1884 Southern Rugby Union Season

1884 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration May 10 to September 7
Teams 5
Premiers Burwood (1st title)
Minor Premiers Burwood (1st title)
Runners-up Sydney University
Wooden Spoon Balmain (1st spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) Harold Baylis (26)
Top try-scorer(s) Charles Robberds (7)

The 1884 Southern Rugby Union season was the 11th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the second competition for the Gardiner Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season lasted from May till September 1884 with the main cup games held between June and August. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Burwood. Burwood were crowned premiers by a committee of the Union.

Teams

Senior Clubs

Five Senior Clubs competed for the Gardiner Challenge Cup. Senior Clubs competed against each other for the Cup and played other games against Junior or Country Clubs. Only the first teams from the Senior Clubs were eligible for the Cup.

Balmain

Formed c.1873
 Captain: C Hawkins
Burwood

Formed c.1876
 Ground: Burwood Park
 Captain: Samuel Chapman
Redfern

Formed 24 May, 1878
 Ground: Redfern Ground, Moore Park
 Captain: George Walker

Sydney University

Formed c.1863
 Ground: University Ground, Moore Park
 Captain: Charles Tange
Wallaroo

Formed c.1870
 Ground: Wallaroo Ground, Moore Park
 Captain: George Graham

[1]

Season Summary

The Sydney Rugby Premiership was still in its infancy in 1884 with many aspects of the championship undeveloped. It was the second year that the Gardiner Challenge Cup was to be given to the winner of the Premiership. As per the previous year, a committee was setup to organise the competition for the Cup. Their task was to arrange the contests and determine the conditions that the Cup would be awarded.[2] However, the matches were rather sporadic with games intermingled between those against Junior Clubs and Country Clubs. Supporters of the game questioned the arrangement of matches and suggested organising rounds with a concluding final.[3] The first games between Senior teams for the Cup were held on 21 June[4] despite many of the clubs having played games since early May against Junior teams.[5] The premiership was again decided by the committee at the conclusion of the season.[6]

The Wallaroo Football Club began their Cup matches with a string of victories. It wasn't until they met Sydney University in a return match that the Wallaroos lost their first game. Unfortunately, they then lost against both Redfern and Burwood in close matches. Against the 'Varsity, Wallaroo had won one game and had lost the second. This was the same against Burwood. Across the entire season, the Club played 15 games, winning 11 of them. Eight of these games were against Senior Clubs with Wallaroo victorious in 5 of them.[5]

The Sydney University Football Club finished the Cup games strong, winning three out of the last four games. Over the season, the 'Varsity played 15 games and won 11. In the Cup matches, the Club played 8 games against the Senior Clubs, winning 5. The 'Varsity lost against Wallaroo and Burwood but were able to reverse the result against Wallaroo in a return match later in the season. A return match against the Burwood Club saw the game end in controversy when a try was awarded near the end of the game. The first umpire for the game declared no try as time had ended, while the second umpire indicated that time was still available.[7] The matter was passed on to the Union who declared the game as unfinished and therefore no result.[6]

The Burwood Football Club enjoyed a successful season. The team played 13 matches, winning 11 of them and losing only 1.[8] Against the Senior Clubs, Burwood played 7 games and won 5. Their only loss all season was against Wallaroo, whom they beat later in the year. After defeating University in their first matchup, their second match ended in controversy and was eventually declared "no result". This decision by the Union gave the Club the Premiership and the Gardiner Challenge Cup.[6] During their matches, Burwood only had 9 points scored against them, indicating their strength in defence.[8]

Ladder

Team Gardiner Challenge Cup Complete Season
Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pld W D L B PF PA PD
1 Burwood 75110539+4413111101659+156
2 Sydney University 851208513+72151113020626+180
3 Wallaroo 850305045+5151104017181+90
4 Redfern 510401251-3911[9]407039104-65
5 Balmain 60060890-826[9]0060890-82
  • It is unclear if a premiership ladder was constructed to show the success of the participating football clubs. The Ladder shown above is calculated using the data collected from the results of the Challenge Cup games.

Statistics

  • Statistics only include Senior games. Some data incomplete.

Points

Player Pl T G FG Pts
1 Harold Baylis 818026
2 Charles Robberd 570014
3 John Wood 750114
4 Henry Osborne 742014
5 Percy Chapman 623013
6 JC Baird 504012
7 Henry Fligg 550010
8 Charles Tange 84008
9 Williamson 51208
10 Paddy Flynn 60028

Tries

Player Pl T
1 Charles Robberd 57
2 John Wood 75
3 Henry Fligg 55
4 Henry Osborne 74
5 Charles Tange 84
6 Leo Neill 73
7 Jack Shaw 63
8 Francis Baylis 83
9 Percy Chapman 62
10 C Hawkins 52

Lower Grades

The Southern Rugby Football Union classified the participating clubs into two groups, Seniors and Juniors. Prior to 1883, all clubs were considered for the Premiership. With the introduction of the Gardiner Challenge Cup, only Senior clubs participated in the competition. The Junior clubs competed with each other, but no award was recognised for their achievements. Matches between Senior and Junior teams were common place, with results in those matches assisting in deciding the final Senior Premiership winner.

Participating Clubs

Club Senior Grade Junior
1st 2nd 1st 2nd
Arfoma Football Club YY
Balmain Football Club YY
Burwood Football Club YY
Cammeray Football Club Y
Clifton Football Club Y
Double Bay Football Club Y
Glebe Football Club Y
Glen Head Football Club YY
Harrowgate Football Club Y
Liverpool Football Club Y
Manly Football Club Y
Newtown Football Club YY
Oaklands Football Club Y
Parramatta Football Club Y
Parramatta Union Club Y
Redfern Football Club YY
Redmyre Football Club Y
Rugby Football Club Y
St. Leonards Football Club YY
Summer Hill Football Club Y
Sydney University Football Club YY
Wallaroo Football Club YY
Waverley Football Club Y
Wellesley Football Club Y

[5]

References

  1. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912). 1884-07-05. p. 29. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 1884-04-29. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  3. ↑ "TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY ℡EGRAPH". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930). 1884-06-17. p. 6. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  4. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930). 1884-06-20. p. 6. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  5. 1 2 3 "The 1884 Season". Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912). 1884-09-27. p. 640. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  6. 1 2 3 "Football". Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912). 1884-10-25. p. 848. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  7. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 1884-08-19. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  8. 1 2 "Football". Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907). 1884-11-15. p. 39. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  9. 1 2 Results incomplete.
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