1900 Metropolitan Rugby Union season

November 2019 November 2019 20x20px Newtown 1st 8 20x20px Glebe Minor Premiers Premiers 20x20px Glebe 1st 20x20px Sydney University 1900 Sydney Rugby Premiership 20x20px Harry Blaney (11) 20x20px Iggy O'Donnell (61) 1st 19 May to 25 August 8 8 Second Grade Third Grade Premiers Premiers 20x20px Glebe 20x20px Glebe 20x20px Eastern Suburbs 20x20px North Sydney 1899 Metropolitan Rugby Union season 1899 1901 Metropolitan Rugby Union season 1901 The 1900 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 27th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. It was the first season run for clubs that represented a district. Eight clubs (seven representing a district, the remaining club representing Sydney University) competed from May till August 1900. The season culminated in the first district premiership, which was won by Glebe. Glebe were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the table.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121813429 FOOTBALL IN 1900. 1900-08-29 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-04-27 8 Background As early as 1893http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13934114 FOOTBALL. 1893-10-28 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 2018-04-27 7 it had been suggested to change the current structure of the premiership to a district-based formula. The idea was that district teams would distribute the top players amongst more teams creating a more equal competition. This would encourage crowds at matches to grow in size. However, members of the union were reluctant and voted against the proposal.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13947300 The Sydney Morning Herald. 1894-04-11 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 2018-04-27 6 This was based upon the grounds that the current clubs had a strong supporter base that may be lost if their club was barred from the competition. As well, it was believed that crowd sizes were adequate and not in fear of falling. The idea of district competition continued to be discussed over the following seasons. At a NSWRFU meeting in early August, 1896, a motion was proposed and carried concerning district football. The proposal recommended that the County of Cumberland (Sydney and surrounding suburbs) be separated into eight districts and that the Senior and First Junior matches be played between these clubs. The eight districts proposed were North Sydney, Redfern, Glebe, St. George, Balmain, Paddington, Western Suburbs and East Sydney. The proposal included the University club who would only include players who were undergraduates. Districts were arranged upon electorate lines.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121517360 FOOTBALL. 1896-08-12 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-07-13 8 The NSWRFU rejected the proposal in a heated and passionate meeting with the votes 44 to 16.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121526941 FOOTBALL. 1896-09-02 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-07-13 8 On 26 September 1898, at a meeting of the Metropolitan Rugby Football Union, the following recommendation was proposed, "That the football competition next season shall be competed for by clubs whose members are residents of such districts as may be allowed to each club." A ballot was taken and the recommendation won 22 to 12. A committee was set up to draw up a scheme to divide the Sydney region into eight districts, including Sydney University.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14160597 FOOTBALL. 1898-09-27 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 2018-04-27 6 However, the change was postponed to start in 1900 due to the eminent arrival of the English team and being able to adequately form a competitive team.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14199475 THE ENGLISH FOOTBALL TEAM. 1899-02-09 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 2018-04-28 3 In 1900 a meeting of the Metropolitan Rugby Football Union was held and a recommendation to establish district football in the coming season was made. The motion was carried with a majority in favour. In response, existing clubs indicated their support for the new competition by either disbanding the current club or removing themselves from the senior competition. Meetings were held across the city over the coming months to form the various district clubs.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121809809 FOOTBALL NOTES. 1900-03-14 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-04-28 8 Teams Eight clubs contested the season; seven clubs representing a district and one club representing Sydney University. The 'Varsity were allowed to continue in the Premiership with the restriction that all players were required to be either current or former students. Each of the district clubs were newly formed with the foundations in former clubs.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121803345 FOOTBALL NOTES. 1900-05-16 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-04-27 8 center|50x50pxBalmain Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: Birchgrove Oval Captain: E Mulletcenter|50x50pxEastern Suburbs Formed on 22 March 1900 Ground: Rushcutters Bay Oval Captain: Percy Macnamaracenter|50x50pxGlebe Formed on 15 March 1900 Ground: Wentworth Park Captain: Ernest McMahoncenter|50x50pxNewtown Formed on 22 March 1900 Captain: George Haycenter|50x50pxNorth Sydney Formed on 23 March 1900 Ground: North Sydney Oval Captain: Paddy Lane100px|centerSouth Sydney Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: RAS Showground Captain: J Bourke100px|centerSydney University Formed on 19 August 1865 Ground: University Oval Captain: Harry Wood & Horace Jonescenter|50x50pxWestern Suburbs Formed on 22 March 1900 Ground: Parramatta Oval Captain: William Shortland Season summary The 1900 Sydney Rugby Premiership and the move to a district-based structure was deemed a success. Greater public interest in football was seen with crowd attendances at games a positive. At the final round of the season, the top-of-the-table clash between Glebe and Sydney University at University Oval saw approximately 7,000 in attendance. The winning club, Glebe, demonstrated more consistency during the season than the other clubs. After starting the season with four wins in the first seven rounds, they consistently developed their team until they were regarded as the finest team over the remaining seven rounds. They also benefitted from a very low injury toll to their players. Glebe won the two lower grade competitions to add to their first grade triumph. Sydney University performed very well to become runners-up considering they had a terrible injury toll. This included their captain HD Wood whose career was ended due to his injuries. Their success was mostly due to players such as Harry Blaney and Frank Futter who scored nearly half of their tries. For a greater part of the season, North Sydney were favourites for the premiership having only lost one game in the first ten rounds. However, when the club met Glebe in round eleven, they lost the game and three of their players were injured. The next round saw another injury to a player. North Sydney lost the last four remaining games (rounds 11 to 14) and with that the premiership. Ladder TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts120x20px Glebe141112015657 +9923220x20px Sydney University14815013692 +4417320x20px North Sydney14725013878 +7816420x20px Western Suburbs1471607792 -1515520x20px South Sydney1461706792 -2513620x20px Eastern Suburbs14608087127 -4012720x20px Balmain14329092111 -198820x20px Newtown144010042146 -1048 Ladder progression Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round. Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round Team1234567891011121314120x20px Glebe22The game between Glebe and South Sydney that was scheduled for round 2 was postponed due to the ground being unfit for play. The game was not played until prior to round 7. As a result, the points won by Glebe were not applied until round 7.4457911131517192123220x20px Sydney University022466810111315171717320x20px North Sydney2466791113141616161616420x20px Western Suburbs2446681010101010121415520x20px South Sydney22444The game between Balmain and South Sydney that was scheduled for round 5 was postponed due to the ground being unfit for play. The game was not played until prior to round 10. As a result, the points awarded to both teams for the draw were not applied until round 10.44467791113620x20px Eastern Suburbs000244468810101012720x20px Balmain00000000035578820x20px Newtown00244688888888 Statistics Points PlayerPlTGFGPts120x20px Iggy O'Donnell14614361220x20px Harry Blaney13113143320x20px James Joyce11014342420x20px George Thomas13011024520x20px Stanley Wickham1336023620x20px Leo Finn1418023720x20px Ed Halloren1251121820x20px George Roberts1270021920x20px Charlie White10501191020x20px Frank Futter1360018 Tries PlayerPlT120x20px Harry Blaney1311220x20px George Roberts127320x20px Iggy O'Donnell146420x20px Frank Futter136520x20px Ed Halloren125620x20px E Hughes115720x20px William Shortland135820x20px Charlie White105920x20px William Hardcastle1241020x20px Victor Harris144 Lower grades The MRFU also conducted Second Grade and Third Grade competitions for teams representing the district clubs. Glebe were victorious in both lower grade competitions and were thus declared club champions across all three grades. Overall, the club had only lost two games across all three grades, being undefeated in both lower grade competitions. Second grade All of the clubs competing in the First Grade competition entered a team in Second Grade. Teams were: North Sydney, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, Newtown, Glebe, Balmain and Sydney university. At the conclusion of the season, Glebe finished the season undefeated at the top of the table and were declared Premiers. Third grade The same clubs competed in the Third Grade competition. Teams were: North Sydney, South Sydney, Eastern Suburbs, Western Suburbs, Newtown, Glebe, Balmain and Sydney University. At the conclusion of the season, Glebe again finished the season undefeated at the top of the table and were declared Premiers. Participating clubs ClubGrade1st2nd3rd20x20px Balmain District Football ClubYYY20x20px Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYYY20x20px Glebe District Football ClubYYY20x20px Newtown District Football ClubYYY20x20px North Sydney District Rugby Football ClubYYY20x20px South Sydney District Football ClubYYY20x20px Sydney University Football ClubYYY20x20px Western Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYYY Footnotes References Sydney Club Rugby History "Football in 1900". Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886-1939). 1900-08-29. Category:1900 in Australian sport Category:1900 in rugby union Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales