Eastern Suburbs season 1911

Eastern Suburbs (now known as the Sydney Roosters) competed in their fourth New South Wales Rugby League season in 1911. They won their maiden premiership defeating the Glebe Dirty Reds 11-8.

1911 playing squad

1911 results

EASTERN SUBURBS FIRST PREMIERSHIP

Finals campaign

* Semi Final, Saturday the 2nd of September, 1911.

Eastern Suburbs 23 (Messenger 2, E. White tries; Messenger 7 goals) defeated South Sydney 10 (E. Hilliard, A. J. McCabe Tries; Dymant 2 Goals) at the Sydney Sports Ground.

*Final, Saturday the 9th of September, 1911.

Eastern Suburbs 22 (E. White 2, E. Griffiths, L. Cody Tries; D. Messenger 5 Goals) defeated Glebe 9 (F. Burge Try; R. Algie, A. B. Burge Goal; R. Algie Field Goal) at Agricultural Ground.

*Glebe, as minor premiers, had the right to challenge.

*Grand Final re-match, Saturday the 16th of September, 1911.

Eastern Suburbs 11 (Lees Try; Messenger 3 Goals; MessengerField Goal) defeated Glebe 8 (C. R. Cubitt 2 Tries; L.Cubitt Field Goal) at Agricultural Ground.

Match report: "Played in blustery conditions, Glebes form improved greatly but they could not compete with the immaculate kicking of Dally Messenger.

In an incident packed opening stanza McMahon reduced each side to twelve men by sending off O'Malley and Pert after a touch judges report. Ensuing scrums were played with only four forwards. Glebe three - quarter Gleeson left the field with an ankle injury and was replaced at half time by Farrelly.

With first use of the stiff southerly, Glebe winger C. R. Cubitt scored out Wide in the second minute fom a scrum close to the easts line. Messenger replied with a goal shortly after for Glebe to lead 5-2 at halftime. When play resumed, Messenger goaled again to narrow the gap to one point. Twelve minutes in, Glebe edged to an 8-4 lead when Cubitt crossed for his second try-a brilliant length of the field effort featuring Farrelly, Redmond, A. Burge and finally Cubitt who beat Messengers ankle tap.

With thirteen minutes left in the grandfinal, Lees scored Easts only try, from a high kick the ball bounced off dazed Glebe fullback Algie(who had been injured in a headclash in the opening minutes with winger White.) Messenger converted and Easts snatched a 9-8 lead. Messenger's field goal six minutes from the bell gave his team the three point buffer at 11-8 and the confidence to hang on and win their first premiership. After exchanging jerseys, the elated surfsiders carried Messenger from the field." - Steve Hadden ("History of the NSW rugby league finals")

Line-up:
Eastern Suburbs: Fred Kinghorn; Barney Dalton; John Campbell; Dally Messenger(c); Eddie White; Herbie Collins; Leslie Cody; Larry O'Malley; Sandy Pearce; Mick Frawley; Eddie Griffiths; Charlie Lees; and W. Dalton.

Glebe: Roy Algie; Mick Muggivan; Dave Garlick; Tom Gleeson(replaced at halftime by Farrelly); Charlie Cubbit; Les Cubitt; Fritz Thirring; Sid Pert; Jack Redmond; Sam Griffiths; Albert Burge (c); Frank Burge; and Harry Brighton.

1911 NSWRL ladder

1911 point analysis

Offence

The lowdown:

Eastern Suburbs completed the following score options in the 1911 season:

*45 tries
*64 goals
*2 field goals

The result:

Eastern Suburbs scored a total of 300 points in 1911.

The verdict:

*Eastern Suburbs try scoring ability dropped by 6.2% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs goal scoring ability improved by 18.7% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs field goal kicking ability improved by 200% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs overall point scoring ability improved 9.9% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs total point score dropped by 16.1% on their previous season.

Defence

The lowdown:

Eastern Suburbs conceded the following score options in the 1911 season:

*34 tries
*26 goals
*1 field goals

The result:

Eastern Suburbs conceded a total of 129 points in the 1911 season.

The verdict:

*Eastern Suburbs try scoring defence dropped by 35.2% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs goal kicking defence dropped by 7.6% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs field goal defence was maintained on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs overall defense dropped by 10% on their previous season.

*Eastern Suburbs total points against defensive effort improved by 17.7% on their previous season.

1911 season highlights

*Won maiden premiership defeating the Glebe Dirty Reds 11-8 in the Grand Final.

*Defeated the Annandale Dales 30-3 in Round 1 to mark the biggest win of the year.

*Won the 1911 reserve grade competition for the fourth year in a row.

*Dally Messenger was the top point scorer in the NSWRL with 148 points.

*Once again won the presidents cup competition.

*Eastern Suburbs Played debut there first match at the Sydney Sports Ground.

*Dan Frawley was the first rugby league player to score a try on the Sydney Cricket Ground, Dally Messenger the first to kick a goal.

*While representing NSW in an interstate match against Queensland, Dally Messenger scored a record 32 points, coming from four tries and ten goals. In the 3 match series, Messenger scored a total of 72 points.

*Representatives: - Dan Frawley(Australia)(NSW), Dally Messenger (NSW)(Sydney), Sandy Pearce (NSW), Bob Williams(Australia), John Campbell(NSW).

References

[http://stats.rleague.com/rl/rl_index.html Rugby League Tables and Statistics]