He had great pace and balance and style and was fantastic when faced with a full back to beat. He told me once that the key was never making eye contact with the full back. Once the FB decelerated, he would usually put on the right foot step and he possessed what many of the greats have in football and rugby , a real change of pace.
He scored a bucket load of great tries, my favourites were the only try in the semi v saints at Wigan in 77 and the 2 in the quarter in 78 v Bradford northern. My memory maybe wrong but iIRC Keith Mumby was the Northern full back and got left for dead twice. Given Mumby was the best defensive full back I have ever seen, says it all.
Thanks for the memories, RIP Atky.
I have to say that the greatest moment of my 35 year career in Rugby Union (sorry!) was when I got to play in a vets' side with him for a few games some years ago. It was the greatest thrill to be passing the ball to one of my all-time heroes & celebrating a try/victory with him.
He gave so many so much pleasure to so many over many years, and suffered so much in his latter years, that it just doesn't seem fair, does it?
40515_1330766741.jpgDon't worry about avoiding temptation.
As you grow older, it will avoid you!
- Winston Churchill:d7dc4b20b2c2dd7b76ac6eac29d5604e_40515.jpg
What very sad news to learn of John’s passing. We played in the same school Union side coached by Ken Dalby and I had the pleasure to see a great many of the tries he scored for Leeds. He suffered greatly in his final years as did Carol to whom I send my sincere condolences.
38511.jpg[b:3v5chy3z]Brian McDermott paraphrased Peter Fox.
"He'd say if we had 13 Bernard Dwyers we wouldn't lose many RL games. It's the same for us with JJB"[/b:3v5chy3z]:38511.jpg
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