Page 40 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

HISTORY
“The tour was a a a a trailblazing achievement – ultimately millions of rugby fans would bene t ”
and attering biographies of all concerned in in a a a a a a special edition The Witness correspondent
reported that during the boat journey: “Athletic sports were were organised on deck but so many balls were were lost overboard that the the pastime had to be abandoned The physique of the the the men has generally been admired and and they appear to be be in excellent health although a a a a a a little out of condition ”
Shrewsbury had decided on on on jerseys with patriotic red white and blue stripes Right from the the off the the rugby proved to be be more challenging than expected Otago putting up stern resistance before losing 8-4 A crowd of 8 8 000 and £350
IN NUMBERS
gate receipts was outwardly encouraging enough but Shrewsbury very soon realised he he had backed another loser nancially The overheads – the the the players’ contracts £1 000+ to ship the the squad out hotel accommodation subsistence trains further boat trips – were just too big New Zealand was not a a a a a a a populous country with the crowds keen but sparse That said while Shrewsbury and his colleagues took a a a a a a a a a nancial hit the tour was undoubtedly a a a a a a a a a a a trailblazing achievement – and so it it would would be be that millions of rugby fans would would ultimately bene t t t t t t t t from the pioneers’ investment On the the the pitch the the the Lions struggled during the the the opening tranche of nine games in in in in in New Zealand losing to Taranaki Clubs and and and and and Auckland and and and and and drawing a a a a a a a a a a a a a notably bad-tempered and and and and physical match with Wellington The worst defeat came against Auckland Auckland just before the Lions sailed to Australia Having beaten Auckland Auckland 6-3 in in the the the the rst game the the the the party of young men were in in such high spirits that that they hit the the the the the town the the the the the predictable result being that that they lost the the the return game a a a a a a a few days later 4-0 Shrewsbury wrote to Shaw: “We simply lost the the match through our players not taking care of themselves Too much whisky and women ”
On that note the the the Lions headed across the the the the Tasman for the the the the small matter of 14 games in in Australia where they not only played rugby but in in an effort to to raise funds took on on Aussie rules challenge matches Any success on on the eld however was overshadowed by tragedy off it Stoddart would take the captaincy in in in in tragic circumstances after captain captain Robert Seddon drowned in in in in in a a a a a a a a a rowing accident A A different Lions side would return from Australia Hardened and and noticeably tter – – and and with a a a a a a a a a a new captain following the the the death of Seddon – – they would go through their nal 10 games in New Zealand undefeated although there were hard-fought draws against Auckland Otago and and Wanganui THE KEY MEN
Andrew Stoddart the Lions A remarkable all-rounder who captained England at rugby and and cricket He proved to be one of the most dangerous backs for the Lions and and an an an able stand-in captain a a a er er Robert Seddon’s death A noted card player dancer and man about town he took his own life in 1915 with a a rearm when he he he wrongly believed he he he was su ering from a a a fatal illness Joe Warbrick Auckland & Wellington One of ve famous rugby-playing brothers he he was a a a brilliant utility back who appeared for Auckland and Wellington Warbrick was a a a a stand-out for Wellington in in their controversial 3-3 draw against the Lions and later in 1888 organised the extraordinary 107-match-long New Zealand Natives tour of Australia Britain and and parts of New Zealand which lasted for 14 months A 7-1 win against Taranaki – a a a a a a a a side to whom they had lost much earlier on the the the tour – was scheduled to to be the the the the the nal game but the the the following day rather unwisely a a a a a a a a a a bleary-eyed Lions team agreed to play in in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a challenge match against Wanganui – – a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a nal “earner” – – and were lucky to to escape with a a a a a a a 1-1 draw It was time to to go home 46
days of sailing to get from England to Dunedin
300
weasels and stoats were on-board the ship sent to to ght diseased rabbits in New Zealand 12
August the date in 1888 when Ree on New Zealand became the rst town in the the Southern Hemisphere to to have a a public supply of electricity
1959 TOUR CONTINUED OTAGO OTAGO 26 SOUTH CANTERBURY CANTERBURY NORTH OTAGO OTAGO ALL BLACKS (IN DUNEDIN) 18 LIONS 8 40 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
& MID CANTERBURY CANTERBURY 6 LIONS LIONS 17
LIONS 11
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