1898 Metropolitan Rugby Union Season

1898 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration May 14 to August 13
Teams 7
Premiers Pirates (1st title)
Minor Premiers Wallaroo (3rd title)
Runners-up Sydney
Wooden Spoon Paddington (4th spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) LW Appleby (32)
Top try-scorer(s) Harry Blaney (8)
First Junior
Number of teams 10
Premiers Marrickville
Runners-up South Sydney
Second Junior
Number of teams 9
Premiers Glebe
Runners-up Waverley

The 1898 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 25th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. Seven clubs competed from May till August 1898. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by the Pirates. The Pirates were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the table.

Teams

Seven clubs signed up with the Metropolitan Rugby Football Union to play the Senior Premiership. Lost from last season was the Wentworth club. Added to the premiership were two new Senior teams from Burwood and Sydney.[1]

Burwood

Formed on 22 March 1898
 Captain: Unknown
Paddington

Formed c.1897
 Captain: Unknown
Pirates

Formed c.1889
 Captain: James Carson

Randwick

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

 Sydney

Formed c.1898
 Captain: William Hardcastle
Sydney University

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

Wallaroo

Formed c.1870
 Captain: Paddy Lane

Season Summary

The early rounds of the 1898 Sydney Rugby Premiership underwent much upheaval. The first round of games began with 7 teams competing. However, by the second round, Burwood had struck trouble forfeiting their first game of the season (in round one they had the bye). Before round three could get underway, the Burwood club had withdrawn from the Premiership and disbanded. Burwood had not played a single game. This caused the Metropolitan Rugby Football Union to reorganise the draw for the season and readjust the points. Byes accumulated to that point were removed and the forfeit against Sydney University scratched from the ladder. Within two weeks, Paddington had also struck trouble and withdrew from the Premiership. The club disbanded soon after. The two remaining games they were scheduled to play resulted in forfeits being handed to the opposing teams. When the finals began for the two trophies, only five teams were still playing. As a result, Sydney received a bye during the first week.

The Pirates Football Club had been in existence since 1889 and had not much success in finals football. Climbing through the junior grades, they consistently missed out on winning the final prize. When they moved into senior football in 1893, they consistently showed moments of brilliance but lacked the consistency of a season. During the last season, they proved themselves second to Randwick and won the Agricultural Society Trophy only after protesting against winners, Randwick, on the grounds of player eligibility. In 1898, the Pirates steadily improved throughout the season. They lost the SCG Trophy semi final, but won their way through magnificently to the Agricultural Society Trophy final. They were worthy winners of the Premiership with all round skill shown across the paddock.[2]

The Sydney Football Club had a tremendously successful first season in senior football. They began the year winning only one out of their first four games. Despite losing their captain to injury, the team won tough matches against strong teams to make their way into the Agricultural Society final. Unfortunately, they came up against a classy Pirates team and went down 9 points to 3. Runners-up in their first season boded well for the future.[2]

After spending the last four seasons as premiers, the Randwick Football Club found themselves on the wrong end of crowd favour. They began the season with such great potential but with spasmodic training and injuries to key players, the team lacked the success of previous seasons. Their defence was beside none, with the team allowing only seven tries against them all season. Randwick won the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy to salvage a tough year.[2]

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Pirates850319865+3312
2 Sydney841316866+211
3 Randwick842205832+2610
4 Sydney University832306272-108
5 Wallaroo731305046+47
6 Paddington[3]50050863-550
7 Burwood[4]000000000

Ladder Progression

  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round
Team Regular Season MP Finals
1 2 3[5] 4 5 6 W1 W2 W3 W4
1 Pirates0[6] 024466[6]681012
2 Sydney222335[7]5791111
3 Randwick244[8]5666810[9]10
4 Sydney University0[6] 2[10]2[11]3446[6]88[9]8
5 Wallaroo02235[12]777
6 Paddington[3]020[8]00[12]0[7]0
7 Burwood[4]22[10]
  • Ladder include Finals matches.

Trophy Finals

Finals Week 1, 2nd July

SCG Trophy Semi Finals
1 Wallaroo0
3 Randwick3
2 Pirates3
4 University13
RAS Trophy Qualifying Round
5SydneyBye

Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy

The top four teams on the ladder qualified to compete for the Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy. Heavy rain caused the semi finals to be played under difficult conditions. In the first game, Randwick played what was regarded as their best performance so far in the season. As a result, they beat the more fancied Wallaroo team 3 points to nil. The University-Pirates game was an example of good wet weather football. University scored 10 points to nil in the second half of the game to win the contest 13 points to 3. Both winning teams progressed to the final for the trophy.[13]

Agricultural Society Trophy

After missing out on playing for the SCG Trophy, the Sydney Football Club still qualified for the Agricultural Society Trophy. As no other teams were still in existence to contend for the trophy, Sydney was given a bye and moved on to the next week of finals.[13]

Finals Week 2, 9th, 14th July

SCG Trophy FinalRpy
Randwick315
University33
RAS Trophy Qualifying Round
Wallaroo5
Sydney15
PiratesBye

Sydney Cricket Ground Trophy

The largest crowd in club football was in attendance for the final for the trophy on Saturday, 9th. The two teams, University and Randwick, were evenly matched and played an exciting game. The match resulted in a scoreless draw. As a result, the game was replayed on the following Thursday, 14th.[14]

A perfect, warm afternoon saw approximately 3000 attend the replay final. The game was an easy win for Randwick winning 15 to 3. University failed, unlike previous games against Randwick, to win the ball in the scrum. This resulted in the winning team having plenty of time to create scoring opportunities. The win gave Randwick their fourth SCG Trophy, the third in a row.[15]

Agricultural Society Trophy

With the Pirates receiving a bye, only one game was played towards the Agricultural Society Trophy on Saturday, 9th. Wallaroo met the young Sydney club at the Agricultural Society Ground. The Sydney forwards controlled the ball in the scrum using dribbling rushes. This resulted in a win to the team 15 points to 5. Some rough play occurred near the end of the game which later saw Wallaroo protest the result on the grounds of incompetence on the part of the referee. The Union dismissed the protest and Wallaroo were eliminated from the competition.[14]

Finals Week 3, 6th August

RAS Trophy Semi Finals
Randwick3
Pirates6
Sydney19
University0

Agricultural Society Trophy

The premiership was interrupted for a few weeks to play the Intercolonial matches, NSW v. Queensland. As a result, the semi finals for the Agricultural Society Trophy were not played until Saturday, 6 August. The first semi saw the Premiers, Randwick, defeated by the Pirates 6 points to 3. Overall, the game disappointed with only one try each. A penalty goal gave the Pirates the win with them progressing to the final. The second semi resulted in an astonishing win for Sydney, 19 to nil. The University team played without their entire regular three-quarter line due to a measles epidemic. Sydney were the stronger team, progressing to meet the Pirates in the final.[16]

Finals Week 4, 13th August

RAS Trophy Final
Sydney3
Pirates9

Agricultural Society Trophy

The final was played in wonderful warm weather and attracted a sizeable crowd of 6000. Both teams, the Pirates and Sydney, played strong games. There was little to differ between the two forward packs. The Pirates had the stronger backs, which assisted in giving them the win, 9 to 3. Once again, both teams scored a try, with the Pirates winning the match with two penalty goals. With this victory, the Pirates won the trophy for the second year. They were also awarded their first Premiership.[2]

Statistics

Points

Player Pl T G FG Pts
1 LW Appleby 7014032
2 Harry Blaney 880024
3 Lonnie Spragg 643018
4 Walsh 917018
5 William Hardcastle 550015
6 John Conlon 840012
7 Rich 522010
8 Charlie Evans 93009
9 Fred Henlen 93009
10 Ernest McMahon 73009

Tries

Player Pl T
1 Harry Blaney 88
2 William Hardcastle 55
3 Lonnie Spragg 64
4 John Conlon 84
5 Charlie Evans 93
6 Fred Henlen 93
7 Ernest McMahon 73
8 Syd Miller 93
9 Rich 52
10 Budgett 72
  • Statistics include Finals matches.

Lower Grades

The MRFU also conducted three junior competitions: First Juniors, Second Juniors and Third Juniors.

First Juniors

Nine clubs initially signed up for the First Junior Premiership. These were: Bulwara, Marrickville, Buccaneer, Manly Federal, Adelphi, Rockdale, North Sydney, Newtown and South Sydney.[1] By the time of the first round, Wallaroo II had joined the competition making 10 teams. During the season, both North Sydney and Bulwara withdrew from the competition leaving only 8 teams competing for a spot in the finals. At the conclusion of the regular games, South Sydney, Rockdale, Newtown and Marrickville qualified for the semi finals.[17] The season ended with Marrickville winning the final against South Sydney 5 points to nil and being declared Premiers.[2]

Second Juniors

In 1898, the Second Junior Premiership saw 9 teams sign up. These were: Endeavour, Newtown Orlando, Redfern Waratah, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Waverley, Homebush, University II, Glebe and Gladesville.[1] By the end of the regular games, Forest Lodge Cambridge had withdrawn from the competition leaving 8 teams. Redfern Waratah and Glebe were tied at the top of the ladder with 6 wins and a draw each. The two teams faced Waverley and Newtown Orlando in the semi finals.[18] The final saw Glebe beat Waverley 13 to 5 at the Burwood Cricket Ground. Glebe were declared Premiers with an unbeaten record winning 8 of their matches and drawing 1.[15]

Third Juniors

The 14 teams that signed up for the Third Junior Premiership were: Arncliffe, Botany, Endeavour II, East Sydney, Marrickville B, Summer Hill Oaklands, Victoria, Granville Royal, Willoughby Federals, Newtown Avenue, Buccaneer II, Forest Lodge Cambridge II, South Sydney B, Alexandria Premier.[1] At the conclusion of the regular games, Botany, Granville Royal, Willoughby Federals and Forest Lodge Cambridge II qualified for the semi finals.[19] The final was played between Botany and Willoughby Federals which resulted in a scoreless draw. The game was replayed with Botany winning the game and the Premiership.

Participating Clubs

Club Senior Grade Junior Grade
1st 2nd 3rd
Adelphi Football ClubY
Alexandria Premier Football ClubY
Arncliffe Football ClubY
Botany Football ClubY
Buccaneer Football ClubYY
Bulwara Football ClubY
Burwood Football ClubY
East Sydney Football ClubY
Endeavour Football ClubYY
Forest Lodge Cambridge Football ClubYY
Gladesville Football ClubY
Glebe Football ClubY
Granville Royal Football ClubY
Homebush Football ClubY
Manly Federal Football ClubY
Marrickville Football ClubYY
Newtown Football ClubY
Newtown Avenue Football ClubY
Newtown Orlando Football ClubY
North Sydney Football ClubY
Paddington Football ClubY
Pirates Football ClubY
Randwick Football ClubY
Redfern Waratah Football ClubY
Rockdale Football ClubY
South Sydney Football ClubYY
Summer Hill Oaklands Football ClubY
Sydney Football ClubY
Sydney University Football ClubYY
Victoria Football ClubY
Wallaroo Football ClubYY
Waverley Football ClubY
Willoughby Federal Football ClubY

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-04-27. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-06-25.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-08-17. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  3. 1 2 Paddington disbanded their club after 4 rounds of the premiership. All further games were declared forfeits.
  4. 1 2 Burwood disbanded their club without playing a game. As a result the draw was rewritten resulting in byes and forfeits being dropped.
  5. ↑ Points and draw rewritten after Burwood's withdrawal.
  6. 1 2 3 4 The game scheduled for round 1 between Pirates and University was postponed due to grounds being unfit to play. The game was rescheduled for after the regular rounds. Therefore the points allocated for the win were not applied until the end of the regular season.
  7. 1 2 Paddington forfeited their game against Sydney.
  8. 1 2 Bye withdrawn.
  9. 1 2 SCG Trophy Final between Randwick and University ended in a draw. The game was replayed later in the week with the draw removed from the results.
  10. 1 2 Burwood forfeited their game against University.
  11. ↑ Lost win from Burwood's forfeit.
  12. 1 2 Paddington forfeited their game against Wallaroo.
  13. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-07-06. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  14. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-07-13. p. 4. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  15. 1 2 "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-07-20. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  16. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-08-10. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  17. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-08-03. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  18. ↑ "JUNIOR ITEMS". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-06-29. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  19. ↑ "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 1898-08-24. p. 8. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.