Episode 12 of an amazing new series featuring a Warrington family's previously unpublished cine film footage of Wire matches and special moments in the 1960s and 1970s

THEY were exciting times when John Bevan made his Warrington Wolves debut against Castleford Tigers on September 23, 1973.

The League Leaders Rose Bowl winners from the season before had made a bright start to the campaign and now they had a world-class Wales Rugby Union wingman in their ranks too.

But the footage, above, shows how he was given a warm welcome to rugby league by the Castleford tacklers as he attempted to spectacularly dive over in the corner for a try.

Bev did score the first of his 201 Wire tries that day in a 22-5 victory which also included three-pointers from Joe Price, Derek Whitehead and Mike Philbin.

Parry Gordon, Mike Nicholas and Billy Pickup are also prominent in this footage published for the first time thanks to the Waller family, as father and son Cecil and Mike filmed many a Wire game from the 1960s and 1970s.

The video clip starts with a player from each side walking off the field after being shown the red card.

> See more Warrington Wolves cine film footage from the 1960s and 1970s

Wire team that day: Derek Whitehead; Denis Curling, Derek Noonan, Billy Pickup, John Bevan; Alex Murphy, Parry Gordon; Joe Price, Kevin Ashcroft, Brian Brady, Brian Gregory, Mike Nicholas, Barry Briggs. Subs: Mike Philbin, Bobby Wanbon.

This is the last of the 12 cine-film videos of Wire matches for series one, but we will have series two for you later in the year.