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.
