by Sean Fagan of RL1908.com

A sports writer for a Sydney newspaper wrote in the very early days of rugby league in Sydney of a spectacular 'move' employed by a number of rugby footballers in both codes - not to laud how great such feats were, but of how they on occasion were likely to, and in fact had, led to death!

He voiced his concerns after seeing the great Herbert 'Dally' Messenger perform his version of the "leap to glory" move.

"Keen footballers are just now speculating as to what may happen to Messenger, the tricky three-quarter of the Eastern Suburbs team, if he endeavours in other matches in which he may be engaged, to repeat last week's performance of jumping over the head of the full-back. Other well known steeple-chasers have before this paid the penalty with their lives in attempting such a feat."

On reaching a defender, who was often crouched ready to tackle or dive at the oncoming attacker, the man with the ball would leap dramatically into the air and literally hurdle his opponent. A sight which, understandably, would thrill the crowd and the growing number of sports photographers.

Our sports writer continued: "Armit, probably one of the best (rugby union) three-quarters seen in New Zealand and certainly in NSW, was a victim of this foolhardy feat. He was endeavouring to clear the head of an equally clever player in Alf Bayley when the latter rose. Armit pitched forward heavily on to his head. It was supposed at first that his neck had been broken. Such was not the case, but the unfortunate fellow sustained such spinal injuries as resulted in death a few days after."

The origins of the practice can only be surmised - death in rugby games in the late 19th century as the outcome of any of a number of roughouse and daring tactics had not been unheard of. The game of rugby league though was much less able to produce such a finality for any of its players - thankfully.

The most celebrated exponent of "the leap" was New Zealand's Albert ‘Opai' Asher. 'Opai' was a winger in the Maori rugby league teams that toured Australia in 1908 and 1909 and was well known to Sydney audiences.

The reporter continued: "Asher, another of this class, has several times had miraculous escapes, being severely injured more than once. Asher, on account of his hurdling (habit), was nicknamed ‘Opai' after a well known steeple-chase horse. Apart from the danger that surrounds the practice, it is not football. There should always be a companion-in-arms in attendance to take the pass when the full-back is reached. Messenger will be well-advised if he does not persist in this practice - pretty though it may be."

Dally Messenger never repeated his "famous dive"and recalled for a news feature in 1940 what happened that day (NSW v NZ in Sydney) - he also paused to comment on the above reporter's offerings.

"The writer didn't give me over much change and I agreed with him. I was wise (not to repeat the jump)."

"Bede Smith feinted past two players and sent me the ball down in our own 25. Coming along the (side) line right to within five yards of the New Zealand goal line, I noticed the centre and winger in front of me and the full-back a few paces behind."

"Somehow or other I dummies them. I don't know what happened really, but they stood mesmerised as though expecting me to turn tail and run backwards. Anyhow, I slipped right between the two of them and full-back Spencer, of Wellington, made a dive right at me to grip me by the knees."

"As he dived, I dived over the top of him and you couldn't hear yourself shout at the pandemonium that followed when I landed over the line for the try. I must have dived ten feet."

"The Evening News reported: The scene was indescribable nor can a description of the outburst of the cheering be given when Messenger converted."

"That writer (talking about my dive) was correct. I've never, before or since, done anything like it. But you will enjoy hearing the sequel. A press photographer from one of the afternoon papers came to me the next day and said, "I had bad luck Dal, I missed that dive of yours." He'd have needed to be Harold Horder himself to have got it!"

"He asked me: "I want you to get the men concerned in position for me again and do a dive so as I can take it." That made me burst out laughing! "Do you want me to bust my neck?" I asked and meant every word of it. "It's off," I said. "Go on Dal," he said, "give us a go."

"Not on your life," I replied. "That sort of thing is all right on the spur of the moment, but not in cold blood." Nothing he could say would budge me on that decision."

But the practice was hardly banished from the game. Far away in the north of England a burly teenager named Billy Batten had been thrilling crowds at about the same time. The flashy Hunslet three-quarter possessed a great turn of speed and a penchant as a showman - Batten would regulary cross the goal-line airborne to score a try, whether he needed to do it or not.

Batten was selected in the 1910 James Lomas' led Lions tour to Australia and New Zealand. The final two international games in Australia on that Lions tour were matches played against "Australasia" in Sydney. Both games drew the biggest crowds of the tour with over 50,000 spectators each. The "Australasia" team was an Australian Test side complimented with two New Zealanders, fullback Riki Papakura and a winger - Albert Asher.

In the first game at the RAS Showground, Batten had been mesmerised by Asher as he again repeated his famous move. The Englishman determined in the following game at Wentworth Park to unleash his own leap - with spectacular results!

As the two opposing wingers again approached each other, the attacking Batten took to the air to leap over the tackling Asher's head. But Batten's timing was not perfected - and Asher saw his opportunity to bring the Englishman to ground.

Asher jumped in the air too!

The New Zealander's head came into contact with Batten's knee and they both hit the pitch hard. Asher was the worse for wear of the two as his head was gashed open. He was carried from the field to have ten stitches inserted in the wound, after which he returned to the fray.

The two met again in the Lions only Test against the New Zealanders - without incident. But the impressionable Batten had learnt a new tool to beat defenders and thrill the crowds. Upon his return to the English fields, Batten added the dangerous leap to his repertoire to great acclaim and success.

Fortunately it brought no serious injury to Batten or his opponents as Batten went about completing his career and eventual entry into the RFL's "Hall Of Fame".

In 1921 Sydney again thrilled to the hurdling tactics when they were employed by the South African rugby union winger, A.J. Van Heerden. The Springbok scored five spectacular tries in the 1st Test against Australia as he continually tried to jump up to six foot off the ground to avoid tacklers. He subsequently injured a knee and played only half the games he ought to have.

By the 1930s back in England, Billy Batten's son Eric had adopted his father's modus operandi and displayed such leaps while playing for Bradford Northern and other clubs. Eric Batten scored 443 tries in a career that extended well over twenty seasons. It is a photograph of Eric Batten at Odsal Stadium which appears at the top of this article.

A remarkable feat long lost from the game of rugby league - thrilling, yes - but not to be encouraged!