New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1930

Infobox rugby league season
year = 1930
competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League


imagesize = 125px
caption =
teams = 8
premiers =
count = 1st
minor premiers =
mpcount = 1st
matches = 60
points = 1721
attendance =
top points scorer = (86)
top try scorer = (15)The 1930 New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the twenty-third season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. During the season, which lasted from April until October, eight teams from across Sydney contested the premiership.

eason summary

In spite of the reduced number of clubs 1930 was the NSWRL's most drawn out season. Because of representative fixtures and the need for a Grand Final, the season didn't end until 4th October.

Teams

Foundation club Glebe was voted out of the competition by the New South Wales Rugby League General Committee 13 votes to 12 at the end of 1929, having come second last two years in a row. Although the team never won a premiership, it also managed to avoid the wooden spoon every season during its existence. After the decision was made, many fans and local politicians rallied to reverse the decision but to no avail. One reason suggested as to why this occurred include the fact that the area was gradually shifting away from a residential to industrial centre, with the League perhaps believing that there was no future for the game in the area.

As a result of Glebe's omission, the competition was reduced to eight teams, including six of the remaining nine foundation clubs.

* 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

Having pipped Eastern Suburbs 11-10 at their home ground of Earl Park on September 20th, Saints continued their good form into the following weekend in the final, defeating minor premiers Western Suburbs 14-6 in front of 16,557 people. The two teams had met twice before during the season with Wests winning the first encounter in May and St George winning the second match in August. Under the previous system, victory in the final would have seen St George declared premiership champions. But in 1930, Wests were allowed a second chance as minor premiers if defeated during the finals.

Grand Final

The re-match decider was played in front of 12,178 people on October 4th at the Sydney Sports Ground and officiated by referee Lal Deane. St. George led 2-0 early and competed in the first half. But Western Suburbs were a crack outfit and after Saints lost veteran forward, Harry Flower with an arm injury and they skipped away to a 16-2. Wests eventually ran in seven tries and crushed St George 27-2 to take away their first premiership since their 1908 foundation admission to the top grade competition.

It was the final game as a player for Wests captain-coach and versatile representative star Jim Craig.

Western Suburbs 27 (Tries: Alan Brady 3, Jim Craig, Charlie Cornwell, R Morris, C Rhodes. Goals Jim Craig 2, Bill Brogan goals)

St George 2 (B Hyland goal)

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/1930.html Rugby League Tables - Season 1930] "The World of Rugby League"
* [http://www.rl1908.com/premiership.htm Premiership History and Statistics] "RL1908"
* [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1921-1930.html Results: 1921-30 at rabbitohs.com.au]