1885 Southern Rugby Union season

Rugby season in 1885 July 2019 May 2011 St. Leonards 1st 8 Premiers 20x20px Sydney University 3rd 20px Wallaroo 1885 Sydney Rugby Premiership 20x20px John Wood (11) 20x20px John Wood (85) May 16 to September 5 1884 Southern Rugby Union Season 1884 1886 Southern Rugby Union Season 1886 The 1885 Southern Rugby Union season was the 12th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. This was the third competition for the Gardiner Cup which was awarded to the winners of the premiership. The football season lasted from May till September 1885. The season culminated in the premiership, which was won by Sydney University. University were awarded the Gardiner Challenge Cup and were crowned premiers by a committee of the Union. The club were undefeated during the premiership season. Teams In 1885, the Union decided to elevate three Junior clubs into the Gardiner Challenge Cup. Arfoma, St. Leonards and Newtown had performed well during the previous season and were given the opportunity to compete for the cup.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28361535 SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. FOOTBALL. 1885-04-30 Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 2018-08-23 8 + Teams Name Icon Formed Ground CaptainArfomacenter|50x50pxPrior to 1883NoneEC EbsworthBalmaincenter|50x50pxc.1873NoneEwen CameronBurwoodcenter|50x50pxc.1876Burwood ParkSamuel ChapmanNewtowncenter|50x50pxprior to 1883Macdonaldtown ParkSharpeRedferncenter|50x50px24 May 1878Redfern GroundGeorge WalkerSt. Leonards June 1872The ReserveFT CheesemanSydney Universitycenter|50x50pxc.1863University GroundCharles TangeWallaroocenter|50x50px19 May 1871Wallaroo GroundGeorge Graham Rule changes In 1885 the Sydney Rugby Premiership continued to develop into a more structured competition. Before the season began, the Southern Rugby Football Union decided to promote three Junior Clubs into the Gardiner Challenge Cup. This took the competing teams to eight. The number of games during the season also increased, with most of the teams playing each other twice. However, at the conclusion of the season, some clubs had not played the same number of games as others. The competition still did not see organised rounds and an official points ladder. Season summary Overall, the season was not seen as being as brilliant as the previous. The Association Cricket Ground became unavailable during the season, which had an effect upon the games being played. This ground was the only one that fenced in the playing field. As a result, many games were interrupted by the crowds encroaching upon the field. The Agricultural Society made their ground available to the Union later in the season, with two games often being played side-by-side. This did see some confusion with players stopping play in one game on hearing the call from the other game.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162822613 ATHLETIC SPORTS 1885-09-19 Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) 2018-08-23 637 Despite a deficit in their defence and kicking, the Sydney University Football Club proved to be the Premier club and were awarded the Gardiner Challenge Cup. The 'Varsity were well organised and displayed consistent form during the season. The team put the same players onto the field each week. As a result, the club were undefeated during the cup campaign with their only losses coming from non-cup games with a weakened team. The Wallaroo Football Club displayed occasional brilliance on the field. On a good day, they demonstrated excellent forward play. However, a heavy schedule of 20 games across all matches saw the club become inconsistent in their performance. In 14 Cup games, the team won 8. Despite being beaten by Burwood, Wallaroo were ranked second for the season due to winning more games. Last season's Premiers, Burwood, were considered the more all-round team. They were splendidly led by their captain Samuel Chapman who had spent some time playing in Cambridge. Using the experience gained, he encouraged his players to back each other. The club finished their season with a draw against the eventual champions, displaying the potential of the team. Ladder 1885 Gardiner Challenge Cup TeamPldWDLBPFPAPD120px Sydney University141220017723+154220px Wallaroo1481509077+13320px Burwood1263308631+55420px Arfoma1143406948+21520px Redfern1343604532+13620px Balmain1343604985-36720px Newtown12237024161-1378St. Leonards111010030113-83 The ladder shown above was calculated using results of games published in newspapers of the period. Only games indicated as Gardiner Challenge Cup games or games between cup teams were included. Games against non-cup teams were not included. Ladders published in newspapers of the period included games against teams not included in the cup. Inconsistencies occur between the ladders published and the results recorded. This may be due to the Union altering results as a result of protests. Lower grades The Southern Rugby Football Union classified the participating clubs into two groups, Seniors and Juniors. Prior to 1883, all clubs were considered for the Premiership. With the introduction of the Gardiner Challenge Cup, only Senior clubs participated in the competition. The Junior clubs competed with each other, but no award was recognised for their achievements. Matches between Senior and Junior teams were common place, with results in those matches possibly assisting in deciding the final Senior Premiership winner. In 1885, the top Junior Clubs were Balmain Wellington and Rosedale who were both undefeated for the season. Representative games Intercolonial matches In 1885, the New South Wales Rugby team visited Brisbane to play two matches against the Queensland team. For the first time, the Gardiner Cup continued to be played. This saw some of the local clubs losing valuable players and were thus unable to form a team to play their matches. Some controversy was present in the newspapers concerning the selection of certain NSW players and the omittance of other players in the team.https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237249343? N. S. WALES V. QUEENSLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL. 1885-08-12 The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930) 2019-07-03 6 With this in mind, the Queensland team had the edge in the first match, defeating NSW 14 points to nil.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162822867 Intercolonial Football Match at Brisbane. 1885-08-22 Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912) 2019-07-03 413 After this success, the Queensland team was seen to be a little over confident heading into the second match. As a result, they were out classed and were defeated by NSW 12 points to 2.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111345087 FOOTBALL. 1885-09-01 Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931) 2019-07-03 6 4000 #eeeeee 19 August 1885 F Hardgrave (1/1) 7th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match F Hardgrave (0/5) 14 - 0 Albert Sports Ground 20px New South Wales Queensland 20px AJ Hickson (3), J Byron, JS Anderson 4500 #eeeeee 29 August 1885 8th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match F Hardgrave (0/1) 2 - 12 Albert Sports Ground 20px New South Wales Queensland 20px T Pratten H Fligg (2), GW Graham JA O'Donnell (1/2), AC Radcliffe (1/1) Team and player records Top 10 point scorers PtsPlayerTGFG 8520x20px John Wood11210 3620px James O'Donnell3100 2420px Fred Cheeseman242 1720px EC Ebsworth150 1620px George Graham800 1620x20px Herb Lee800 1420px Francis Baylis420 1220x20px Leo Neill600 1020px FH Clapin500 1020x20px Charles Tange500 Top 10 try scorers TPlayer 1120x20px John Wood 820px George Graham 820x20px Herb Lee 620x20px Leo Neill 520px FH Clapin 520x20px Charles Tange 520px GW McArthur 420px Francis Baylis 420px Henry Fligg 420px CY Caird Most points in a match (team) PtsTeamOpponentVenueDate 27 20px Sydney University20px NewtownAgricultural Society Ground22 August 26 20px Wallaroo20px NewtownDarlington Reserve6 June 26 St. Leonards20px NewtownMacdonaldtown Park8 August 25 20px Arfoma20px BalmainAgricultural Society Ground29 August 22 20px Redfern20px NewtownRedfern Ground27 June 22 20px BurwoodSt. LeonardsBurwood Park25 July 22 20px Sydney University20px BalmainUniversity Ground1 August Greatest winning margin PtsTeamScoreOpponentVenueDate 27 20px Sydney University27 - 020px NewtownAgricultural Society Ground22 August 26 20px Wallaroo26 - 020px NewtownDarlington Reserve6 June 26 St. Leonards26 - 020px NewtownMacdonaldtown Park8 August 25 20px Arfoma25 - 020px BalmainAgricultural Society Ground29 August 22 20px Redfern22 - 020px NewtownRedfern Ground27 June 22 20px Burwood22 - 0St. LeonardsBurwood Park25 July Participating clubs ClubSenior GradeJunior1st2ndAlbion Football ClubY20px Arfoma Football ClubYY20px Balmain Rugby Football ClubYYBalmain Harrowgate Football ClubY20x20px Balmain Wellington Football ClubY20px Burwood Football ClubYYCammeray Football ClubYDouble Bay Football ClubYGlebe Football ClubYManly Football ClubY20px Newtown Football ClubYYOur Boys Football ClubYParramatta Football ClubYParramatta Union Football ClubY20px Petersham Rugby Football ClubY20px Randwick Football ClubY20px Redfern Football ClubYY20px Rosedale Football ClubYSt. Leonards Football ClubY20px Sydney University Football ClubYY20px Wallaroo Football ClubYYWaverley Football ClubYWentworth 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 Category:1885 in Australian sport Category:1885 in rugby union Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales