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With World War II having ended the NZ Services club in the British Isles was able to enjoy it busiest season in 1945-46, playing 22 matches, 19 of which were won. Game No. 4 was against Abertillery in South Wales
With World War II having ended the NZ Services club in the British Isles was able to enjoy it busiest season in 1945-46, playing 22 matches, 19 of which were won. Game No. 4 was against Abertillery in South Wales
Abertillery were a significant Welsh club, rated highly enough to be allocated fixtures against some major touring sides e g Australia in 1908 and 1958 (Abertillery won the 1958 match 6 – 5), South Africa 1931 and 1960 and the All Blacks in both 1953 and 1963.
The NZ Services team included three future All Blacks, wing Ian Botting, centre Morrie Goddard and prop Ray Dalton, though he was used as a lock in this match. Captain in this game was Gordon Henderson of Wairarapa, an All Black triallist in 1948 and 1950 and an All Black reserve against the 1950 Lions. Centre D G Barton, a POW during World War II, had played representative rugby from 1934-39 and appeared in the trials to select the All Black side scheduled to tour South Africa in 1940. Others of the side played provincial rugby in New Zealand before or after the war.
New Zealand 8: H Campbell & G F Henderson tries.
Abertillery: 3: M Chaplin penalty goal.
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