Villa Park. Yet another record...in Rugby Union!

[Ron Manager]

I have just purchased the Aston Villa Annual for 1948/1949. Let me quote the very last entry. 'As well as being the ground upon which the quickest Association goal has been scored, Villa Park also holds the record for the quickest goal in Rugger. It happened on 17th Sept 1947 when McClean of the Austrailian Rugby team went over the line in the seventh second of the game against Midland Counties'

Anyway I've checked this out and it appears Bill McClean was the Wallabies captain The match took place in front of 16,000 at Villa Park and the Wallabies won 22-14. In a high sprited match there were a couple of unseemly incidents. Sydney Daily Herald reporter Tom Goodman saw it like this.
'There were several outbreaks of hooting one which was directed at Graham Cooke when he was trying to heel the ball from the grip of a fallen opponent. I thought the ignorance of the many soccer followers in the crowd accounted for these demonstrations.'  I thought you would like that!

Anyway, more fun and games. Our Aussie reporter informs us 'At the end of the match an irate supporter entered the Australian dressing room protesting about tactics, and naming one particular forward, was summarily ejected'....probably through the closed door!

Don't get excitement like that these days do we?

PS The record breaking try was timed at thirteen seconds.

[UK Redsox]

I used to enjoy the autumn tour games between Australia or New Zealand and the "South and South West" which were normally played at Kingsholm or the Memorial Ground.

Nowadays you only get internationals and maybe a game against the BaBas

[paul_e]

Without meaning to rain on any parades, there was a 7 second try in the junior world cup last week so this probably isn't accurate any more.

[olaftab]

Junior stuff doesn't count.

[Ron Manager]

Without meaning to rain on any parades, there was a 7 second try in the junior world cup last week so this probably isn't accurate any more.

No that is quite correct. But it lasted quite a few years. The bloke that went over the line broke his leg two matches later.