Wellington against international teams: versus Australia 1905

Representative Rugby | 23 February 2015 | Steven White

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Wellington 23 – Australia 7

19 August 1905, at Athletic Park. Crowd 8,000

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Teams representing New South Wales and Queensland had toured New Zealand five times previously, in 1882, 1886, 1894, 1896 and 1901, but this was the first tour to New Zealand undertaken by a fully representative Australian team. The previous year, 1904, a Great Britain side had toured New Zealand with the sole match in Wellington being the Test, which New Zealand won 9-3.?

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At the time of the Australians’ arrival, the first-choice New Zealand team, soon to be known as the ‘Originals’ and featuring Wellington players Billy Wallace (Poneke), Fred Roberts (Oriental) and Duncan McGregor (Petone) had already departed by sea for England. Thus the Australians faced weakened opposition including a second string All Blacks side in the sole Test in Dunedin, which they lost 3-14. They won three and lost four of their official tour matches including the Dunedin Test. A tour highlight came at very end when they held on to beat a strong Auckland team 10-8.?

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Four days prior to this opening tour match, Wellington had defended the Ranfurly Shield against Wairarapa by drawing 3-3 at Athletic Park in conditions that the Evening Post described as being “very heavy” and played with a “greasy ball.”

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Australia sailed into Wellington the next morning and their manager Mr. J.R Henderson summed up the team’s chances. “If the men played up to club form and were given something like dry grounds, they would give a good account of themselves. Wet grounds would be right against the visitors, who had not played a single game this year with a wet ball”, he said.?

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The Wellington team that was chosen to meet Australia was actually a region-wide one, containing three Wairarapa players from Wednesday’s game and one from Horowhenua.?

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The rain held off, but the heavy ground remained an issue and a swift southerly blew through from Cook Strait to further unhinge the visitors who tuned out in a maroon and blue playing strip. Australia had first use of the wind and threatened Wellington’s line throughout most of the first half but could only score through and goal and a mark. Wellington led 8-7 at the break. After halftime, Wellington scored three tries and kicked a goal from a mark and wrapped up the result with quite a lot of time to spare.

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The players:

The player of the match according to the Evening Post was teenage Wairarapa wing sensation Eddie Wrigley, who scored a hat-trick of tries, while Horowhenua’s Martin Winiata did his union proud in the forwards.?

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Of the local players, first five-eighth William Hardham had been awarded the Victoria Cross in the recent Boer War and past New Zealand representatives Jack Spencer, Tom Cross and Ernie Dodd were in the forwards, while Dodd’s hooking partner (2-3-2 scrums) Eric Watkins played the Test in Dunedin a fortnight later. Wrigley also played his sole Test in Dunedin, having the distinction of being the youngest All Black until 1994 when Jonah Lomu broke his record at 19 years and 79 days. ?

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Another notable forward in this match was Hercules ‘Bumper’ Wright, who was to lead the ‘All Golds’ rugby league team to England in 1907/1908. This team also included Cross and Wrigley, amongst other well-known players of the time.?

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The Spencer brothers, forward Jack and fullback George, both out of the then leading Melrose club, were both All Blacks. Jack added to his previous international caps by captaining New Zealand in the Dunedin Test while George played against Australia two years later and later transferred to rugby league.?

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Oriental player Charlie Gillespie played one Test for New Zealand in 1913, against Australia, and went on to coin the phrase ‘Once and Orie, always an Orie.’?

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Wellington: G. Spencer, M. Winiata, J. O’Leary, E. Wrigley, M. Sharpe, A. Ramsden, E.H. Dodd, E.H. Watkins, T. Cross, H.R. Wright, J. Spencer, A.A. Wylie, C. Gillespie, W. Warner, W. Hardham?

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Australia: A.P Penman, S. Wickham (captain), P. Carmichael, B. Smith, C. Russell, E.A Anlezark, M. Dore, A. Burdon, E.A. Oxlade, J. Clarken, H.A Judd, P. Burge, W. Hirchsburg, B.I. Swannell, C. Murrin

The Evening Post newspaper August 1905

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The Visitors - The History of International Rugby Teams in New Zealand by Rod Chester, Neville McMillan. MOA Publications, Auckland, 1990

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The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Rugby

By Ron Palenski, Rod Chester, Neville McMillan. Hodder Moa Beckett, Auckland 1998

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Photo credit: Rugby match, Athletic Park, Wellington. Negatives of the Evening Post newspaper. Ref: 1/2-059652-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23167543