I wish there was some better quality and longer footage of the North East Counties match in 1972 - because I was there! My brother and I sat inside the railings next to the player entrance, and I got to slap several ABs on the back as they ran in. They (particularly Ian Kirkpatrick) seemed HUGE to me!
The All Blacks found some of the English regional teams in the 70s and 80s tough opposition to play against. North West counties and Midland counties beat them on the 1972-73 tour, The North of England beat them easily in 1979 and Northern Division won in 1983. Great day for North Western counties.
THAT GAME By John Hastings On a wet afternoon in Workington, November the Twenty Second in the Autumn of Nineteen Seventy Two, Rugby Union history beckoned. Fran Cotton led his fellows from the Counties of England's North West against the formidable All Blacks of New Zealand, by far the world's best. Thousands of spectators jam packed the Ellis Sports Ground, creating a mini Twickenham with their blistering wall of sound. Cumberland's very own "Fab Four" of Cowman, Dixon, Wardlow and Robinson thrilled the locals, as each turned in a fine show. But the hero of the afternoon was Stuart Maxwell, with two tries including the winner, minutes from time, which cut their opponents to size. The final whistle set the scene for unprecedented throes of elation as many swamped the pitch, to anoint and acclaim their heroes. After sixty seven fruitless years, an English regional team had finally eclipsed New Zealand to make real "The Impossible Dream" The professional era means that now such games have sadly gone. But the memories and history of "That Game" at The Ellis will always live on.
Was there. Early knock off from work. Had no voice for 2 days afterwards. Worked with Dicky Cowman's uncle and about 7 years later played against Dave Robinson on that ground. Won an U-18 cup final on that ground too.
I'm trying to piece the NW Counties team together, but there's not much available even on the internet ... Barry O'Driscoll, Tony Richards, Chris Wardlow, Alan Roughley, Stew Maxwell, Dick Cowman, Steve Smith - Fran Cotton, ( Hooker ? ) Frank Anderson, Mike Leadbetter, Dick Trickey, Tony Neary, Peter Dixon and Dave Robinson ... Can anyone help with the Hooker ?
There were not that many head concussions back in that time. They played union then, not some version of rugby league that is the game in the last two decades. So, high tackles were usually called if it was very, very obvious, and at times not called at all. Tackles that were fine back then aren't anymore and are hardly dangerous, like the seat belt tackle. It's a bit over the top, pun intended.
This All Black defeat came within a month of the loss to Llanelli on Halloween. To think that Steve Smith, Peter Dixon and Fran Cotton beat New Zealand a few times in their careers, and only Dixon was on the '71 Lions.
