Sir Joseph Banks Oval, Botany
Sat Mar 21
Possibles WIN 9-8
Souths had commenced training at Moore Park across from the Picks Duke of Cleveland Hotel, Dowling St (or today the Bat and Ball Hotel). They used the hotel as their training quarters, and are replete with every detail for training purposes, and are up-to date quarters. But it as the start of the season approached it was time for a proper match.
On March 21, 1908, a trial match between South Sydney Possibles and Probables was arranged. In 1907 matches between NSW and the NZ All Golds were still played under 15-a-side rugby union rules, so this trial became the first game in Australia played under the English Northern Union (or rugby league rules). Englishman Tom McCabe lectured players and officials on the finer points of the new code.
The South Sydney District Club held a Possibles v Probables match at St. Joseph's Banks ground this afternoon, under the auspices of the NSW Rugby League. Mr T.Phelan refereed the first half and Mr Geo. Boss, the second half. Mr McCabe, the ex-Northern Union (England) player, was present to instruct the players, and give points to the referee who are to take charge of the league matches during the year. The game was played under Northern Union rules, the teams being 12-a-side. The first part of game was slightly in favour of the Probables, who led at half time by 6 points to 5. On changing over, however, the Possibles retrieved their loss, and at full time the match was won by the Possibles by 9 to 8. For the Possibles, Anderson, McCabe, Cann and Davis played best; and for the Probables Storie, Hennessy, Fletcher and Conlin were conspicuous.
The receipt of the first Rugby League game ground booking
The commemorative plaque
HT 5-6
tries
goal
Crowd
Referee T.Phelan / G.Boss
Probables Final Line Up -
T G/A FG
Flbk - Conlin, Arthur - - -
3/4 - Storie, Frank - - -
3/4 - Fry, Ed - - -
3/4 - Short - - -
Half - Butler - - -
Half - Fletcher - - -
Fwd - Hennessy, Arthur - - - (c)
Fwd - Darmody - - -
Fwd - Nelson - - -
Fwd - Ellery - - -
Fwd - Moss - - -
Fwd - Bell - - -
2 1 -
Possibles Final Line Up -
Flbk - Hanna, Alf - - -
3/4 - Anderson, Tommy - - -
3/4 - Bell - - -
3/4 - Phelan - - -
Half - McCabe, T - - -
Half - House - - -
Fwd - Cann, Bill - - - (c)
Fwd - Davis, Jim - - -
Fwd - McCann - - -
Fwd - Quirk - - -
Fwd - Butler, Harry - - -
Fwd - House - - -
3 - -
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