1888 Southern Rugby Union season

July 2019 May 2011 20x20px Balmain Wellington 1st 8 Premiers 20x20px Sydney University 5th 20x20px Arfoma 1888 Sydney Rugby Premiership 20x20px Albert Sefton (8) 20x20px Albert Sefton (25) 16 June to 25 August 1887 Southern Rugby Union Season 1887 1889 Southern Rugby Union Season 1889 The 1888 Southern Rugby Football Union season was the 15th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the sixth competition for the Gardiner Challenge Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season was from June till August 1888. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Sydney University who were crowned premiers who finished undefeated for the second year in a row. It was during 1888 that the first British Rugby team toured Australia and New Zealand playing two games against a NSW team. The intercolonial matches saw Queensland travel to Sydney to play two games against the home team. Teams For the second year in a row the Gardiner Challenge Cup was open for all rugby clubs to enter upon payment of an entry fee. When entries closed on 5 May, eight clubs had entered the competition. Each club entered had competed for the cup during the previous season. Three of last season's clubs were missing from the list of entries. Parramatta had disbanded during 1887 and withdrew from the premiership. Glebe decided not to enter the senior competition and concentrated their efforts on the lower ranked cups. Disappointingly, the Gordon Football Club did not enter into the competition and was disbanded. After winning the Cup during their first season of competition in 1886, Gordon suffered an unexplained drop in form in 1887. In April 1888 a meeting was held by the club with all intentions of entering the Cup.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164362259 Football. 1888-04-21 Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 – 1912) 2019-06-21 865 However, by the end of the month, it was reported that the club had disbanded and that its demise was "confidently anticipated by all the knowing people."http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127589475 FOOTBALL NOTES. 1888-05-03 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 – 1939) 2019-06-21 7 +ClubColorsFormedGroundCaptainArformacenter|50x50pxprior to 1883NoneEC EbsworthBalmaincenter|50x50pxc.1873NoneEwen CameronBalmain Wellingtoncenter|50x50pxc.1884NoneShepherdBurwoodcenter|50x50pxprior to 1883Ashfield Recreation ReserveWalkerNewtowncenter|50x50pxprior to 1883MacDonaldtown ParkO'NeillRosedalecenter|50x50px|link=Special:FilePath/Rosedale_1888.svgc.1884Redfern OvalJames McMahonSydney Universitycenter|50x50pxc.1863University OvalJack ShawWallaroocenter|50x50px19 May 1871NoneCharles Wade Rule Changes The draw created by the union saw the premiership start later than was seen in previous seasons. With the international games against the British touring side scheduled for early June, the first round of cup games was not held until 16 June. A break was also taken for the intercolonial games against Queensland in mid-July and for the extra game against the British in early August. As a result of these interruptions, the Gardiner Challenge Cup saw only 7 rounds of games with no finals series held. The final game for the cup was held on 25 August.August 2020 Season summary Eventual premiers, Sydney University repeated their performance from the previous season. Seventeen wins, one draw, 200 points scored and only 12 points against over two seasons demonstrated their superiority. Their open and fast play closely resembled that of the British team, with long passing, good defence and follow-up. During dribbling rushes, University would see at least three players involved whereas opponents would be content to only watch their team's progress. For the representative matches, University had the fortune of having seven chosen. After a fourth match between NSW and the British fell through, University was quickly drafted in to play against the internationals. University demonstrated excellent skill against the visitors, leading 4 points to 2 at half time. The British team went on to win the match 8 points to 4.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article107330258 Football. 1888-08-11 Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931) 2019-06-27 5 The Arfoma Football Club demonstrated that untiring energy and consistent backing up could win a team matches. Despite having a light pack, Arfoma ran riot over many heavier teams. Their regular and effective passing was a feature of their game play. As a result, the team finished second to the undefeated University. Arfoma saw four members of the team chosen to represent their colony in the international matches. Rosedale became one of the three leading clubs in rugby football in 1888. Much of the success of the team during the season was due to the speed of its players and their endurance. Their knowledge of the game assisted them in defeating more established older clubs. Rosedale suffered defeat only once during the season at the hands of eventual premiers University. Against Arfoma, the club drew without scoring. Rosedale saw two of their players selected to represent NSW against the British touring team. Wallaroo boasted strong individual players but underperformed as a team. Individual performances rather than team play hindered the team from gaining success on the football field. Passing was only seen as a means to receive the ball, rather than give to another. However, the Wallaroo club had the fortune of enrolling the highest number of members. This saw the senior team fielding different players each week which was seen as a hindrance to further success. Despite being a successful part of the premiership and a winner of the Gardiner Cup, the Burwood Football Club found itself disbanding during the season. With the Chapman brothers retiring from football at the end of the previous season, the club struggled to display the same form as previously. A small number of loyal players continued with the club in an attempt to keep Burwood competitive. However, the team suffered a couple of large losses and ceased to exist after their third game. Ladder 1888 Gardiner Challenge Cup main WDL Q p none SYD 20x20px Sydney University ARF 20x20px Arfoma ROS 20x20px Rosedale WAL 20x20px Wallaroo NEW 20x20px Newtown BAL 20x20px Balmain BUR 20x20px Burwood BWL 20x20px Balmain Wellington 7 0 0 77 6 5 1 1 96 14 5 1 1 15 17 3 1 3 44 49 3 0 4 19 40 2 1 4 8 39 0 1 6 2 67 0 1 6 0 29 Burwood only played the first 3 rounds. All other games were counted as forfeits. The match scheduled against Balmain Wellington was considered a draw. Balmain Wellington only played the first round. All other games were counted as forfeits. The match scheduled against Burwood was considered a draw. The final order of teams on the table was based upon number of wins, number of losses, points scored then points scored against. green1 C complete http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127594679 CLUB RECORDS. 1888-10-03 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 – 1939) 2019-06-26 6 1em Ladder progression table 20x20px Sydney University 1 / 2C / 3C / 4C / 6CUniversity were scheduled to play Balmain Wellington. They received a forfeit from that team but also defeated Rosedale in a game. / 6C / 7C 20x20px Arfoma 1C / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5Balmain forfeited game against Arfoma. 20x20px Rosedale 1 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4Rosedale were scheduled to play Burwood. They received a forfeit from that team but also lost to University in a game. / 4 / 5 20x20px Wallaroo 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2The game between Wallaroo and Balmain was mutually declared a draw. / 2 / 3 20x20px Newtown 0 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 20x20px Balmain 0 / 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 2 20x20px Burwood 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 20x20px Balmain Wellington 0R / 0R / 0R / 0R / 0R / 0R / 0R #89C1FF #89C1FF Finished first on the ladder in that round #FD9BA4 #FD9BA4 Last place on the ladder in that round b Lower grades Prior to the season beginning, at a meeting of the Southern Rugby Football Union, the matters of the various cups were considered. It was presented that the conditions attached to the cups precluded its acceptance. Therefore, there were questions whether the Union would accept the cups being offered by the various sponsors. It was decided that if the Junior Cup was not accepted, then no Union Cup would be held either.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164356980 Football. 1888-04-28 Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 – 1912) 2019-06-27 918 With Junior clubs now holding a representation within the Union, the Junior clubs decided that they would not accept a cup. The clubs were of the belief that they only needed club matches. Unfortunately, the crowd numbers and interest in the Junior matches were low, with some questioning the wisdom in refusing the competition.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127594791 FOOTBALL NOTES. 1888-07-19 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2019-06-29 6 Representative Games The British Rugby Tour thumb|500x500px|The 1888 British Rugby Team that toured New Zealand and Australia 1888 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia The 1888 season began with an influential series of games against a touring British Rugby team. A 21-man squad was organised by cricketers James Lillywhite, Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury to play a number of games in New Zealand and Australia, including a set of games played in Melbourne to the Australian rules.https://www.lionsrugby.com/history/1888/04/28/1888-1899-touring-tradition-begins/ 1888–1899 – Touring tradition begins in 19th century Talbot-Smith Charlie 1888-04-28 Lions History en-GB 2019-06-22 30 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180630110730/https://www.lionsrugby.com/history/1888/04/28/1888-1899-touring-tradition-begins/ dead This tour was not sanctioned by the Rugby Football Union in England but was allowed to proceed.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127599755 SHAW AND LILYWHITE'S FOOTBALL TEAM. 1888-03-08 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 – 1939) 2019-06-22 6 The British team wore jerseys of blue, red and white hoops with white shorts and dark socks. Due to the tour not being supported by the RFU, many players declined to be involved. The final team that departed Tilbury on the Thames contained a majority of English players with one Welshman, two Scots and an Irishman. The team was captained by Robert Seddon. Despite the RFU being staunch amateur with no interest in associating with professional football, players were paid to some extent with some players receiving over £200. English forward Jack Clowes of northern club Halifax, was reported to the RFU by a rival team chairman for receiving £15 for clothing. The RFU deemed him a professional and was banned from the sport. As he had already left on the tour, Clowes did not play any games while on tour in fear of other players receiving bans.https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2013/jun/27/lions-tour-1888-forgotten-story The forgotten story of ... the Lions 1888 tour McClintock Alex 2013-06-26 The Guardian 2019-06-22 en-GB 0261-3077 On returning to England in November, the players were allowed to continue playing for their respective clubs after signing a declaration claiming they had not been paid. Clowes was also reinstated to avoid the impression that the "gentleman amateurs" were treated differently than the working class players. It is interesting to note that two thirds of the touring team were members of Northern England clubs that later defected from the RFU to form the professional union that later became known as Rugby League.https://books.google.com/books?id=ISbwAAAAQBAJ At the George: And Other Essays on Rugby League Moorhouse Geoffrey 2013-09-19 Faber & Faber 9780571300082 en The chief games in Sydney were played against a NSW team at the Association Cricket Ground. The NSW team wore dark maroon jerseys with a blue shield on the chest, white shorts, maroon socks and a maroon cap.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229931950 THE COLOURS 1888-06-02 Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 – 1909) 2019-06-21 5 Players selected to represent the colony across the three games included Fred Hillyar (Arfoma), James O'Donnell (Arfoma), Arthur Hale (Arfoma), Tom Perry (Arfoma), Ewen Cameron (Balmain), Ronald Cameron (Balmain), Henry Braddon (Burwood), James Moulton, John Gee (Newtown), George Braund (Rosedale), James McMahon (Rosedale), Harold Baylis (University), Percy Colquhoun (University), Charles Tange (University), Herbert Lee (University), Jack Shaw (University), Leo Neill (University), William Bellbridge (University), Colin Caird (Wallaroo), Greg Wade (Wallaroo), Les Wade (Wallaroo) and J Rice (Wallaroo). Tange was chosen as captain of the team.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229931943 THE TEAMS. 1888-06-02 Australian Star (Sydney, NSW : 1887 – 1909) 2019-06-22 5 The first game on 2 June saw a crowd of 13,000 at the Association Cricket Ground. The British team had the measure of NSW with the final score being 18 points to 2.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13688217 INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL MATCH. 1888-06-04 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954) 2019-06-22 4 The follow-up match a week later saw a marked improvement from the NSW team with the scores at half time 6 points to 2 in favour of the home team. The visitors went on to win the game 18 points to 6 in front of a crowd that numbered over 5000.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237213198 THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL TEAM IN SYDNEY. 1888-06-11 Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930) 2019-06-22 6 A final match was played 4 August in front of a healthy crowd of 5000.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127597783 INTERNATIONAL RETURN MATCH. 1888-08-09 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 – 1939) 2019-06-22 6 13,000 #eeeeee 2 June 1st New South Wales – Britain International Football Match RW Thallon 0–18 Association Cricket Ground 20px Britain New South Wales 20px W Bumby (3), H Eagles, RL Seddon, AE Stoddart J Anderton (1/4), AG Paul (1/2) 5000 #eeeeee 9 June PB Colquhoun (1/1) 2nd New South Wales – Britain International Football Match HM Baylis (0/1) RW Thallon 6–18 Association Cricket Ground 20px Britain New South Wales 20px LEF Neill AE Stoddart (2), H Eagles (2), H Brooks, C Mathers J Anderton (1/5), AE Stoddart (1/1) 5000 #eeeeee 4 August 3rd New South Wales – Britain International Football Match HM Baylis (0/1) 2–16 Association Cricket Ground 20px Britain New South Wales 20px EM Cameron C Mathers (3), AE Stoddart, J Nolan AE Stoddart (2/5) Tragedy struck the visiting British team while on the tour. After playing a match in the Maitland region in mid-August, captain Seddon went for a scull on the Hunter River. Reports from the newspapers of the period indicate that the boat was overturned with Seddon swimming a few strokes before presumably suffering cramps and drowning.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237207562 THE DROWNING OF THE FOOTBALLER. 1888-08-17 Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 – 1930) 2019-06-22 5 The tourists had little time to mourn as they were soon playing against a Brisbane team with cricketer Andrew Stoddart as captain. The open and fast game that the British team displayed was in advance of the NSW type of play. It was reported in newspapers of the period that NSW were playing a two-year-old style of play compared to that of the British team. Such a demonstration was hoped to encourage improved play in the local clubs.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63621175 THE SPORTS OF AUSTRALIA.[?]FOOTBALL. 1888-08-30 Illustrated Sydney News (NSW : 1881 – 1894) 2019-06-21 8 Intercolonial matches In 1888 the intercolonial matches were held over two consecutive weeks in July. During these two weekends no matches were held for the Gardiner Challenge Cup. After playing the British team, NSW had developed their play to resemble something closer to that displayed by the British. Queensland put a lighter pack into the field than their opponents with their players displaying excellent support of the ball-carrier. In the first match, they scored 5 tries to NSW's 3. However they lost they game due to Baylis displaying outstanding accuracy with his kicking giving NSW the win 15 points to 13. The second match saw Queensland fail to display the same form as in the first, losing the match 9 points to 2. #eeeeee 14 July 1888 13th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match HM Baylis (3/3) RW Thallon https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/107326800? Intercolonial Football Contest 1888-07-16 Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 – 1931) 2019-06-24 6 15–13 Association Cricket Ground 20px Queensland New South Wales 20px CL Tange, Anderson, CG Wade AR Peirson (3), H Durham, T Hughes J Exton (1/2), H Durham (0/1), E Hutton (0/1) #eeeeee 21 July 1888 14th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match PB Colquhoun (1/2), BA Newell (0/1) RW Thallon https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/161892088? Football 1888-07-28 The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 – 1912) 2019-06-24 198 9–2 Association Cricket Ground 20px Queensland New South Wales 20px A Hale, PB Colquhoun, T Perry F Baynes J Exton (0/1) Team & Player Records Top 10 Point Scorers PtsPlayerTGFG 2520x20px Albert Sefton830 1820x20px E Hungerford060 1620x20px Harold Baylis041 1620x20px Paddy Flynn041 1220x20px EC Ebsworth040 1020x20px F Walker500 1020x20px Harry Hillyar301 720x20px F Clapin210 720x20px Serisier210 720x20px R Hannibal011 Top 10 Try Scorers TPlayer 820x20px Albert Sefton 520x20px F Walker 320x20px Harry Hillyar 320x20px R Ashworth 320x20px Leo Neill 320x20px Fred Weaver 220x20px F Clapin 220x20px Serisier 220x20px D'Lauret 220x20px Charles Tange Most points in a match PtsTeamOpponentVenueDate 35 20x20px Arfoma20x20px BurwoodAssociation Cricket Ground30 June 29 20x20px Arfoma20x20px Balmain WellingtonAgricultural Society Ground16 June 28 20x20px Wallaroo20x20px BurwoodAgricultural Society Ground16 June 21 20x20px Sydney University20x20px BalmainAgricultural Society Ground30 June 21 20x20px Arfoma20x20px WallarooAgricultural Society Ground18 August Greatest Winning Margin PtsTeamScoreOpponentVenueDate 35 20x20px Arfoma35 - 020x20px BurwoodAssociation Cricket Ground30 June 29 20x20px Arfoma29 - 020x20px Balmain WellingtonAgricultural Society Ground16 June 28 20x20px Wallaroo28 - 020x20px BurwoodAgricultural Society Ground16 June 21 20x20px Arfoma21 - 020x20px WallarooAgricultural Society Ground18 August 19 20x20px Sydney University21 - 220x20px BalmainAgricultural Society Ground30 June Some data is incomplete due to inconsistent reporting of games in newspapers of the period. Participating clubs ClubSenior GradeJunior Grade1st2nd3rd1st2nd20x20px Arfoma Football ClubY20x20px Balmain Rugby Football ClubYBalmain Ormonde Football ClubY20x20px Balmain Wellington Football ClubY20x20px Burwood Football ClubYDouble Bay Football ClubYElvira Football ClubYGlebe Wellington Football ClubY20px Mercantile Football ClubY20x20px Newtown Football ClubYNewtown Waratah Football ClubYNomad Football ClubYNorwood Football ClubYOxford Football ClubYParramatta Union Football ClubY20x20px Petersham Rugby Football ClubYPermanent Artillery Football ClubY20x20px Randwick Football ClubYY20x20px Rosedale Football ClubYY20px Strathfield Football ClubYY20x20px Sydney University Football ClubYYY20x20px Wallaroo Football ClubYYWentworth Football ClubY References External links Sydney Club Rugby History. NSW Waratahs All-time player list. Queensland Reds All-time player list. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711102139/https://www.redsrugby.com.au/Portals/10/2019/Documents/170217-QRU-CapProject-v03.pdf 11 July 2019 collapsed collapsed Category:1888 in Australian rugby union Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales