|
|
 |
|
WAR AND PEACE
III: 1950 - 1955
1950:
SAINTS LEAVE RUN TOO LATE
NEW HOME GROUND AT KOGARAH
In 1950 Saints left Hurstville and
moved to Kogarah
|
Kogarah
Oval, 26 August 1950: Despite a late charge for the
playoffs, St George were unable to qualify for the semi-finals
of 1950.
In the round 18 match at Kogarah, Saints
hammered Easts 40-15. Saints also had victories over Norths
(32-10), Balmain (31-10) and a 15-all draw with Parramatta
coming into the semis. But it wasn't enough to make the
top four with St George ending in 5th position
on 21 points; just behind Wests on 22 points.
The season's leading try scorer was Ron Roberts
(13 tries) for the second year running.
McRITCHIE & FACER RETIRE FROM FIRST
GRADE
1950 was the last year for Doug McRitchie, a local
junior, Doug McRitchie was captain of St George in 1947
& 1948. An unselfish player, Doug perfected centre
defence and gave great service to his outside backs, only
scoring one try for himself in 81 matches. He was a NSW
rep in 1948. He was also a Kangaroo on a number of occasions
(four Tests) and appeared in the historic 1950 third Test
match against Gt Britain. It
was McRitchie who made the initial break which led to
Saints team mate, Ron Roberts scoring the historic
Ashes winning try of 1950.
McRitchie later joined Queanbeyan as captain-coach on
a contract which at the the time was the biggest ever
offered to a Sydney based player.
One year after playing in Saints' second
premiership winning side, Frank Facer has retired
from Rugby League as a player. He will however make his
mark elsewhere as he becomes involved with club administration.
In other news, 1950 was also the year that
forward Norm 'Sticks' Provan
was graded with St George.
|
RL
Ladder
1950
(top 4 in semis)
| Souths
p |
28 |
| Balmain |
26 |
| Newtown |
24 |
| Wests |
22 |
| St
George |
21 |
| Canterbury |
18 |
| Easts |
14 |
| Manly |
12 |
| Parramatta |
9 |
| Norths |
6 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'50 record
Win Loss Draw
9W, 6L, 3D
Pts for/against
For 336 (2nd)
Against 261 (4th) |
Ron Roberts scores the
winning try in the SCG mud giving Australia the
Ashes for the first time in 30 years.
This try was rated the single most important moment
in the code's history by a
'Rugby League Week' poll. |
ROBERTS
SCORES HISTORY MAKING TRY
 Third
Rugby League Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, 1950: Australia
has won the Ashes defeating Great Britain in the series
deciding Test of 1950. In atrocious conditions which saw
40 tons of sand dumped on the muddy pitch, both sides
grafted out little territory.
With 14 minutes to go, it was just 2-all.
Wests' halfback Keith Holman ignored the mud underfoot
and sent the ball wide which saw Doug McRitchie
break the defensive line. With quick hands that defied
the conditions, the Australians suddenly had an overlap.
Ron Roberts caught a long floating pass and set
sail for the try-line, scampering 30 yards through the
slosh to crash over in the corner. Roberts had just scored
the only try of the match to give Clive Churchill’s
Australia a 5-2 win and an Ashes victory for the first
time in 30 years.
It was a sensational moment that brought the house down.
There were scenes of hats and umbrellas being thrown into
the air. There were men kissing the SCG mud while others
made souvenirs of corner posts, flags and buckets. The
pandemonium wasn’t just restricted to the mob as
a touch judge claimed the ball.
The father of Australian Rugby League, James Giltinan
expressed his joy that he had lived long enough to see
Australia win back the Ashes. Aged 84, J.J. Giltinan passed
away a few weeks later. The end result was that Australia
had turned around a generation of loss and Ron Roberts
was elevated to legendary status. More:
Ron Roberts (2003).
|
'ILLAWARRA'
TEAM BEATS GREAT BRITAIN IN 1950
The might of Southern
Division football was evident once again when they defeated
Great Britain 18-11.
The giant killers of 1950 |
1951:
ST GEORGE KNOCKED OUT IN FINAL
 Sydney
Cricket Ground, 15 September 1951: Saints ended their
semis run going down 18-8 to Manly in the preliminary final.
1951 was dominated by Souths who slaughtered Manly a week
later in the Grand Final 42-14. Minor premiers, Souths were
on 33 pts after 18 rounds with the nearest team, Manly on
22 pts. Saints position on the ladder was 3rd with
21 pts. St George and Souths met three times at the SCG
in 1951 with a 16-all draw being the result in the 1st encounter
on May 9th. Souths then beat Saints 22-16 on Aug 11th but
the South Sydney's '51 campaign took a jolt on Sept
1st when Saints thrashed the favourites 35-8 in the major
semi-final.
 The
year also saw Noel Pidding achieve greatness when
he became the first St George player to score 200 points
at Test level with 14 tries and 79 goals.
It was also the the first year in first grade for second
rower, Norm Provan. Lanky and raw boned, 'Sticks'
played 20 games in his debut year, scoring five tries. In
2001, Norm's portrait (pic above right) still had pride
of place near the entrance in St George Leagues Club.
JJ GILTINAN SHIELD
In 1951, a tradition began with the J.J. Giltinan Shield
being introduced as the premiership shield to be awarded
to the season premiers.
It was named after Australian Rugby League pioneer James
Giltinan, the 'father of rugby league', who passed away
in 1950. |
1951
(top 4 in semis)
| Souths
p |
33 |
| Manly |
22 |
| St
George |
21 |
| Wests |
20 |
| Easts |
18 |
| Parramatta |
18 |
| Canterbury |
14 |
| Newtown |
12 |
| Balmain |
12 |
| Norths |
10 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'51 record
Win
Loss Draw
10W, 7L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 374 (3rd)
Against 251 (2nd)
|
1952:
DRAGONS 2ND ON LADDER
 Kogarah,
23 August 1952: St George have completed 18 rounds in
2nd position on the ladder with 26 pts following
their defeat of cellar dwellers, Parramatta by 34-8. Unfortunately,
Saints were unable to push on being downed 21-9 by Norths
in the minor semi final on 6th September at the SCG.
Noel Pidding (pictured) toured
as a Kangaroo in '52 playing in 22 tour matches (inc.
five Tests) scoring 18 tries + 87 goals for a personal tally
of 228 points (av 10.36 per game)
- the second highest ever on a Kangaroo tour.
The highest ever tally being attained by Dave Brown
who scored 258 points (10 tries. 114 goals) but did so in
32 tour matches. (av 8.06 per game) Given the average
/ game was Noel Pidding the greatest Kangaroo ever?
Matt McCoy suffered a knee injury which
has seen the end to his first grade career. Originally from
Bega NSW, the robust St George centre played 65 games scoring 26
tries, 65 goals (208 pts) as well as touring New Zealand
in 1949 playing in two Tests.
Saints
lost another great player in '52 when Norman 'Johnny'
Hawke decided to call it a day after 56 games with the
Dragons between 1949-52. Originally from Canberra, Hawke
was a '48 Kangaroo and NSW rep before becoming an
inspirational premiership winning captain for the Saints
in 1949. At five eighth, he dictated play and was largely
responsible for Saints winning their 2nd Grand Final in
1949. He has accepted the job of captain coach of Kyogle
to see out his footballing career.
'Killer' Ken Kearney, a tough and cunning
Hooker, joined Saints in 1952. The former W.W.II RAAF serviceman
was noted as being a ruthless professional. Kearney, a former
Rugby Union player represented Australia with the Wallabies
in 7 Tests before joining Rugby League in England in 1948.
He was a 1952 Kangaroo.
|
1952
(top 4 in semis)
| Wests
p |
29 |
| St
George |
26 |
| Souths |
24 |
| Norths |
22 |
| Manly |
22 |
| Balmain |
16 |
| Newtown |
12 |
| Easts |
12 |
| Canterbury |
11 |
| Parramatta |
6 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'52 record
Win
Loss Draw
13W, 5L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 377 (2nd)
Against 279 (6th) |
1953:
SAINTS
THRASHED IN UPSET
Brookvale Oval, 6 June 1953: In
one of the biggest upsets since W.W.II, Manly-Warringah
have thrashed St George 36-0 in front of an overjoyed
crowd at Brookvale Oval.
SAINTS
RUNNERS-UP IN '53
 Sydney
Cricket Ground, 12 September 1953: After 18 rounds
of football, Saints were positioned 2nd on the ladder
with 22pts behind Souths on 23 points. 1953 saw a
brief return to 'sudden death' semis. Saints defeated
Easts in the minor semi by 25-7 on September 5. However,
Saints went down in the Final to Souths by 31-12.
St George hooker, Ken Kearney (pic
left) was criticised for the loss and was to receive more
criticism over the next two years as Saints were constantly
copping a hiding in the penalty count due to Kearney consistently
feuding with the game's No.1 referee, Darcy Lawler.
LAST SEASON FOR NOEL PIDDING
Noel Pidding leaves Saints to return
to Maitland but not before playing for Aust again against
NZ. His career as a deceptive fullback / winger and exceptional
goal kicker also continued when he was selected to play
in the 1954 World Cup and Test series (against GB). Whilst
in Maitland, he was selected to play for NSW, scoring
67 pts in 4 matches. He later played 1½ seasons
with Easts before finally hanging up his boots.
In other news, fullback, Doug Fleming
has indicated that he will sit out 1954.
|
1953
(top 4 in semis)
| Souths
p |
23 |
| St
George |
22 |
| Norths |
21 |
| Easts |
21 |
| Newtown |
20 |
| Canterbury |
20 |
| Parramatta |
17 |
| Balmain |
14 |
| Manly |
12 |
| Wests |
10 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'53 record
Win
Loss Draw
11W, 7L, 0D
Pts for/against
For 313 (4th)
Against 289 (4th) |
1954:
 SAINTS
DEFEATED IN PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sydney Cricket Ground, 11 September 1954:
Newtown have defeated St George 27-13 in the preliminary
final thus ending Saints' 1954 campaign. Saints finished
18 rounds of football in 3rd position on 23 points.
1954 was the first year for, Bobby Bugden
(pictured). The little halfback had an immediate impact.
NEW SEMIS SYSTEM
In 1954
the grand final became mandatory in a new semi finals system
where the minor premiers were no longer guaranteed a grand
final berth. Instead, the minor premiers and the 2nd place
getters would play in the major semi
final and the winner would qualify for the grand final.
The loser would get one last chance in the preliminary final
against the winner of the minor semi which is contested
by the 3rd and 4th place getters.
 FRANK
JOHNSON RETIRES FROM RUGBY LEAGUE
Frank Johnson (picture) has played his last year
with Newtown. A popular hooker, Frank originally played
with Port Kembla before playing 23 games with St George
in 1944-45. He represented Country in 1940, 41, 42, 43 &
46. He also captain-coached Wollongong in 1946. In 1947,
Frank played for NSW and in 1948 toured with the Kangaroos.
He also represented Southern Division against Great Britain.
In later years, Frank Johnson was awarded an OAM for his
tireless services to the game for 50 years. Born 1922, Johnson
passed away in 1993. |
1954
(top 4 in semis)
| Newtown |
32 |
| Souths
p |
29 |
| St
George |
23 |
| Norths |
22 |
| Manly |
21 |
| Balmain |
19 |
| Wests |
13 |
| Canterbury |
8 |
| Easts |
7 |
| Parramatta |
6 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'54 record
Win
Loss Draw
11W, 6L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 345 (6th)
Against 292 (3rd)
|
Getting
closer...
1955:
SAINTS
RUNNERS UP AGAIN
NSWRL Club Champions
Sydney Cricket Ground, 10 September 1955: Saints have
been defeated yet again just short of qualifying for the
grand final when they were overcome by Souths 18-12 in the
preliminary final.
Saints finished up in
2nd position on the ladder after 18 rounds of the
competition.
The season was marked
by Souths winning 11 sudden death matches in a row (the
last four without Clive Churchill) to claim the 1955
premiership.
 For
four seasons in a row, Saints have been agonisingly close
to snaring a third premiership. In
fact, Saints won the 1955 Club Championship with teams from
all three grades making the semis.
Top scorer for Saints
in 1955 was fullback, Doug Fleming (pic right) who
scored one try, 87 goals for 177 pts.
NORM TIPPING APPOINTED COACH
The
big news for Saints was the replacement of Ken Kearney
as coach. The new coach for 1956 will be Norm
Tipping. Tipping had earlier coached Saints in the 1953
Grand Final loss but was replaced by Kearney for 1954 and
1955.
|
1955
(top 4 in semis)
| Newtown |
29 |
| St
George |
28 |
| Manly |
23 |
| Souths
p |
22 |
| Norths |
20 |
| Easts |
17 |
| Balmain |
17 |
| Parramatta |
10 |
| Canterbury |
8 |
| Wests |
6 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'55 record
Win
Loss Draw
14W, 4L, 0D
Pts for/against
For 396 (1st)
Against 247 (3rd)
|
|
