May 24, 1996: Bath 44 Wigan 19
The rugby union side ties up the Clash Of The Codes at Twickenham.
Wigan’s Craig Murdoch had walked onto Twickenham with his hands in the pockets of his rugby union shorts for the return clash with Bath in the Clash Of The Codes 25 years ago.
And he went on to score two tries in long-range Wigan efforts.
But with scrums “toned down” for the mungos’ safety, Bath still had enough for a comfortable 44-19 win before 40,000 fans.
"Bath showed Wigan that union was perhaps a bit more complex and demanding than they had expected and Wigan showed the Bath and union faithful what a fit and professional outfit they were," records Bath's website. "A good day was had by all."
Wigan struggled with the rules; Bath won the first 20 rucks and the first score was a penalty try for a collapsed scrum!
Maurice Lindsay predicted at fulltime: “The games this month have highlighted the big differences that exist, but it's difficult not to imagine that the codes will come closer together over the next five years and that one code will be in existence at the end of that period."
But rugby union turning professional merely made the sport a bigger industry, blocking it off from closer ties with league which of course had been professional for a century with its own commercial deals and perhaps thousands of jobs worldwide that relied on it being a separate sport.
Jonathan Davies said after the Twickenham game: “The way we've been playing union in Britain has not been beneficial to us on the world stage and, perhaps, now we've seen at close hand what professionalism can do, we can expect an improvement.
"The Australians for years have realised that they have much to learn from the other code. It is no surprise, therefore, that they've been world champions at both."
LAMB STAGGERS OVER TRYLINE TO SECURE DOGS’ SECOND WIN
Sydney Morning Herald, June 1 1996
CANTERBURY 12
ILLAWARRA 0
By STEVE MASCORD
Belmore Sports Ground
IT TOOK only a cameo appearance from club stalwart Terry Lamb to secure Canterbury's win over Illawarra at Belmore Sportsground last night.
To quote Steelers coach Allan McMahon, it was a "sHIT game" and few of the 6,022 people that had turned up at Belmore would have disagreed.
Lamb was forced off during a tryless first half with a knee tendon injury. But just after half-time, the 34-year-old warrior limped back on, scored a try, and hobbled back off, job done.
Illawarra and Canterbury then dutifully went back to doing what they had before. Nothing.
The fact Lamb could turn last night's game with such whimsical ease was an indictment against both teams, and underlined the plight of the premiers who have now won just two games from 10.
Lamb, who abandoned retirement to hold the fort at Belmore this season, had not been replaced in any previous game this season, with coach Chris Anderson commenting simply last night: "He's a genius."
But last night's encounter was essentially one between two sides unable to score tries, with Illawarra's recent rejuvenation seemingly withering on the vine again.
"We're still lacking some confidence," said Anderson of his try-shy team. "When you're lacking that, you do the hard stuff without pulling out anything extra. But we've kept in touch with the leaders."
This prompted a giggle at the post-match media conference. The Bulldogs have now moved to a lofty equal 16th. "Yeah," said captain Simon Gillies, "the leaders of our little group."
On a more serious note, Gillies said any win for the Bulldogs was a reversal of form.
But if their form in recent weeks was to play with determination but no inspiration, then last night's performance was nothing new at all from Canterbury.
They dominated the first half territorially and kept the Steelers out of their own quarter for the entire second session, yet could score only when Lamb backed up prop Robert Tocco in the 43rd minute.
The loss was an even more dismal sign for Illawarra, who had been aiming for their fourth successive win and their first-ever at Belmore.
McMahon said it was the worst they had played with the ball all year, although he complained the Bulldogs had been allowed by referee Graeme West to slow them down at the ruck.
The loss may be compounded with Canterbury set to cite props Kyle White and David Walsh for a high tackle on fullback Damien Ford in the 50th minute.
"Damien's only a little bloke and he's copped a few high ones, so we’ll have to look at doing something about it," Anderson said.
The match also marked a successful return, by Canterbury's Fijian prop James Pickering, who rattled Illawarra with a series of bone-crunching tackles.
The Steelers hope to have World Cup centre Paul McGregor back for their clash with Canberra at Bruce Stadium next weekend.
CANTERBURY 12 (T Lamb try; D Halligan 4 goals) bt ILLAWARRA 0 at Belmore Sports Ground. Referee: G West. Crowd: 6,022.
RESOURCES
Cross-code Challenge in The Rugby Paper
Hey Steve the first link also goes to the Wigan observer