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 THE
EARLY YEARS OF ST GEORGE: 1921 - 1925
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In
the Big League
1921:
St George team,
1921 (click on pic for larger
image) |
Persistence
finally paid off for St George when they
were admitted into the Big League in 1921.
Monday 7 February 1921,
Kogarah School of Arts: A meeting
was held and the following officers
were elected: patron G.B. Holt; president
A.W. Yager; vice-presidents Wentworth,
Harper, Judd, Munn, Gosling, Langton,
Bowley, Gent, Farmer and Gluyas; secretary
J. McGraw; treasurer A. Moymow; representatives
to the NSWRL J. McGraw and A. Clark, selectors
McCue, Gilbert, Tye, McMurtrie, Jordan,
Harper, Burt.
It was decided to enter a 1st grade and
2nd grade team. A 3rd grade team to be
considered at a later date.
Sunday 6 March 1921, Sans Souci:
Practice match amongst players. The advertised
session came with the following message:
"Intending players are reminded to
bring their guernseys, knickers, hose
and boots, and be punctual, or they might
be left."
Tuesday 8 March 1921, Drill Hall,
Arncliffe: Training session in a poorly
lit hall. The team had no proper training
facilities and Council administration
had made it difficult for the newly formed
club to use the Hurstville Oval facilities. |
RL
Ladder
1921
(no semis)
| Norths
p |
17 |
| Easts |
15 |
| Glebe |
14 |
| Balmain |
12 |
| Souths |
10 |
| Newtown |
8 |
| St
George |
6 |
| Wests |
6 |
| University |
2 |
(9
ROUNDS)
Saints
'21 record
Win Loss Draw Bye
2W, 6L, 0D, 1B
Pts for/against
For 87 (8th)
Against 124 (7th) |
Saturday
26 March 1921, San Souci: Player
trials with players from North Sydney attending.
Indications are that this was more of a practice
session.
The St George Call ran a report that
the day was well attended by locals and the
trams were packed with people keen to see what
the new team had on offer. It was also reported
that a number of players tired themselves out
and were unable to complete the trials.
Saturday 1 April 1921, Agricultural (Sydney)
Showground: First recorded trial matches.
Three matches: The first match between St George
v Glebe was won by St George 2-0 with a goal
to Tom Killiby.
The second match was a 3-all draw.
The third match was won by Glebe, 6-3 with a
report of a brilliant try from St George half
back, Tommy Burns.
April 1921, Sans Souci: St George players
get together for a 'Possibles vs Probables'
match.
Sunday 16 April 1921, Sans Souci: Final
trial matches. Saints were defeated in all three
matches by South Sydney by 3-0, 10-3 and 14-12.
Reports are that it took the incredible try
scoring skills of South Sydney's Benny Wearing
to win the first two matches for Souths.
For Saints, Tony Redmond and fast running
forward Ernie Lapham scored tries while
fullback Lyall Wall kicked three goals. |
SAINTS'
FIRST PREMIERSHIP MATCH
KICKOFF ON 'ST GEORGES DAY',
1921Saturday,
April 23, 1921. Venue: Sydney Sports Ground.
Kickoff: 3:15pm
 Saints'
first match was coincidentally scheduled for
'St George's Day', 1921. Their opponents were
Glebe, captained by William 'Binghi' Benson
who went on to play for Saints in 1927 and
featured the mighty Frank 'Chunky' Burge
who would later captain-coach St George.
Herb Gilbert Snr (pic left)
had the honour of being the inaugural first
grade captain and coach. A veteran of 33 years
old, Gilbert was regarded as one of the greatest
centres in the game. His inspiration and experience
brought instant respect to the new club.
Saints went down 4 -3 but kept the more fancied
Glebe tryless.
 George
Carstairs (pic right) had the honour
of scoring Saints' first ever try. A standout
player for St George was forward, Ernie
Lapham who out-performed his rivals.
The inaugural FIRST
GRADE TEAM on the day (with numbers)
Fullback:1- Lyall Wall.
Wing three quarters: 2- George 'Bluey'
Carstairs; 5- Norman Shadlow.
Centre three quarters: 3- Herb Gilbert
(captain-coach); 4- Reg Fusedale.
Halves: 8- Tommy Burns; 9- Frank Gray.
Forwards: 10- Clarrie Tye; 11- Roy 'Bunny'
Bossi; 12- Tony Redmond; 13- Ernie 'Curly'
Lapham; 14- Sid Field; 15- Jack Clark.Reserves:
6- Lew Heuschkel; 7- A. Bossi, 16- F 'Skinny'
Wilkins; 17- J. Morris
The second grade team were also defeated 27-5
by Glebe. First scorers in the earlier match
for Saints were:
R. Jackson (try) and Tom Killiby
(goal).
The Second Grade team: G. Williams, R.
Swanson, G. Turner, H. Harper, H.J. Sherringham,
G. Miller, W. Jordan, T. Killiby, T. Molloy,
H. Antilla, S. Buttel, R. Jackson, A. Clarke
(captain).
2nd grade reserves: Grainger, McMurtrie, Lynch,
Wilson, Leahey.
Pic above: Treasurer,
Arthur Moymow with 1921 Kangaroos, A
'Ricketty Johnston (left) and George
Carstairs. |
SAINTS'
FIRST WIN!
Sydney
Sports Ground, 21 May 1921:
In just their fifth appearance in the
NSWRL first grade, St George have posted their
first ever win by defeating Newtown 11-9.
In the first half, Saints were denied a number
of scoring chances as they wore down a tiring
Newtown defence who were often guilty of infringements
as they tried to hold Saints out.
The referee responded by penalising Newtown
within range of their posts giving St George
fullback, Lyall Wall ample opportunities.
Leading 6-5 at half time, Saints lost the
lead and at one point found themselves with
a 9-6 deficit. But the red and whites hit
back following a spectacular second half try
to winger Norman Shadlow.
In a eventful match, referee Barrow sent off
forwardsTony Redmond (St George) and
Townsend (Newtown) for fighting.
Saints scores soon after following a movement
set up by Ricketty Johnston, Herb
Gilbert and Reg Fusedale, and then
to Shadlow who finished well against the cover
defence to score just five yards in from touch.
With ten minutes to go and the scores locked
up at 9-all, Wall lined up the difficult conversion
attempt from out wide and into the wind. Described
as a 'Bobby Dazzler' (St George Call),
the kick sailed across the uprights and then
veered in enough to add the extras.
In the remaining minutes, Newtown held possession
and attacked the St George line but the Saints'
defence held firm.
Full time score: Saints 11 (Shadlow
try, Wall 4 goals, 7 attempts) bt Newtown
9 (1 try, 3 goals).
SAINTS DEFEAT UNIVERSITY AT FIRST EVER HOME
MATCH
Hurstville Oval, 28 May 1921:
St George, competition nomads in 1921, played
just two home matches throughout the season
due to Hurstville Oval being unfenced.
10,000 were in attendance to see Saints defeat
University 19-16 but only 643 actually paid
to get into the unenclosed ground.
As a result, the gate takings of £34/13/-
were disappointing.
The match itself was an exciting affair which
saw play often swing to both ends of the field.
 At
half time, Uni led 11-6. In the 2nd half,
George Carstairs moved from wing
to five eighth, swapping with Frank Gray
who was having an off day. Both men played
well in the 2nd half, Gray scoring a try,
and Carstairs setting up one for lock Ernie
Wilson who successfully chased a Carstairs'
kick.
Five minutes from fulltime, Saints were
trailing 16-14. Tommy Burns, playing
on the wing, intercepted a pass & found
skipper Herb Gilbert backing up who
found Clarrie Tye (pictured right)
in support on the inside and the front rower
dived over for the match winning try.
Lyall Wall converted to make it 19-16.
It was a classic football moment and the perfect
start to St George's association with Hurstville
Oval.
St
George players gain rep honours
Saints begin
a tradition of providing representative
players with 'Ricketty' Johnson
(half ) and George Carstairs
(winger) selected on the 1921/22 Kangaroo
tour. In the above picture, Carstairs
is circled. This UK tour match photo
taken at Barrow also shows Frank
Burge standing left with arms
folded.
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Saints
and the Goulburn 'blizzard'
July 1921: In what
was the beginning of a long tradition, Saints
ventured south into the Illawarra and beyond
to play what was their second country match.
On a sunny winter's morning, they caught the
Goulburn train via Moss Vale but sunshine
soon gave way to rain and by the time they
arrived at their destination, Goulburn was
enveloped in a snowstorm!
In near blizzard conditions, Goulburn managed
to score three tries and at half time were
in front 13-0. Saints' captain Herb Gilbert,
wanted to change ends immediately and continue
but the freezing, ice-hard pitch was taking
its toll. Despite holding a handy lead, the
locals refused to return to the field, forfeiting
the match to St George.
Earlier in the year, Saints also played in
Bathurst defeating the locals 31-7.1921:
Summary on first year in the Big League:
St George District RLFC successfully completed
their first premiership season with 2 wins,
1 bye and 6 losses. Norths eventually won
the 1921 competition with Saints finishing
7th ahead of Wests and wooden spooners,
University.
The biggest gate was against Norths, St George
receiving £75/2/8 Total income: £700/15/8
($1,401.50). Bonuses £353/6/9 went to
the players.
(average weekly wage for adult males in 1921
was £4/15/10).
The payout night was in a church near where
Arncliffe Scots club now stands. |
RL
Ladder
1922
(top 2 in final)
| Norths
p |
28 |
| Glebe |
28 |
| Easts |
24 |
| Souths |
23 |
| Balmain |
22 |
| Wests |
16 |
| Newtown |
15 |
| University |
14 |
| St
George |
8 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'22 record
Win Loss
Draw Bye
2W, 14L, 0D, 2B
Pts for/against
For 140 (9th)
Against 316 (9th) |
Hard
times to better times
1922:
 Despite
a promising start in 1921,
St George had a terrible second year in the
Sydney Premiership. 1922 saw 18 rounds played,
twice as many as the year before. In one of
St George's biggest ever losses, Glebe thrashed
Saints 41-0. Eventual premiership winners,
Norths handed Saints another hiding 41-8.
On the bright side, Saints scored the biggest
win of the season when they romped all over
University 45-2 but by the season's end, St
George were languishing at the bottom of the
table as wooden spooners.
NEW SIGNING:
Saints signed a new prospect, rugged hooker,
Arthur 'Snowy' Justice (pic right).
1923:
Saints defeat Souths 28-5
Sydney Cricket Ground,
30 June 1923: With
7000 people in attendance, St George scored
six tries to one to defeat premiership front
runners, South Sydney at the SCG. This was
a major win for the new club who for intents
and purposes were showing up for a thrashing.
Saints acquitted themselves well in 1923 and
lost by narrow margins on a number of occasions.
Additionally, Saints appear to have the wood
on University with two more wins in 1923,
bringing their head to head record to 5 -
0. In what has been their best year yet, Saints
finished 7th on 14 points, ahead of Newtown
and University. |
RL
Ladder
1923
(top 2 in final)
| Easts
p |
30 |
| Souths |
30 |
| Balmain |
25 |
| Wests |
22 |
| Norths |
20 |
| Glebe |
16 |
| St
George |
14 |
| Newtown |
14 |
| University |
9 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'23 record
Win Loss
Draw Bye
5W, 11L, 0D, 2B
Pts for/against
For 168 (6th)
Against
236 (8th) |
RL
Ladder
1924
(top 2 in final)
| Balmain
p |
15 |
| Souths |
15 |
| Wests |
10 |
| Glebe |
10 |
| St
George |
10 |
| Norths |
8 |
| Easts |
8 |
| University |
7 |
| Newtown |
7 |
(9
ROUNDS)
Saints
'24 record
Win Loss Draw Bye
3W, 3L, 2D, 1B
Pts for/against
For 94 (6th)
Against 125 (7th) |
1924:
Saints
beat last year's premiers
Sydney
Sports Ground, 14 June 1924: St George
will no longer be taken lightly after their
defeat of 1923 premiership winners, Easts.
Saints held Easts scoreless in their 9-0 win
at the Sports Ground in front of 1500 people.
This year, Saints also had wins over Wests
and Glebe, draws with Newtown and University
plus 2 byes. The 9 round season finishing
with Saints in 5th position.
1925:
Saints best year yet
Marrickville Oval, Arncliffe,
27 June 1925: Saints
have defeated Newtown by 23-12 (5 tries to
2) at Marrickville Oval in front of 3500 people.
The referee was J. Murray.
1925 saw Saints with 5 wins, 5 losses, one
draw and 2 byes.
With the 5th best attack record in the comp,
Saints have had their best year yet.
St George finished the 13 round season
in 5th position. |
RL
Ladder
1925
(no semis)
| Souths
p |
26 |
| Wests |
16 |
| Balmain |
15 |
| Norths |
15 |
| St
George |
15 |
| Glebe |
12 |
| University |
11 |
| Easts |
10 |
| Newtown |
10 |
(13
ROUNDS)
Saints
'25 record
Win Loss Draw Bye
5W, 5L, 1D, 2B
Pts for/against
For 132 (5th)
Against 141 (6th) |
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SAINTS
FIND HOME AT EARL PARK
Earl Park, Arncliffe,
16 May 1925: Since
joining the 1st grade premiership, Saints
were without a true home ground. Hurstville
Oval was not an acceptable football ground
and the search was on for somewhere suitable.
In 1925, St George found a home at Earl
Park in Arncliffe and it soon became a popular
venue for the growing St George support
base.
Their first game at Earl Park on May 16th
was in front of 5,000 people who came to
see Saints defeat Wests 6 - 5, Saints scoring
two tries to one. The referee was W. Neill.
St George had a great year at Earl Park
also defeating University (twice) and Easts.
Saints only loss at Earl in 1925 was to
eventual premiers, Souths in a tight match
which saw Saints score two tries to one
but go down 11-10 in front of 8000 people.
Pic: St George players pose for a photo
shoot at Earl Park
Click
on the pic for larger image
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