Dinner to laud Aussie games

RUGBY:

A dinner is being organised by Rugby Oldham to toast the anniversaries of two famous matches played against the 1911 and 1986 touring Australians.

The event, “Roughyeds and Kangaroos”, will be held at St Anne’s ARLFC, Oldham, on Friday, November 11.

Players from the game of 25 years ago will be invited as special guests, with Aussie Stuart Raper, Oldham’s loose-forward in the ’86 match, confirmed to attend.

The Australians’ tour of 1911 brought them 28 victories, two draws and five defeats and they won the Ashes series 2-0.

One of their defeats came on the distinctive date of 11-11-1911 at the hands of Oldham, who won 14–8. The dinner will be held 100 years to the day of this victory.

Then in 1986 the Kangaroos were dubbed ‘the Unbeatables’ after winning all 20 matches on their tour.

However, on November 4 they received a fright as Oldham held them to a 22-16 scoreline. Only the mighty Wigan team of the time got so close a result.

Overall Australia has won 12, drawn one and lost four tour matches against Oldham.

The most recent victory for Oldham came in 1956 when the Aussies lost 21–2.

Tickets for the event, including a five-course dinner and guest speakers, cost £25 and are available by calling (01457) 875084, (0161) 620 9583 or (0161) 652 2918.