Harry ('Tibby') Bartley

Harold Bartley was a solid five-eighth and competent goal kicker. He was selected for NSW to tour New Zealand  in 1928 from the Western Suburbs (Sydney) club. Although not playing a Test match he performed well in the three provincial matches and converted five tries.

Originally educated at North Sydney Boys’ High, Harry transferred under the residential rule from Western Suburbs to Northern Suburbs in 1930, and represented NSW against Queensland that year. Harold retired prematurely from Rugby in 1931 but later served Australia in the Second World War.

Bartley played three matches for Australia, none of them a Test, all in the 1928 New Zealand tour, against Hawkes Bay (19-6, a conversion), Southland (26-31, a conversion) and Marlborough (27-15, three conversions).

When on tour he was 22 years of age, 5 ft 7 inches and 11 stone 5 lbs. He was born in far-off Gunnedah, and would turn to rugby league. He played a highly respectable 11 matches for NSW. For example, in 1929 he played against New Zealand for the state, the score being 0 – all.

Australia had come together as a team in 1929, as Queensland competed once more. A year earlier this would have counted as a Test. He was also in the second NSW match against NZ, which was lost 9-22.

Howell, et al, noted in They Came to Conquer,“Bartley stood up to his trying ordeal manfully.”

The Test five-eighths this year were Tom Lawton and Bob Loudon.