Fifty Years Ago - Round 11, 1971

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George Peterson's throwback to what was happening this week 50 years ago continues.

Saturday 5th June, saw a return to normality in the NSWRL. Perennial heavyweights and foundation clubs (yes it actually had meaning in 1975 to be a foundation club) South Sydney and Eastern Suburbs squared off in the Match of the Day.   

Respective coaches, Clive Churchill (Rabbits) and Don Furner (Roosters), were already stellar names in the world of Rugby League. Churchill as a player and coach (at Souths) and Furner (as a player and then coach in the Riverina district, especially at Queanbeyan Kangaroos.) 

After 10 matches, Souths were on nine wins and Easts on five.  Alan Clarkson at the Herald declared Souths, "the hottest favourites of the season". He was right. Souths (28) defeated Easts (12), in a six tries to two romp, at the SCG. Played in front of a very disappointing crowd of just 13,072, the match was always Souths to lose, but they were too big, too fast and too good at their jobs. Many sympathised with the Roosters who played without injured front rowers Arthur Beetson and Jim Morgan as well as five-eighth John Brass and Winger Bill Mullins.

Surprisingly, after 20 minutes, the Roosters led 7-nil and their defence was holding up, but, two tries in five minutes to Souths' fullback Ray Brannigan saw them grab an 8-7 lead. A penalty goal stretched that lead to 10-7 at halftime. Early in the 2nd half, Souths ran in three tries in 8 minutes and the match was, as good as over, with Souths leading 23-7. Clarkson heaped praise on Souths Hooker, Elwyn Walters for being the organiser of much of South' attack, feeding the ball to Pittard and Brannigan who grabbed 2 tries each. Despite just one loss, Souths, according to Roosters Coach Furner were "a long way from being a premiership certainty". The Easts mentor famously (and correctly) picked the Rabbitohs as Premiers after just five rounds last year, said that ‘this year they had come back to the field'.

Sunday's five matches concluded the first half of the home and away season and according to Clarkson, Newtown's 23-11 victory over Manly was the biggest upset amongst those first 66 matches.  The visitors, assembled on a shoestring budget compared to Manly's millionaire list, dominated every aspect of the Brookvale Oval clash, leaving Manly coach Ron Wiley complaining about the competence of the referee.  "I can't understand how there can be 8 yards for one team and only 3 for another", he said, as an explanation for his team' poor performance in attack.  Regardless, the "Bluebags" crossed back over the bridge to Henson Park, with two competition points to sit 6th in the race for the finals. The loss knocked Manly off the top of the table.

Cronulla captain-coach Tommy Bishop was at the centre of another violent incident in his team's loss to Canterbury. The Bulldogs won 28-12 scoring six tries to two, but the real talking point was the TWO send-offs. Bishop was marched after an incident behind play was reported by both touch judges. After hearing their reports referee Clive Edwards (who as a deferential 10-year-old, I called uncle Clive) dismissed Bishop and later charged him with "deliberate kneeing and kicking of an opponent". The player that Bishop ‘kicked', Graham Herring, was himself sent off in the 2nd half for a "deliberate stiff arm" tackle. Despite the Herald highlighting the issues of on-field violence and head office decrying "the bad look" of these incidents, the judiciary continue to be one of the busiest, of all the NSWRL committees. Bishop, after pleading not guilty, was suspended for the second time and will miss three matches.

Over at Cumberland Oval, Parramatta defeated Wests 31-15 in a very one-sided match. With seven tries to three, the Eels were always in charge and the 12,103 locals had much to cheer for on a day when their goal kicker was the first to rack up 100 points for the season. Keith Campbell converted five of his team tries taking his season tally to 53 goals (106 points).   

St George defeated Penrith 23-10 at Kogarah-Jubilee Oval in a match that saw a further two players, Harry Eden (Saints) and Ron Clothier (Panthers), sent off by Referee Keith Page. It was reported in Monday's Herald that both players had been cautioned by referee Page who decided, enough was enough after a further ‘clash' between the two.  In this situation the word clash is a substitute for "fight".  It was the 21st minute and the referee had already had to stop the game (on average) every 4 minutes to deal with violent play by either or both players.  Ex-referee Col Pearce was critical of St George, warning that they needed to lift their standard if they are to challenge Souths next week. The dismissal of Clothier hurt the Panthers more (said Pearce) as he was their most creative forward and crucial to winning possession from scrums (ED: Looking back cynically, I can't help thinking that the St George brains trust sent Eden out to deliberately provoke Clothier, and it worked). Both players would later be suspended for one match. 

At the Sports Ground, Balmain defeated Norths 32-13, in a match that Norths probably should have won. After 60 minutes the Bears led 13-10 and according to the Herald they were "playing the most purposeful football" and likely heading for victory.  However, the Tigers roared into life and scored 22 points in the last 16 minutes.  A try to Fullback Michael Ross was the spark for the Leichardt mob who (at the half-way mark) are sitting in fifth place with 6 wins from 11 matches.   

Next Saturday, St George take their home match against front runners Souths to the SCG, while, as a public holiday offering by the bosses at Phillip St, Parramatta host Manly at the same venue.