I'm a Hawkeye Guy
There's Something About a Magpie
HAWKES BAY 11, BRITISH ISLES 11
McLean Park, Napier. August 20th, 1966 (Half-time: 3-3)
Weather: perfect. Ground: perfect. Referee: Peter McDavitt (Wellington). Attendance: 22,765.
For Hawkes Bay: Tom Johnson, try. Ian Bishop, conversion and penalty. Max Loughlin, dropped goal.
For the British Isles: Dewi Bebb and Ronnie Lamont tries. Stewart Wilson, conversion and penalty.
Hawkes Bay: Ian Bishop (Waipukurau HSOB), Bill Davis (Taradale), Ian MacRae (Marist), Denis Smith (Clive), Gary Watts (Tech), Max Loughlin (Marist), Hepa Paewai (Dannevirke Aotea), Tom Johnson (Marist), Kel Tremain (NHSOB), Gerry Stone (Ruahine), Karaan Crawford (MAC), David Kirkpatrick (Porongahau), Neil Thimbleby (Marist), Gus Meech (NHSOB), Lou Cooper (MAC)
British Isles: Stewart Wilson (London Scottish & Scotland), Sandy Hinshelwood (London Scottish, & Scotland), Colin McFadyean (Moseley & England), Mike Gibson (Cambridge University & Ireland), Dewi Bebb (Swansea & Wales), Dai Watkins (Neport & Wales), Roger Young (Queens University Belfast & Ireland), Alun Pask (Abertillery & Wales), Noel Murphy (Cork Constitution & Ireland), Ronnie Lamont (Instonians & Ireland), Mike Campbell-Lamberton (London Scottish & Scotland), Willie John McBride (Ballymena & Ireland), Ray McLoughlin (Gosforth & Ireland), Frank Laidlaw (Melrose & Scotland), Howie Norris (Cardiff & Wales)
*****
Hawkes Bay half-back, Hepa Paewai, looks to attack the Lions during the 11-11 draw in Napier. In support are Kel Tremain, Ian MacRae, Gerry Stone and Neil Thimbleby. British Lions are Colin McFadyean, Bill McBride, Mike Campbell-Lamerton and Frank Laidlaw.
MORE PHOTO'S FROM THE MATCH AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
MATCH REPORT courtesy of an excerpt from “The Lion Tamers” by Terry McLean. Published, 1966 by A H & A W Reed. P.242-244.
The art of leadership by personal example, as demonstrated by Tremain, was one of the particular reasons why Hawke’s Bay, after lagging 6-11 with 20 minutes to play, scored an exhilarating try by a massed charge of forwards from the lineout to tie the score and round out very neatly a completely satisfying game.
The chance of tieing looked to be as good as gone, when with about a quarter of an hour to play, Gibson, with a dummy and a burst of speed made a run which was stopped 2 yards short of the goal-line, with Lamont doing his best to score. At a scrum in front of the posts, Hawke’s Bay put-in, Laidlaw made a great effort and when he won the heel David Watkins was well positioned to drop-kick the winning goal.
By a stupendous piece of anticipation and sprinting, Tremain charged the kick down and Hawke’s Bay made a plundering charge far, far down the field. From this moment, Tremain harnessed his men to a series of assaults. Loughlin’s excessive kicking was done with by now. Everything was concentrated upon the winning and handling of the ball. Pressure, severe pressure, was massed upon and applied against the Lions; and the yield, the outstanding try begun by Thimbleby and completed by Johnson, was the finest sort of example of the best New Zealand ability to increase the pressure and tempo of attack all the way to the whistle for no-side.
For a time, it seemed that the try which tied the score was but the prelude to a finish to be dreamed of by schoolboys on the eve of the match of the year. Round about halfway, the Lions defence was in disarray when Davis, bounding forward, collected the ball and with a duck and a dive broke clear. He ran very fast down the field and within reaching distance launched a terrific dive for a try. Pandemonium. The grandstands shuddered with the jumping.
As a try that was not a try, it was Category A; for it was not a try from the moment, just as Davis gathered the ball, in which Mr McDavitt decided that a Lion had been obstructed sufficiently to justify a penalty call against the Bay. Thus it was a draw—and the right sort of draw, too, for both teams played the game the right way. If the Bay, through Loughlin, kicked too often in the first half, they made up for. it in the second; and the play in the forwards of Thimbleby, who was remarkable, Crawford, Tremain, and Stone, and in the backs of the young Maori, Paewai, MacRae, Smith, and Bishop, was nobly aggressive, in the best sense, and markedly enterprising.
Moreover the defence by the backline, Loughlin, Watts, and MacRae, was so swift as to be almost unbelievable. None of the Lions could afford to take more than a pace before passing onward, so swift were the tacklers to their men. All but McLoughlin, who had his own good reasons, heeded the Lions’ command to pass and pass; and if, for once, Gibson mishandled, both he and Watkins were enterprising,
Bebb was the classic threequarter to the T in his try, Young passed sharply, and Wilson played an ideal game of the highest quality. Lamont was almost as prominent in the forwards as Wilson in the backs, and that burly, rotund man of the slipped chest, Norris, gave good value, too.
Norris had been spoken of by Tremain the night before as the “biggest nuisance” in the Lions’ pack. The phrase was not strictly complimentary, for Norris had various ideas about establishing dominance and not all of them were Al by “Twickers” standards. He had played No. 8 for several years before becoming a loose-head prop and when in the open he had a short, savage dash which was painful to the tackler and profitable to the team.
But more things were expected of him than short, sharp dashes, and even these were not always delivered. His curious stance at the lineout, with his back to the thrower-in and the opposition, baffled the more scientific Rugby students, and his body-position at the scrummage was more hooped of back than it should have been. But he was a smart, amusing talker, even, perhaps, a good salesman of Norris products, and so he won a preferment which his gifts did not quite entitle him to.
He talked blithely about the tricks he knew and practised in the lineout and when these were discussed by Alex Veysey in the Sunday Times, O’Brien was displeased, claiming the information had been obtained by improper means. But Howard was like that; he never tired of talking. He had much to talk of after so splendid a game as today’s and the Welshmen tonight sang at a party of their own to celebrate their performance. They would have had cause for greater cheer if the pass which Watkins could not turn into a goal had instead gone laterally to such as Gibson for a dive at the line. It does not always pay, at Rugby, to advertise.
Wilson placed a 40-yard penalty in the first minute. Bishop replied with a 45-yarder six minutes later and the next score came 41 minutes later when Bebb took McFadyean’s pass after the latter had sliced through the line and, with the loveliest of swerves in and out, baffled Bishop to score. Loughlin levelled the score with a smart drop-kick after a lineout, and Lamont put the Lions ahead when Gibson took the ball after Watts had been caught at a long throw-in and cut back to put Lamont over the line for a try which Wilson goaled.
Smith, Paewai, Crawford, Kirkpatrick, and MacRae all handled in one great rush after the Tremain breakaway, but the score was tied in the best manner when Thimbleby broke from the lineout and Johnson, one of several supporting forwards, took the pass to score. Bishop placed the goal—and Davis missed his try. Which was a good thing for all parties.
The 1966 British Lions who faced Hawkes Bay
At full-back, Stewart Wilson made his debut for Scotland against France at Murrayfield in 1964, kicking two conversions
in a 10-0 victory. His next test was against the touring All Blacks and resulted in a 0-0 draw. He represented Oxford in the
Varsity match in 1963 and 1964.
The 1966 New Zealand tour was his sole Lions outing, playing in all four test matches (and the second in Australia.
where the Lions won by a thumping 31-0). In the four test matches in New Zealand, Wilson amassed 17 points.
In 1967, he again faced a touring All Black side, the Brian Lochore captained New Zealanders winning the match by 14-3. But it will be best remembered for the sending off of All Black legend, Colin Meads, alleged to have kicked the Scottish fly-half, David Chisholm.
Stewart Wilson was capped 22 times for his country between 1964-1968, captaining the side on four occasions.
His fellow club and countrymen on the right wing, Alexander James Watt ‘Sandy’ Hinshelwood, was only a recent Scottish International, but would earn 21 caps until 1970. He scored five tries during his test career and another for the Lions during the fourth test of the 1966 series, the match in Auckland won by New Zealand by 20-11 (Ian MacRae scoring a try).
Overall, he played 28 matches for the British Lions scoring 18 tries, including three on debut against Western Australia in Perth, a match won by 60-3. Hinshelwood played in the final test of the 1968 series against the Springboks, the match drawn 6-6 in Port Elizabeth.
English centre, Colin William McFadyean, played in all four test matches in New Zealand. His speed was as such that he was also adept on the wing and it was this versatility which was attractive to Lions head coach, John Robins.
The Loughborough University graduate won 11 caps for England between 1966 and 1968, scoring four tries and captaining them twice. He also scored on debut for the British Lions during a 38-11 win over South Australia in Adelaide.
At inside centre, was a man destined to become a true icon of the game, Mike Gibson, arguably the finest Irish player of all time His understanding of angles and his uncanny ability to release the ball into space could unpick even the toughest of defences. He made five Lions tours between 1966 and 1977, a number only equalled by fellow Irish great Willie John McBride.
Cameron Michael Henderson Gibson was born and educated in Belfast. His versatility led to questions over his best position, but in truth his sublime handling skills, pinpoint kicking game and tactical brilliance made him a prime candidate for greatness in the centre and at outside half, where he cemented a place as one of the finest all-round centres to play the sport.
Gibson's reputation was built around his intelligent reading of the game whether in attack or defence. In 1964, Gibson was a first year law student at Cambridge whose form in the Varsity match (captaining Cambridge) had persuaded the Irish selectors to dispense with the experienced and well-regarded Mick English.
Ireland arrived at Twickenham without a win at England's home since their Grand Slam-winning year of 1948. They left with the most resounding of victories there, orchestrated by their debutant outside-half, Mike Gibson.
His first international appearances at centre were for the 1966 Lions, playing all four tests against New Zealand to allow David Watkins to preside at 10. He had played all four Lions tests in South Africa at outside-half in 1968, the first in Pretoria, as international rugby's first ever replacement, coming on for the injured Barry John.
Mike Gibson of Ireland, in the famous blue and white of Cambridge University, 1964. He was plucked from relative obscurity, placed in the national side and orchestrated a famous win against the English at Twickenham, the first for Ireland since 1948.
But when he in turn was injured later in the year, Ireland found a more than capable deputy in Barry McGann and it was decided that Gibson would fit better at inside centre, the position in which he would play so brilliantly for the Lions in 1971.
On that tour of New Zealand, he lined up alongside John and John Dawes in one of the most potent midfields ever assembled. With the imagination of John complemented perfectly by Gibson's propensity to open up space with his spectacular line-breaking ability, the Lions took home their first and only tour win on New Zealand soil.
“Gibson and Mervyn Davies were the players most responsible for the Lions historic series victory. I would judge that 80% of All Black back movements came unstuck through Gibson's quickness, still and courage. He was as near the perfect rugby player as I have seen in any position”.
Colin Meads (ESPN rugby website, 2014)
The 1974 Lions who toured South Africa, went through the country unbeaten, although Gibson was not used at all during the famous test series. He watched on as Ian McGeechan and Dick Milliken took over the starting centre roles, offering what support he could off the field and playing his part on the 'Invincibles' tour as the Lions left South Africa without a defeat to their name.
He racked up a remarkable 68 appearances for the Lions, scoring 22 tries.
His final game in the green jersey came in the second test of Ireland's tour of Australia in 1979. Ireland won the game and the series and the 36 year old hung up his boots, the most capped player of all time with 81 test caps. In 2011, Mike Gibson was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.
On the left wing was seasoned Welsh international, Dewi Iorwerth Ellis Bebb. The Swansea man made his debut for his country against England in 1959, scoring the only try of the match in a 5-0 win for Wales. Regarded as one of the all time great Welsh wingers, Bebb scored 11 times for his country in 34 appearances until 1967.
He toured South Africa in 1962, playing in eight matches including the second (0-3) and third (3-8) tests. He would play in all four tests of 1966, scoring 14 tries in total on tour, a brace in matches against South Australia, Nelson/Marlborough & Golden Bay-Motueka and Waikato.
Bebb scored a try in his final appearance for Wales in 1967, as on debut, a victory against the English, this time by the more remarkable score-line for the time; 34-21. He died in 1996 at the age of 57.
David Watkins, originally from the mining community of Blaina in north Gwent, did not pick up a rugby ball until he was 15. But just three years later, the pacy fly-half was thrust into the spotlight as part of the all-star Newport team of the early 1960s.
And it was in 1963 that he started to capture the imagination of the world, making his test debut for Wales during the Five nations Championship and then, as vice-captain, guiding Newport to an historic 3-0 win over New Zealand.
Wilson Whineray's All Blacks had warmed-up with a 19-3 win over Oxford University, before thrashing Southern Counties 32-3 in Hove. The Kiwis arrived at a wet and blustery Rodney Parade in tour match three, to face a Newport side whose early-season form gave little indication that they would provide much of a contest for their illustrious opponents.
The Black and Ambers had leadership in abundance, with captain Brian Price (the only survivor from Newports 6-11 defeat by the 1953-54 All Blacks) and vice-captain Watkins fulfilling that role for both their club and for Wales that season. The game was fiercely contested and the weather detrimental to a free-flowing game. The boot dominated in the filthy conditions and scoring chances were limited.
The All Blacks - with Kel Tremain on the ground and Ian MacRae extreme right, come unstuck in the mud at Rodney Parade, Newport in 1963.
"It was a momentous day, to defeat the best rugby nation in the world, all the schools were given holidays and there were over 25,000 people in Rodney Parade.”
David Watkins (BBC Sport Online, 2008)
The Black and Ambers had leadership in abundance, with captain Brian Price (the only survivor from Newports 6-11 defeat by the 1953-54 All Blacks) and vice-captain Watkins fulfilling that role for both their club and for Wales that season. The game was fiercely contested and the weather detrimental to a free-flowing game. The boot dominated in the filthy conditions and scoring chances were limited.
But Newport ripped into their guests from the first whistle, giving half-backs Bob Prosser and Watkins sufficient ball to work their schemes, one of which was to keep the ball well away from the great Don Clarke. Watkins, in particular, gave Clarke a torrid time and the All Black full-back spent much of his afternoon chasing deep balls into the corners on the slippy surface.
Kel Tremain, Ian MacRae and Bill Davis were all playing for the AB’s that day, but it was callow, untried fly‑half Earle Kirton who bore the brunt of blame associated with the giant-killing defeat.
“Price and Ford held their own in the line-out, hooker Bevan had a decided edge in the scrums and with the tight core going so well, the loose trio of Poole, Davidge and Thomas made life pretty miserable for Briscoe, Kirton and Walsh. Behind the scrum, Prosser and Watkins were never under pressure and Watkins in particular, skimmed over the mud and kept us moving backwards.”
Wilson Whineray (Newport v Tonga match programme, 1974)
David Watkins crowning moment came at the age of 24 however, when he became a British Lion, starting all six Tests against Australia and New Zealand in 1966, playing in 21 of the tour matches in total.
Upon his return to the British Isles, he was displaced by Barry John in the Welsh side and elected to join rugby league club Salford in 1967 – where he accumulated nearly 3,000 points in a 12-year career.
Ireland scrum-half Roger Michael Young played as many times for the Lions as he did for his country. He made his debut for Ireland (with Ronnie Lamont) in a 3-3 draw against France, in Dublin, 1965 and was chosen for the 1966 tour, where he made 17 appearances and scored three points.
After playing in the two wins over Australia, Young featured in the opening test against New Zealand, but did not play another in the series, after the Lions were beaten 12-16.
Two years later he was once again selected to tour with the Lions and made a further nine appearances in the famous red jersey, playing in the third test in Newlands, won by the Springboks by 11-6.
He was very much understudy to the emerging Gareth Edwards of Wales and made his final appearance in a Lions shirt in a 26-6 win against Border. English full-back, Bob Hiller, contributed 23 of the Lions points, converting Mike Gibson’s try and adding five penalties and two dropped goals.
Young played for Ireland until 1971, by which time he had earned 26 caps for his country.
Tall and lean with good hands, Alun Edward Islwyn Pask was capped 26 times by his country between 1961-1967 and made 36 appearances for the Lions on tours to South Africa in 1962 and Australia and New Zealand in 1966.
He had an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time in defence and captained Wales on seven occasions, leading them to Five Nations Championship victory in 1966.
Pask played in three Internationals against South Africa in 1962, twice against Australia and three times against the 1966 All Blacks. He missed only the second test in Wellington through injury and had the dubious distinction of marking new All Black captain, Brian Lochore, throughout the series. In total, he made 36 appearances for the Lions during his two tours.
The Abertillery player also demonstrated his versatility in 1965, famously deputising as a full-back for Wales against Ireland, with both sides going for the Triple Crown.
The Welsh lost their centre, John Dawes, to injury and in the days before replacements were allowed, Pask moved to the No 15 position for the final 20 minutes. He delivered a performance that would have done justice to any top-class full-back and Wales won the match in Cardiff by 14-8.
Irish international, Ronald Arthur Lamont, toured with the 1966 Lions, winning four caps against the All Blacks, scoring a try in the third test in Christchurch, won 19-6 by New Zealand.
The back rower made his Ireland debut in 1965 as a No 8, but he was also an effective flanker and played in both positions in his 16 caps. For Ireland, he played against South Africa twice and on both occasions the Irish were not beaten (1965, 9-6 Ireland and 1970, an 8-8 draw)
Despite the series defeat to the All Blacks, Ronnie Lamont still impressed, and was selected by the New Zealand Rugby Alamanac as one of its players of the year in 1967.
(Cork Constitution & Ireland) 1937-
Noel Arthur Augustine Murphy’s success as a Lion was both instant and enduring. He played his first International for the tourists as a 22-year-old in 1959, returned to New Zealand and Australia as one of the squad's senior figures in 1966 and ultimately coached the side in South Africa in 1980.
Murphy debuted for Ireland against Australia in 1958, in a 9-6 win at Lansdowne Road. He played 41 times for the Irish until 1969, his career ending in defeat on the Arms Park by 11-24.
In 1959, the all-action Irishman was the sort of open-side flanker New Zealanders admired; a scourge of opposing half-backs, physically hard, mentally tough and a powerful tackler. He scored five tries in his 18 matches in New Zealand and Australia, as well as a hat-trick against Canada on the way home.
Murphy returned in 1966, this time on the blindside, but was just as effective, with his strength and robust tackling to the fore. He appeared in both Internationals in Australia and the second and fourth tests in New Zealand.
Murphy's motivational qualities and tactical awareness led him into coaching and after taking charge of Ireland during the late 1970s, he took the reins of the Lions in South Africa in 1980.
Willie John (or just Bill) McBride of Ballymena, Ulster & Ireland. Captain of the 1974 'Invincible' British Lions side to South Africa.
Fellow Irishman, William James McBride, dominated the sport during his heyday in the 1960s and 70s and was an inspiration to those who played alongside him. As leaders go, there have been few finer to ever pull on a Lions shirt.
His exploits, be it for Ireland or the Lions, ensure that even today he is regarded as one of the greatest locks to have ever played the game. For 13 years ‘Willie John’ McBride represented his country, winning 63 caps. But it was with the Lions where he built his true legacy, going on a remarkable five tours in 1962, 1966, 1968, 1971 and 1974.
McBride’s three tours in the 60s (twice alongside his Ballymena RFC team-mate Syd Millar), all ended in defeat. But it was in New Zealand in 1971 and then South Africa in 1974, when as Lions captain, he led the tourists to a first ever Series win in the Republic.
He made his Irish debut (along with eight other debutantes, including Ray McLoughlin) against England in 1962 (0-16, Twickenham) and after just three caps, headed to South Africa as a new Lion.
Despite winning 15 of their matches and drawing four, their six defeats included three of the Internationals, lost to the Springboks. McBride was brought in for the third and fourth tests, replacing Keith Rowlands of Cardiff and Wales.
Four years later, McBride was again selected, this time to tour Australia and New Zealand, where he played in the second, third and fourth Internationals against the All Blacks, opposing his great friend and adversary, Colin Meads.
In 1968 he returned to the republic, playing in all four test matches (again, all lost) and scoring the Lions only try of the first, a 20-25 loss at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Willie John McBride was without a win in his nine test appearances for the Lions, when he was selected to tour New Zealand in 1971. An experienced veteran, he had shown plenty of hesitancy over the prospect of going on another tour, until persuaded to go by coach, Carwyn James, bestowing on him the duties of pack leader.
“I loved playing for my country but there is something so special about the Lions. No other sport has four nations coming together to tour and take on the best. To be considered one of the best 30 players at the time was special stuff but it was, for me, a complete shock to be selected.”
Willie John McBrideTheScore.ie (2013)
McBride’s three tours in the 60s (twice alongside his Ballymena RFC team-mate Syd Millar), all ended in defeat. But it was in New Zealand in 1971 and then South Africa in 1974, when as Lions captain, he led the tourists to a first ever Series win in the Republic.
He made his Irish debut (along with eight other debutantes, including Ray McLoughlin) against England in 1962 (0-16, Twickenham) and after just three caps, headed to South Africa as a new Lion.
Despite winning 15 of their matches and drawing four, their six defeats included three of the Internationals, lost to the Springboks. McBride was brought in for the third and fourth tests, replacing Keith Rowlands of Cardiff and Wales.
Four years later, McBride was again selected, this time to tour Australia and New Zealand, where he played in the second, third and fourth Internationals against the All Blacks, opposing his great friend and adversary, Colin Meads.
In 1968 he returned to the republic, playing in all four test matches (again, all lost) and scoring the Lions only try of the first, a 20-25 loss at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Willie John McBride was without a win in his nine test appearances for the Lions, when he was selected to tour New Zealand in 1971. An experienced veteran, he had shown plenty of hesitancy over the prospect of going on another tour, until persuaded to go by coach, Carwyn James, bestowing on him the duties of pack leader.
In New Zealand he was part of a squad full of now legendary figures; Gordon Brown, Mervyn Davies and Fergus Slattery not to mention the great Welsh backs Gareth Edwards, Barry John and JPR Williams, along with Ireland’s Mike Gibson.
That accumulation of talent, and an 11-game winning run in their warm-up matches ahead of the first Test all quietly built up confidence, as the Lions won 9-3 at Carisbrook. A loss was to follow in the second Test in Christchurch, setting up the third Test in Wellington with the teams all square; a 13-3 triumph giving the Lions a 2-1 advantage.
Following the 14-14 draw in Auckland, with McBride at the heart of the pack, the Lions secured their first-ever series win in New Zealand as McBride got the better of Meads in a momentous contest.
All paving the way for 1974 when McBride, aged 34, was named Lions tour captain for the first time. Accusations that he was too old to make the Lions three years ago had been disproven. Now nobody was viewed as more important than the big-boned farmer.
Led by McBride and coached by Millar the Lions achieved the unthinkable, an unbeaten 22-match tour – 21 wins, one draw – with a squad teeming with those players from 1971 added to by the likes of Phil Bennett, Roger Uttley, Fran Cotton and Ian McGeechan.
The first two internationals were won; 12-3 at Newlands, then 28-9 at Loftus. Then came one of the most famous test matches in history in Port Elizabeth with the legendary ’99’ call.
An initiative of Willie John himself, the ’99’ call was conjured up to counter the rough-house tactics as employed by the Springboks. Should any one Lions player come under attack, the whole team would retaliate at the same time, forcing the referee to either send off the entire team or nobody at all. The result is often forgotten, a 26-9 win, wrapping up a historic series.
The chance to end the tour with 22 wins from 22 games sadly went begging, the Lions held to a 13-13 draw, when a late try scored by Fergus Slattery that would have ensued four test match victories, was not awarded. History by then however had long been made.
It marked the finest chapter of McBride’s illustrious career. No one has played in more Tests for the Lions than his 17 appearances. McBride embodied toughness and leadership and his influence stemmed as much from his words as his performances.
Willie John McBride competes at a line-out during the second test against South Africa in Pretoria, 1974. The Lions won the test by 28-9, were unbeaten in the four match series (the last being a dubious 13-13 draw) and unbeaten on their tour of 22 matches.
A lock by trade, Colonel Michael John Campbell-Lamerton (1933-2005) was also a Test No 8 who twice toured as a Lion and was selected as captain for the 1966 Tour to Australia and New Zealand.
The Scot excelled for both Scotland and the Lions, despite being struck in the chest by a javelin aged 15, making it through the Korean War (including standing on a land-mine and remaining immobile until a bomb disposal expert was able to diffuse it beneath him) and falling from a helicopter in Cyprus damaging his hips, back and legs.
He made his Scotland debut in Paris in 1961 (0-11) as a lock and undertook his first Lions tour in 1962, when he travelled to South Africa. He played 20 times on that tour (including all four internationals), scoring a try in the fourth test in Bloemfontein (14-34).
He led the side to a 2-0 series victory in Australia four years later, but chose to end his own career when he dropped himself as captain during the New Zealand series. The third test (seven days after the Hawkes Bay match), a 6-19 loss in Christchurch would be his last test match for the Lions or Scotland.
Mike Campbell-Lamerton played 23 test matches for Scotland between 1961-1966 and made 42 appearances for the Lions on his two tours, including eight internationals.
If it were not for injury, Raymond John McLoughlin’s formidable reputation as a Lion might have reached even greater heights.
But the Ireland legend put personal disappointment to one side on the Tour of New Zealand to 1971 as, after breaking his thumb against Canterbury, the Lions could not have wished for a better additional coach.
Considered one of the finest scrum operators to have ever graced the game, McLoughlin is credited with playing a vital role in tutoring the forwards who helped the Lions march to an historic series success over the All Blacks.
He was not denied Lions Test honours however as he appeared in three internationals in the tour of Australia and New Zealand back in 1966, including a try-scoring display in the 11-8 first test win over the Wallabies at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He amassed 40 Test caps for Ireland between 1962 and 1975. He played against touring All Black sides in 1963, 1973 and 1974, as well as for the Lions in the fourth test of 1966.
On the other side of the front row was Charles Howard Norris (1934-2015) of Cardiff and Wales. ‘Howie’ Norris had been spoken of by Kel Tremain the night before the Hawkes Bay match as the ‘biggest nuisance’ in the Lions’ pack. The phrase was not strictly complimentary, for Norris had various ideas about establishing dominance and not all of them were of Twickenham standards.
Following the Australian leg of the 1966 tour, where Ray McLoughlin was favoured in the … prop position, Norris played the first three internationals against the All Blacks, McLoughlin again taking over for the fourth in Auckland.
He was selected for the Tour after lying about his age. The selectors at the time did not consider players over the age of 30 which would have ruled out 31-year-old Norris. The prop celebrated his 32nd birthday while on Tour and the rest of the squad presented him with a tankard with “Happy 30th” written on it as a joke.
At the end of the tour Norris was one of four Lions invited to represent the New Zealand Barbarians. But, after arriving to play, discovered their insurance had run out and couldn’t play in the game.
Norris played his club rugby for Cardiff at the time of his call-up and made a record 413 appearances for the south Wales club. He was captain for two seasons between 1962 and 1965.
A schoolmaster by trade, Norris was educated at St Luke’s College in Exeter and won two caps for Wales between 1963 and 1966. Like Mike Campbell-Lamerton, the third test in Christchurch would be his last international appearance. He passed away in 2015 at the age of 80.
Hooker, Francis Andrew Linden Laidlaw, made his debut for Scotland against the French in 1965 (8-16, Paris) and played in 32 internationals for his country until 1971. He toured New Zealand twice as a British Lion, in 1966 and again in 1971, making 28 appearances in total.
In 1966, the Howick born Laidlaw played the second and third tests in New Zealand, with Irishman Ken Kennedy playing the first, fourth and two in Australia. As well as playing against Hawkes Bay in 1966, he came on as a replacement in the match in Napier in 1971, five years later.
MAGPIES
Against the Lions
1966
Fourth test action at Eden Park. Ket Tremain (centre) with Ian MacRae looking over his shoulder. Others from left: Jack Hazlett, Allan Lewis, Waka Nathan, Colin Meads, Mike Gibson and Stan Meads.
First test match: Carisbrook, Dunedin. 16/07/1966
NEW ZEALAND 20, BRITISH ISLES 3.
Ian MacRae (second five-eighth), Kel Tremain (blindside flanker)
Second test match: Athletic Park, Wellington. 06/08/1966
NEW ZEALAND 16, BRITISH ISLES 12.
Ian MacRae (second five-eighth), Kel Tremain (blindside flanker/try)
Third test match: Lancaster park, Christchurch. 27/08/1966
NEW ZEALAND 19, BRITISH ISLES 6.
Ian MacRae (second five-eighth), Kel Tremain (blindside flanker)
Fourth test match: Eden Park, Auckland. 10/09/1966
NEW ZEALAND 24, BRITISH ISLES 11.
Ian MacRae (second five-eighth/try), Kel Tremain (blindside flanker)
Hawkes Bay v British Isles PHOTO SPREAD
(Above) A Lions attack falls just short of the magpies line. Players are MacRae (12), Laughlin (10), Paewai (9), McBride (5), Davis (14) and Watta (11) (Below) Hawkeye takes pride of place on the embankment at McLean Park for the first time in 1966...
Pages 27 & 29 from the September issue of the Hawkes Bay Photo News.