Fifty Years Ago – 1971 First Semi-Final - a preview

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George's regular column reflecting on the game as it was fifty years ago is back - this time it's a preview of the first semi final between the Dragons and Eels.

The first Saturday of the 1971 finals series will see perennial champions St George defend their impressive finals record, this time against Parramatta.  St George will play in their 48th finals match since 1947 (when Parramatta and Manly joined the competition).  The Saints have won 33 of those matches. Parramatta will play just their 5th finals match.  Their only post season success was a 9 - 7 win over Balmain in 1963. (Ken and Dick Thornett as well as Ron Lynch who also play for the Eels this week,  were part of that winning team.)

St George Coach, Jack Gibson, went fishing on Friday while his opponent Ian Walsh was busy putting the finishing touches on his teams' preparations for the match. After bagging enough fish ‘for a month of Friday's' Gibson returned to defend his choice of Ted Walton (lock), Harry Eden (prop) and Bob Clapham who will play in the centres, pushing Englishman Ken Batty on to the wing.  All three got their opportunity after Saints "awful' defeat at the hands of North Sydney in round 21. Alan Clarkson at the Herald noted that between them they had played ‘less than a dozen' full first grade matches.  None of that should deflect fans from the extraordinary talent and experience of Graeme Langlands (fullback) and Billy Smith (half) who spearhead attack for the ‘red and whites' and as Clarkson writes, are two ‘match-winners'.  

On the other side, Parramatta, who finished a long way back in 4th, will field an experienced, heavyweight forward pack lead by a front row of Bob O'Reilly, John McMartin and Dennis Fitzgerald.  The back row of Lynch, Thornett and Campbell completes a pack that will try to dominate possession against the smaller St George six.  The Eels finished 7 points behind the top three, and their results against the other finalists was poor.  The lost all four matches against Manly and Souths conceding a combined 25 tries while scoring just 7.  The Eels finished 1 all with Saints and both teams scored 6 tries.    

Finally, referee Keith Page took a big step towards controlling the 1971 grand final after being appointed top referee, for Saturday. Page was appointed over Keith Holman (Reserve Grade) and Laurie Bruyeres (Third Grade). Holman was considered the top referee earlier in the season, but Page has come into favour in recent weeks.  (12 months ago, Page refereed the same Semi-final match, but, Test referee Don Lancashire got the nod for the three finals matches thereafter.)