I’d started covering Workington Town soon after I joined the Cumberland Star in September 1963.
It was after Cumberland had played Australia at Derwent Park that year and the tourists had won 21-0 in front of over 8,000 fans.
I had to wait until the 1967/68 tour to see the Kangaroos when they were back at Derwent Park for another visit.
It didn’t go to plan as Cumberland produced one of the great performances in the county’s history when they beat a very strong Australian side 17-15.
All the big nationals were represented in a crowded press box with the likes of Jack Bentley, Alan Cave, Joe Humphreys and Brian Batty.
It was chockablock and being among those guys was like being among royalty to a young hack just four years into his career and just out of indentures.
The game was a belter with Cumberland inspired by Sol Roper and Phil Kitchin at half-back.
Sol had only recently left Town for Whitehaven after being replaced in the first team by Glen Turnbull.
He had specifically pleaded with the county selectors to be included for this one.
The great Paul Charlton was at full-back; Town legend Ike Southward played in the centre alongside Eric Bell with Keith Davies on the wing – all men who subsequently helped me in my sports-writing career.
Town have had some terrific forwards over the years while I have been covering them but one of my favourites was in the second row – Bill Kirkbride.
Later a Lance Todd Trophy winner at Wembley for Castleford, in 1970 he was awesome.
I’ve no doubt that it was his performance that day that convinced Halifax to sign him at the end of the season.
I recall a Friday night game at Salford when Town had been well-beaten. The players were all in the bar afterwards for a few pints – except for Bill.
He was on the bus and when I asked if he wasn’t feeling so good he just said after a defeat he just wanted to get home as quickly as possible.
I wasn’t surprised he did so well after leaving Town because he had the ability and the dedication.
It was a tough 27 match tour of England and France for the Aussies. Can you imagine them being asked to do that now. They had actually played Barrow two days beforehand and drew 10-10.
But this was no weakened side with the likes of Graeme Langlands, Johnny Raper and Les Johns involved,
Cumberland had led 10-7 at half-time and I remember the talk in the press box was how long could they hold out. But they weren’t for folding and an epic victory was recorded which had the national press guys screaming down their phones for more column inches.
They were all, almost furtive in the way they gave their reports over with the old fashioned telephones, cupped right to their mouths and their free hand over the mouth piece desperate to keep a good line to themselves.
It was an absorbing day all round – from the achievement by Cumbria on the field to observing the best of the nation’s rugby league writers at close quarters.
