New South Wales Rugby Football League season 1938

Infobox rugby league season
year = 1938
competition = New South Wales Rugby Football League


imagesize = 125px
caption =
teams = 8
premiers =
count = 1st
minor premiers =
mpcount = 1st
matches = 59
points = 1756
attendance =
top points scorer = (94)
top try scorer = (13)
1938's New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership was the thirty-first season of the rugby league competition based in Sydney. The withdrawal of the University club at the end of the previous season saw eight teams from across the city contest the premiership, which lasted from April until September.

Teams

* Balmain, formed on January 23 1908 at Balmain Town Hall
* Canterbury-Bankstown
* 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

In only the fourth year after admission to the Sydney first grade competition Canterbury-Bankstown fielded a side which dominated the regular season and set themselves up for their first title assault against Eastern Suburbs, themselves looking to win a fourth successive premiership. A crowd of 20,287 was on hand at the Sydney Cricket Ground with the game officiated by Tom McMahon (the younger of the two pre-war referees of that name).

The first half was a dour struggle for supremacy. Canterbury-Bankstown appeared to have the upper hand but East's Cairns scored first and it took two penalty goals by Canterbury's fullback Tommy Kirk to give the Berries a four points to three lead at half-time.

The Rooster's scored another try early in the second half when Dick Dunn dived over after the Easts' backline had created an overlap. Again the conversion was missed.

Canterbury-Bankstown came back at Easts with great determination and nearly scored on several occasions. Eventually Berries' reserve grader Jim Duncombe, who was in the team because of the illness of Aub Mitchell, was the first man to cross for the blue and whites. A scrum had gone down near Easts' line, Canterbury's Roy McCarter worked a blind side move and Duncombe went through an opening to score. Kirk kicked the goal, and Canterbury-Bankstown led by nine points to six.

The scores were close until about 20 minutes before the end, and then Canterbury made a final and determined rally. Easts' try line was attacked continuously. Joe Gartner, the Canterbury-Bankstown winger, went over for two excellent tries, beating the defence with side-stepping runs. Both were converted, the second by McCarter, the first by Kirk a fine effort from the sideline. Gartner's two tries put the issue beyond doubt, giving Canterbury a lead of 19 to 6.

Canterbury's excellent teamwork was the greatest factor in its success and the determined work of its forwards. They were opposed to an almost all-international Roosters pack with the experience of Ray Stehr and dangerous trygetters in Norval, Pearce, and Pierce. Canterbury's State hooker Roy Kirkaldy secured a good share of ball and with his front-row partners in Henry Porter and Eddie Burns continually stopped the Roosters attack, tackling themselves to a standstill. Nine seasons later in the 1947 Grand Final this Canterbury front three would still be dominating their opposition.

The other Canterbury forwards in Sponberg, McCallum and McCormack also played tirelessly and deservedly chaired their captain Alan Brady from the field to enthusiastic cheers from the Canterbury fans celebrating their first premiership and to sporting congratulations from the Eastern Suburbs men.

Canterbury Bankstown 19 (Tries: Gartner 2, Duncombe. Goals: Kirk 4, McCarter )

defeated

Eastern Suburbs 6 (Tries: Cairns, Dunn )

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/1938.html Rugby League Tables - Season 1938] "The World of Rugby League"
* [http://www.rl1908.com/premiership.htm Premiership History and Statistics] "RL1908"
* [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/29/1096401652973.html Sydney Morning Herald sept2004] "SMH interview with Dick Dunn"
* [http://www.bulldogs.com.au/main.php?page=match_results&id=63 Bulldogs Website Official History] "SMH Match Report"
* [http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/The-Club/Tradition/Results---1931-1940.html Results: 1931-40 at rabbitohs.com.au]