RAS Showground
Sat May 18, 3:15pm
Harry Nicholls
LOSS 8-9
Darmody outshines Messenger as goal kicker, until last minute of play. About 18,000 people at the Agricultural Ground witnessed a game remarkable for its keenness and brilliance, especially in the second spell. H.Messenger won the match for his side with a brilliant goal from about five yards outside the half-way mark just on time, when victory for South Sydney was all but proclaimed. It was a dull day, windless, with the conditions for the two sides equal. Messenger and Darmody each, early in the game, tried unsuccessrully from near the half-way line at goal, Campbell running Darmody's kick out. Thirty yards out, on the right wing, South Sydney forwards heeled to Butler, who, running back, scooped the ball up to McCabe, who kicked low through the ruck, but Messenger swept across and ran it to White. Thompson secured, and, running in-field, started Gilbert down the centre, but Dalton took him, and Frawley ran it clear. South Sydney came back again, and on the 25 line, were awarded a penalty against O'Malley in the scrummage. Darmody landed the goal. South Sydney, 2 to nil. South Sydney, playing six forwards in the pack, were forcing matters, and kept their backs in action, but disaster met them from one of these passing moves among the three-quarters. On the Eastern Suburbs side of half-way, McCabe, Gilbert, and Thompson were racing to the left wing, when Campbell picked up the ball, which escaped from Thompson after the tackle. Before, the move was fully realised he had yards start of the Red and Green, speeding down the centre of the field. Attended by the opportunist Frawley, he raced on, making straight for the goal. Nearing Hallett, outside the 25, he transferred the ball, the pass beating the full-back, and Frawley ran through, scoring between the posts, a splendid try. Messenger landed an easy goal. Eastern Suburbs, 5 to 2. The play fluctuated round the half-way mark, punting and loose play being in evidence until, near the E.S. 25 line, Pearce was penalised for foolish off-side, and Darmody made the most of the opportunity, finding the goal again. E.S. 5 to 4. Working along the left wing, the premiers were looking dangerous, with White and Halloway exchanging passes down the touch-line, but the former's in-pass was snapped up by Hiliiard, who forced himself into touch and stopped the rush. The Easterners were marking their men well. White splendidly holding Darmody in one of the rusnes. Eastern Suburbs worked across field, where McCabe. and A.Butler at tempted to work the scrum on the blind side, but E.S. were alive to the move, and check mated it, Messenger kicking well down the line into the 25. Halloway, Dalton and Campbell then raced down the field. Messenger accepted the last pass, and, putting his boot to it, bounced it into touch a few yards short of the corner flag. A.Butler saved the position by bursting round the pack and kicking to the E.S. full-baok, who fumbled and was forced into touch at half-way. The game now quickened. Life was infused by Frawley intercepting, a pass on his wing, and, fooling the oncoming three-quarter with a dummy pass, he raced ahead. A forward carried it into the South Sydney 25, where he passed wildly. Hallett secured, and a penalty kick enabled him to clear. Back to centre, as fast as racehorses, the forwards came. There Thompson fielded and threw it out of the ruck to Gilbert, who dashed down the centre to Dalton. Cann was waiting on the outside, and, veering to the wing, he shot it out to Darmody, who repeated last Saturday's jumping effort. This time he jumped clean over White, but coming was clutched by another. However, Eastern Suburbs were again penalised, and Darmody put his side in the lead with a good kick from outside the 25 line, well out on the wing, just prior to the half time whistle. It was an effort worthy of Messenger at his best. Thus South Sydney led by 6 to 5 at the interval.
The second half opened disastrously for South Sydney, a kick from Hallett rebounding over the line and almost immediately Messenger caught the full-back fumbling, but could not secure the ball. A breach in the pack then gave Messenger another chance, and he landed the goal by a gentle kick from the 25, putting his side in the lead 7 to 6. Some stirring play then ensued on the right wins, with Frawley and Campbell making the pace. Quick as the wind the Tricolor backs got moving, and raced across field at top pace. South Sydney temporarily checked them, but a forward shot out and went for the line, only to lose the bail in the corner. But all this was byplay, as, holding his flag aloft, the touch-judge reported a breach, and play came back again to half-way line after 3 minutes of wasted play, though it embraced a brilliant assault that stirred the pulse of the crowd. Spirited rallying among the forwards maintained the tension, and with occasional flashes among the backs the game swung along full of interest. Cann (no longer in the pack), Gilbert, and Hucker were making ground until the latter was blocked by Pearce. Messenger failed to goal from a long shot near half-way, and his brother was similarly unsuccessful a minute later. The E.S. captain next, dropped a brilliant shot that just sailed outside the post from about 60 yards out. Time was rapidly passing, and again Eastern Suburbs looked dangerous as a flying rush carried the game along their left wing. White and O'Malley headed it. A South Sydney kick was blocked, and an E.S. forward dribbled to the line and in goal. He was speeding for the try, but superior pace by A.Butler, who came into the running, succeeded in booting the ball to the fence, dead. South Sydney strove desperately now to get their attacking machinery going, but O'Malley and Pearce and Griffiths were bowling their opponents over in rare style. McCabe twice surprised everyone by quick dashes to the opposing five-eighth, but got little further. Then Darmody changed the fortune of the game by landing a great goal from a penalty nearly 50 yards out, and well on the wing. The Red and Green were now leading 8 to 7, with 9 minutes left. The fluctuating nature of the game had worked the crowd to a high pitch of enthusiasm, and when several minutes later Messenger landed the king goal of the day from 5 yards outside of the half-way mark the crowd rose, simultaneously and cheered again and again. This beautiful kick won the match, as the game finished a minute later, with Eastern Suburbs leading 9 to 8. T. McMahon, referee.
2-0
2-5
4-5
HT 6-5
6-7
8-7
8-9
no tries
Darmody 4 from 5 goals
Crowd 18,000
Referee T.McMahon
Final Line Up
T G/A FG
Flbk - Hallett, Howard - - -
Wing - Hucker, Ernie - - -
Cntr - Thompson, Hack - - -
Cntr - Gilbert, Herb - - -
Wing - Darmody, Steve - 4/5 -
5/8 - McCabe, Arthur - - -
Half - Butler, Arthur - - - (c)
Lock - McCarthy, Owen - - -
SRow - Green, Dick - - -
SRow - Butler, Harry - - -
Prop - Hilliard, Eddie - - -
Hook - Cann, Bill - - -
Prop - Spence, William - - -
- 4/5 -
Other First Grade Matches
12-5 Brch Balmain b Wests
6-3 Went Newtown b Glebe
16-7 NSO Norths b Annandale
W D L Diff PT
EASTS 3 - - +16 6
NEWTOWN 2 - 1 +26 4
SOUTHS 2 - 1 +18 4
GLEBE 2 - 1 +16 4
Balmain 1 - 2 -6 2
Annandale 1 - 2 -7 2
Norths 1 - 2 -13 2
Wests - - 3 -50 -
Judiciary News
No one was sent off.
Second Grade - Round 3
v Eastern Suburbs, RAS Showground, 2:00pm
DRAW 10-10
Eastern Suburbs used forcing tactics from the kick-off, and quickly had South Sydney on the defensive. The defence was sound, and solid tackling kept the line intact for a time, but Easts were not to be denied, and a neat pass by Cody to Kern sent the latter over with a try, to which Cody added the extras. Collier forced his way over after a dodgy run. Dymant added the extras. The half-time score was 5 points all. South Sydney attacked from the resumption, and penned Easts to their own half. Attack followed attack, Collier putting in good work on the wing. A series of scrums and ruck play on East's line ensued, and from one of these McCann forced his way over. Dymant converted. Keeping at it South Sydney made desperate efforts to Increase their lead, but Easts held them, and, turning in attack, a neat passing rush ended a yard short of the line. From the scrum Fisher forced his way over. No goal resulted. A few minutes after Cody sent up a goal from a mark, making the final scores, Easts 10, Souths 10.
0-5
HT 5-5
10-5
10-8
10-10
Collier, McCann tries
Dymant 2 goals
Other Second Grade Matches
A Division
5-0 Brch Balmain b Wests
5-0 Went Glebe b Newtown
12-10 NSO Annandale b Norths
B Division
6-2 Wvly Marrickville b Waverley
4-0 Mosm Mosman b Sydney
5-2 Redf Redfern b SS Federal
24-0 SSG Grosvenor b West Sydney
BYE Surry Hills
W D L B Diff Pt
A Division
GLEBE 3 - - - +37 6
EASTS 2 1 - - +29 5
BALMAIN 2 - 1 - +5 4
SOUTHS 1 2 - - +12 4
Newtown 1 1 1 - +1 3
Annandale 1 - 2 - -11 2
Norths - - 3 - -43 -
Wests - - 3 - -30 -
B Division
GROSVENOR 3 - - - +58 6
MARRICKVILLE 3 - - - +65 6
REDFERN 3 - - - +56 6
WEST SYDNEY 1 - 1 1 -17 4
Mosman 1 - 2 - -26 2
Surry Hills - - 2 1 -71 2
SS Federal - - 2 1 -7 2
Waverley 1 - 2 - +15 2
Sydney - - 3 - -73 -
Third Grade - Round 3
v North Sydney, Sydney Sports Ground, 2:00pm
WIN 49-2
tries
goals
Other Third Grade Matches
A Division
9-7 VicP Sydney b Glebe
28-0 Bota Easts b Camperdown
26-11 Wvly SS Kinkora b Waverley
Dsqfd VicP Balmain b Paddington
11-2 ParO Granville b Drummoyne
BYE Mosman
B Division
37-0 Redf SS Federal b Marrickville
17-0 Mett Newtown b Annandale
13-4 SanS Surry Hills b Wests
14-11 Mett Parramatta b St Peters
W D L B Diff Pt
A Division
EASTS 3 - - - +81 6
SYDNEY 3 - - - +26 6
SS KINKORA 3 - - - +23 6
BALMAIN 2 - 1 - +3 4
GRANVILLE 1 - 1 1 +2 4
GLEBE 1 - 2 - +17 2
Paddington - - 2 1 - 2 ++
Drummoyne 1 - 2 - -10 2
Camperdown 1 - 2 - -39 2
Mosman - - 2 1 -58 2
Waverley - - 3 - -50 -
B Division
SS FEDERAL 3 - - - +77 6
SURRY HILLS 3 - - - +43 6
PARRAMATTA 3 - - - +30 6
SOUTHS 2 - 1 - +95 4
ST PETERS 2 - 1 - +35 4
WESTS 1 - 2 - -2 2
Newtown 1 - 2 - -5 2
Norths - - 3 - -75 -
Annandale - - 3 - -83 -
Marrickville - - 3 - -115 -
++ Paddington has been disqualified for the rest of the season for forfieting
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