyed success in New Zealand. His aggregate of 114 for the tour was beaten only by Queensland captain Jimmy Craig with 126
.
He played his fourth and final Test match for Australia in 1928 in Brisbane against Great Britain where he scored his fourth and final representative try.
Aynsley also played for English side Rochdale
from 1930 to 1935.
In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
on the wing.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer of the 1920s and 30s. A Queensland state
Queensland Rugby League
The Queensland Rugby Football League is the governing body for rugby league in Queensland. It is a member of the Australian Rugby League and selects the members of Queensland State of Origin teams....
and Australian
Australian national rugby league team
The Australian national rugby league team have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competition since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League, the Kangaroos' are ranked number one in the RLIF World Rankings...
representative winger, and talented goal-kicker he scored a try in each of his four national representative appearances.
Born in Charters Towers, Queensland
Charters Towers, Queensland
Charters Towers is a city in northern Queensland, Australia. It is located 137 kilometres inland from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. In 2006 the population was 7,979 people, some 450 fewer than in the 2001 census. During the last quarter of the 19th century the town boomed as the rich gold...
, Aynsley began his rugby league career in 1921 playing for the Western Suburbs Panthers
Wests Panthers
The Western Suburbs Panthers, often simply referred to as Wests, are a rugby league club from Brisbane, Australia. The Club is the oldest in the QRL and despite absences from the top grade in recent years and several name changes the club continued to operate...
in the Brisbane Rugby League premiership. Three years later he made his debut for Australia against the touring Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
side playing in all three Test matches, scoring on each occasion.
During the 1925 season with he toured 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...
with the Queensland team. He had a tremendous tour scoring 34 tries in only eleven matches. This leading to the local press proclaiming him as "the Gloaming
Gloaming (horse)
Gloaming was an outstanding Thoroughbred racehorse, owned, trained, and based in New Zealand. He set many records which includes the Australasian record of 19 successive wins, many in Principal Races. Gloaming was unusual that he was a champion who won many major races in both Australia and New...
of rugby league" after the Australian race-horse which enjoyed success in New Zealand. His aggregate of 114 for the tour was beaten only by Queensland captain Jimmy Craig with 126
Jim Craig (rugby league)
Jim Craig was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He was a versatile back for the Australian national team. He played in 7 Tests between 1921 and 1928 as captain on 3 occasions and has since been named amongst the nation's finest footballers of the 20th century.-Club career:Craig grew...
.
He played his fourth and final Test match for Australia in 1928 in Brisbane against Great Britain where he scored his fourth and final representative try.
Aynsley also played for English side Rochdale
Rochdale Hornets
Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...
from 1930 to 1935.
In June 2008, he was chosen in the Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
Queensland Rugby League's Team of the Century
The Queensland Rugby League Team of the Century is a hypothetical team comprising the best players who have played for Queensland to form a team for 1909 until 2008. Rugby league in Queensland was initiated in 1909 with the Queensland Rugby Football League competition, which evolved into the...
on the wing.