Final
Australia: Eric Simms; Lionel Williamson, John Cootes, Paul Sait, Mark Harris; Bob Fulton, Billy Smith; John O'Neill, Ron Turner, Bob O'Reilly, Bob McCarthy, Ron Costello, Ron Coote (c); Ray Branighan, Elwyn Walters.
Coach: Harry Bath
Great Britain: Ray Dutton; Alan Smith, Syd Hynes, Frank Myler (c), John Atkinson; Mick Shoebottom, Keith Hepworth; Dennis Hartley, Tony Fisher, Cliff Watson, Jim Thompson, Doug Laughton, Malcolm "Mal" Reilly; Chris Hesketh, Bob Haigh.
Coach: John Whiteley
| 8 November |
Great Britain | 7–12 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds Attendance: 18,776 Referee: Fred Lindop (Great Britain) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The final, which would become known as the 'Battle of Headingly', went completely against expectations. 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 Sid Hynes of Britain, were sent off the field in the last minute for what had been going unpunished throughout the game.
Read more about this topic: 1970 Rugby League World Cup
Famous quotes containing the word final:
“The self-explorer, whether he wants to or not, becomes the explorer of everything else. He learns to see himself, but suddenly, provided he was honest, all the rest appears, and it is as rich as he was, and, as a final crowning, richer.”
—Elias Canetti (b. 1905)
“Life is a series of diminishments. Each cessation of an activity either from choice or some other variety of infirmity is a death, a putting to final rest. Each loss, of friend or precious enemy, can be equated with the closing off of a room containing blocks of nerves ... and soon after the closing off the nerves atrophy and that part of oneself, in essence, drops away. The self is lightened, is held on earth by a gram less of mass and will.”
—Coleman Dowell (1925–1985)
“After the final no there comes a yes
And on that yes the future world depends.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)