Now his side are looking to equal the club's record winning streak of eight consecutive games, set in 1931, when they travel to Preston on Tuesday night.
Smith's absence is a blow for New Zealand, who are looking to equal the record – jointly held by themselves and the Springboks – for the most consecutive Test victories.
The world No2 was looking to equal John McEnroe's record of 42 straight wins to start a season but it was not to be, and on Sunday Federer will attempt to beat Nadal for the first time on the clay in Paris.
The All Blacks are looking to equal the world record of 17 consecutive Test victories by a top-tier nation, having fallen inches short when they last attempted to reach the mark in 2012, drawing with Australia.
Djokovic, looking to equal John McEnroe's record of 42 straight wins to start a season, had not played for four days because his quarter-final opponent Fabio Fognini withdrew because of injury but his lack of competitive action did not appear to affect his rhythm in the early stages of the match.
The All Blacks had won 16 successive Tests since their final game before last year's World Cup triumph - a 25-20 loss to Australia, also in Brisbane - and were looking to equal the joint record of their New Zealand predecessors from 1965-1969, and South Africa from 1997-1998.
He was looking to equal Alain Prost's four championships and maybe have a go at [Juan Manuel] Fangio's five.
The third seed, who is looking to equal Pete Sampras' tally of seven Wimbledon titles, next faces either America's Michael Russell or French 29th seed Julien Benneteau.
Shrewsbury looked to be their equals, at least, and for that caps must be doffed to Hurst and his team.
Built on the twin pillars of fashion and urban dance, it looks to be equal parts machismo, camp and chutzpah.
