1901 Metropolitan Rugby Union season

The 1901 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 28th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. It was the second season run for clubs that represented a district. Eight clubs (seven representing a district, the remaining club representing Sydney University) competed from May till August 1901. The season culminated in the second district premiership, which was won by Glebe and Sydney University. Both teams had finished the season at the top of the premiership table and as a result were to play a final to determine the Premiership. However, both clubs decided not to play a final resulting in both being declared joint premiers.[1]

1901 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration11 May to 10 August
Teams8
Premiers Glebe (2nd title)
Premiers Sydney University (10th title)
Wooden spoon Balmain (1st spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) Harry Blaney (70)
Top try-scorer(s) Andrew McDowell (10)
Second Grade
Number of teams8
Premiers Sydney University
Runners-up Glebe
Third Grade
Number of teams7
Premiers Balmain
Runners-up Glebe

Teams

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Eight clubs contested the season; seven clubs representing a district and one club representing Sydney University.[2]

 
Balmain

Formed on 26 March 1900
Ground: Birchgrove Oval
Captain: E Mullet

 
Eastern Suburbs

Formed on 22 March 1900
Ground: Rushcutters Bay Oval
Captain: Percy Macnamara

 
Glebe

Formed on 15 March 1900
Ground: Wentworth Park
Captain: Tom Costello

 
Newtown

Formed on 22 March 1900
Captain: Fred Henlen

 
North Sydney

Formed on 23 March 1900
Ground: North Sydney Oval
Captain: Iggy O'Donnell

 
South Sydney

Formed on 26 March 1900
Ground: RAS Showground
Captain: J Bourke

 
Sydney University

Formed on 19 August 1865
Ground: University Oval
Captain: Horace Jones

 
Western Suburbs

Formed on 22 March 1900
Captain: William Shortland

Season Summary

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The 1901 Sydney Rugby Premiership was deemed the greatest season ever seen in Sydney up to that time. Public interest was never before so keen with proceeds for the matches far exceeding previous seasons. The standard of play had improved with a new group of young players joining the senior grade teams and being chosen to play in representative matches.[1]

At the end of the season, the two clubs Glebe and Sydney University finished tied at the top of the table. As per the rules of the period, the two teams were to face each other in a final to determine the premiership. To the disappointment of the public, both clubs decided not to play the final and were thus declared joint premiers. Both clubs had lost key players to the tour of New Zealand.[3]

It was difficult to pick which of the two premiers were the better team. Both teams displayed consistency during the season. University winning 5 games in the first round and 5 in the second round. Together, three-quarters Harry Blaney, Arthur Fisher and Andrew McDowell scored the majority of the points for the "Varsity". Glebe were unbeaten in the second round of games and were considered to have a better forward pack. Unfortunately during the season they had the higher injury toll affecting their back line.[1]

At the conclusion of the season, the football world was shocked by the sudden death of Western Suburbs captain, William Shortland. Shortland had only just returned from the rugby tour of New Zealand on Friday, 13 September. In the early hours of Tuesday, 17 September he succumbed to a, "cold of the kidneys"[4] He was only 26 years of age.

Ladder

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Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1   Sydney University 14 10 2 2 0 161 61 +100 22
2   Glebe 14 11 0 3 0 129 66 +63 22
3   South Sydney 14 9 1 4 0 92 95 -3 19
4   Eastern Suburbs 14 8 2 4 0 161 79 +82 18
5   North Sydney 14 4 2 8 0 64 116 -52 10
6   Western Suburbs 14 4 1 9 0 85 122 -37 9
7   Newtown 14 2 3 9 0 79 109 -30 7
8   Balmain 14 2 1 11 0 63 186 -123 5

Ladder Progression

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  • Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  • Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1   Sydney University 2 4 6 8 10 11 11 11 13 14 16 18 20 22
2   Glebe 0 2 2 4 6 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20[5] 22
3   South Sydney 2 4 6 8 8 8 10 12 14 15 17 17 19 19
4   Eastern Suburbs 2 2 4 6 6 7 9 11 13 14 14 16 16 18
5   North Sydney 0 2 2 2 4 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 8[5] 10
6   Western Suburbs 2 2 2 2 4 6 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9
7   Newtown 0 0 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 6 7 7 7 7
8   Balmain 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 3 5 5

Statistics

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Points

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Player Pl T G FG Pts
1   Harry Blaney 14 7 19 2 70
2   Leo Finn 11 5 10 4 53
3   Stanley Wickham 12 3 7 2 36
4   Arthur Fisher 14 9 2 0 31
5   Andrew McDowell 14 10 0 0 30
6   James Joyce 12 1 8 2 28
7   WA Hay 14 1 6 2 27
8   George Roberts 12 8 0 0 24
9   Harold Evers 12 1 5 2 23
10   Joseph McMahon 14 2 4 2 22

Tries

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Player Pl T
1   Andrew McDowell 14 10
2   Arthur Fisher 14 9
3   George Roberts 12 8
4   Harry Blaney 14 7
5   Patrick Higgins 13 6
6   Leo Finn 11 5
7   Stanley Rowley 11 5
8   William Lindsay 12 5
9   Louis D'Alpuget 14 4
10   EC Deering 9 4

Lower Grades

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The MRFU also conducted Second Grade and Third Grade competitions this season.

Second Grade

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The eight clubs that were participating in First Grade entered a team for the Second Grade competition. At the end of the regular season games, Glebe and Sydney University finished on the same points at the top of the ladder. In the final, University won 9 points to 6 and were thus declared Premiers. Newtown did not see out the season, withdrawing after two rounds.[6]

Third Grade

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Seven of the First Grade clubs entered a team into the Third Grade competition. The only club missing was Western Suburbs. Balmain finished the season undefeated at the top of the ladder and were declared Premiers.[6]

Participating Clubs

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Club Grade
1st 2nd 3rd
  Balmain District Football Club Y Y Y
  Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football Club Y Y Y
  Glebe District Football Club Y Y Y
  Newtown District Football Club Y Y Y
  North Sydney District Rugby Football Club Y Y Y
  South Sydney District Football Club Y Y Y
  Sydney University Football Club Y Y Y
  Western Suburbs District Rugby Football Club Y Y

Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c "SYDNEY CLUB SEASON". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 21 August 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  2. ^ "FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 8 May 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  3. ^ "RUGBY FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 21 August 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  4. ^ "RUGBY FOOTBALL NOTES". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 18 September 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b North Sydney forfeited their game against Glebe.
  6. ^ a b "SECOND GRADE TABLE, 1901". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 21 August 1901. p. 8. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

References

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