1899 Metropolitan Rugby Union season

Last updated

1899 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration6 May to 30 September
Teams8
Premiers Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo (7th title)
Minor Premiers Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo (4th title)
Runners-up Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick
Wooden spoon Parramatta
Top point-scorer(s) Wallaroo Colours.svg Lonnie Spragg (60)
Top try-scorer(s) Wallaroo Colours.svg Charlie White (11)
Second Grade
Number of teams14
PremiersGlebe
Runners-up Balmain 1874.svg South Sydney
Third Grade
Number of teams17
PremiersForest Lodge Cambridge
Runners-upWaverley Oaks

The 1899 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 26th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. It was the last season run for independent clubs who took their players from across the city. Eight clubs competed from May till September 1899. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Wallaroo. Wallaroo were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the table.

Contents

Teams

Seven clubs contested the season. Paddington and Burwood were missing from the Senior grade having been disbanded during the previous season. Parramatta returned to the Premiership for the first time since 1894. Marrickville and Buccaneer both stepped up from the First Junior to the Senior grade. Marrickville were the current First Junior Premiers. [1]

Buccaneer

Formed c.1898
Captain: Unknown

Marrickville

Formed c.1891
Captain: Unknown

 Parramatta

Formed c.1879
Captain: Unknown

Sydney 1904.png
Pirates

Formed c.1889
Captain: James Carson

Randwick Original Colours.png
Randwick

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

Sydney

Formed c.1898
Captain: William Hardcastle

Uni jersey.svg
Sydney University

Formed on 19 August 1865
Ground: University Oval
Captain: Harry Wood

Wallaroo Colours.svg
Wallaroo

Formed c.1870
Captain: Paddy Lane

Season summary

The 1899 Sydney Rugby Premiership saw the Wallaroo Football Club win the premiership by four points. The season finished much later than usual due to representative games and poor weather. As a result, the final round of the regular season was canceled in order to play out the finals for the two trophies. This did not effect the results of the premiership as Wallaroo were already too far ahead to be beaten and the finals were not included in the premiership. [2]

According to the club captain, Paddy Lane, Wallaroo fielded their best all-round team. Much of the scoring came from the back row with Alfonso Spragg, Charlie White, Iggy O'Donnell, John Futter and Frank Row scoring 32 of the teams tries. The team experienced good fortune to not have any major injuries during the season despite many of the team playing representatives games in addition to club games. Wallaroo won two out of the three awards for the season, with the team winning the Premiership and the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy. They surprisingly lost the Agricultural Society Trophy final, only their second loss of the season. [3]

Randwick began the season with an impressive record. They were unbeaten until the eleventh round. This included inflicting the only loss for Wallaroo during the regular season, beating them by one point. The result was reversed when Wallaroo ended Randwick's unbeaten run, winning 11 points to nil. From there, Randwick won only one game in their last four, including fielding only 13 players in the Sydney Cricket Ground semi-final.

As in previous seasons, the Pirates Football Club came along with great dash and strength towards the end of the season. During the regular season games, the team had only won five games. This resulted in them not making the semi-finals for the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy. However, they made their presence felt during the Agricultural Society Trophy games, winning all of the matches to the final and winning the final brilliantly. This was the third year in a row that the team had won the Agricultural Society Trophy. [4]

Ladder

TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo13120101895713224
2 Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick 139220115565920
3Sydney139040140815918
4Marrickville137240128794916
5 Sydney 1904.png Pirates13535082552713
6Buccaneer13319087162-757
7 University 1865.png Sydney University 1330100113157-446
8 Parramatta 130013042249-2070

[5]

Ladder progression

Team12345678910111213
1 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo224681012141618202224
2 Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick 246791113141618181820
3Sydney246881010121212141618
4Marrickville022446891012141416
5 Sydney 1904.png Pirates24457778911111313
6Buccaneer0000222355577
7 University 1865.png Sydney University 0022224444666
8 Parramatta 0000000000000

Trophy finals

Even though the premiership was decided at the end of the regular games, a finals series was organised. The games were not included in the premiership results. Two trophies were played for at the end of the season: the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy and the Agricultural Society Trophy.

Finals week 1, 16 September

SCG Trophy semi-finals
1 Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo21
4Marrickville4
2 Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick 0
3Sydney3
RAS Trophy qualifying round
5 Sydney 1904.png Pirates3
6Buccaneer0
7 University 1865.png University W
8 Parramatta F

Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy

At the end of the regular season, the top four teams qualified for the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy. The first week of finals saw these teams play in the semi-finals for the SCG Trophy. As was expected, Wallaroo easily won their match against Marrickville to proceed to the final. The form of the victorious team was that which would have rivalled an Intercolonial match. In their semi-final, Randwick were only able to field 13 players with many unfamiliar faces. Despite this, the team held their own with the Wallaroo players barracking from the sidelines. Sydney won the game with a try in the dying moments to proceed to the final to play against Wallaroo. [6]

Agricultural Society Trophy

The remaining four teams played the first games towards the Agricultural Society Trophy. In the first game, the Pirates easily won against the Buccaneers. The winners, like Randwick, also had trouble fielding a team to play with the team fielding many unfamiliar faces. The Buccaneer were eliminated from the final series after their loss to the Pirates. The second qualifying game did not happen as Parramatta forfeited the game and thus the final series. As a result, Sydney University received a forfeit to pass through the first qualifying round. [6]

Finals week 2, 23 September

SCG Trophy final
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo16
Sydney8
RAS Trophy qualifying round
Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick 0
Sydney 1904.png Pirates6
Marrickville0
University 1865.png University 18

Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy

The final for the trophy was closer than had been expected, despite the final scoreline. At the end of the first half, Wallaroo led Sydney by the slim margin of 1 point. And early in the second half, Sydney scored to take the lead 8 to 6. From there, Sydney failed to capitalise on their momentum and, through some mistakes, Wallaroo were able to score twice to win the match and the trophy. [3]

Agricultural Society Trophy

The two second round qualifying games for the Agricultural Society Trophy were almost forgotten. Even the clubs struggled to field their best teams. Marrickville had only 11 players in their game against Sydney University. They were no match for the Varsity and lost the game by a large margin. The Pirates-Randwick game saw many unfamiliar faces participating. The Randwick team were almost entirely made up of reserves and, as a result, lost the match 6 to 0. The two victorious teams, the Pirates and Sydney University were to progress to the semi-finals for the Trophy against the two finalists for the SCG Trophy. [3]

Finals week 3, 27 September

RAS Trophy semi-finals
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo18
University 1865.png University 8
SydneyF
Sydney 1904.png PiratesW

Agricultural Society Trophy

The semi-finals for the Agricultural Society Trophy were played midweek on Wednesday. Much of the interest in the games had been lost as the football season had drawn on longer than was necessary. There had been calls for the Union to cancel the semi's and the final. However, the Union ignored these requests and proceeded with the matches. [3]

The weather on the Wednesday the matches were held turned out to be wet and windy. The first semi-final between Wallaroo and University was entirely one-sided with Wallaroo dominating the scoring. The second semi-final ended in a fiasco. Ten minutes into the game, a Sydney player was ordered off the field for striking an opponent. The player refused to go with the game suspended for approximately ten more minutes. After some discussion, the referee decided to end the match. The entire situation was presented that evening to the Union, who awarded the match to the Pirates. What play was seen during the match indicated that the Pirates were the better team. [4]

Finals week 4, 30 September

Agricultural Society Trophy

RAS Trophy final
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo0
Sydney 1904.png Pirates10

The final for the Agricultural Society Trophy was played between the Premiers, Wallaroo, and the Pirates. The Pirates put a fantastic team in the field, all in sound condition. They had the measure of Wallaroo, demonstrating excellent defence. The team had an answer for each of the plays that Wallaroo had. During the game, Wallaroo had one moment where they were looking like scoring. However, a pass was fumbled, resulting in a lost opportunity. As in previous years, the Pirates had come good at the right time of the year. This was the third consecutive year that the Pirates had won the Agricultural Society Trophy.

Statistics

Points

PlayerPlTGFGPts
1 Wallaroo Colours.svg Lonnie Spragg 11915060
2Hales938138
3 Wallaroo Colours.svg Charlie White 15110137
4C McCoy1377035
5 Wallaroo Colours.svg Paddy Lane17312033
6 Wallaroo Colours.svg Iggy O'Donnell 1765029
7HD Thompson1170125
8 Walter Davis 1580024
9C Light1507223
10 Randwick Original Colours.png Leo Finn1326122

Tries

PlayerPlT
1 Wallaroo Colours.svg Charlie White 1511
2 Wallaroo Colours.svg Lonnie Spragg 119
3 Walter Davis 158
4C McCoy137
5HD Thompson117
6 William Hardcastle 137
7 Wallaroo Colours.svg Iggy O'Donnell 176
8P Hourigan136
9E Quinsey116
10E Shaw145

Lower grades

The MRFU also conducted Second Grade and Third Grade competitions.

Second Grade

The following teams were involved in the Second Grade competition in 1899: Adelphi, Arncliffe, Endeavour, Glebe, Manly Federal, Mosman, Newtown, North Sydney, Permanent Artillery, Redfern Waratah, South Sydney, Sydney University B, Wallaroo II, Waverley. At the conclusion of the season, Glebe and South Sydney faced each other in the final. The game was drawn with a replay organised for a later date. Glebe won the replay 14 to 3 and were declared premiers. [7]

Third Grade

The following teams were involved in the Third Grade competition in 1899: Balmain Carlingford, Bondi, Botany, Burwood, East Sydney, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Hurstville, Manly Wentworth, Newtown II, Pioneer, Strathfield, Sydney University III, Warrigal, Waverley Oaks, Permanent Artillery, South Sydney II, Redfern Waratah II. At the conclusion of the season, Forest Lodge Cambridge beat Waverley Oaks in the final 10 to 6. [8]

Participating clubs

ClubGrade
Sen2nd3rd
Adelphi Football ClubY
Arncliffe Football ClubY
Balmain Carlingford Football ClubY
Bondi Football ClubY
Wests 1920.png Botany Football ClubY
Buccaneer Football ClubY
Burwood Football ClubY
East Sydney.png East Sydney Football ClubY
Endeavour Football ClubY
Forest Lodge Cambridge Football ClubY
Glebe Football ClubY
Hurstville Football ClubY
Manly Federal Football ClubY
Manly Wentworth Football ClubY
Marrickville Football ClubY
Mosman.png Mosman Football ClubY
Newtown Football ClubYY
North Sydney Football ClubY
Parramatta Rugby Football Club Y
Permanent Artillery Football ClubYY
Pioneer Football ClubY
Sydney 1904.png Pirates Football ClubY
Randwick Original Colours.png Randwick Football Club Y
Redfern Waratah.png Redfern Waratah Football ClubYY
Balmain 1874.svg South Sydney Football ClubYY
Strathfield Football ClubY
Sydney Football ClubY
University 1865.png Sydney University Football Club YYY
Wallaroo Colours.svg Wallaroo Football ClubYY
Warrigal Football ClubY
Waverley Football ClubY
Waverley Oaks Football ClubY

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References

  1. ↑ "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 3 May 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 13 September 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "FINISH OF THE FOOTBALL SEASON". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 27 September 1899. p. 1. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. 1 2 "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 4 October 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  5. ↑ "THE "REFEREE" SCORE BOOK". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 13 September 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. 1 2 "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 20 September 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 11 October 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "THE "REFEREE" SCORE BOOK". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 27 September 1899. p. 8. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
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