Английская Википедия:1953 American All Stars tour of Australia and New Zealand

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The 1953 American All Stars rugby league tour of Australia and New Zealand was a tour by a group of twenty men who had not previously played the sport of Rugby League. Most of the team were current or former College Gridiron footballers with Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, or the University of Southern California. Some of the party had played rugby union at their colleges, during gridiron off-seasons.

Summary

The tour was instigated by player-manager Mike Dimitro, who claimed to have witnessed a game of rugby league in Sydney whilst serving in the Pacific during World War II. Dimitro had played for UCLA and was a high school teacher in Los Angeles in the lead up to the tour. Dimitro wrote to the Australian Rugby League Board of Control in February 1952. Several of the League's administrators were fervent promoters of their sport, and some were keen to take the game to the United States, so Dimitro's suggestion was favourably received. Another factor was the success of France's inaugural tour in 1951. Harold Matthews responded on behalf of the board in April 1952.

Apprised of the proposed tour, the New Zealand Rugby League were also interested, and their Secretary, J.E. Knowling, was able to meet with Mike Dimitro in Los Angeles.

Although arrangements in California did not run smoothly, with reassurances sought by the host nation boards, eighteen players arrived in Sydney on May 18, 1953. A further two players arrived on June 1.

The appointed coach, Norm “Latchem” Robinson, had less than a fortnight to educate the players. A touch-football game against South Sydney and a tackle match against a team of Army Engineers were used in preparations.

Remarkably, the American All Stars won their first match on the scheduled tour, beating a combined Monaro and Southern Districts side. The next two scheduled fixtures were against Sydney and New South Wales, and the Americans were understandably outclassed. The wisdom of setting novices against experienced semi-professionals so early in the tour was questioned at the time. The matches did, however, attract large crowds 65,453 on a Saturday against Sydney, and 32,554 on a Tuesday against New South Wales. There was consensus in the press that the host teams did take it easy on the visitors.

The tour progressed with matches in regional and country New South Wales, and then into Queensland. The Australian board had recommended that 28 players would be necessary given the two matches per week schedule, and injuries had an impact on the twenty-man squad. This led to the informal use of “ring-ins” in matches at Ipswich and Wagga, and formally in a return match against New South Wales on July 25, and throughout the New Zealand leg.

Through the tour the American players were commended for their excellent ball handling and robust tackling. The running ability of many, particularly the backs was praised. Referees showed leniency to a lack of understanding of offside rules in early matches. A slowness in comprehending and implementing cover defence was a common concern in reports on later matches.

A curiosity to local spectators and the press at the time was the All Stars' practice of warming up on the field with calisthenics, or “physical jerks”. Although this innovation did not immediately catch on, National Rugby League teams have utilised on field warm-ups since the 1990s.

A highlight for spectators was the American's use of the pitch-pass, with exhibitions given prior to most matches. In play, league rules against forward passing meant the pitch was restricted to lateral or backwards movement. Although a few pitch passes did lead to an All Stars try, usually the arc allowed defenders time to immediately tackle the receiver, or intercept.

A sad development of the tour was that Jack Bonetti contracted Polio. This was diagnosed after he entered hospital in Townsville, having exhibited pain after the match in Cairns.

Touring Squad

Player	Шаблон:Tooltip	Age	Weight	Height	College(s)	Games in Aus	Games in NZ	Tries	Goals	Field Goals	Points
Шаблон:Flagdeco Al Abajian	Шаблон:Rlp	25	13.3 (84)	5.8	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	15		8	0	0	24
Шаблон:Flagdeco Bill Albans	Шаблон:Rlp	25	13.8 (86)	6.4	Файл:Queanbeyan United Colours.png North Carolina	13	0	5	0	0	15
Шаблон:Flagdeco Jack Bonetti	Шаблон:Rlp	22	15.1 (96)	6.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	9	0	7	0	0	21
Шаблон:Flagdeco Bob Buckley	Шаблон:Rlp	20	13.8 (86)	5.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	12	0	4	0	0	12
Шаблон:Flagdeco Ed Demirjian	Шаблон:Rlp	22	13.3 (84)	5.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	6		2	0	0	6
Шаблон:Flagdeco Mike Dimitro	Шаблон:Rlp	28	15.1 (96)	5.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	11		3	0	0	9
Шаблон:Flagdeco Steve Drakulvich	Шаблон:Rlp	28	15.13 (101)	6.3	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA	9		1	0	0	3
Шаблон:Flagdeco Ted Grossman	Шаблон:Rlp	23	12.7 (79)	5.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon Pacific	16		7	0	0	21
Шаблон:Flagdeco Harold Han	Шаблон:Rlp	20	13.8 (86)	5.9	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	12	0	7	0	0	21
Шаблон:Flagdeco Pat Henry	Шаблон:Rlp	24	14.9 (93)	5.11	Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	11		1	0	0	3
Шаблон:Flagdeco Vince Jones	Шаблон:Rlp	23	14.9 (93)	5.11	Шаблон:Leagueicon Dartmouth Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	16		3	0	0	9
Шаблон:Flagdeco George Kauffman	Шаблон:Rlp	26	14.0 (89)	6	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA	14		1	7	2	21
Шаблон:Flagdeco Gary Kerkorian	Шаблон:Rlp	23	13.3 (84)	6	Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	17	0	5	79	0	173
Шаблон:Flagdeco Al D. Kirkland	Шаблон:Rlp	23	15.5 (98)	6.3	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	16		12	1	0	38
Шаблон:Flagdeco Alvin E. Kirkland	Шаблон:Rlp	22	13.3 (84)	5.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon USC Шаблон:Leagueicon Stanford	16		14	0	0	42
Шаблон:Flagdeco Fran Mandulay	Шаблон:Rlp	24	15.0 (95)	6	Шаблон:Leagueicon Nebraska Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA	15		1	0	0	3
Шаблон:Flagdeco Xavier Mena	Шаблон:Rlp	24	16.1 (102)	6.1	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA	6		2	0	0	6
Шаблон:Flagdeco Sol Naumu	Шаблон:Rlp	23	14.0 (89)	5.11	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA Шаблон:Leagueicon USC	14		1	8	0	19
Шаблон:Flagdeco Ray Terry	Шаблон:Rlp	29	16.3 (103)	6.2	Шаблон:Leagueicon Alabama	1		0	0	0	0
Шаблон:Flagdeco Sydney Walker	Шаблон:Rlp	21	15.0 (95)	5.8	Шаблон:Leagueicon UCLA	10		1	0	0	3

Note: The tally of games in Australia, tries and goals collated from newspaper articles, as referenced below. In a few instances newspaper accounts differ. Some match reports do not mention all participants. A concession was made to allow the Americans to use substitutes in the event of first half injuries. This was unusual for the time. Normally no replacements were permitted.

Four Queenslanders Шаблон:Mdash Harold Crocker, Brian Davies, Alan Hornery and Ken McCaffery Шаблон:Mdash played for the American All Stars in the July 25 match against New South Wales.

Five of the tourists returned to the United States at the conclusion of the Australian leg. By arrangement with the New Zealand Rugby League, they were replaced by four, later five, New Zealanders: Travers Hardwick and Frank Mulcare who took on coaching duties, and also Des Barchard, Roy Moore and Roy Roff.

Australian leg

Team list:

Monaco-Southern Division FB: Bill Beazley (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), WG: Greg Watts (Pyree), CE: Roy Freebody (Шаблон:Leagueicon Captain's Flat), CE: Jack Seamer (Шаблон:Leagueicon Port Kembla), WG: P. Ryan (Шаблон:Leagueicon Bombala), FE: Keith Sullivan (Шаблон:Leagueicon Goulburn), HB: Ron Bercene (Шаблон:Leagueicon Bombala), LK: Bob Smith (Шаблон:Leagueicon Port Kembla), SR: Angus Miller (Шаблон:Leagueicon Berry), SR: Col Yarham (Шаблон:Leagueicon Mittagong), PR: Billy Hodges (Шаблон:Leagueicon Captain's Flat), HK: R. Stewart (Bega), PR: Bruce Edwards (Шаблон:Leagueicon Robertson). J. Southwell (Шаблон:Leagueicon Canberra) played. He may have replaced Yarham prior to kick-off. Col Williamson (Шаблон:Leagueicon Goulburn) was named as a reserve, but likely did not play as he was not mentioned in match reports. The following were initially selected but did not play: Robert Bartlett (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), Jack Plater (Шаблон:Leagueicon Yass) and Harry Wells (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong). American All Stars: FB: George Kauffman, WG: Bill Albans, CE: Ed Demirjian, CE: Gary Kerkorian, WG: Alvin E. Kirkland, FE: Sol Naumu, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Pat Henry, SR: Vince Jones, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Fran Mandulay, HK: Sydney Walker, LK: Jack Bonetti. Al Abajian replaced Bill Albans.

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Team list:

Sydney: FB: Clive Churchill (26) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (26) (Шаблон:Leagueicon St George), CE: George Martin (20) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), CE: Ron Taylor (21) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Easts), WG: Barry Stenhouse (19) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Canterbury), FE: Bob Sullivan (22) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), HB: Keith Holman (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wests), LK: Les Cowie (28) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Souths), SR: Arthur Collinson (23) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wests), SR: Ben Haslam (24) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), PR: Roy Bull (23) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Manly), HK: Ken Kearney (27) (Шаблон:Leagueicon St George), PR: Lloyd Hudson (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths). The following were selected as reserves but did not play: Ken Slattery (20) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Parramatta) and Johnny Slade (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Parramatta). American All Stars: FB: George Kauffman, WG: Bill Albans, CE: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Sol Naumu, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Fran Mandulay, PR: Vince Jones, HK: Sydney Walker, PR: Pat Henry.

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Team list:

New South Wales: FB: Clive Churchill (26) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Souths), WG: Noel Pidding (26) (Шаблон:Leagueicon St George), CE: Robert Bartlett (26) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), CE: Harry Wells (21) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), WG: Tommy Ryan (Шаблон:Leagueicon St George), FE: Rees Duncan (21) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Kurri Kurri), HB: Keith Holman (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wests), LK: Ken Slattery (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Parramatta), SR: Don Schofield (22) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Cessnock), SR: Albert Paul (25) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Lakes United), PR: Charlie Gill (30) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Newcastle Northern Suburbs), HK: Ken Kearney (27) (Шаблон:Leagueicon St George), PR: Roy Bull (23) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Manly). Brian Carlson (20) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Newcastle Northern Suburbs) was initially selected but withdrew. Arthur Collinson (23) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wests) and Johnny Slade (20) (Шаблон:Leagueicon Parramatta) were selected as reserves but did not play. American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Bob Buckley, CE: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Harold Han, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Mike Dimitro, PR: Fran Mandulay, HK: Pat Henry, PR: Vince Jones.

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Team list:

Combined Country: FB: Darcy Russell (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), WG: Brian Carlson (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), CE: Harry Wells (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), CE: Robert Bartlett (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wollongong), WG: Jack Lumsden (Шаблон:Leagueicon Coonabarabran), FE: Rees Duncan (Шаблон:Leagueicon Kurri), HB: Noel Hill (Шаблон:Leagueicon Maitland), LK: Ron Battye (Шаблон:Leagueicon Gundagai), SR: Don Schofield (Шаблон:Leagueicon Cessnock), SR: Albert Paul (Шаблон:Leagueicon Lakes United), PR: Charlie Gill (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), HK: Ernie Hammerton (Boorowa), PR: Bryan Orrock (Boorowa), Coach: Ray Stehr The following were named as reserves but are not mentioned (as playing) in match reports: Guy Brazier (Dorrigo), Jack Seamer (Шаблон:Leagueicon Port Kembla) and Bob Smith (Шаблон:Leagueicon Port Kembla) American All Stars: Al Abajian, Bill Albans, Jack Bonetti, Ted Grossman, Vince Jones, George Kauffman, Gary Kerkorian, Al D. Kirkland, Xavier Mena and Sydney Walker were mentioned in match reports, with one report mentioning that Pat Henry took the field as a replacement.

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Team list:

Western Districts: FB: Gordon Head (Шаблон:Leagueicon Baradine), WG: Bruce Cohen (Шаблон:Leagueicon Wellington), CE: Brian Condon (Шаблон:Leagueicon Mudgee), CE: Jack Grant (Шаблон:Leagueicon Brewarrina), WG: Jack Lumsden (Шаблон:Leagueicon Coonabarabran), FE: Peter Burns (Шаблон:Leagueicon Bathurst Railway), HB: Cec Edwards (Trangie), LK: Leo Nosworthy (Шаблон:Leagueicon Narromine), SR: Jock Weir (Шаблон:Leagueicon Narromine), SR: Noel Flynn (Шаблон:Leagueicon Lithgow Arms Factory), PR: Bertie Simpson (Шаблон:Leagueicon Lithgow Arms Factory), HK: Barry Green (Шаблон:Leagueicon Mudgee), PR: N. Towett (Trangie), Coach: Frank Bell (Шаблон:Leagueicon Lithgow Arms Factory). Brian (Blondie) Bolton (Dubbo) and Vin Corish (Шаблон:Leagueicon Dunedoo) were named as reserves and took the field for the second half. The following were initially selected but withdrew: Eric Dodd (Dubbo), Norman McKnight (Шаблон:Leagueicon Forbes), B. Runsford (Lithgow). American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Bob Buckley, CE: Harold Han, CE: Gary Kerkorian, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Ted Grossman, HB: Al Abajian, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Pat Henry, SR: Fran Mandulay, PR: Steve Drakulvich, HK: Sydney Walker, PR: Xavier Mena. Vince Jones and George Kauffman took the field as replacements for injured players Drakulvich and Mena. The Dubbo Liberal match reports mentioned Ray Terry as being tackled into touch.

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Team list:

Newcastle: FB: Darcy Russell (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), WG: Bill Shanks (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), CE: Bill Smith (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), CE: Brian Pead (Шаблон:Leagueicon Centrals), WG: Lester Batey (Шаблон:Leagueicon Cessnock), FE: Warren Foley (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), HB: Noel Hill (Шаблон:Leagueicon Maitland), LK: Barry Levido (Шаблон:Leagueicon Cessnock), SR: Gordon Harley (Шаблон:Leagueicon Maitland), SR: Henry Holloway (Шаблон:Leagueicon Waratah Mayfield), PR: Doug Hawke (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths), HK: Kevin McKiernan (Шаблон:Leagueicon Maitland), PR: Herb Pearson (Шаблон:Leagueicon Kurri). Billy Roberts (Шаблон:Leagueicon Kurri) and Tom Anderson (Шаблон:Leagueicon Norths) were named as reserves. American All Stars: FB: Sol Naumu, WG: Alvin E. Kirkland, CE: Harold Han, CE: Bob Buckley, WG: Ed Demirjian, FE: Gary Kerkorian, HB: Ted Grossman, LK: Jack Bonetti, SR: Al D. Kirkland, SR: Mike Dimitro, PR: Fran Mandulay, HK: Vince Jones, PR: Pat Henry. George Kauffman and Al Abajian were named as reserves and the latter is mentioned as playing in a match report.

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Sources

Acronym	Item	Years	Database App	Notes
Direct Online Access
-	Pratten Park Magpies	1953	Website Page	Copies of photos and articles
RLN	Rugby League News	1920-1973	Trove	Match Program in Sydney, Team Lists, Team Photos, Articles
RLP	Rugby League Project	1907–present	RLP Website	Match dates and scores
Sun	The Sun (Sydney)	1910-1954	Trove	Match Reports, Articles.
DT	The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)	1931-1954	Trove	Match Reports, Articles.
CM	The Courier-Mail	1933-1954	Trove	Match Reports, Articles.
-	Various Australian Regional Newspapers	up to 1954	Trove	Match Reports, Given Names of Players
Offline Resources
-	Gavin Willacy's No Helmets Required	1953	Copy at SLNSW	First published in 2013. Interviews with many of the players, or their family members. History of the tour, with each match discussed.
EECYB	E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Year Book	1946-1978	Copies at SLNSW	Teams, Point Scorers, Report. 1954 Yearbook includes a brief summary of the 1953 tour, with teams and point scorers for the three matches in Sydney.
QRLG	Queensland Rugby League Gazette	1950-1955	Copies at SLQ	Program for matches in Brisbane.
RRLG	Rockhampton Rugby League Gazette	1951-1968	Copies at SLQ	Program for matches in Rockhampton.
-	Ipswich Versus International Teams	1913-1975	Copies at SLQ & NLA	Match Report, Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players
-	A History of Mackay Rugby League	1919-2015	Author's Website	Given Names & Club of Ipswich Players
-	More Than The Foley Shield	1908-2014	Author's Website	Match report, team photos. Given Names & Club of North Queensland Players