Fifty Years Ago - Round 21, 1971

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George's weekly look at the season as it was fifty years ago this week - this week it's Round 21 of the 1971 NSWRFL season.

Rugby League Head Office decided to transfer the match between Balmain and Canterbury to the SCG, in the hope that a large or larger crowd might turn up to see if Canterbury can continue their run from potential wooden spooners - after Round 4 the ‘Berries' were last with a points deficit of minus 101 - to finalists - after Round 20 they are equal 4th with Parramatta on 22pts.  (Balmain were not completely out of the picture. They were on 20 pts and needed two wins to challenge for the last finals slot.)  

The pundits were wrong, and the bookmakers cheered when despised outsiders Balmain (25) defeated Canterbury (7) at the SCG on Saturday 14th August 1971.  The Tigers, in front of over 14,000 fans thrashed the ‘Berries' in a 5 tries to 1 walk over. Coach Leo Nosworthy praised his team for their handling, "Our handling this season has been our weakest department, yet today it was almost flawless." Statisticians from both teams agreed that Balmain played for 74 minutes before making an error.  On the other side Canterbury were dull in attack and poor in defence. The Berries had played their worst match, at a time when their best was needed.  

In Saturdays' other match, North Sydney (14) defeated St George (7) in a result described as ‘the upset of the season'.  St George coach Jack Gibson, had no explanation for his sides surprise loss to the last placed Bears. SMH reporter Rod Humphries told his readers that the Bears players, had, in a midweek meeting, committed themselves to better performances after the humiliating loss to South Sydney.  St George surged to a 9 - 0 lead early in the first half and it looked like another thrashing was on the cards.  However, the Bears came out of hibernation and with 3 quick tries led 13 - 9.  The Dragons grabbed another try just before the break to lead 14 - 13 at ‘Oranges'.   The second half belonged to the visitors with 8 more points, from two tries and one conversion.   (Wests Magpies, woke up on Sunday and knew that their trip to Brookvale, should it end in a loss, would see them in last place and wooden spoon favourites.)  

Manly (20) defeated Western Suburbs (15), but lethargic was the description used by many of the 14,000 locals who came to Brookvale hoping to watch their team claim their first Minor Premiership.  It had taken 25 years for the Sea Eagles to climb the slippery pole, that every team hopes to conquer at the start of the year.   St George and Souths had secured 18 Minor Premierships between them in the years since Manly and Parramatta were admitted to first grade.  This year Manly would not be denied. They had finished 3rd in 1969, 2nd in 70 and after defeating the Magpies, they are 4 points clear of 2nd placed South Sydney, with one match left to play.  

Meanwhile, at Redfern Oval, Clive Churchill's South's (22) defeated Harry Bath's Newtown (13) to secure 2nd place on the ladder, with a 3-point margin over St George.  It wasn't one of the Rabbitoh's best wins, but it was workmanlike for the team that welcomed Bob McCarthy, Gary Stevens and Paul Sait back from injury BUT lost centre Phil Smith to yet another leg injury.  Bath's forwards held nothing back and all six were cautioned by referee Keith Holman in the first half.  Despite the visitors efforts it was a one-sided match and when John Sattler barged over with 10 minutes left, the score was 17 - 5 in Souths favour.   'Bluebags' centre Ron Fogarty and fullback Wayne Pinder both grabbed tries for Newtown, to reduce the margin to 4, but a penalty to Eric Sims and a try to Gary Stevens put the outcome beyond doubt.  

Over in the Cronulla Shire, the locals hosted Parramatta in a match the Sharks appeared to have little enthusiasm for.  Cronulla's season was a washout weeks ago and Parramatta have been expected to be part of the finals set-up since grabbing 4th spot after Round 7.  Despite their relative positions on the competition ladder Cronulla (15) defeated Parramatta (9) plunging the Eels camp into disarray and opening the door for Balmain and Canterbury.  After Round 21 Parramatta hold 4th with a for and against margin of plus 20, while Balmain are on minus 30 and Canterbury are on minus 81.  Should 2 or more teams finish equal 4th, they will need to play-off (mid-week) to decide who gets to play in the finals. St George (who are 7 points clear of the 4th position log-jam) will be their opponents in the first week of the finals. 

Eastern Suburbs (18) defeated Penrith (13) in a match decided, mostly, by goal kicking.  The Panthers scored three tries to Easts two, but discipline let them down and the tri-colours 2nd string goal kicker John Ballesty potted 6 goals.  Ballesty kept his team close and a try in the last minute secured the match for the home team. Seven minutes from time, Penrith lead 13 - 11.  Ballesty kicked his 5th goal and the scores were level.  With around 60 seconds on the clock (remember back in 1971 the scoreboard clock stopped with 5 minutes left and only the official time-keepers knew the exact time) Easts 2nd Rower Kevin Goldspink broke through the Panthers defence and passed to Bill Mullins. Harry Cameron backed up his winger and then passed to half Johnny Mays, who scored under the posts.  Any hope that Penrith might also challenge for 4th position disappeared at the same time.   

Round 22 sees the three contenders for 4th place playing away from home. Balmain travel to North Sydney Oval to take on the 11th placed Bears. Canterbury travel to Endeavor Field to tackle Cronulla who are 9th and Parramatta travel to Lidcombe Oval to take on the last placed Magpies.