Jim Laird (rugby league)
Jim Laird was a rugby league player who represented New Zealand in 4 test matches (1 v England in 1932 and 3 v Australia in 1935) in the second row and at hooker.
Laird scored a try after a “fine” passing movement from his side, and kicked a penalty goal from halfway.
[19] Laird obviously impressed McClymont as he was selected for the North Island side in a forward pack which included Bob Stephenson, Lou Hutt, Charlie White, Tom Timms, and Trevor Hall.
[20] The match was played at Carlaw Park before a large crowd of 15,000 and saw the North Island side win 27 points to 18.
[22] Laird missed selection for the New Zealand team to play the touring England side in the first test.
It was said in the Waikato Times that he was “a splendid type of forward who earned praise for his game at Carlaw Park last Saturday, when his play, to many, warranted even New Zealand selection”.
[24] The match was played at Taupiri and the local side was thrashed by a strong English team by 64 points to 11 before a crowd of 2,000.
[27] Laird was then selected for the New Zealand team to play England in the third test at Carlaw Park on August 20.
Laird had replaced Lou Hutt who had suffered a compound fracture of the thumb in a match for a New Zealand XIII against England between the second and third tests in Wellington.
[30] The Huntly Press and District Gazette made a brief comment that “the two Ngaruawahia players, Laird and Abbot were very prominent in the play”.
Before a crowd of 10,000 at Carlaw Park Laird scored a first half try as Auckland jumped out to a 21 to 5 lead at the break before holding off Taranaki to win 32 to 20.
The Auckland Star reported that “Laird and Lawless were the outstanding forwards, and were ably supported by [Cliff] Satherley and [Bert] Leatherbarrow".
[43] The match was for the Northern Union Challenge Cup and saw South Auckland hold on to the trophy with a 14–0 win at Carlaw Park.
On September 30 Laird played for Marist against St. George who had finished runner up in the 1933 NSWRFL competition and were touring the upper North Island.
After round 8 of the Fox Memorial championship Laird was left out of the first Auckland representative match of the season.
The New Zealand Herald reported that “the omission of J. Laird, Marist, and T. Hall, Newton, is hard to understand.
Laird was instrumental in starting a passing bout among the forwards down the terrace side of the field which “enabled Hall to score from a ruck in the corner” which gave Auckland a 11–10 lead.
Marist had fallen behind 13-3 before a converted try to Hec Brisbane narrowed the scores and then “Laird gathered a bouncing ball and, running fast for ten yards towards the corner, handed on to Smith, who materialised amid cheers”.
[50] Laird then played in a benefit match for Hec Brisbane who was retiring after a career involving 11 seasons with Marist which also featured 50 appearances for New Zealand, 5 for the North Island, and 15 for Auckland sides.
The New Zealand Herald reported that “Laird, Woods and Keane played splendid games in the forwards”.
[54][55] The following weekend in their match with Newton Rangers Laird was forced from the field early in the second half with a bad eye injury which required several stitches to close the wound.
[67] Laird played in Marist's round 1 Roope Rooster 18–15 loss to Mount Albert on August 24 and scored a rare pair of tries and was involved in another.
Laird was said to have been “always in the fray and showed form and speed in the loose”, though he did drop the ball with the line begging at one point.
[75] It was said of his selection that he had “a right to inclusion” based on his performance for the North Island and the match for Auckland against the tourists the previous week.
[76] Laird played in the second row alongside Lou Hutt, with Jim Calder locking the scrum.
[79] Laird also “just missed a try” early in the match with the score 0-0 after the New Zealand forwards “stormed the visitors’ goal”.
Laird was involved in a try saving tackle on Viv Thicknesse a foot from the line, and was the most prominent of the forwards along with Harold Tetley and Jim Calder.
Mr. Joe Sayegh who was the Marist chairman spoke at their annual meeting of “Laird’s fine services to the game and delegates assured the board of assistance in any action taken”.
The ARL chairman, Mr. G Grey Campbell said that “Laird would be the subject of a little function in the Marist dressing room before the team filed out to play on Saturday”.
[87] A week later the Marist club wrote to the league thanking them for their “support and assistance” through the benefit match and that “the amount raised was very creditable to the game”.
