Preseason Cup

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The Craven Mild Cup was a competition held by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in Australia before the start of the season proper, from 1962 until 1981. From 1962 to 1969 it was simply known as the Preseason Cup, before tobacco company W.D. & H.O. Wills took up sponsorship - with the competition rebranded the Wills Cup - in 1970, and the Craven Mild Cup for its last four seasons, from 1978 to 1981.

The Preseason Cup first took place over March 1961, with matches played at night under lights at the Sydney Sportsground, Redfern Oval and Lidcombe Oval. The halves were played 35 minutes each. [1] In March 1962, the Berries won the Preseason Cup, beating Western Suburbs 14-10 under floodlights at the Sydney Sportsground. [2]

In 1972, an estimated 251,000 spectators watched matches in the competiion. [3]

The NSWRL competition clubs made up the participants, except in 1970 when Wentworthville and Sydney Uni took park as well.

The competition was discontinued in 1982 due the increased length of the NSWRL regular season with its expansion to 14 clubs.[ citation needed ]

Results

YearWinnerScoreLoser
1962 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury14-10 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs
1963 St. George colours.svg St George17-6 Balmain colours.svg Balmain
1964 St. George colours.svg St George41-14 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney
1965 St. George colours.svg St George15-7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs
1966 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney11-3 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney
1967 Balmain colours.svg Balmain11-10 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah
1968 Penrith colours.svg Penrith28-12 Newtown colours.svg Newtown
1969 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney19-7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs
1970 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury20-11 St. George colours.svg St George
1971 St. George colours.svg St George20-7 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland
1972 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney11-10 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs
1973 Newtown colours.svg Newtown17-15 St. George colours.svg St George
1974 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs43-0 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney
1975 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta11-5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah
1976 Balmain colours.svg Balmain17-5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah
1977 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs13-9 North Sydney colours.svg North Sydney
1978 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney10-3 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown
1979 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs12-9 Balmain colours.svg Balmain
1980 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah21-12 Balmain colours.svg Balmain
1981 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs12-3 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta

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References

  1. "Pre-Season Competition Starts March 1". The Rugby League News. 42 (29): 4. January 1962. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  2. "Berries Were Really Up This Time". The Rugby League News. 43 (1): 17. April 1962. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  3. "Wills Increase Prizemoney". The Rugby League News. 54 (3): 5. February 15–18, 1973. Retrieved 17 February 2024.