Wigan Album

I was at the match that day Gasnier was like greased lightning. But if my memory is not playing tricks we won the next two to win the series.

During Australia's 1959 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Australia won the first Test 22-14 at Station Road, Swinton. Great Britain won the second 11-10 at Headingley, Leeds. Great Britain won the third 18-12 at Central Park, Wigan with a match-winning try in the last few minutes, to take the Ashes series 2-1. This was the last Ashes won on home soil to date.

During Australia's 1959 Kangaroo Tour of Great Britain, Australia won the first Test 22-14 at Station Road, Swinton. Great Britain won the second 11-10 at Headingley, Leeds. Great Britain won the third 18-12 at Central Park, Wigan with a match-winning try in the last few minutes, to take the Ashes series 2-1. This was the last Ashes won on home soil to date.

Well I completely agree with you I was nearly 13 my dad used to take me to all away games and at home he would get me thro gate to go on kop instead of henpen, but yes you are spot on where has the time gone? I am 66 now it seems another world away but for me that was when rugby league was rugby league,miss those days.

Alan, couldn't agree more. There was something about the atmosphere of Rugby league games then which isn't there in today's game. Maybe it was the grounds or the players? The players may be fitter today, the grounds are better,the playing areas are better, and the game is faster, But is it a better game to watch? There was something about seeing players caked in mud, slogging their way through a field of mud. Watching Punchy Griffiths kicking goals with a PROPER leather rugby ball, which probably weighed twice its original weight when it got wet. When I watched the Test Matches against Australia, I was in awe, I was watching people who had come all the way from Australia... It was like they were from another planet. and I must admit I always wanted Australia to win. I loved their green and gold shirts, and tanned bodies, they made them look twice as big as the British team in their white shirts which made the players look paler than they were. Happy days<g>

Top photo shows Mick Sullivan just behind Gasnier and below just behind Billy (who scored one of our tries) is number 6 Dave Bolton. No mud here Ron.

I watched all 3 tests and Reg Gasnier was in a class of his own, he scored a hat trick in each of his first 3 games on that tour. I think GB's back line was Boston; Ashton; Davies ;Sullivan in the final test later to become Wigan's back line, those were the days!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reg_Gasnier

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8GGGy3G_A
not 1959 but 1963 If the game was like this today I'd be back watching it.

Alan ,Ron .Nostalgia is wonderful, but we only remember the best. What about matches such as Bradford 0 Wigan 2 When it was simply a mudbath .Rugby has changed but so have we.

AB I bet it was a better match than, Wigan 70 London 0,
I wonder what rules changes they will bring in next year? The company that print the R.L. rules must be making a mint, as they need to reprint them every year...

Bet it was a better game than Wigan 116 Flimby and Fothergill 0 in 1924!

Flimby and Fothergill were only an amateur side. London Broncos are in the 'Super League'. That's why the sport has become a joke now. What's the betting that they will be the next team to fold. How much money, over the years, have the Rugby League ploughed into trying to spread the game. Face it, it ain't never going to happen. They would be better off giving the money to the established clubs which have been going for over 100 years.

Must agree with Ron. It is over 30 years since I went to Craven Cottage to watch Wigan and Fulham and despite every help from the RL the Professional team are almost where they started. I don't think they know where they are playing next season. On the plus side it seems that the Amateur game is thriving in the South.

Present day Rugby League produces fantastic quality at the top level - I started by watching Wigan in 1947 and have followed the sport ever since.
Attempting comparisons between decades just doesn't work.

"Present day Rugby League produces fantastic quality at the top level"
Today's crowds say it doesn't, compared to the 1950's and 60's. When a lot more teams, got average attendances in excess of 10,000 week in week out

Hi Wiganer, bigger crowds better rugby? Interesting idea not sure it works though.

"GIVE IT TO JOSH" doesn't t raise the crowds excitement some how as, "GIVE UT TO BILLY"
Half of Wigan's players today wouldn't have made the A team in those days. FASTER doesn't mean BETTER. People forget that half the Wigan Team were miners, grafting for 8 hours a day, that was training enough, plus training at the ground three times a week in the evenings. And they lasted the full 80 minutes, on terrible pitches up to their ankles in mud. Todays forwards can't even last the full 80 minutes without being 'RESTED'