Image right: Warden Selby Prentice, 1908. Courtesy City of Canada Bay Local Studies Collection.
Warden Selby Prentice was born in Homebush in 1886 to Edward and Susie Prentice, one of a large sporting family from Allandale, Wentworth Road. The Prentice family were well known in the district as butchers and drovers. Ward’s formidable grandmother ran the butcher’s shop at the Bark Huts township on Liverpool Road well into her nineties.[1] Nearby Prentice Lane, Strathfield was named for this family.
Although best known for his rugby union career, remarkably Warden would also play first grade level rugby league and cricket. Four of his brothers also played first grade rugby union, all starting out with Western Suburbs. Two other brothers played in the lower grades.
The six Prentice brothers, from left: Edward, Weston, Warden, Harry, Archie and Clarence Prentice
Sydney Mail 28 August 1912 p.28 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/158479331
Ward Prentice attended Homebush Public School where he began his Rugby career. Between 1899 and 1902 he played for St Anne’s Church of England Rugby Union Club. In 1906 he broke a bone in his ankle during a game.[2]
Ward made his debut for NSW in 1908 against a touring Anglo-Welsh team. That same year he was selected for the Australian team touring Britain and France. Prentice variously played at centre or five-eighth. He made his Test Debut in Wales in December 1908, setting up the Wallabies’ first try but was badly injured during the same game when he was kicked in the mouth. Consequently he played fewer games than expected. The Sunday Times said ‘It is a pity that Prentice was not oftener played, for further experience with the Wallabies would have helped to tone down his individualism.’ [3]
In 1909 London’s Daily Telegraph said of him: ‘Ward Prentice is the classic amongst these Australians; he has pace, knowledge and brilliant execution.’ [4]
British-American tour team 1908-1909. Courtesy State Library of NSW
In 1910 he represented Australia in three games against New Zealand. In 1912 he was selected touring captain of the Wallabies in the United States and Canada but the tour was a disappointment for Australia. In total, Prentice played for Australia on 32 occasions including six Tests, with one as captain.
Ward Prentice playing against New Zealand, 1910. Courtesy City of Canada Bay Local Studies Collection
In 1913 Ward married Una Wickham, the sister of Stanley Wickham, rugby union player, official and team mate. During the same year, Ward Prentice made his first class cricket debut as wicket keeper for NSW against Queensland in Sydney. Out for a duck, he took the wickets of the two opening batsmen. With the advent of war, it would be eight years before he again played first grade cricket, captaining NSW, again out for a duck. Ward and Una’s only child, Gloria was born in 1919.
A versatile sportsman, in 1920 Ward moved to first grade rugby league, joining brother Clarrie with the Western Suburbs Magpies where he played just five games. Clarrie, on the other hand, played 115 games over nine years. Older brother Archie had played for the Magpies during World War I.
But Ward soon saw the error of his ways and applied for reinstatement to rugby union, admitted again in mid-1920 having suitably expressed his regret at transferring to rugby league.[5]
Ward returned to Rugby Union for the Magpies in ? but retired after breaking his leg in a game against Manly during August 1922.[6]
In 1933 Ward was appointed assistant coach to the NSW cricket team.[7] At some point he also coached the Australian women’s cricket team before the arrival of the English team. [8] He also worked as a cattle classer at the Homebush Abattoirs and later, trained horses.
What a career!
Horse trainers by Sam Hood. Ward Prentice at left, Norman Cush, H.H. Cush and jockey Neville Sellwood . Courtesy State Library of NSW
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] https://www.strathfield.nsw.gov.au/Council/Local-Studies-Blog/Rachel-Prentice
[2] The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser 29 August 1906 p.572 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/163685955
[3] Sunday Times 9 May 1909 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126597061
[4] The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate 10 February 1909 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85917615
[5] The Telegraph (Brisbane) 12 March 1921 p.6 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/179204279
[6] The Sun 20 September 1922 p.4 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/221516155
[7] Sydney Morning Herald 25 October 1933 p.18 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17018473
[8] Daily Mirror 20 September 1946 p.18 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/272938278