The 1970 Rugby League World Cup final was the conclusive game of the 1970 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Great Britain and Australia on 8 November 1970 at the Headingley ground in Leeds, England.
Background
The 1970 Rugby League World Cup was the fifth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 1968 tournament. The tournament was held in the England from 21 October, culminating in the final between Great Britain and Australia on 8 November.
Great Britain
Scores and results list Australia's points tally first. Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage 11 4 24 October Headingley, Leeds 15,084 Group stage 6 0 28 October Wheldon Road, Castleford 8,958 Group stage 53 19 31 October Station Road, Swinton 5,609 Group stage
Great Britain were undefeated going into the final.
Australia
Scores and results list Great Britain's points tally first. Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage 47 11 21 October Central Park, Wigan 9,805 Group stage 4 11 24 October Headingley, Leeds 15,084 Group stage 15 17 1 November Odsal Stadium, Bradford 6,654 Group stage
Australia, France and New Zealand all finished with one win each. Australia advanced to the Final by virtue of a better for and against record.
Match details
Having retained the Ashes against Australia during their 1970 Australasian tour, Great Britain were favourites to win the World Cup tournament's final.
FB 1 Ray DuttonRW 2 Alan SmithRC 3 Syd HynesLC 4 Frank Myler (c)LW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 Mick ShoebottomSH 7 Keith HepworthPR 8 Dennis HartleyHK 9 Tony FisherPR 10 Cliff WatsonSR 11 Jimmy ThompsonSR 12 Doug LaughtonLF 13 Mal ReillySubstitutions:IC 14 Chris HeskethIC 15 Bob HaighCoach: Johnny Whiteley FB 1 Eric SimmsRW 2 Lionel WilliamsonRC 3 John CootesLC 4 Paul SaitLW 5 Mark HarrisFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Billy SmithPR 8 John O'NeillHK 9 Ron TurnerPR 10 Bob O'ReillySR 11 Bob McCarthySR 12 Ron CostelloLK 13 Ron Coote (c)Substitutions:IC 14 Ray BranighanIC 15 Elwyn WaltersCoach: Harry Bath
The match, which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingley' due to its brutality went completely against expectations as Britain failed to play any decent football despite overwhelming possession. The Kangaroos led 5–4 at half-time with a try to Australian three-quarter, Father John Cootes. They went on to utilise their meagre chances to the full, running out 12–7 victors. The game itself was an extended punch-up. The only surprise was that it took 79 minutes before anyone was sent off. Two sacrificial lambs, Billy Smith of Australia and Syd Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.1970 World Cup final highlights
Great Britain, having been undefeated in the World Cup, felt that there should not have been a need to play a final, especially as they had already defeated Australia 11–4 at Headingley in the second game of the tournament.
(Note: Although Reilly recalls a post-match incident between Atkinson and Cootes, what actually happened was Australian fullback Eric Simms attempted to shake hands with Atkinson after the game, but was instead greeted with a headbutt by the frustrated Lions winger. This led to a wild post-match brawl between the teams that had to be broken up by referee Fred Lindop, his two touch judges, and the Leeds City Police.)
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