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In Memoriam: Trevor Lake

IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT WIGAN WARRIORS LEARNED OF THE PASSING OF FORMER PLAYER TREVOR LAKE.

Trevor Lake wrote himself into the Wigan rugby league record books and will always be remembered for his spectacular ‘swallow dive’ second try at Wembley in the 1965 Challenge Cup Final when evading a desperate last-ditch tackle attempt from Hunslet’s John Griffiths.

Lake, who was born on 24 January 1939 in Umtali, Rhodesia, attended Chaplin School, in Gwelo, playing rugby union initially as a flanker. However, more success came when he switched to the wing. He played for Old Miltonians, the Matabeleland province side, Rhodesia, and the Quagga team – a South African select team, similar to the Barbarians.

Lake had three trials for the Springboks before being approached by someone on behalf of Wigan, who worked for the Rhodesia Iron and Steel Corporation. Lake signed a four-year contract.

Lake scored twice on his first team debut on 3 November 1962 vs Oldham at Central Park, Wigan, which earned him his Heritage Number 619. ITV‘s World of Sport had chosen the game to be televised, with viewers witnessing a hard-fought 14-14 draw.

In the 1963-64 season, Wigan finished runners-up in the First Division with Lake retuning 43 tries from 41 appearances. In the following season, Lake scored 40 tries in 34 appearances which saw him finish top of the club and national try-scoring lists. Lake was always grateful for the significant role his Wigan centre at the time Alan Davies played in contributing to his try-scoring feats.

Conceivably, Lake’s two most significant tries for Wigan came at Wembley to lift the 1965 Challenge Cup and he was one of six surviving players from the game until his passing.

During his Wigan career, Trevor gained two major medals, a Challenge Cup in 1965 and a Lancashire Cup in 1966.

The 1966 Lancashire Cup Final would be Lake’s last game for Wigan, as he helped them to win the cup last won by the club in 1951. Unfortunately, with only a few weeks remaining on his contract, the club refused to meet Lake’s terms and he left to play for St George in Sydney, Australia.

Trevor Lake played 140 games for Wigan scoring 132 tries with Eric Ashton Wigan’s former captain and coach describing him as a great talent and a good finisher.

On 18 August 1965, Trevor Lake played for the Commonwealth XIII vs New Zealand at Crystal Place.

Unfortunately, the move to St George for Trevor was not successful. He played eight games in two years before a knee injury in 1968 ultimately finished his career and he returned home to his native South Africa at the end of 1969.

On his return to South Africa, Lake became one of the prime movers behind the formation of the SARL and visited Australia in an official capacity when South Africa was included in the 1992 World Sevens competition.

Wigan Warriors send their condolences to Trevor’s family and friends at this sad time.

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2025/02/ ... evor-lake/