| | | St George Dragons Rugby League History
Since
1921 - Our Proud History
1935-1939 |
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In
1935, Saints created a premiership record when they slaughtered
the newly formed Canterbury 91-6 (this equates to 110-6
on modern scoring).
The 30s also saw the demise of one of Rugby
League's battler clubs, University in 1937.
By the end of the decade, World War II was
declared and like most teams, Saints were hit hard when
a number of players left to join the fight.
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A
cricket score hiding delivered to the new neighbours
1935:
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Season
Snapshot
In 1935, St George narrowly missed out on the semis and
ended up finishing the season in sixth position.
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SAINTS
ANNIHILATE BERRIES 91 - 6
'EARL PARK MASSACRE' HISTORIC
WIN
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ST
GEORGE, 11 May 1935
(vs Canterbury)
Fullback
S. Robinson
Three Quarters
F. Gardner L.
Griffin
M. Hollingsworth J. Lynch
Halves
J. Flower
P. White
Forwards
W. Killiby
C. Rice J. Rutherford
L. Kelly E. Root
P. Fairall (c)
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Earl Park,
11 May 1935: Saints delivered a stunning footballing lesson
to competition newcomers, Canterbury - Bankstown when they posted
a record premiership win of 91-6 (NB: this equates to 110-6 on
modern scoring). One can but imagine what was going through the
minds of the slaughtered as they came to terms with a premiership
loss that in all likelihood, will never be surpassed.
Canterbury opened the scoring with two goals from the boot of
Carey and led 4-0. But St George cut loose, running up a half
time lead of 21-6. Saints' line was never crossed and by full
time, as they scored 19 tries and 17 goals as every player in
the team made it onto the scorecard.
St George winger, Les Griffin posted a club record for
most points and goals scored in a first grade match when he posted
36 points (2 tries, 15 goals). This 36 points record only being
equaled in 1947 by Jack Lindwall.
(NB:
Griffin's and Lindwall's record stood as an all-grade club record.
But this was broken decades later when third grader Wes Naiqama
score 38 points in a Jersey Flegg match in 2002).
Les's record of 15 goals in one match still stands not only as
a club record but it is also a competition record held jointly
with Easts' Dave Brown. |
1935
NSWRL First Grade
Ladder
(top
4 in semis)
| Easts
p |
34 |
| Souths |
26 |
| Wests |
24 |
| Norths |
23 |
| Balmain |
21 |
| St
George |
20 |
| Newtown |
20 |
| Canterbury |
8 |
| University |
4 |
p = Season Premiers
Saints 1935
AFTER 18 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw-Bye
Points For 334
(3rd best attack)
Points Against 162
(2nd best defence)
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MP Standing
6th
(9 teams)
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Scorers
for St George
Tries: Max Hollingsworth 4, Len Kelly 3, Les Griffin 2, Percy
Fairall 2, Jim Rutherford 2, J. Flower, P. White, Bill 'Wombo'
Killiby, Eddie Root, Charlie 'Chikker' Rice, Fred 'Yappy' Gardner.
Goals: Les Griffin 15, Stan Robinson, Jack Lynch.
Referee: J. Murphy.
MIXED FORTUNES AS SAINTS HOLD THEIR OWN AGAINST PREMIERS
St
George's massive win over Canterbury was to compete with the tremendous
year that Easts were having. Easts were handing out numerous thrashings
in 1935 including an 87-7 clubbing of Canterbury just one week
after the 'Earl Park Massacre'. (For the record, Canterbury conceded
a record 660 points after 18 rounds).
Additionally, Easts sent many teams home with scores of 40 or
more against them and posted several more scores of 50 and 60
plus.
Saints held their own against Easts that year, losing both encounters
16-8 and 16-13. This is despite the fact that in 18 rounds Easts
scored a mammoth 599 points which included 131 tries, almost twice
as much as their nearest rival. Needless to say, Easts went in
to win the title in 1935. Nevertheless, despite the dominance
of Easts, Saints showed a clean pair of heels to many teams.
EDDIE ROOT SIGNS WITH ST GEORGE
Saints' big signing of 1935 was tough prop forward, Eddie Root.
Eddie brought with him a wealth of knowledge. In addition to his
state rep appearances, Eddie also played as a 1929 Kangaroo. |
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1936:
University
end losing streak with win over Saints
Earl Park, 29 August 1936: University scored
a rare win, defeating St George narrowly by 13-11 in the final
round of the 1936 season. Uni's last win was in round one of
1934, the best part of three season ago. Since then, they have
lost 42 games in a row giving them the unenviable record of
the longest losing streak in Rugby League history, a feat that
is unlikely to be surpassed. Notice has been placed on University
by the NSWRL to get better results or find themselves out of
first grade. Rugby League's battlers have been given one more
season to prove themselves, a task that seems beyond the struggling
club.
In the meantime, the St George team, captain-coached
by Eddie Root (in his last season) had an ordinary year
finishing with just three wins, 10 losses, two byes for a ladder
points total of 10 points. Saints finished in 8th position,
saved from the wooden spoon by last placed University.
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1936
NSWRL
First Grade
Ladder
(top 4 in semis)
| Easts
p |
28 |
| Balmain |
22 |
| Canterbury |
22 |
| Norths |
19 |
| Newtown |
15 |
| Wests |
15 |
| Souths |
14 |
| St
George |
10 |
| University |
4 |
(15
ROUNDS)
Saints
'36 record
Win Loss
Draw Bye
3W, 10L, 0D, 2B
Pts for/against
For 141 (8th)
Against 228 (7th) |
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The
End of League's Battlers
1937:
SAINTS' BIG WIN
Sydney Cricket Ground, 22 May 1937:
St George and Uni met for the final time in the penultimate
round of the 1937 season. In a one sided match, Saints overwhelmed
the hapless University team who have been unable to win a single
game all year. Saints recorded their 2nd biggest win by
running in 15 tries to one to crush University 65-5.
Since entering the competition in 1921, Saints
have beaten University 17 times and lost to them three times.
Ironically, University recorded their biggest ever win against
Saints in 1933 when they won by 42-8. University will not be
competing in 1938.
SHORT SEASON &
NO SEMIS
Earl
Park, 19 June 1937: Saints played their final game of the
year defeating Newtown 19-11. Only nine rounds were played in
1937. There were no semi-finals and Easts have been declared
the premiers by virtue of the competition ladder which sees
them being undefeated on 16 points. Easts' season included two
draws, one of which was against St George (10-all in May).
Saints did well by posting
five wins, two losses, one draw and one bye to finish the season
with 13 points, equal with Souths in second position. Saints
for and against sees them finishing the year in third position.
 A
FIRST FOR THE ILLAWARRA
'SAUS'
HAZLETON PLAYS FOR AUSTRALIA
Port
Kembla winger, Charlie 'Saus' Hazleton has the distinction
of being Southern Division's first international when selected
on the '37/38 Kangaroo tour after representing NSW. He played
one Test in NZ and 15 games in the 1937 Kangaroo tour.
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1937
NSWRL
First Grade
Ladder
(no semis)
| Easts
p |
16 |
| Souths |
13 |
| St
George |
13 |
| Newtown |
10 |
| Canterbury |
10 |
| Balmain |
10 |
| Norths |
8 |
| Wests |
8 |
| University |
2 |
(9
ROUNDS)
Saints
'37 record
Win Loss Draw Bye
5W, 2L, 1D, 1B
Pts for/against
For 151 (3rd)
Against 92 (4th) |
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1938:
Saints stuck with wooden spoon for third
time
 North
Sydney Oval, 13 August 1938: In front of a small crowd Norths
defeated St George 23-20 thus confirming Saints as the year's
last place-getters. Saints won three, drew one and lost 10 matches,
including a losing streak of the last 5 games.
Saints were still a chance of avoiding the wooden
spoon if they could muster a win against Norths but were unable
to do so.
At the end of year 'post-mortem' a few Saints'
officials were heard to vow that no future St George team would
ever cop the wooden spoon again!
In 1938, Saints signed promising centre/winger
Jack Lindwall (pic right).
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1938
NSWRL
First Grade
Ladder
(top 4 in semis)
| Canterbury
p |
24 |
| Souths |
19 |
| Balmain |
15 |
| Easts |
15 |
| Norths |
12 |
| Newtown |
11 |
| Wests |
9 |
| St
George |
7 |
(14
ROUNDS)
Saints
'38 record
Win Loss
Draw
3W, 10L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 159 (7th)
Against 275 (8th) |
1939:
ST GEORGE REBUILD AND SUCCEED!
 Sydney
Cricket Ground, 26 August 1939: Saints went down in the minor
semi final 23-10 to Souths in front of 21,722 spectators. But
they can be pleased with a successful season. Under the guidance
of new captain-coach Neville Smith (pic right), Saints
have been trying to re-build their reputation after coming last
in 1938. Neville comes from
Valleys (Bris) and at 22 he is the youngest ever captain-coach
in the history of St George.
Coming into the semis, Saints were second on
the ladder and had an impressive list if victories throughout the
year.
With 10 wins and four losses after 14 rounds, Saints
have had an almost complete reversal of form. Kangaroo winger
and Port Kembla lad, Charlie Hazelton scored 17 tries (14
rounds) in his first season with Saints.
On August 12th, the last round of the premiership,
Saints and Balmain battled it out for the minor premiership. Balmain
won a tight match 11-10. Balmain went on to win the Final against
Souths and claim the premiership.
||||||1930s
FULL OF MIXED FORTUNES||||||
The
1930s were not easy for Sydney-siders. The Great Depression
had brought about hard financial times and most were doing it
tough. Despite this, crowd numbers to Rugby League matches were
on the increase as people tried to escape the harsh realities
of life.
St George had a mixed bag
of fortune. They
missed out on the semis five times including one year when they
finished last. But they also featured in five semis and were runners-up
on two occasions. They also had some big wins including the 91-6
hammering of Canterbury. Things were looking up and Saints' fans
could sense their elusive first premiership win was just around
the corner. |
1939
NSWRL First Grade
Ladder
(top 4 in semis)
| Balmain
p |
22 |
| St
George |
20 |
| Canterbury |
20 |
| Souths |
18 |
| Easts |
16 |
| Wests |
6 |
| Norths |
6 |
| Newtown |
4 |
(14
ROUNDS)
Saints
'39 record
Win Loss
Draw
10W, 4L, 0D
Pts for/against
For 268 (1st)
Against 169 (4th) |
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Seasons
In Review
