1886 Southern Rugby Union season

Last updated

1886 Sydney Rugby Premiership
DurationMay to September
Teams16
Premiers Gordon 1886.png Gordon (1st title)
Runners-up University 1865.png Sydney University
Wooden spoonGoulburn (1st spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) University 1865.png John Wood (53)
Top try-scorer(s) University 1865.png John Wood (7)
MacGregor Cup
Number of teams15
PremiersOxford
Runners-up Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick

The 1886 Southern Rugby Football Union season was the 13th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the fourth competition for the Gardiner Challenge Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season was from May till September 1886. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Gordon who were newly formed at the beginning of the year. Gordon were crowned premiers by a committee of the Union.

Contents

Teams

For the 1886 season, the Union decided to elevate 5 Junior clubs into the senior competition. Albion, Balmain Wellington, Glebe, Parramatta and Rosedale had performed well during the previous season. In addition, they also included 3 regional clubs from Newcastle, Bathurst and Goulburn. These clubs had successfully competed against metropolitan clubs prior to their admission. A new club, exclusively for New Zealand players, was formed and successfully petitioned to be included in the senior competition. This club took on the name Gordon. Many of their players had competed previously for other clubs. After poor performance during the previous season, the St. Leonards club was not reformed and thus did not participate in the Gardiner Challenge Cup. [1]

ClubColorsFormedGroundCaptain
Albionc.1885Rushcutters Bay OvalGeorge Foster
Arforma
Arfoma 1886.svg
prior to 1883NoneEC Ebsworth
Balmain
Balmain 1884.svg
c.1873NoneC Hawkins
Balmain Wellington
Balmain Wellington 1886.svg
c.1884NoneArmit
Bathurstprior to 1883Railway Oval, BathurstYeomans
Burwood
Waratah 1874.svg
prior to 1883Burwood ParkSamuel Chapman
Glebeprior to 1883 Wentworth Park Bourke
Gordon
Gordon 1886.png
26 February 1886None James O'Donnell
Goulburn 22 July 1872Eastgrove Park, GoulburnUnknown
Newcastle
Newcastle 1886.png
prior to 1883Newcastle Cricket GroundAB Ford
Newtown
Newtown 1885.svg
prior to 1883 MacDonaldtown Park P Allen
Parramatta c.1879NoneW Coates
Redfern
Redfern 1878.png
24 May 1878None James Cleeve
Rosedale
Rosedale 1888.svg
c.1884NoneJames McMahon
Sydney University
University 1865.png
c.1863 University Oval James MacManamey
Wallaroo
Wallaroo Colours.svg
19 May 1871NoneGeorge Graham

Rule Changes

With the addition of regional clubs and the promotion of junior clubs, the Sydney Rugby Premiership saw sixteen teams compete for the Gardiner Challenge Cup. This increase in teams competing for the cup caused many of the senior clubs to limit their games to only those which would count towards the final results. Previous competitions between junior and senior clubs were thus rare. Growing crowd numbers saw games moving from the open Moore Park to more enclosed fields. The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW arranged for three fields to be available upon their grounds, however the third area was of poor quality. The Association Cricket Ground was made available from July.

Season Summary

In their first season of football, the Gordon Football Club performed well against the more established senior clubs. In fifteen games, the club was only defeated once by the Balmain team. Amongst their victories during the season, Gordon had defeated Sydney University, Redfern, Burwood and Wallaroo who were amongst the best teams. Much of their success was attributed to their captain, James O'Donnell. [2] At the conclusion of the season a committee of the union awarded Gordon the premiership with Sydney University recognised as coming second. [2]

In 1885, Balmain Wellington had been the premier junior club. Now in the senior ranks, the club performed well displaying improvement as the season progressed. Many of their games were played on inferior grounds with the club not once playing on the Association Cricket Ground. the club had the benefit of all of their players remaining fit for the entire season. Their game against Gordon was a highlight of the year. [3]

The new regional clubs that had been added to the premiership only played a handful of games. At a meeting of the Union in September, it was suggested that branch unions be formed in the Newcastle, Bathurst and Goulburn regions to deal with disputes. [4]

Ladder

1886 Gardiner Challenge Cup

TeamPldWDLBPFPAPD
1 Gordon 1886.png Gordon151131012415+109
2 University 1865.png Sydney University 131102018226+156
3 Arfoma 1886.png Arfoma15933010436+68
4 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo1682609867+31
5 Balmain Wellington 1886.svg Balmain Wellington1272305439+15
6 Waratah 1874.svg Burwood1042403874-36
7 Rosedale 1886.png Rosedale1041502843-15
8 Balmain 1884.svg Balmain 1135303929+10
9 Redfern 1878.png Redfern11317029124-95
10 Newcastle 1886.png Newcastle620402144-23
11Glebe1034302726+1
12 Parramatta 511302327-4
13 Newtown 1885.svg Newtown112270785-78
14Albion912602977-48
15Bathurst20110213-11
16 Goulburn 20020429-25

[5] [6]

Lower Grades

In 1886, a Sydney businessman donated a cup for the development of a Junior Rugby Football competition. The MacGregor Junior Challenge Cup was open to clubs not participating in the senior competition. Fifteen clubs submitted applications to enter the competition. The competition was due to begin May 24 and run each Saturday until August 1. Each club was balloted with a game for each weekend. It was planned that the best 8 clubs would then be matched up with another ballot. [7] The final for the MacGregor Cup occurred on 4th September between Oxford and Randwick. Oxford won the match 5 points to nil to win the cup. [8]

Balmain LorettoCammerayClevelandDouble BayHarrowgate
ImperialManlyOxfordParramatta Union Petersham 1883.png Petersham
Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick Norths Original Colours.png StrathfieldSummer HillSydney GrammarVictoria House


Representative Games

NSW Rugby Team at the Association Cricket Ground prior to their first match against Queensland. 1886 NSW.jpg
NSW Rugby Team at the Association Cricket Ground prior to their first match against Queensland.

Intercolonial Matches

In late July, the Gardiner Cup took a break in order to play two matches against a visiting Queensland team. When the visitors arrived in Sydney, it was obvious that they were far larger and heavier than the local players. The first match saw showers, making the ground and ball slippery. During the game, when the play was of a more tight nature, the Queenslanders were dominate. However once the play moved into being more open, the two teams were more equal. In the end an exciting game saw Queensland victors 4 points to 2. [9] After making some changes for the second match, New South Wales were superior to the Queensland team winning the match 26 points to 5. [10]





9th New South Wales - Queensland Intercolonial Football Match
24 July 1886
New South Wales NSW 1886.png 2 - 4 Redfern 1878.png Queensland
Tries: GW McArthur
Goals: JR Wood (0/1)
[9]
Tries: AJ Hickson, A Stacey
Goals: P Roberts (0/2)
Association Cricket Ground
Attendance: 4000
Referee: RW Thallon
10th New South Wales - Queensland Intercolonial Football Match
31 July 1886
New South Wales NSW 1886.png 26 - 5 Redfern 1878.png Queensland
Tries: EM Cameron (3), FA Baylis, GW McArthur, CL Tange, E Hungerford
Goals: EM Cameron (2/2), JA O'Donnell (1/4), FA Baylis (1/1)
Drop goals: GW Walker (0/1)
[10]
Tries: T Manson
Goals: P Roberts (1/1)
Association Cricket Ground
Attendance: 5000
Referee: RW Thallon

The New South Wales Tour of New Zealand

In 1886 a team of New South Wales players were chosen and sent to New Zealand to play a number of matches against the local teams. The NSW team departed Sydney at the conclusion of the Gardiner Cup. No games were scheduled to play against a New Zealand team with games being against only local clubs. Unfortunately, the tourists did not fare well with a number of disappointing results. The merit of sending a team of young and inexperienced players was questioned and it was hoped that the results would not cause opposing teams to not value the New South Wales rugby players. [11]

Team & Player Records

Most points in a match (Team)

PtsTeamOpponentVenueDate
30 University 1865.png Sydney University Redfern 1878.png Redfern Agricultural Society Ground 10 July
28 Gordon 1886.png Gordon Redfern 1878.png Redfern Agricultural Society Ground 3 July
22 Arfoma 1886.png ArfomaGoulburnEastgrove24 May
22 Wallaroo Colours.svg WallarooAlbion Agricultural Society Ground 29 May
19 University 1865.png Sydney University Wallaroo Colours.svg WallarooNorwood Park19 June
19 University 1865.png Sydney University Newtown 1885.svg Newtown Agricultural Society Ground 3 July
19Glebe Redfern 1878.png Redfern Redfern Ground 14 August

Greatest Winning Margin

PtsTeamScoreOpponentVenueDate
30 University 1865.png Sydney University 30 - 0 Redfern 1878.png Redfern Agricultural Society Ground 10 July
28 Gordon 1886.png Gordon28 - 0 Redfern 1878.png Redfern Agricultural Society Ground 3 July
22 Arfoma 1886.png Arfoma22 - 0GoulburnEastgrove24 May
22 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo22 - 0Albion Agricultural Society Ground 29 May
19 University 1865.png Sydney University 19 - 0 Newtown 1885.svg Newtown Agricultural Society Ground 3 July

Participating Clubs

ClubSenior GradeJunior Grade
1st2nd
Albion Football ClubYY
Arfoma 1886.png Arfoma Football ClubYY
Balmain 1884.svg Balmain Rugby Football Club YY
Balmain Harrowgate Football ClubY
Balmain Loretto Football ClubY
Balmain Wellington 1886.svg Balmain Wellington Football ClubY
Bathurst Football ClubYY
Waratah 1874.svg Burwood Football ClubYY
Cammeray Football ClubY
Cleveland Football ClubY
Double Bay Football ClubY
Glebe Football ClubYY
Gordon 1886.png Gordon Football ClubYY
Goulburn Football Club Y
Imperial Football ClubY
Manly Football ClubY
Newcastle 1886.png Newcastle Football ClubY
Newtown 1885.svg Newtown Football ClubYY
Oxford Football ClubY
Parramatta Football Club Y
Parramatta Union Football ClubY
Petersham 1883.png Petersham Rugby Football Club Y
Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick Football Club Y
Redfern 1878.png Redfern Football ClubYY
Rosedale 1886.png Rosedale Football ClubY
Norths Original Colours.png Strathfield Football ClubY
Summer Hill Football ClubY
Sydney Grammar School Y
University 1865.png Sydney University Football Club YY
Victoria House Football ClubY
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo Football ClubYY

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References

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