Trevor Lake is a former rugby league and rugby union footballer who played as a wing. He played in England for Wigan, with whom he won the 1965 Challenge Cup, and in Australia for St. George.
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| Born | c. 1940 Rhodesia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rugby league | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Playing career
editRugby union
editBorn in Rhodesia, Lake initially played rugby union. He made eight appearances for the Rhodesia national team, and played for the Junior Springboks against the touring British Lions in 1962.[3]
Wigan
editIn October 1962, Lake agreed to join English rugby league club Wigan.[3] The following month, he made a try-scoring debut against Oldham at Central Park.[4] With Billy Boston and Frank Carlton established as Wigan's first choice wingers, Lake's appearances were limited during his first season at the club.[5] In 1963–64, he played more regularly for the first team, and scored 43 tries during the season, a total only exceeded by Swinton's John Stopford.[6]
In 1964–65, Lake was the top try scorer in British rugby league, touching down 40 times during the season.[5] He also won his first silverware with the club in the 1965 Challenge Cup final, scoring two tries in the 20–16 win against Hunslet.[7] He was slightly less prolific in 1965–66, finishing the season with 32 tries, but the total was still enough to finish as the league's joint top-scorer with St Helens' winger Len Killeen.[8]
In his final season with Wigan, he played in the club's 1966–67 Lancashire Cup final victory against Oldham. Overall, he scored 132 tries in 139 appearances during his four years at the club.[4]
Outside of rugby league, Lake worked as a car salesman during his time in England.[9]
St George
editIn October 1966, Lake accepted an offer to play for Australian club St. George.[10] However, he made just eight first grade appearances in two seasons due to knee injury problems.[11]
Post-playing
editIn the early 1990s, Lake was involved in attempts to re-establish rugby league in South Africa, and was named the inaugural chairman of the South African Rugby Football League.[12][13]
References
edit- ^ "Trevor Lake - Playing Career". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Player Summary: Trevor Lake". Rugby League Records. Rugby League Record Keepers Club. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Rhodesian To Sign For Wigan". Liverpool Echo. 20 October 1962. p. 12 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b "Trevor Lake". Cherryandwhite.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 January 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ a b "'Most graceful winger' for Saints". The Sun-Herald. Sydney. 23 October 1966. p. 73 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.69 1963–1964. League Publications. p. 20.
- ^ "The greatest ever Challenge Cup Final?". South Leeds Life. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ Saxton, Irvin (ed.). History of Rugby League: No.71 1965–1966. League Publications. p. 18.
- ^ "Local jobs for Rhodesian R.L. players". Newton and Earlestown Guardian. 9 November 1962. p. 3 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Joining Saints". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 October 1966. p. 16.
- ^ "Mixed luck for the "crocks"". Rugby League News. Vol. 49, no. 3. Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. 22 February 1968. p. 4 – via Trove.
- ^ "History". South African Rugby League. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ Benn, John (28 May 1992). "Hero from past takes in the modern school". Wigan Observer. p. 42 – via British Newspaper Archive.