steamin an a rollin?

"Gavin Jones, a steamin' and a rollin'

Gavin Jones, you never have to guess

When you hear the crunching in the tackle

It's Gavin at the throttle of the Loiners express!"



Oneof my better efforts

He was in the Stable's Bar at Roundhay Park one Sunday night and he was so blathered he was shaking like the proverbial dog. To this day, if I've been on a heavy session, the next morning I often say, "I'm shaking like Paterson"

Jones was by far the best player however he was plagued with injuries while over here. He was very clever because as a forward he used to angle his runs and charge at the opposing backs, which was unusual in those days. I remember him having a storming game at Cas. TP & WFS were swinging the lead, here for a holiday. Jones had a clothes shop back in Oz.

Paterson did very well on field then. IIRC he used to smoke and he was the Aussie who ground out a lit cig on the florr in bare feet, not noticing becasue his feet were numb.

That's the one!

He had a lot of hamstring problems as I remember. There was a theory going around that the pitches were too soft for him.

Indeed that is what he said. BSR - before summer rugby.

It probably helped my non concentration @ school but for one season only marked the players in order of performance and drinking hol or not worked out patterson to be the most consistent

Jones was quick for a prop for his time, and did some barnstorming runs more like a back rower. Agree was here for a Jolly.



There was obvious resentment between some of the English players who lost out on their places because of the clubs wholesale recruitment of these Aussies. I felt sorry for Dave Heron in particular, who stuck it out in the reserves but stayed loyal to the club.



Did not one Leeds director label the squad the best in the world?? These guys must have cost a few quid to hire. Maybe it proves you cant buy instant success.

however good the aussies were most only played a fraction of the season in the days of winter rugby

It was a mixed bag with the Aussies in the mid eighties. Some came for the full season, some arrived late and stayed till the end of the campaign, some arrived late and left early. I guess it all depended on their commitments back home.