Herbert Kershaw

Herbert Kershaw (first ¼ 1885 – February 1955), also known by the nickname of "Harry", was an English rugby union, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s, 1910s and 1920s. He played representative level rugby union (RU) for Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield RFC, and representative level rugby league (RL) for Great Britain, England and Yorkshire, and at club level for Wakefield Trinity (Heritage № 154) (captain), as a forward (prior to the specialist positions of; prop, hooker, second-row, loose forward), during the era of contested scrums.[1]

Herbert Kershaw

Personal information
Born	first ¼ 1885 (1885) Wakefield, England
Died	February 1955 (aged 69) Wakefield, England
Playing information
Height	5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Weight	12 st 6 lb (79 kg)
Rugby union
Position	Scrum-half
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1904–06 Wakefield RFC Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P ≥1904–≤06 Yorkshire
Rugby league
Position	Forward
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 1906–21 Wakefield Trinity 288 46 17 0 172 Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P ≥1906–≤21 Yorkshire 1910–11 England 3 1 0 0 3 1910 Great Britain 2 3 0 0 9
Source: [1][2][3]

After retirement from rugby league, in 1928 Wakefield RFC employed him as a bagman and he also assisted in training, paying him 2s/6d a week,[4] (based on increases in average earnings, this would be approximately £20.97 in 2016).[5]

Background

Kershaw was born in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, he was the landlord of the Admiral Duncan Inn, Thornes Lane, Wakefield from 1914 to 1926,[6] and the Brewers' Arms, Westgate, Wakefield c. 1927,[7] he died aged 69 in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, and he is buried in Thornes Parish Church of Saint James, Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England.

Playing career

International honours

Herbert Kershaw won caps for England (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity in 1910 against Wales, in 1911 against Wales, and Australia,[2] and won caps for Great Britain (RL) while at Wakefield Trinity on the 1910 Great Britain Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand against Australia, Australasia, and New Zealand.[3][8]

County honours

Herbert Kershaw won cap(s) for Yorkshire while at Wakefield Trinity.

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Herbert Kershaw played as a forward, i.e. number 12, in Wakefield Trinity's 17–0 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1908–09 Challenge Cup Final during the 1908–09 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Tuesday 20 April 1909, in front of a crowd of 23,587.[9] and played as a forward, i.e. number 11, was captain, and five minutes after the half-time restart he was sent off for kicking in the 0-6 defeat by Hull F.C. in the 1913–14 Challenge Cup Final during the 1913–14 season at Thrum Hall, Halifax, in front of a crowd of 19,000.[10]

County Cup Final appearances

Herbert Kershaw played as a forward, i.e. number 9, in Wakefield Trinity's 8-2 victory over Huddersfield in the 1910–11 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1910–11 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 3 December 1910.[11]

Notable tour matches

Herbert Kershaw played as a forward, i.e. number 13, in Wakefield Trinity's 20-13 victory over Australia in the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain match at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 19 December 1908.

Testimonial match

Herbert Kershaw's Testimonial match for Wakefield Trinity took place against Batley at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 12 February 1921,[6] it was a joint Testimonial match with George Taylor.[12]

Club career

Herbert Kershaw made his début for Wakefield Trinity during January 1906, he appears to have scored no drop-goals (or field-goals as they are currently known in Australasia), but prior to the 1974–75 season all goals, whether; conversions, penalties, or drop-goals, scored 2-points, consequently prior to this date drop-goals were often not explicitly documented, therefore '0' drop-goals may indicate drop-goals not recorded, rather than no drop-goals scored. In addition, prior to the 1949–50 season, the archaic field-goal was also still a valid means of scoring points.

Contemporaneous Article Extract

"Played his earliest football with Thornes Lane Rovers and Thornes United, then at scrum half for Wakefield R.U. he gained Yorkshire County R.U. honours. His entry into Trinity's ranks came at a time when the highly successful half-back combination of Slater and Newbould was in full swing – but he proved himself a versatile player and when, for that famous Cup semi-final against Wigan, Trinity found themselves without a loose-forward, Herbert stepped into the breach. His fast and clever play plus deadly tackling made a handsome contribution to Trinity's victory. He played at loose forward in the Challenge Cup Final v. Hull FC, and that became his settled position. Not only that, but he went on the 1910 Tour as loose-forward, and played in the Brisbane Test"[13]

Genealogical information

Herbert Kershaw was married to Mary Hannah Kershaw (née unknown, born c. 1887 – died April 1962 (aged 75) in Wakefield, West Riding of Yorkshire).

Note

According to the reference (Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts – A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 – 1960. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a) Herbert Kershaw played number 13, in Wakefield Trinity's 17–0 victory over Hull F.C. in the 1908–09 Challenge Cup Final during the 1908–09 season, whereas other references state he played number 12, the actual position played by forwards in the early years of rugby league was less consistent than in the modern era.

References

1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
2. "England Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. "Great Britain Statistics at englandrl.co.uk". englandrl.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. Wakefield Rugby Football Club – 1901–2001 A Centenary History. Written and compiled by David Ingall in 2001
5. "Measuring Worth – Relative Value of UK Pounds". Measuring Worth. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
6. Wakefield Trinity Committee, 7 Tammy Hall Street, Wakefield (Saturday 13 November 1920). Wakefield Trinity Gazette. John Fletcher Printers, Albion Court, Westgate, Wakefield, WF1 1BD. ISBN n/a
7. Wakefield Trinity Committee, 7 Tammy Hall Street, Wakefield (Saturday 19 March 1927). Wakefield Trinity Gazette. John Lindley, Ltd., Printers, 8 Thompson's Yard, Westgate, Wakefield. ISBN n/a
8. "Papers Past – Evening Post – 14 May 1910 – Football". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
9. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC – FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
10. "A complete history of Hull FC's Challenge Cup finals". Hull Daily Mail. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
11. Hoole, Les (2004). Wakefield Trinity RLFC - FIFTY GREAT GAMES. Breedon Books. ISBN 1-85983-429-9
12. Tom Mather (2010). "Best in the Northern Union". Pages 128-142. ISBN 978-1-903659-51-9
13. Lindley, John (1960). Dreadnoughts – A HISTORY OF Wakefield Trinity F. C. 1873 – 1960. John Lindley Son & Co Ltd. ISBN n/a

External links