New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1931

Infobox rugby league season
year = 1931
competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League


imagesize = 125px
caption =
teams = 8
premiers =
count = 10th
minor premiers =
mpcount = 4th
matches = 60
points = 1681
attendance =
top points scorer = (124)
top try scorer = (16)
1931's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the twenty-fourth season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. During the season, which lasted from April until September, eight teams from across the city contested the premiership.

eason summary

The NSWRFL banned radio broadcasting of its matches in 1931 on the grounds that it was affecting the gates. After a year of broadcasts from nearby rooftops and ladders outside the grounds the League rescinded their ban.

Teams

* Balmain, formed on January 23 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
* Eastern Suburbs, formed on January 24 1908 at Paddington Town Hall
* Newtown, formed on January 14 1908
* North Sydney, formed on February 7 1908
* South Sydney, formed on January 17 1908 at Redfern Town Hall
* St. George, formed on November 8 1920 at Kogarah School of Arts
* Western Suburbs, formed on February 4 1908
* University, formed in 1919 at Sydney University

Grand Final

Eastern Suburbs started the match as short-priced favourites, and ran with the breeze from the western end after their captain Pope won the toss. With hooker Dick Brown dominating the scrums, Eastern Suburbs attacked early. First points came at the twenty-minute mark when Lynch kicked a goal after O’Connor was penalised in front of the posts. They went further ahead when Lynch kicked another goal, from a drop kick. Benny Wearing had his chance for South Sydney but was pulled down from behind by Dave Brown two yards from the line. At halftime Eastern Suburbs led 4-0.

Five-minutes after the break South Sydney seized control of the match. South Sydney attacked desperately as Treweek, Curran and then Root hurled themselves at the Eastern Suburbs line. A scrum followed and with an overlap out wide Wearing crossed unopposed in the corner. The winger then converted his own try to give South Sydney a 6-5 lead. Eastern Suburbs then hit back with a remarkable try. Billy Hong gathered in his own twenty-five yard area, stepped through the defence to halfway, passed to Tottey who beat Morrison in a race for the ball. Dave Brown missed the goal, Eastern Suburbs led 7-5. South Sydney fullback Spillane then landed a goal from two yards on his own side of halfway to level the score at 7-all.

Hong then went off after twisting an ankle, Eastern Suburbs stuggled to contend with the extra man in South Sydney’s backline. Chances followed for both sides – South Sydney's winger, Why, was thrown out at the corner post, Morrisson lost possession close to the line and Brown missed with a penalty.

With only a minute left and scores locked at 7-all, South Sydney five-eighth Harry Eyres seized possession inside Eastern Suburbs quarter, stood still for a split second, then with an electrifying burst of speed exploded through the converging defence. He beat the ineffective tackle of Hong (who had come back onto the field) and with the referee accidentally getting in the way of Brown coming in cover defence for Eastern Suburbs, Eyres crossed for the match winner. Hong then collapsed and had to be carried from the field as Williams was converting the try.

It was widely claimed as one of the most thrilling Grand Finals in the short history of the game in Sydney.

South Sydney 12 (Tries: Wearing, Eyres. Goals: Wearing 3, Williams)

Eastern Suburbs 7 (Tries: Tottey. Goals: Lynch 2)

References

* [http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/snotes.html Rugby League Tables - Notes] "The World of Rugby League"
* [http://www.stats.rleague.com/rl/seas/1931.html Rugby League Tables - Season 1931] "The World of Rugby League"
* [http://www.rl1908.com/premiership.htm Premiership History and Statistics] "RL1908"
* History of the New South Wales Rugby League Finals, by Steve Haddan
* The Rugby League News
* [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1931-1940.html Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au]