know it The tactic was based on a loose


interpretation of the offside law. The lack of a tour for more than two decades, when combined with the communications of the day, meant that, without much of the rugby world noticing, New Zealand had developed their own variations of the rules, encouraged by their very own one eye-ish way of playing the game. Bim Baxter was


a plain speaker.


After the second match at Wanganui he described the rover as “nothing less or more than a cheat.” He was also a man of strong opinions; when asked about the popularity of rugby league in Auckland he replied, “Every city needs its sewer.” In one sense Bim would win - though


the rover was never outlawed, changes to the game’s regulations governing hooking and front row numbers meant that by 1932 such a role became impractical. As far as the tour was concerned he


lost, and the disputes that accompanied it did distract from what was ultimately regarded as a fine series of matches, the first of which saw the Lions beat the All Blacks for the first time on a wickedly cold day in Dunedin. However, this is not strictly speaking


true. By the time of the 1930 tour the Lions had adopted dark blue


shirts.


The convention in rugby is that the home side changes colours in the event of a clash. The New Zealand team, already synonymous with the name All Blacks, expressed considerable reluctance to alter its ways but, after much debate, surrendered. Thus, for the Tests, the All Blacks became the All Whites for the first time. Some accounts of Bim Baxter’s


personality suggest he was a bombastic


fellow who pulled punches and sometimes no misdirected


them. But this does a disservice to a man who was not only clearly talented and driven, but also decent


He was an old fart


with teeth


Right: James Baxter, Captain RLGC, 1926


and caring. Back in 1866 a number of Birkenhead


Park members had bought the freehold of the ground and split the purchase into shares. Immediately after World War One, Bim persuaded those who now owned the shares to donate them to the Club in order to honour the 75 members who had lost their lives. Thus the ground became the sole property of Birkenhead Park Rugby Club - without his vision, determination and faultless reputation for making things happen, this purchase might never have taken place. Years later, thanks to the generosity


of the brother of Toggy Kendall, one of those killed, a special seat in the stand on the half way line was created for Bim. Sadly the stand was demolished during the sadder years of the Club, but thanks to the tenacity of the present membership it may rise again, along with that seat. I, for one, would welcome its return. n


The All Blacks became the All Whites


Above: Harry Bowcott was one of the standout Lions of 1930


Left: Bim and the Lions squad


ROYAL LIVERPOOL GOLF CLUB 2019–2020 MAGAZINE 59


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