Fifty Years Ago - Round 15, 1971

George Peterson's weekly look at the 1971 NSWRFL season - it's "Fifty Years Ago" - Round 15.

St George (26) defeated Manly (9) in this week's ‘Match of the Round" at the SCG.  Saints four tries to one performance was a very clear indicator from the (Jack Gibson coached) team in 4th place that they are a real and present threat ahead of the finals just 8 weeks away.   

They will be led by yesterday's hero, Graeme Langlands.  Langlands scored Saints first try and kicked 7 goals for a personal total of 17 points.  After the match we discovered that the lanky fullback had played the NZ test match and yesterdays' match with a cracked rib, collected in the round 13 match against Newtown.  "Langlands agreed to have a needle before the game", which was the way the public were informed that a player had needed pain killing injections to facilitate play. Regardless, the praise for Langlands was enthusiastic and warranted, Alan Clarkson at the SMH wrote, "Through his own sheer ability, this great player lifted his team to such a level that they plundered Manly's hard-won reputation and gave them a dreadful hiding."  Former Referee, Col Pearce, had a different take. He blamed the lack of time for Manly to integrate ex-Bears half (Williams) into their set-up; "The little time that half-back Graham Williams had to settle in with his new club, Manly-Warringah, had a lot to do with the team's big defeat by St George at the SCG yesterday" . Of-course, as he admitted, hindsight is 20/20. Pearce went on to say that Langlands had "one of those days, when, everything goes right." 

While St George were giving Manly a lesson, Souths stayed at the top with a seven try to three victory, over Wests.  Souths (35) defeated Wests (17) and Rod Humphries from the Herald told readers that the main issue (out of yesterdays' match) is, how will Souths cope with having a team of test stars to select from, as well as the reserve graders who could rise to the next level when they put on a first- grade jersey.  They have an embarrassment of riches. "It's a nice position to be in!", said Club Secretary Charlie Gibson. 

Sunday's four matches were headlined by the clash between Balmain and Easts, who mathematically, could both still climb into the top four with a string of wins.  After a match with just one try each, Balmain (13) defeated Easts (7).  Balmain winger, Stephen Satterley, playing just his second full-match scored all of Balmain' points with a try and five goals from seven attempts.  The loss sees the Roosters (on 13pts) fall 7 points behind fourth place, Parramatta. The Tigers (16 pts) are only four behind fourth, but play Manly, St George and Parramatta in the next three rounds and must surely win all three to keep their chances alive.     

Parramatta (11) defeated Penrith (0) at Cumberland Oval, to, as Alan Clarkson wrote "continue their rags to riches rise this season".  Parramatta who finished last in 1970 with just four wins, are entrenched in 4th position this year after 10 wins.  On 20 points Parramatta are four points clear of Balmain, with seven rounds of the home and away series to complete.  

At Endeavour Field Cronulla (25) defeated Newtown (2) in a one-sided match between two teams, with little to aim for, apart from the start of 1972.  The Sharks had been touted as potential semi-finalists but their year has not gone to plan. The ruptured Achilles tendon suffered by Captain-Coach Tommy Bishop was the last straw for fans who cheered their team from the field, knowing that 6 wins from 15 matches was not good enough to challenge for the premiership.   

Finally, at Belmore Oval Canterbury (19) defeated Norths (12), but all the discussion after the match was about ‘foul play' and what the referee should do about it.  Canterbury scored 3 tries to 2 and kicked 5 goals to 3, but who won the fight?.  Referee Jack Harris had a running battle with the teams who were hell bent on imposing themselves on their opponents.  Five cautions were issued for foul play before Harris lost his patience.  First, he marched North Sydney half John Fairns for punching, then Norths second row John McDonell was sent off along with his sparring partner Wayne Golding from Canterbury. Earlier in the match Canterbury forward Neville Hornery stumbled backwards out of a scrum but declined to nominate who had caused his rapid exit.  One player who was not involved in any ‘biff' was young North Sydney Lock forward Bruce Walker, who earned one point in the SMH "Best and Fairest" award.  After 15 rounds, the award is led by Kevin Junee (14 pts) with Bob Fulton and Tommy Raudonikis in equal 2nd on 13.