Match details
The Sydney Cricket Ground was a muddy quagmire with a treacherous patch in the centre which kept the teams evenly matched and the crowd in a fever of excitement until the final whistle. Newspaper reports recorded that 7,000 of the crowd on the hill had jumped the fence during the reserve grade final and invaded the half-empty new member's stand. [4] Towards the end of the first grade match 5,000 people crowded onto the touchline and referee O'Brien had to hold up play until officials were able to get them back twenty yards. [8]
Canterbury's defence was tested during a torrid ten-minute period when St. George hurled themselves at the line from never more than eight yards away. The Berries defence held and the Dragons could not break through. [9]
The Canterbury-Bankstown tactics were to keep the game with the forwards and away from the St George backs. Canterbury hooker Roy Kirkaldy won vital scrums. Bob Farrar, Frank Sponberg and Henry Porter were tireless with Porter's handling and kicking skills on display.
Canterbury Lindsay Johnson opened the scoring taking a penalty goal from an acute angle, while St George fullback Ray Lindwall gave St George their first points converting a penalty goal attempt from near halfway. [10]
Turning defence into attack, Canterbury captain Ron Bailey fielded a St George kick close to his own line and drew in two defenders before slinging the ball out to Bob Jackson. The winger dashed more than 75 yards to beat a despairing dive from Ray Lindwall to score. Johnson converted the try to give Canterbury a 7–2 lead. [9]
Saints were able to level the scores before half time through a try to Jack Lindwall after Jackson had been unable to field a cross-field kick. Jack Lindwall picking the ball up and scoring adjacent to the goal posts. Ray Lindwall converted the try. [9]
In the second half St George pressured the Canterbury line and looked to have gone ahead, but Saints captain-coach Len Kelly was held up over the try line and pushed back into the field of play. They would take the lead instead through another penalty goal to Ray Lindwall. [10]
Two penalty goals to Canterbury's Lindsay Johnson put them in front at the final whistle. [9] Johnson's final goal came after he was illegally tackled and his attempt at goal just scraped over the cross bar to give his team the premiership. [11] [10]
Canterbury-Bankstown (2nd title)
Ray Lindwall (143)
Western Suburbs (8th spoon)
