Fifty Years Ago - Round 13, 1971

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George's weekly column looking back at what was happening fifty years ago this week continues - this week we look back at Round 13 of the 1971 NSWRFL season.

On Saturday June 20, Manly (12) defeated Easts (7) in the ‘match of the round', at the SCG. The match was described in headlines, as "Woeful! and Drab".  

Alan Clarkson who is usually positive about league and it players wrote; "Rugby League is a game of skill and speed. Yesterday it was turned into an unflattering contest of errors - an unskilled maul that tested the patience of everyone there!" With the brilliant Bob Fulton on the sidelines, Manly struggled especially when Malcolm Reilly went down with a leg injury.  It was just before half-time and Reilly was wheeled off on a trolly into the sheds.  He did not return and it would be days before he was cleared of serious injury.  The result for the Roosters became the talking point as many believed that they needed to defeat Manly to stay in striking distance of the final four. Clarkson wrote "they (Easts) were pathetic".  Winning the scrums 13 - 4 (5 - 0 in the 2nd half) the Roosters dominated possession but made far too many errors to ever threaten the Manly defence.  One try each was scored by the 25th minute and it was no surprise when fans of BOTH teams started leaving midway through the 2nd half.  Only a few thousand diehards (of the 17,094) were left at full time.  

Five matches were played on Sunday.  

At Cumberland Oval, Les Johns - a cult hero at Canterbury - denied the partisan crowd (16,443) the win they had expected.  Canterbury (14) defeated Parramatta (13) and the visitors' fullback - and it must be said, the referee's whistle - combined to keep the match closer than the statistics suggested.   The Eels scored 3 tries to 1 (two before oranges) but at half time, the Berries still led 10 - 8 after five penalty goals kicked by Johns.  Just one minute into the second half the mercurial Johns collected a clearing kick just inside his own half, eluded three defenders who tried to shut him down and raced downfield.  Ten yards from the line he was surrounded once more by multiple defenders, flick passed to Neville Hornery who scored in the corner.  Johns missed the conversion but the lead was stretched to 13 - 8.  The next addition to the scoreboard was a Canterbury field goal by - yes you guessed it - Les Johns.  The Berries now led 14 - 8 and would not be headed. Parramatta scored one more converted try but it was not enough.  Dropped balls and a forward pass denied the Eels the opportunity to steal the match.   

Over at the Sydney Sports Ground, competition co-leaders South Sydney (35) thrashed Balmain (9) in a one-sided match dominated by Souths big men.  John Sattler and Bob McCarthy led their forwards well, but for 70 minutes, the match was second rate, at best.  With one try and three goals, Balmain had led 9 - 6 at half time but (it seemed) that when Souths decided to up their performance, there was no stopping them.  After 30 dour second half minutes the Redfern boys had added 8 points to lead 14 - 9.  Then in a blistering last 10 minutes they added 21 points to finish the day with 9 tries.  Dennis Pittard and Keith Edwards scored two tries each, with Ron Coote and Bob McCarthy among the other scorers.   

At Kogarah-Jubilee Oval, St George (13) defeated Newtown (11 ) to move past Parramatta into third position on the ladder. The Jack Gibson coached Dragons had waited three months for Billy Smith, who had broken his arm (in five places) in the first match of the season.   Smith had returned earlier (in reserve grade) and he was obviously, ‘short of a gallop' to use racing parlance.  Then ten minutes before half-time, Dragons diminutive half Mark Shulman went down with an ankle injury and the Kogarah fans started chanting ‘bring on Billy'.  Gibson gave in to the crowd and Captain Graham Langlands, advised his teammate to "take it easy" as he ran past.   

The match was getting away from St George when (in the 55th minute) Newtown centre Ron Fogarty scored his third try, stretching the visitors lead to 7, (11 - 4).  However ill discipline and a big dose of luck turned the match in the home teams' favour.  Fogarty's centre partner Brian Moore tossed the ball away in disgust at a ref's decision and was (rightly) penalised.  Langlands attempt at a penalty goal swung wide and Newtown' Alan Maddelena leapt for the ball, but dropped it on the way down, allowing Saints forward Barry Beath to pounce on the ball and score.  At the 65th minute Langlands kicked a 50 yard penalty to tie the scores, 11- 11.  10,000 local fans cheered themselves hoarse as Billy Smith (first) kicked a field goal to take the lead and (second) kicked another to conclude the match.  Billy Smith was back.   

Every season has matches that are not likely to change the overall outcome nor the general direction.  Two matches in this round were more about win bonuses for players than the ladder position of their team.  At Lidcombe Oval 12th placed Wests Magpies (19) defeated 11th placed Norths Bears (17).   After 70 minutes, first Wests and then Norths had delivered bursts of good football, grabbing three tries each and tying the scores at 17 - 17.   Three minutes from time, Wests winger Jon Clark kicked a penalty goal and once again, the Bears had found a way to concede the two competition points.  Locals went home smiling after the win.  The club used the opportunity to make presentations to two players.  Hooker Ken Stonestreet was given a plaque to mark his 100th, 1st grade match and half Tom Raudonikis, was recognised for his selection in the Kangaroo team, that was due to tour NZ.  

Finally,  the Panthers and Sharks battled for bragging rights at Penrith Park.  Penrith 9 defeated Cronulla 5, in a match described by the Herald correspondent, as lacklustre.  One try was all that either team could manage as both struggled for ways to penetrate the defence of their opponents.  In the wash-up, penalty goals to Panthers forward Bruce Ward were the difference between teams that sit equal 8th and 10th on the ladder.