New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1911
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1911 | |
 |
|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |  Eastern Suburbs (1st title) |
| Minor premiers |  Glebe (1st title) |
| Matches played | 59 |
| Points scored | 1374 (average 23.288 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Dally Messenger (148 points) |
| Top try scorer(s) | Dave Garlick (13 tries) |
The 1911 New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the fourth season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Eight teams from across Sydney contested during the season for the premiership and the Royal Agricultural Society Challenge Shield.
Contents |
[edit] Teams
For the first time in its short history, the premiership consisted of the same teams for two years in a row. The same eight teams from the 1910 season played in 1911.
- Annandale
- Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
- Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
- Glebe, formed on January 9, 1908
- Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
- North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
- South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
- Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
[edit] Colours
 Annandale |
 Balmain |
 Eastern Suburbs |
 Glebe |
 Newtown |
 North Sydney |
 South Sydney |
 Western Suburbs |
[edit] Season Summary
On June 22, The first game of rugby league was played on the Sydney Cricket Ground. NSW defeated New Zealand in the match, 35-10.
[edit] Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Glebe |
14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 244 | 88 | +156 | 22 |
| 2 | Eastern Suburbs |
14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 208 | 129 | +79 | 20 |
| 3 |  South Sydney |
14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 188 | 117 | +71 | 20 |
| 4 |  Newtown |
14 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 154 | 120 | +34 | 15 |
| 5 |  Annandale |
14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 113 | 184 | -71 | 11 |
| 6 |  North Sydney |
14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 138 | 209 | -71 | 9 |
| 7 |  Western Suburbs |
14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 116 | 189 | -73 | 9 |
| 8 |  Balmain |
14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 130 | 255 | -125 | 6 |
[edit] Finals
The finals system used in the 1910 season was similar for the 1911 season. The top two teams at the end of the year were to play each other in a final to decide the premiership, but in the event of the minor premiers losing, they were deemed to have the "right of challenge" to play a Grand Final. However, because both Eastern Suburbs and South Sydney finished on equal premiership points in second place, a playoff was used to decide who would play minor premiers Glebe in the final.
Eastern Suburbs ended up beating local rivals South Sydney 23-10 at the Sports Ground in front of 14,000 people on September 2, 1911 to win the play-off in order to play minor premiers Glebe. The following week, Eastern Suburbs beat Glebe in front of 16,000 at the Agricultural Ground 22-9. Glebe immediately exercised their right for a rematch the following week for a match to be held at the Agricultural Ground on September 16, 1911.
[edit] Final
| Eastern Suburbs Roosters | Position | Glebe Dirty Reds |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Kinghorn | FB | Roy Algie |
| Barney Dalton | WG | Mick Muggivan |
| John Campbell | CE | Dave Garlick |
| Dally Messenger (c) | CE | Tom Gleeson |
| Eddie White | WG | Charlie Cubitt |
| Herb Collins | FE | Les Cubitt |
| Les Cody | HB | Fritz Thiering |
| Larry O'Malley | PR | Sid Pert |
| Sandy Pearce | HK | Jack Redmond |
| Mick Frawley | PR | Sam Griffiths |
| Eddie Griffiths | SR | Albert Burge (c) |
| Charlie Lees | SR | Frank Burge |
| W Dalton | LK | Harry Brighton |
| Reserve | J Farrelly | |
| [Dally Messenger]] | Coach |
Glebe winger Cubitt scored early and Easts were only able to post a penalty goal in the first half and trailed 5-2 at the break.
Early in the second half, Cubitt scored again for Glebe to take an 8-4 lead. However, in the final ten minutes, Eastern Suburbs were able to score a try after a high kick was misjudged by the Glebe fullback, and Charlie Lees took the loose ball to score a try. Dally Messenger converted to take the lead 9-8 with only minutes to play, and consolidated the win with another penalty kick to win the game 11-8 for the Roosters and allowing them to take their first premiership in front of 20,000 people.
The referee was Tom McMahon (the elder of the two Sydney top-grade referees of that name) who in the first half sent off Glebe's Sid Pert and Rooster Larry O'Malley, the former Australian Kangaroo captain.
Eastern Suburbs 11 (Tries: Lees. Goals: Messenger 3. Fld Goal: Messenger )
defeated
Glebe 8 (Tries; C Cubitt 2 Goals: 1.)
| “ | Played in blustery conditions, Glebe's form improved greatly but they could not compete with the immaculate kicking of Dally Messenger.
In an incident-packed opening stanza McMahon reduced each side to twelve men by sending off O'Malley and Sid Pert after a touch judge's report. Ensuing scrums were played with only four forwards. Glebe three-quarter Tom Gleeson left the field with an ankle injury and was replaced at half time by Farrelly. With first use of the stiff southerly, Glebe winger C R Cubitt scored out wide in the second minute from a scrum close to the Easts line. Messenger replied with a goal shortly after for Glebe to lead 5-2 at halftime. When play resumed, Messenger goaled again to narrow the gap to one point. Twelve minutes in, Glebe edged to an 8-4 lead when C Cubitt crossed for his second try: a brilliant length of the field effort featuring Farrelly, Redmond, Alby Burge and finally Cubitt who beat Messenger's ankle tap. With thirteen minutes left in the grand final, Lees scored Easts' only try, from a high kick. The ball bounced off dazed Glebe fullback "Bunny" Algie (who had been injured in a headclash in the opening minutes with winger White). Messenger converted and Easts snatched a 9-8 lead. Messenger's field goal six minutes from the bell gave his team the three point buffer at 11-8 and the confidence to hang on and win their first premiership. After exchanging jerseys, the elated surfsiders carried Messenger from the field". |
” |
|
—Haddon, Steve, "History of the NSWRL Finals" |
||
[edit] References
- Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
- Rugby League Tables - Season 1911 The World of Rugby League
- Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
- 1911 - Minor Premiers Glebe Beaten By Messenger RL1908
- Hadden, Steve History of the NSWRL Finals
