1896 NSW Rugby Union season

Last updated

1896 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration16 May to 8 August
Teams6
Premiers Randwick 1893.png Randwick  (3rd title)
Minor Premiers Randwick 1893.png Randwick  (2nd title)
Runners-upWentworth
Wooden spoon Easts 1901.svg Paddington (2nd spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) Randwick 1893.png William Barrie (31)
Top try-scorer(s) Randwick 1893.png William Galloway (7)
First Junior
Number of teams10
PremiersNewtown
Runners-upCarlton
Second Junior
Number of teams17
PremiersMercantile
Runners-upBuccaneer

The 1896 New South Wales Rugby Football Union season was the 23rd season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. Six clubs competed from May till August 1896. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Randwick. Randwick were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the table.

Contents

Teams

Senior grade

Six clubs signed up with the New South Wales Rugby Football Union to play the Senior Premiership. Each of the teams had participated in the premiership previously. At the end of the previous season, both the Balmain Football Club and Paddington Electorate Football Club had withdrawn from the premiership. At the beginning of the new season, a Paddington Football Club was formed which could be considered a new club. However, the Union did not agree and would classify the club as a continuation of the previous one. This would have ramifications for Paddington later in the season. [1]

Easts jersey.svg
Paddington

Formed c.1883
Captain: Unknown

Sydney 1904.png
Pirates

Formed on 27 March 1889
Captain: James Carson

Randwick 1893.png
Randwick

Formed c.1882
Ground: Randwick Reserve
Captain: John McMahon

Uni jersey.svg
Sydney University

Formed c.1863
Ground: University Oval
Captain: Harry Abbott

Wallaroo Colours.svg
Wallaroo

Formed c.1870
Captain: Paddy Lane

Wentworth

Formed c.1892
Captain: Billy Warbrick

Season summary

The 1896 NSWRFU Sydney Rugby Premiers, Randwick, experienced a great year. Until their defeat at the hands of Wentworth in the semifinal for the Agricultural Society Trophy, Randwick were undefeated and had positioned themselves in an unassailable position on the premiership ladder. The club had already won the Association Ground Cup in a closely fought match with old rivals Wallaroo. In 19 games played throughout the entire season (including non-premiership matches), Randwick won 16, drew 1 and lost 2, scoring 249 points with 55 against. A remarkable record. [2]

Much of the success of the Wentworth Football Club can be attributed to their captain Billy Warbrick. At the conclusion of the season the team were second to only Randwick in performance and had successfully won the Agricultural Society Trophy. As organiser, coach and captain, Warbrick's experience and knowledge was vital. Excluding the captain, nobody on the Wentworth team had big reputations or had previously been selected for representative positions. Many of the team were Juniors last season and so were pliable in their captains hands. [3]

During the season, a proposal was put forward at a NSWRFU meeting advocating local football rather than the club football in existence. The belief was that football was losing its popularity and that the quality of play was deteriorating. Advocates indicated how cricket had successfully transitioned to local-based competition. The proposal was put to a vote and lost. However, the idea of local football had now been given birth. [2] In analysing the current season, some of the most reliable and energetic players amongst the Seniors in 1896 were playing in the Junior ranks last season. This was seen as proof that the Senior clubs should be searching amongst the Junior teams for their players. It was even stated that the Sydney Rugby community had enough capable players to sustain 10 good Senior teams. [3]

Ladder

TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Randwick 1893.png Randwick 8701014216+12614
2Wentworth970204417+2714
3 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo9414011358+559
4 University 1865.png Sydney University 831405389-367
5 Sydney 1904.png Pirates601501475-611
6 Easts 1901.svg Paddington6015011122-1111

Ladder progression

TeamRegular SeasonMPFinals
12345W1W2W3W4
1 Randwick 1893.png Randwick 24681010121414
2Wentworth024688810 [4] 1214
3 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo2335557799
4 University 1865.png Sydney University 235555577
5 Sydney 1904.png Pirates00001111
6 Easts 1901.svg Paddington00001111 [4]

Trophy finals

Finals Week 1, 27 June

Association Cup semifinals
1 Randwick 1893.png Randwick 21
4 University 1865.png Sydney University 0
2Wentworth3
3 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo8

Association Ground Cup

The top four teams that qualified for the Association Ground Cup were Randwick, Sydney University, Wentworth and Wallaroo. The games were decided by draw. In the first semi, Randwick defeated the 'Varsity, 21 points to nil. It was a convincing win for the premiers with most of their points being scored in the second half. The second semi final saw a much closer game between Wallaroo and Wentworth. Wallaroo had the upper hand throughout the game and proceeded to the final to face Randwick. [5]

Finals Week 2, 4 July

Association Cup final
Randwick 1893.png Randwick 6
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo5
Agricultural Trophy Qualifiers
WentworthW
Easts 1901.svg PaddingtonF
University 1865.png Sydney University 5
Sydney 1904.png Pirates3

Association Ground Cup

A large crowd of 10,000 witnessed one of the most highly anticipated games. The game was a fierce and fast encounter with some players sent from the field. Wallaroo persistently attacked with Randwick holding strong in defence. After half time, the score was 3 points to nil in favour of Randwick. Soon after the second half had begun, Wallaroo took the lead 5 points to 3. However, Randwick soon rectified the result taking the lead once again. From this point to the end of the match, Wallaroo performed attack after attack with Randwick's defence holding firm. The final result gave Randwick their third win in the Cup. With this, Randwick became the permanent holders of the Association Ground Cup. [6]

Agricultural Society Trophy

Only one game was played for the Agricultural Society Trophy. The University-Pirates game was a fine example of football with "clean passing runs, able kicks, quick intercepting runs, long passes, fine fainting and capital tackling." [6] The Pirates were strengthened by a number of new players who held themselves quite well against the more experienced 'Varsity. At half time, University led 5 points to nil. During the second half, the Pirates scored but missed the conversion which cost them the match. The second game scheduled for the weekend was to be between Wentworth and Paddington. However, the Paddington club, which had been reformed at the beginning of the season, had inherited the past debits of the former club. As these debits were with the NSWRFU, the Union disqualified the club from the competition and awarded Wentworth the win. [6]

Finals Week 3, 11 July

Agricultural Trophy semifinals
Randwick 1893.png Randwick 0
Wentworth3
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo30
University 1865.png Sydney University 10

Agricultural Society Trophy

The first semi final for the trophy was played between Randwick and Wentworth. After the previous match against Wallaroo, Randwick had some players who were not at their best due to the intensity of that game. Wentworth, on the other hand, had done everything possible to ensure it had its best players available and were well prepared for the game. As a result, Randwick failed to play the majority of the game with their usual "dash" and met strong defence from Wentworth. A single try was scored by the Wentworth Captain to win the match. The second semi final saw Wallaroo play Sydney University. A high scoring match saw points added rapidly. Wallaroo won the game 30 points to 10. [7]

Finals Week 4, 8 August

Agricultural Trophy final
Wentworth9
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo0

Agricultural Society Trophy

In the lead up to the game, it was feared that Wentworth would not be able to put up their best team for the match. Some of the players had been selected to play in the NSW representative team and were unavailable. As a sign of good sportsmanship, the Wallaroo captain PM Lane offered Wentworth to pick any player of their choice to ensure the game could be played. The Wentworth captain, W Warbrick, picked AG Fraser from the Randwick club to play for the team. The game was an "interesting and determined" one with nothing of excitement to note. Wentworth won with ease with Wallaroo lacking in aggressive tendencies. The defeated team never looked likely to score. [3]

Statistics

Points

PlayerPlTGFGPts
1 Randwick 1893.png William Barrie825331
2 Randwick 1893.png Allan Scott818123
3 Randwick 1893.png William Galloway870021
4 Wallaroo Colours.svg Ernest Roberts860018
5 Wallaroo Colours.svg Frank Row 809018
6 University 1865.png Percy Colquhoun 823116
7 Randwick 1893.png O Riley630113
8 University 1865.png HB Rowlands306013
9Wooller803113
10 Randwick 1893.png Fred Henlen840012

Tries

PlayerPlT
1 Randwick 1893.png William Galloway87
2 Wallaroo Colours.svg Ernest Roberts86
3 Randwick 1893.png Fred Henlen84
4Ernest Martineer74
5 Randwick 1893.png O Riley63
6 Randwick 1893.png Charlie Winn83
7 University 1865.png Harry Abbott33
8 Wallaroo Colours.svg W Harris13
9 Wallaroo Colours.svg Alex Kelly 73
10 Wallaroo Colours.svg AR Manchee83

Lower grades

The NSWRFU held four junior premierships in conjunction to the main senior competition. All four grades were well represented with some clubs entering multiple teams across the four competitions.

First Juniors

Initially, twelve clubs signed up for the First Junior Premiership. These were: Marrickville, Newtown, Paddington Borough, Strathfield, Summer Hill Oaklands, University II, Balmain A, Leichhardt, Petersham, Carlton, Central Cumberland and Woollahra. [1] Both Petersham and Woollahra dropped out of the premiership before it had begun. When the regular season games had been completed, the following teams qualified for the semi-finals: Carlton, Paddington Boroughs, Leichhardt and Newtown. In the final Carlton played Newtown. Newtown created an upset, winning the match 6 points to 3 to be declared premiers. [9]

Second Juniors

The Second Junior Premiership saw 17 clubs sign up to compete. These were: Richmond, Hawkesbury College, Wallaroo II, Balmain Junior, Manly Federal, Buccaneer, Oriental, Royal Oak, Federal, Hawkesbury, Shamrock, Homebush, University III, Pioneer, Rockdale, Mercantile and North Sydney. [10] At the conclusion of the regular rounds, eight teams qualified for the finals: Buccaneer, Royal Oak, Homebush, Mercantile, Hawkesbury, North Sydney, Balmain Junior and Rockdale. The final saw Buccaneer play Mercantile. Mercantile won the match 15 points to 5 to be declared premiers. [9]

Third Juniors

The number of teams entered into the Third Junior Premiership was down compared to the previous season with 13 joining the competition. Clubs that signed up were: Ashfield, Glebe, Waverley, Pirates II, Willoughby Oaks, Ryde, Double Bay, Newtown Cambridge, Redfern Waratah, Balmain B, Adelphi, Hunter's Hill and Redfern Norwood. [10] When the regular rounds were completed, the following teams qualified for the semi-finals: Glebe, Adelphi, Redfern Waratah and Pirates II. The final saw Glebe play Redfern Waratah. Redfern Waratah won the match 3 points to nil to be declared premiers. [11]

Fourth Juniors

Forty clubs signed up to compete in the Fourth Junior Premiership in 1896. Due to the large number of teams entered, four divisions were created with teams allocated to each. In Division A were: Granville Royal, Hawkesbury College II, Hawkesbury Excelsior, St Mary's Union, Ardler, Windsor, Rookwood, Liverpool, Iona and Parramatta Ormonde. Division B teams were: Richmond II, Fort Street College, Chelsea, Woollahra Junior, South Sydney Juniors, Adelphi II, Boy's Brigade, Willoughby Federal, Coogee and Mosman. In Division C were: Imperial, Balmain C, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Carolinas, Rosegrove, Toxteth, Endeavour, Balmain Waratah, Warren and Leichhardt Gladstone. Division D teams were: Redfern Cambridge, Enmore Oaks, Summer Hill Oaklands II, Royal, Petersham II, Epsom, Belvidere, Newtown II, Victoria and Erskineville. [10] When the regular rounds were completed, the following teams qualified for the finals: Parramatta Ormonde, Granville Royal, South Sydney Juniors, Woollahra Junior, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Endeavour, Victoria and Newtown II. In the final Woollahra Junior play Newtown II. Woollahra Junior won the match in the dying moments 6 points to 5 to take the premiership. [12]

Participating Clubs

ClubSenior GradeJunior Grade
1st2nd3rd4th
Adelphi Football ClubYY
Adler Football ClubY
Ashfield Football ClubY
Balmain 1874.svg Balmain Rugby Football Club YYY
Balmain Junior Football ClubY
Balmain Waratah Football ClubY
Belvidere Football ClubY
Boy's Brigade Football ClubY
Buccaneer Football ClubY
Carlton Football ClubY
Carolina Football ClubY
Central Cumberland Football Club Y
Chelsea Football ClubY
Coogee Football ClubY
Double Bay Football ClubY
Endeavour Football ClubY
Enmore Oaks Football ClubY
Epsom Football ClubY
Erskineville Football ClubY
Federal Football ClubY
Forest Lodge Cambridge Football ClubY
Fort Street College Football ClubY
Glebe Football ClubY
Granville Royal Football ClubY
Hawkesbury Football ClubY
Hawkesbury Agricultural College Football ClubYY
Hawkesbury Excelsior Football ClubY
Homebush Football ClubY
Hunters Hill 1892.png Hunters Hill Rugby Club Y
Imperial Football ClubY
Iona Football ClubY
Leichhardt Football ClubY
Leichhardt Gladstone Football ClubY
Liverpool Football ClubY
Manly Federal Football ClubY
Marrickville Football ClubY
Mercantile Football ClubY
Mosman.png Mosman Rugby Club Y
Newtown Football ClubYY
Newtown Cambridge Football ClubY
North Sydney Football ClubY
Oriental Football ClubY
Paddington Borough Football ClubY
Easts 1901.svg Paddington Football ClubY
Parramatta Ormonde Football ClubY
Petersham 1883.png Petersham Rugby Football Club YY
Pioneer Football ClubY
Sydney 1904.png Pirates Football ClubYY
Randwick 1893.png Randwick Football Club Y
Redfern Cambridge.png Redfern Cambridge Football ClubY
Redfern Norwood Football ClubY
Redfern Waratah.png Redfern Waratah Football ClubY
Balmain 1874.svg Richmond Football ClubYY
Rockdale Football ClubY
Rookwood Football ClubY
Rosegrove Football ClubY
Royal Football ClubY
Royal Oaks Football ClubY
Ryde Football ClubY
Shamrock Football ClubY
South Sydney Juniors.png South Sydney Juniors Football ClubY
St Mary's Union ClubY
Strathfield Football ClubY
Summer Hill Oaklands Football ClubYY
University 1865.png Sydney University Football Club YYY
Toxteth Football ClubY
Victoria Football ClubY
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo Football ClubYY
Warren Football ClubY
Waverley Football ClubY
Wentworth Football ClubY
Willoughby Federal Football ClubY
Willoughby Oaks Football ClubY
Windsor Football ClubY
Woollahra Football ClubY
Woollahra Junior Football ClubY

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References

  1. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 29 April 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  2. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 2 September 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 12 August 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  4. 1 2 Paddington forfeited their game against Wentworth.
  5. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1 July 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 11 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 "THE ASSOCIATION CUP FINAL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 8 July 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 15 July 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 26 August 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  9. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 9 September 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 27 May 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Untitled". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 2 September 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 16 September 1896. p. 8. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
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