| | | St George Dragons Rugby League History
Since
1921 - Our Proud History
1945-1949 |
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War
is over
 With
the end of World War Two in sight, Rugby League was again
looking to resume the international arena. Additionally,
the NSWRL was looking to expand with the admission of
two more teams, Manly-Warringah and Parramatta in 1947
making it a 10 team comp. This gave extra weight to the
importance of being a minor premier.
Ray
Lindwall [pic right] gave excellent service as fullback
for Saints in the 1940s before switching to cricket and
achieving greatness as a deadly fast bowler and the spearhead
of Don Bradman's Invincibles in 1948.
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1945:
SAINTS CAMPAIGN FALLS OFF THE RAILS
OUT OF SEMIS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 1938
Hurstville,
11 August 1945: With a number of regular players unavailable,
Saints find the going tough in 1945 and fail to make the semis.
Not since 1938 has the Sydney premiership played out its semi
finals without St George.
Meanwhile, Saints' prop forward, Bill McRitchie played
his final year with his home club.
 Bill
was hospitalised for 22 weeks in 1945 following a biting incident
in a club match against Newtown. Apparently, Bill had part of
his ear bitten off by Newtown's Frank 'Bumper' Farrell.
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Season
Snapshot
In 1945, Saints finished in 7th position on nine points
ahead of wooden spooners Souths on two points.
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A police officer,
Farrell was also disciplined by the NSW Police Force. But at the
judiciary, Bumper claimed that he was incapable of biting because
he left his dentures in the dressing sheds. He was cleared by
15 votes to 12, while McRitchie was awarded a sum between 200
and 300 pounds as compensation.
St George officials tried to re-open the inquiry
a month later, however the league disagreed, voting 21-2 against
further investigation.
According
to McRitchie and St George, the issue was never properly resolved.
(click on article for full image and story, 366 Kb) |
1945
NSWRL First Grade
Ladder
(top
4 in semis
- playoff for 4th)
| Easts
p |
22 |
| Newtown |
21 |
| Wests |
17 |
| Balmain |
16 |
| Norths |
16 |
| Canterbury |
9 |
| St
George |
9 |
| Souths |
2 |
p = Season Premiers
Saints 1945
AFTER 14 ROUNDS
Minor Premiership
Won-Lost-Draw-Bye
Points For 183
(7th best attack)
Points Against 253
(6th best defence)
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MP Standing
7th
(8 teams)
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1946:
 DRAGONS
CLUB CHAMPIONS, MINOR PREMIERS & GRAND FINALISTS
(click on pic left for larger image)
RAY LINDWALL'S FINAL MATCH
AS SAINTS ARE 'ROBBED'
Sydney Sports Ground, 14 September 1946: In
typical fashion, St George have bounced back from the lower end
of the ladder to finish the 1946 season as minor premiers.
As well, Saints performed well in all grades, claiming the club
championship. After 14 rounds, Saints are 22 points (11
wins, 3 losses) followed by Newtown (20), Balmain (18), Canterbury
(17). Saints are firm favourites to take out the 1946 premiership.
A
crowd of 32,296 saw the Grand Final between St George and Balmain.
The fact that the Dragons deserved to win is of no consequence.
They were 'robbed' as some observers put it when a series of decisions
by referee George Bishop gave Balmain numerous advantages. In
particular, two Balmain tries came off forward passes and there
was a disallowed try to St George. Bishop's refereeing was described
as 'astounding' when Balmain's Joe Jorgenson scored after
receiving a ball that was propelled a yard forward.
Despite this,
Saints came within a whisker of victory when Jack Lindwall
scored in the corner but brother Ray Lindwall (pic left)
was unable to convert in the difficult conditions. At the end
of the day, one has no choice but to look at the score board.
Ray Lindwall was not able to land a conversion at any time
throughout the match and despite scoring four tries to three,
Saints were unable to come up with their second premiership.
Fulltime score: Balmain 13 (3 tries + 2 goals) bt St George
12 (4 tries + 0 goal).
Tensions of the encounter overflowed after fulltime
and the match concluded on an ugly note when Saints forward, Jim
Hale went toe to toe with Balmain hooker, Herb Gilbert
Jnr. Hale was then attacked by a spectator and an all-in brawl
followed. This incident has been rated as contentious as the Earl
Park riot of 1928. |
1946
(top 4 in semis)
| St
George |
22 |
| Newtown |
20 |
| Balmain
p |
18 |
| Canterbury |
17 |
| Easts |
16 |
| Norths |
10 |
| Wests |
9 |
| Souths |
0 |
(14
ROUNDS)
Saints
'46 record
Win Loss Draw
11W, 3L, 0D
Pts for/against
For 264 (3rd)
Against 203 (5th) |
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Ray
Lindwall gave Rugby League away after the Grand Final of
'46. He already had a huge reputation as a killer fast bowler
before going fulltime to the St George Cricket Club. In 1948
he became immortal when he was selected on the Ashes Tour to
England with Don Bradman's Invincibles.
THE GREAT HERB NARVO
 St
George captain, Herb Narvo (pictured, right) gave his
all in the 1946 Grand Final. He was a tough Test forward who
originally played Rugby League in Newcastle. Herb was also a
fine cricketer and cyclist.
He also held the Australian Heavyweight Boxing title during
his football career. During the post war period, he was a household
name in Sydney. He originally won his Heavyweight title in 1945
when he defeated Billy Britt in just 23 seconds. He lost
the title in 1946 to Jack Johnson and got up the next
day to captain St George. Herb played just one season with Saints.
In 13 games, he scored three tries and eight goals before returning
to his first club, Newtown. He then played out his career in
the country finishing up as coach of Newcastle. He died as a
result of Cancer in 1958.
BIG
CROWD SEES 'ILLAWARRA' DOWN ENGLAND
Southern Division defeat England 15-12 in 1946
at the Wollongong Showground
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1947:
 JACK
LINDWALL SETS CLUB RECORD
Hurstville, 3 May 1947: Saints
have given newcomers, Manly-Warringah a thrashing to the tune
of 61-11. Saints scored 13 tries to one. The match will be remembered
for Jack Lindwall's [pictured] six tries and nine goals
for a personal tally of 36 points in the one game, setting a
new club record for tries scored in one match and equaling Les
Griffin's 1935 record for total points scored by any St
George player in one match. Saints' captain for 1947 was Doug
McRitchie.
SAINTS UNABLE TO MAKE SEMIS
Sydney Sports Ground, 27 August 1947: St George
finished the season in equal 4th but were unable to reach
the semis following their loss in the playoff for 4th place
against Wests. Saints went down 10-5.
NEW SIGNING:
Saints have signed Frank Facer to a three year contract
beginning with season '47. 'Fearless' Frank Facer, a North Sydney
junior, was lured to play Hooker by Saints by club secretary,
Arthur 'Snowy' Justice. Another player who became a Dragon
in '47 was Noel Pidding.
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1947
(top 4 in semis
- playoff for 4th)
| Canterbury |
27 |
| Balmain
p |
24 |
| Newtown |
23 |
| St
George |
22 |
| Wests |
22 |
| Norths |
19 |
| Souths |
18 |
| Easts |
11 |
| Manly |
8 |
| Parramatta |
6 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'47 record
Win Loss Draw
11W, 7L, 0D
Pts for/against
For 353 (3rd)
Against 272 (3rd) |
1948:
SAINTS GO DOWN IN PRELIMINARY FINAL
Sydney
Cricket Ground, 11 September 1948: St George were defeated
by Balmain 13-12, a score line which reminds us of the '46 Grand
Final. On this occasion, Saints are eliminated from the semis
and Balmain go on to meet the powerful Wests team in the decider.
The Dragons had previously beaten Newtown 20-8 at the SCG (Sept4)
in the minor semi. St George are placed third in the '48 comp
but coming into the semis they held the ladder position of 4th
with 21 points.
Before a crowd of 37404, the St George forwards were battering
Balmain in the qualifying final. But the Tigers were inspired
by winger, Arthur Patton who played the match with a broken leg.
Balmain held a lead of 13-7 before L Evans scored and winger Stan
Root converted putting Saints just one point behind.
In the dying minutes, Matt McCoy put Root into the clear and with
only the Tigers' fullback, Dave Parkinson to beat. But Parkinson
was equal to the task in bring Root down and Balmain won narrowly
13-12.
Also in 1948, Saints captain, Doug McRitchie plays for NSW thus
joining a long list of 1940s rep players from St George. |
1948
(top 4 in semis)
| Wests |
32 |
| Newtown |
26 |
| Balmain |
26 |
| St
George |
21 |
| Canterbury |
16 |
| Easts |
16 |
| Souths |
15 |
| Parramatta |
11 |
| Manly |
9 |
| Norths |
8 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'48 record
Win Loss Draw
10W, 7L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 332 (2nd)
Against 262 (5th) |
1949:
The premiership winning
side of 1949
(click on the pic for larger image)
Back row (L-R): M. McCoy, J. Munn, R. Roberts,
J. Holland, G. Jardine. C. Banks.
Front row: D. McRitchie, C. Langton, F. Facer,
J. Hawke, N. Hill, N. Pidding, D. Fleming.
Ballboy: Warren Sanders |
ST
GEORGE CLAIM SECOND
PREMIERSHIP
Sydney Cricket Ground, 10 September
1949: In a brutal encounter, the St George Dragons ran in
five tries and overcame South Sydney 19-12 to claim the 1949 premiership
in front of 56,534 people.
Coming into the semis, Saints finished third on the ladder
(23 pts) after 18 rounds of football. To get the Grand Final,
Saints first defeated minor premiers Souths in the major semi-final
16-12 (August 20), and then Balmain in the preliminary final 18-7
(September 3).
In the Grand Final, St George were led masterfully by their victorious
captain, Norman 'Johnny' Hawke. Controlling all aspects
of the match, Hawke took the game away from Souths who only got
back into the contest when Hawke was forced from the field with
injury. Also injured was forward, George Jardine who played
the match with a broken wrist.
After some treatment, Hawke returned to the field and set up the
play for victory. 'Johnny' Hawke was dubbed 'man of the match'
and 'the player's player' in a team of stars which included the
season's leading try scorer (25 tries) and newcomer, Ron Roberts
and Noel Pidding. Both wingers scored two tries each.
FULLTIME: ST GEORGE 19 defeated SOUTH SYDNEY 12.
Dragons first grade coach for 1949: Jim Duckworth.
Scorers for St George
Tries: Ron Roberts 2, Noel Pidding 2, Matt McCoy. Goals: Matt
McCoy, Noel Pidding.
Referee: G. Bishop. |
1949
(top 4 in semis)
| Souths |
27 |
| Wests |
24 |
| St
George p |
23 |
| Balmain |
22 |
| Parramatta |
20 |
| Newtown |
19 |
| Canterbury |
14 |
| Manly |
13 |
| Norths |
11 |
| Easts |
7 |
(18
ROUNDS)
Saints
'49 record
Win Loss
Draw
11W, 6L, 1D
Pts for/against
For 345 (4th)
Against 231 (3rd) |
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ALSO IN 1949:
Doug McRitchie toured
with the Kangaroos, playing in two Tests against Britain and
another two Tests against France. He was joined by fellow centre,
Matt McCoy who was signed in 1948 after being spotted
in Bega, NSW.
1949 was the first year as a Dragon for goal kicking
fullback, Doug Fleming. Only 19-years-old, Doug actually
forced Test star, Noel Pidding onto the wing and played in the
1949 GF win.
The 1949 Grand Final was the last match for Jack
Lindwall. Without a doubt, Jack Lindwall was one of the
greatest footballers to ever wear the red and white. A brilliant
attacking winger and centre, Jack set numerous club records
including most tries in a match (6 pts vs Manly 1947)
and most points in a match (36 pts Vs Manly 1947). In
a career which began in 1938, Jack played 133 games and scored
110 tries and kicked 99 goals for a personal career tally of
528 points.
||||||1940s||||||
The
1940s in summary: Rugby League prospered during the decade
despite the loss of players. In 1943, with the pressure of war
ever present, Sydney turned to the game and crowd numbers went
'through the roof'. The Grand Final of 1943 attracted over 60,000
people which was extraordinary in a city which was still being
referred to as 'Sydney Town'.
Saints went from strength
to strength in the 1940s with some real heroes emerging from
their ranks. Apart from winning two premierships, Saints appeared
in all the semi-finals of the 1940s with the exceptions of 1945
and 1947 when they missed out narrowly. Saints were fantastic
in the 1940s. But the best was yet to come...
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Seasons
In Review
