Fifty Years Ago - 1971 Semi Final: Souths v St George

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George reviews the 1971 Major Semi Final between the Rabbitohs and Dragons.

South Sydney (19) defeated Manly (13) in a grand final qualifier described by lead writer Alan Clarkson as ‘magnificent'.  The weather was perfect for the 50,261 paying customers who tracked their way to the Sydney Cricket Ground to watch three qualifying finals.    

Like all finals this one had the ‘traditional softening up period', which is code for charging into each other with no regard for personal safety in the hope that your opponents will wilt under the pressure.  Souths and Manly' went at it for about 20 minutes with Souths trio of John Sattler, John O'Neil and Bob McCarthy locking horns with big Seas Eagles ‘Big' Bill Hamilton,  fellow prop Norm Pounder and English import Mal Reilly.  It was clear that Manly were struggling as they conceded 6 penalties, while trying to ‘knock' Souths off their game.  Three of those penalties resulted in goals by Souths sharp-shooter Eric Sims taking the team in Cardinal and Myrtle out to a 6 - nil lead.  Manly fought back with a converted try to centre John McDonald and a penalty goal by Dennis Moritz and went into half - time leading, 7 - 6.  

Early in the 2nd half, a decision by a touch judge that changed a Manly 25-yard tap, into a Manly goal line drop - out changed everything for the team from the northern beaches.  Souths got possession from the drop out and in the ensuing set Centre Ray Brannigan scored and Sims converted to give Souths an 11 - 7 lead.   Manly were unsettled for awhile but fought back causing Souths to stumble under pressure and concede penalties in kicking range. Sea Eagle centre Dennis Moritz obliged, to tie the match up 11 all early in the 2nd half.  Ex-referee and columnist Col Pearce was scathing in his comments about Souths' replacement hooker George Piggins who Pearce said, "almost cost Souths the game yesterday by giving away silly penalties within kicking range".  

With 20 minutes left, the match was in the balance and as we'd seen last week with Billy Smith rescuing the Dragons, it was the star players who step up. Souths running second rower Bob McCarthy showed why he's a NSW and Australian representative.   On the last tackle of the set, (instead of letting the ball go to Pittard for an up and under) McCarthy demanded the ball from the dummy half and skirted past three Manly forwards, that many thought, "were bludging on the blindside" to score in the corner. The conversion was missed but the bunnies led 14 - 11 until George Piggins, for the fourth time, was penalised for a scrum infringement within kicking range and goalkicker Moritz obliged to narrow the gap to just one. The game was close but Souths were relentless.  After the kick-off Manly carried the ball downfield but could not take advantage of their possession.  In the next set, Souths forwards, as Clarkson wrote, "bulldozed their way downfield" and once again it was McCarthy who took charge.  This time McCarthy took the ball to the open side and attracting two defenders to him, stopped, propped and passed the ball 20 yards onto the chest of winger Keith Edwards who raced away to score.  Eric Sims converted, and Souths had a 6 point lead, that they held to the siren.   

South's coach Clive Churchill who has played with and seen many of Souths' greats was asked after the match about McCarthy, simply said "he's unbelievable!"  His Manly counterpart Ron Wiley labelled McCarthy's match as "a great second-row forward display".  Souths get one weeks' rest and Manly go on to play St George to earn another shot at Churchills team.   

Two issues were left open after the match, one was decided by the NSWRL committee and other was ignored.   

Firstly, Manly forward Peter Peters was suspended for two matches after the last premiership match and the Manly club, in a very inventive interpretation of the rules, asked that he be allowed to serve the 2nd match out (by being selected for their reserve grade team, which plays ahead of the first grade next Saturday), thus having missed two matches he could (they argued) be added to the bench for the main game.  The NSWRL dismissed the request out of hand reminding Manly that if a player is suspended after a first-grade match, he must serve that suspension by missing first grade matches.  Secondly, no one mentioned the $500 won by Souths players who gambled on themselves.  There was no cheering and no questions or discussion about how that $500 would be used or distributed - in fact, you might have thought that it had just disappeared - along with any further mention of players gambling, which was at the time illegal - funny that!!   

In reserve grade, Canterbury-Bankstown (24) defeated Manly (10) and progressed straight to the Grand Final, while Manly will play St George in the qualifying final.  (Manly and St George will play in both grades next Saturday) and in third grade St George (9) defeated Canterbury-Bankstown (5).   The strength of the St George club stands for all to see, with one grade already set for grand final day and the two other grades playing next week for the same opportunity.