New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1930
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| New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1930 | |
 Logo of the NSWRFL |
|
| Teams | 8 |
| Premiers |  Western Suburbs (1st title) |
| Minor premiers | Western Suburbs (1st title) |
| Matches played | 60 |
| Points scored | 1721 (average 28.683 per match) |
| Top points scorer(s) | Jim Craig (86 points) |
| Top try scorer(s) |  Morrie Boyle (15 tries) |
The 1930 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the twenty-third season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. Eight teams from across Sydney contested during the season.
Contents |
[edit] Teams
Foundation club Glebe was voted out of the competition by the New South Wales Rugby League General Committee 13 votes to 12 at the end of 1929, having come second last two years in a row. Although the team never won a premiership, it also managed to avoid the wooden spoon every season during its existence. After the decision was made, many fans and local politicians rallied to reverse the decision but to no avail. One reason suggested as to why this occurred include the fact that the area was gradually shifting away from a residential to industrial centre, with the League perhaps believing that there was no future for the game in the area.
As a result of Glebe's omission, the competition was reduced to eight teams, including six of the remaining nine foundation clubs.
- Balmain, formed on January 23, 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
- Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24, 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
- Newtown, formed on January 14, 1908
- North Sydney, formed on February 7, 1908
- South Sydney, formed on January 17, 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
- St. George, formed on November 8, 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts
- Western Suburbs, formed on February 4, 1908
- University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University
[edit] Colours
 Balmain |
 Eastern Suburbs |
 Newtown |
 North Sydney |
 St. George |
 South Sydney |
 University |
 Western Suburbs |
[edit] Season summary
In spite of the reduced number of clubs 1930 was the NSWRL's most drawn out season. Because of representative fixtures and the need for a Grand Final the season didn't end until 4th October.
[edit] Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Suburbs |
14 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 237 | 130 | +107 | 24 |
| 2 | Eastern Suburbs |
14 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 316 | 178 | +138 | 22 |
| 3 |  South Sydney |
14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 234 | 174 | +60 | 18 |
| 4 |  St. George |
14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 161 | 151 | +10 | 14 |
| 5 |  Newtown |
14 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 194 | 176 | +18 | 13 |
| 6 |  Balmain |
14 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 214 | 218 | -4 | 12 |
| 7 |  North Sydney |
14 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 164 | 289 | -125 | 5 |
| 8 |  University |
14 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 117 | 321 | -204 | 4 |
[edit] Finals
In the two semi finals, St. George beat second-placed Eastern Suburbs whilst minor premiers Western Suburbs beat South Sydney. The two winners then played a final in which St. George upset Western Suburbs 14-6, as they previously did in Round 11.
The finals system set in place then forced the final to be replayed, in what was known as the "Right of Challenge". This system ensured that in the event that the minor premiers lost in either the first or second round of the finals, then regardless they would be given a second chance in a premiership decider. With this being the first season where the "Right of Challenge" was exercised, the 1930 decider was thus the first "Grand Final" played in the NSWRL.
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||
| 20 September 1930 - Earl Park | |||||||
| Eastern Suburbs |
10 | ||||||
| St. George |
11 | ||||||
| 27 September 1930 - Sports Ground | |||||||
| Western Suburbs |
6 | ||||||
| St. George |
14 | ||||||
| 20 September 1930 - Sports Ground | |||||||
| Western Suburbs |
9 | ||||||
| South Sydney |
5 | ||||||
[edit] Final
| Western Suburbs Magpies | Position | St George Dragon Slayers |
|---|---|---|
| Frank McMillan | FB | Jack McCormack |
| Alan Brady | WG | Eric Freestone |
| Cliff Pearce | CE | Jack Lennox |
| Ken Sherwood | CE | Walter Greenslands |
| Ray Morris | WG | Benny Martin |
| Jack Rosa | FE | Arnold Traynor |
| Jim Craig (c) | HB | B Hyland |
| Bill Brogan | PR | Harry Flower |
| Bob Lindfield | HK | Arthur Justice (c) |
| C. Rhodes | PR | Reg Schuman |
| Bill Carpenter | SR | Bill Hardman |
| Charlie Cornwell | SR | Jim Wearmouth |
| Frank Matterson | LK | Percy Fairall |
| Jim Craig | Coach | Frank Burge |
Having pipped Eastern Suburbs 11-10 at their home ground of Earl Park on September 20th, Saints continued their good form into the following weekend in the final, defeating minor premiers Western Suburbs 14-6 in front of 16,557 people. The two teams had met twice before during the season with Wests winning the first encounter in May and St George winning the second match in August. Under the previous system, victory in the final would have seen St George declared premiership champions. But in 1930, Wests were allowed a second chance as minor premiers if defeated during the finals.
[edit] Grand Final
The re-match decider was played in front of 12,178 people on October 4th at the Sydney Sports Ground and officiated by referee Lal Deane. St. George led 2-0 early and competed in the first half. But Western Suburbs were a crack outfit and after Saints lost veteran forward, Harry Flower with an arm injury and they skipped away to a 16-2. Wests eventually ran in seven tries and crushed St George 27-2 to take away their first premiership since their 1908 foundation admission to the top grade competition.
It was the final game as a player for Wests captain-coach and versatile representative star Jim Craig.
Western Suburbs 27 (Tries: Alan Brady 3, Jim Craig, Charlie Cornwell, R Morris, C Rhodes. Goals Jim Craig 2, Bill Brogan goals)
defeated
St George 2 (B Hyland goal)
[edit] References
- Rugby League Tables - Notes The World of Rugby League
- Rugby League Tables - Season 1930 The World of Rugby League
- Premiership History and Statistics RL1908
