Eric Weissel Oval

Last updated

Eric Weissel Oval
Eric Weissel Oval Panorama.jpg
Eric Weissel Oval
Location Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Coordinates 35°6′37″S147°21′5″E / 35.11028°S 147.35139°E / -35.11028; 147.35139
Capacity 10,000
SurfaceGrass
Opened1959
Closed2007
Tenants
Wagga Magpies RLFC (Group 9),
Wagga Brothers RLFC &
Ladysmith-Forest Hill United RLFC (Group 13)

Eric Weissel Oval was a multi-use stadium in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. It was named after local rugby league footballer Eric Weissel and opened in 1959. [1] It was used mostly for rugby league matches and had a capacity of 10,000 people, with a record crowd of 11,685 recorded on 20 July 1988 for the Australia vs Papua New Guinea as part of the 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup where the Aussies defeated the Kumuls by a then world record score of 70–8. [2] [3] The oval has hosted City vs Country (ARL), National Rugby League premiership and trial games, Brumbies vs Waikato Chiefs (Rugby union). [4]

Contents

Name

The oval was named after Eric Weissel, a state and national representative rugby league five-eighth who played in the 1920s and 1930s. In spite of representative honours and the allure of the Sydney first grade competition Weissel played his entire club football career in the Riverina with five different clubs including Wagga Wagga.

Closure and redevelopment

In June 2004 the owners of the oval, Wagga Wagga Leagues Club went into receivership, [4] however the oval remained open up until 2007. [3] In 2005 Wagga Wagga Leagues Club, Eric Weissel Oval and Allen Staunton Oval were sold to developers. [5] The oval was rezoned from private recreation to residential by the Wagga Wagga City Council on 26 September 2005. [6] In December 2008 the owners of the site, McIntyre Nash Pty Ltd, lodged an application to demolish which includes the removal of fencing, grandstand, change rooms and a broadcast box. [6] The Oval was demolished in 2015 by McIntyre Nash along with the neighbouring leagues club, and the housing development is due to start in 2016.

Notable Rugby League Matches

World Cup

DateHomeScoreAwayRefereeCrowdCompetition
20 July 1988Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 70–8Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea Neville Kesha11,685 1985-1988 Rugby League World Cup

International Tour Matches

DateHomeScoreAwayRefereeCrowdCompetition
26 May 1954 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina26–36 Great Britain colours.svg Great Britain Lions Eric McIlhatton10,732 1954 Great Britain Lions tour
10 July 1974 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina10–36 Great Britain colours.svg Great Britain Lions Graham Barby8,000 1974 Great Britain Lions tour
4 June 1978 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina18–25 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand Kiwis Kevin Riolo3,0001978 New Zealand Rugby League tour
26 June 1979 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina10–37 Great Britain colours.svg Great Britain Lions Noel Bissett8,403 1979 Great Britain Lions tour
11 July 1982 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina3–29 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand Kiwis Ray Collins4,500 1982 New Zealand Rugby League tour
26 June 1984 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina18–22 Great Britain colours.svg Great Britain Lions Bill Foran3,000 1984 Great Britain Lions tour
15 July 1986 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina16–14 New Zealand Kiwis colours.svg New Zealand Kiwis Barry Priest5,000 1986 New Zealand Rugby League tour

City vs Country

DateHomeScoreAwayRefereeCrowdCompetition
10 May 2002 Country colours.svg NSW Country 16–26 City colours.svg NSW City Tim Mander 8,3422002 City vs Country Origin

NSWRL Pre-Season/Midweek Cup

DateHomeScoreAwayRefereeCrowdCompetition
23 April 1975 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 27–19 Canberra colours.svg Monaro ColtsTom Spain3,600 1975 Amco Cup Round 1
Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Berries 21–16 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina BullsLaurie Bruyeres
3 May 1978 Western Suburbs colours.svg Riverina Bulls36–2 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Tom Spain4,400 1978 Amco Cup Round 3
27 March 1985 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 16–6 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Steve Asbury8,500 1985 National Panasonic Cup Round 1
28 February 1988 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters 36–16 Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Mick Stone 6,832 1988 Panasonic Cup Round 1
26 April 1989 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22–10 St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Greg McCallum9,831 1989 Panasonic Cup Round 1
6 March 1991 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 34–6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs Greg McCallum9,0001991 Lotto Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1
1 March 1992 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 14–10 Gold Coast Seagulls colours.svg Gold Coast Seagulls Ian Parnaby9,3201992 Tooheys Challenge Cup
Quarter Finals 1 and 2
Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies 16–14 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Greg McCallum

NRL

DateHomeScoreAwayRefereeCrowdCompetition
16 August 1998 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney City Roosters 34–10 Gold Coast Chargers colours.svg Gold Coast Chargers Paul Simpkins 4,115 1998 NRL season, Round 23

See also

References

  1. Morris, Sherry (1999). Wagga Wagga, a history. Wagga Wagga: Bobby Graham Publishers. p. 259. ISBN   1-875247-12-2.
  2. "Eric Weissel Oval". Austadiums. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Riverina weekend in sport, September 22 and 23". ABC Riverina. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  4. 1 2 Maguire, Daryl (23 February 2005). "Wagga Wagga Electorate Sporting Facilities". Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  5. "New oval owners consider community use". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 June 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
  6. 1 2 Holliday, Rebekah (17 December 2008). "WEISSEL'S LAST STAND". The Daily Advertiser. Retrieved 17 December 2008.