John Craik Lyall Sydney Wall (25 October 1891 - 9 June 1969) was an Australian

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...

er and

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

footballer who represented New South Wales in both sports. Lyal wall Played for Balmain for 8 years Throughout 1 year he was with Annandale then Moved to Balmain for 8 years.

Career

Wall made his first grade rugby league debut with

Balmain Tigers The Balmain Tigers (also known as the Sydney Tigers from 1995–96) are a rugby league club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in t ...

in 1912, had a brief season at Annandale in 1913 before returning to the Tigers until the end of season 1919. Lyall played fullback and centre throughout his league career, and was also a prolific goal kicker. By 1920, he left the Balmain district and turned out for the

Western Suburbs Magpies The Western Suburbs Magpies (legal name: Western Suburbs District Rugby League Football Club Ltd) are an Australian rugby league football club based in the western suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales. Formed in 1908, Wests, as they are commonly r ...

for one season. A long-standing friendship with

Herb Gilbert Herbert R. Gilbert (18 September 1888 – 5 January 1972) was an Australian rugby league and rugby union player – a dual-code international. He represented the Wallabies in three Tests in 1910 and the Kangaroos in seven Tests from 1911 to 19 ...

brought him to the

St. George Dragons The St. George Dragons is an Australian rugby league football club from St George District in Sydney, New South Wales that played in the top level New South Wales competition and Australian Rugby League competitions from the 1921 until the ...

for the club's debut season in 1921, and played centre, wing and fullback for the Dragon's in their debut year. As established players, Lyall Wall, George Carstairs,

and

Reg Fusedale Reginald Douglas Fusedale (1890-1990) was an Australian rugby league footballer who played in the 1910s and 1920s. He was also a successful sports administrator. Sporting career Born Douglas Reginald Fusedale to Harry and Marion Fusedale in ...

all brought much needed experience to the

club in its foundation year. Wall represented the

New South Wales rugby league team The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Also known as the Blues due to their sky blue jerseys, the team competes in the ann ...

on four occasions during 1919.Alan Whiticker/Glen Hudson: Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players. 1995 () As a cricketer, Wall played 11 first-class matches for

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

between 1914/15 and 1924/25.

References

External links

* 1891 births 1969 deaths St. George Dragons players Annandale rugby league players Western Suburbs Magpies players Balmain Tigers players New South Wales rugby league team players Australian rugby league players Rugby league fullbacks Rugby league centres Rugby league wingers Rugby league players from Sydney Australian cricketers New South Wales cricketers Cricketers from Sydney {{Australia-rugbyleague-bio-stub