: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:35 pm
Captained by a Queenslander for only the second time in the long history of the Kangaroos, the Wally Lewis led Australians of 1986 faced an almost impossible task in following the deeds of the 1982 side.
A crowd of over 50,000 were on hand for the opening Test. Australia took an early 16-0 lead as Lewis, Gene Miles and Greg Dowling were taking control.
The British hit back with two tries - the second was scored by Joe Lydon in a stunning length of field movement. However, the Kangaroos pulled away and won the match by 38-16.
In the 2nd Test Britain again were competitive until late in the fist half - from then on they were overpowered by Noel Cleal and the on-field direction of Peter Sterling.
With Australia winning by 34-4, Wally Lewis became the first Queenslander to captain the Kangaroos to an Ashes win.
The British were unlucky losers in the 3rd Test. Two blunders by the French referee gave Australia 12 extra points in a 24-15 win in front of over 20,000 at Wigan's Central Park.
In France, the Kangaroos were untroubled as they easily won both Tests, showing an alarming drop in standard in the French game.
Remarkably, Australia had now gone through two Kangaroo tours without a loss.
Tour Details:
1986 v Great Britain & France
GREAT BRITAIN
1st Test - 25 October : won 38-16 / Old Trafford, Manchester (50,583)
2nd Test - 8 November : won 34-4 / Elland Road, Leeds (30,808)
3rd Test - 22 November : won 24-15 / Central Park, Wigan (20,169)
RECORD: P: 13 W: 13 L:0
TEST SERIES: Won 3-0
AGGREGATE ATTENDANCE: 212,068
v Wigan W 26-18 30,622 Wigan
v Hull Kingston Rovers W 46-10 6,868 Hull
v Leeds W 40-0 10,974 Leeds
v Cumbria W 48-12 4,233 Barrow
v GREAT BRITAIN W 38-16 50,583 Old Trafford, Manchester
v Halifax W 36-2 8,000 Halifax
v St Helens W 32-8 21,700 St Helens
v Oldham W 22-16 7,150 Oldham
v GREAT BRITAIN W 34-4 30,808 Elland Road, Leeds
v Widnes W 20-4 7,500 Widnes
v Hull W 48-0 8,213 Hull
v Bradford Northern W 38-0 8,000 Bradford
v GREAT BRITAIN W 24-15 20,169 Central Park, Wigan
FRANCE
1st Test : won 44-2 / Perpignan (6,000)
2nd Test : won 52-0 / Carcassonne (5,000)
RECORD: P: 7 W: 7 L: 0 FOR: 286 AGST: 21
TEST SERIES: Won 2-0
AGGREGATE ATTENDANCE: 20,200
v President's XIII W 36-4 700 Paris
v FRANCE W 44-2 6,000 Perpignan
v Le Pontet Province W 42-5 3,500 Avignon
v Midi-Pyrenees W 12-2 2,500 Toulouse
v France-B W 50-0 2,000 Albi
v Selection Aquitaine W 50-8 500 Villeneuve
v FRANCE W 52-0 5,000 Carcassonne