THREE Crosfields Masters players are home from an "unforgettable" inaugural Great Britain tour that concluded with a match featuring a former Warrington Wolves captain.

Peter McGuinness, John Heritage and Gary Teeling, with amateur rugby league histories in the town, represented their country at over 35s level during the 17-day tour Down Under which ended with a draw against an Australian Masters team that included ex-Wire prop Bob Jackson.

Among personal highlights were retired salesman Heritage, aged 68, being named captain for the full international at Cabramatta Rugby League Club near Sydney, while McGuinness, aged 62, collected the Spirit of Masters Award for his contributions to the whole tour.

Matches were also played against Pine Rivers Bears and Brighton Roosters while based in Brisbane, Brisbane Old Boys and Capalaba Invitation Team while staying in Southport on the Gold Coast, as well as Narrabeen Sharks and Riverstone Razorbacks when stationed in Sydney.

Attending the NRL Grand Final between North Queensland Cowboys and Brisbane Broncos at the ANZ Stadium on October 4 along with "incredible" sightseeing further enhanced the trip.

McGuinness, an operations manager who has a daughter living in Australia with husband and ex-Wolves hooker Danny Farrar, said: "It was billed as the trip of a lifetime and it really was.

"Playing against Bob Jackson was a bonus really. I went over to see him in March - he knew I was going back with the Masters and he had a wry smile on his face which made me think "Aye, aye" - there's something going on here.

"He's still the same old Bob and played very well. There were about 600 supporters watching the international so it was a great occasion."

Former Australia Test scrum half Cliff Lyons played against the tourists in the match with Narrabeen Sharks.

"We couldn't get anywhere near him, even at his age," said McGuinness, a former player with Thames Board and Leigh Miners who sourced the tour sponsor and produced the tour brochure.

Heritage, a former Latchford Albion and Woolston Rovers forward who lives in Padgate, said: "The captaincy for the international was a wonderful honour. It came as a shock as I didn't know anything about it until the team sheet was read out.

"I'd never been to Australia before so it was a fantastic experience. It was a tiring one, as I played in every game and there were 11 matches in total."

And he echoed McGuinness' praise for the welcome and hospitality received everywhere the tourists went.

Heritage said: "The Aussies were wonderful with us. Their hospitality was fantastic. The people in Australia are marvellous and even though not met them before the friendships built up are for life through Facebook."

The Australian Masters will tour Great Britain next year, while plans are being made for GB to visit New Zealand and Australian in 2017 to tie in with the Rugby League World Cup.

Heritage says his trip this time will probably be a one-off though.

"I'll be 70 then. If I can't run around then I won't go. All the teams in Australia are quite physical, they take it quite seriously."

While away, the tourists raised $2,000 (close to £1,000) for charities Rugby League Cares and Macmillan Nurses.

McGuinness said the Masters game is growing rapidly locally and nationally.

"Rylands have started a team this year and played a few friendlies," he added.

"The concept of being 35+ and still being involved in the game as a player is taking off."

Heritage, who will be guesting for Blackpool tomorrow in a clash with Tyldesley, said: "I find it very rewarding and you  make good friendships. I train at least four times a week and play touch rugby twice a week which I have to do in order to play."

Another Heritage is starting to make a mark on the game too as his grandson Mathew, aged 16, is a loose forward at Woolston Rovers, is on Wolves' books and played for England Academy against Wales in August.