Name Eric Batten | ||
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Frederick E. "Eric" Batten (13 June 1914 – September 1993) birth registered in Sculcoates district of Hull, was an English dustman in the cleansing department for Hemsworth Rural District council, and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, and coached in the 1950s, playing at representative level for Great Britain, and England, and at club level for Hunslet, Wakefield Trinity (Second World War guest) (Heritage № 393), Bradford Northern, Leeds, and Featherstone Rovers (four spells, inclusing three as a Second World War guest) (Captain) (Heritage № 178), as a wing, i.e. number 2 or 5, and coaching at club level for Featherstone Rovers. Eric Batten appeared in eight Challenge Cup Finals; two for Leeds, five for Bradford Northern, and one for Featherstone Rovers, winning three, and losing five, he scored a total of 443 tries during his career, he his third on the all-time try scorers list behind Brian Bevan (796 tries), and Billy Boston (571 tries), Batten died in Leeds.
Contents
- Club career Wakefield Trinity
- International honours
- Championship Final appearances
- Challenge Cup Final appearances
- Other notable matches
- Notable tour matches
- Club career
- Honoured at Featherstone Rovers
- Genealogical information
- References
Club career (Wakefield Trinity)
Eric Batten started his rugby career playing rugby union at Sandal RUFC before signing for the rugby league club Wakefield Trinity in September 1933. He made his début for Wakefield Trinity in the 9-3 victory over Bradford Northern at Odsal Stadium, Bradford on Saturday 30 September 1933. He played 41 games for Wakefield Trinity, scoring 12 tries in those games, including a hat-trick against Hull Kingston Rovers in March 1936, before he moved to Hunslet in September 1936 for £400. During the war years, Eric returned to Wakefield Trinity as a guest player, playing two games in May 1940, and one February 1943, in these three wartime games he scored eight tries, including four against Huddersfield in May 1940, making his club total 20 tries in 44 appearances
International honours
Eric Batten won caps for England while at Hunslet in 1938 against Wales, in 1939 against France, and Wales, in 1940 against Wales, in 1941 against Wales, in 1943 against Wales, while at Bradford in 1944 against Wales, in 1945 against Wales (2 matches), in 1946 against France (2 matches), and Wales, in 1947 against France, in 1948 against France, and won caps for Great Britain while at Bradford in 1946 against Australia (2 matches), New Zealand, and in 1947 against New Zealand.
Championship Final appearances
Eric Batten played right-centre, i.e. number 2, in Hunslet's 8-2 victory over Leeds in the Championship Final during the 1937–38 at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 30 April 1938. and played in Bradford Northern's 26-20 aggregate victory over Halifax in the Championship Final during the 1944–45 season; the 2-9 defeat at Thrum Hall, Halifax, and the 24-11 victory at Odsal Stadium, Bradford.
Challenge Cup Final appearances
Eric Batten played in Leeds' 9-2 victory over Halifax in the 1941 Challenge Cup Final during the 1940–41 season at Odsal, Bradford, in front of a crowd of 28,500, played in the 15-16 aggregate defeat by Dewsbury in the 1943 Challenge Cup Final during the 1942–43 season; the 9-16 defeat at Crown Flatt, Dewsbury on Sunday 9 May 1943, in front of a crowd of 10,470, and the 6-0 victory at Headingley, Leeds on Sunday 16 May 1943, in front of a crowd of 16,000, played in Bradford Northern's 8-3 aggregate victory over Wigan in the 1944 Challenge Cup Final during the 1943–44 season; the 0-3 defeat at Central Park, Wigan on Saturday 15 April 1944, and the 8-0 victory at Odsal, Bradford on Saturday 22 April 1944, played in the 9-13 aggregate defeat by Huddersfield in the 1945 Challenge Cup Final during the 1944–45 season; the 4-7 defeat at Fartown, Huddersfield, and the 5-6 defeat at Odsal, Bradford, played in the 8-4 victory over Leeds in the 1947 Challenge Cup Final during the 1946–47 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 3 May 1947, played right wing, i.e. number 2, in the 3-8 defeat by Wigan in the 1948 Challenge Cup Final during the 1947–48 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 1 May 1948, in front of a crowd of 91,465, and played right wing in Featherstone Rovers' 10–18 defeat by Workington Town in the 1952 Challenge Cup Final during the 1951–52 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 19 April 1952, in front of a crowd of 72,093.
Other notable matches
Eric Batten played right wing, i.e. number 2, for a Rugby League XIII against Northern Command XIII at Thrum Hall, Halifax on Saturday 21 March 1942.
Notable tour matches
Eric Batten played right wing, i.e. number 2, in Wakefield Trinity's 6-17 defeat by Australia in the 1933–34 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain match during the 1933–34 season at Belle Vue, Wakefield on Saturday 28 October 1933.
Club career
Eric Batten made his début for Featherstone Rovers on Saturday 2 December 1939.
Honoured at Featherstone Rovers
Eric Batten is a Featherstone Rovers Hall of Fame inductee.
Genealogical information
Eric Batten was the son of the rugby league footballer Billy Batten. Eric Batten's marriage to Annie (née Saxton) was registered during January→March 1937 in Wakefield district. They had children; John Michael Batten (birth registered July→September 1940 in Hemsworth district) (marriage registered in February 1966 in Dewsbury district to Anne June Blakeley, they had children; Paul Michael Batten (birth registered July→September 1969 (age 47–48) in Leeds district)), Jeremy Mark Batten, and Julie Anne Batten (born (1973-05-03) 3 May 1973 ), Janet Batten (birth registered January→March 1951 (age 65–66) in Hemsworth district), and Gaynor Batten (birth registered April→June 1953 (age 63–64) in Hemsworth district).