1901 Metropolitan Rugby Union season

November 2019 November 2019 20x20px Balmain 1st 8 20x20px Sydney University Premiers Premiers 20x20px Glebe 2nd 1901 Sydney Rugby Premiership 20x20px Andrew McDowell (10) 20x20px Harry Blaney (70) 10th 11 May to 10 August 8 7 Second Grade Third Grade Premiers Premiers 20x20px Sydney University 20x20px Balmain 20x20px Glebe 20x20px Glebe 1900 Metropolitan Rugby Union season 1900 1902 Metropolitan Rugby Union season 1902 The 1901 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 28th season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. It was the second 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 1901. The season culminated in the second district premiership, which was won by Glebe and Sydney University. Both teams had finished the season at the top of the premiership table and as a result were to play a final to determine the Premiership. However, both clubs decided not to play a final resulting in both being declared joint premiers.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120646312 SYDNEY CLUB SEASON. 1901-08-21 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-05-14 8 Teams Eight clubs contested the season; seven clubs representing a district and one club representing Sydney University.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120639299 FOOTBALL NOTES. 1901-05-08 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-05-14 8 center|50x50pxBalmain Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: Birchgrove Oval Captain: E Mulletcenter|150x150pxEastern Suburbs Formed on 22 March 1900 Ground: Rushcutters Bay Oval Captain: Percy Macnamaracenter|50x50pxGlebe Formed on 15 March 1900 Ground: Wentworth Park Captain: Tom Costello center|50x50pxNewtown Formed on 22 March 1900 Captain: Fred Henlencenter|150x150pxNorth Sydney Formed on 23 March 1900 Ground: North Sydney Oval Captain: Iggy O'Donnell100px|centerSouth Sydney Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: RAS Showground Captain: J Bourke100px|centerSydney University Formed on 19 August 1865 Ground: University Oval Captain: Horace Jonescenter|50x50pxWestern Suburbs Formed on 22 March 1900 Captain: William Shortland Season summary The 1901 Sydney Rugby Premiership was deemed the greatest season ever seen in Sydney up to that time. Public interest was never before so keen with proceeds for the matches far exceeding previous seasons. The standard of play had improved with a new group of young players joining the senior grade teams and being chosen to play in representative matches. At the end of the season, the two clubs Glebe and Sydney University finished tied at the top of the table. As per the rules of the period, the two teams were to face each other in a final to determine the premiership. To the disappointment of the public, both clubs decided not to play the final and were thus declared joint premiers. Both clubs had lost key players to the tour of New Zealand.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120646298 RUGBY FOOTBALL NOTES 1901-08-21 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-05-15 8 It was difficult to pick which of the two premiers were the better team. Both teams displayed consistency during the season. University winning 5 games in the first round and 5 in the second round. Together, three-quarters Harry Blaney, Arthur Fisher and Andrew McDowell scored the majority of the points for the "Varsity". Glebe were unbeaten in the second round of games and were considered to have a better forward pack. Unfortunately during the season they had the higher injury toll affecting their back line. At the conclusion of the season, the football world was shocked by the sudden death of Western Suburbs captain, William Shortland. Shortland had only just returned from the rugby tour of New Zealand on Friday, 13 September. In the early hours of Tuesday, 17 September he succumbed to a, "cold of the kidneys"http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120640501 RUGBY FOOTBALL NOTES 1901-09-18 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-05-16 8 He was only 26 years of age. Ladder TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts120x20px Sydney University141022016161 +10022220x20px Glebe141103012966 +6322320x20px South Sydney1491409295 -319420x20px Eastern Suburbs14824016179 +8218520x20px North Sydney14428064116 -5210620x20px Western Suburbs14419085122 -379720x20px Newtown14239079109 -307820x20px Balmain142111063186 -1235 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 Sydney University246810111111131416182022220x20px Glebe0224668101214161820North Sydney forfeited their game against Glebe.22320x20px South Sydney2468881012141517171919420x20px Eastern Suburbs224667911131414161618520x20px North Sydney022246677888810620x20px Western Suburbs22224688889999720x20px Newtown00222334467777820x20px Balmain00000111111355 Statistics Points PlayerPlTGFGPts120x20px Harry Blaney14719270220x20px Leo Finn11510453320x20px Stanley Wickham1237236420x20px Arthur Fisher1492031520x20px Andrew McDowell14100030620x20px James Joyce1218228720x20px WA Hay1416227820x20px George Roberts1280024920x20px Harold Evers12152231020x20px Joseph McMahon1424222 Tries PlayerPlT120x20px Andrew McDowell1410220x20px Arthur Fisher149320x20px George Roberts128420x20px Harry Blaney147520x20px Patrick Higgins136620x20px Leo Finn115720x20px Stanley Rowley115820x20px William Lindsay125920x20px Louis D'Alpuget1441020x20px EC Deering94 Lower Grades The MRFU also conducted Second Grade and Third Grade competitions this season. Second Grade The eight clubs that were participating in First Grade entered a team for the Second Grade competition. At the end of the regular season games, Glebe and Sydney University finished on the same points at the top of the ladder. In the final, University won 9 points to 6 and were thus declared Premiers. Newtown did not see out the season, withdrawing after two rounds.http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120646279 SECOND GRADE TABLE, 1901. 1901-08-21 Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939) 2018-05-28 8 Third Grade Seven of the First Grade clubs entered a team into the Third Grade competition. The only club missing was Western Suburbs. Balmain finished the season undefeated at the top of the ladder and were declared Premiers. Participating Clubs ClubGrade1st2nd3rd20px Balmain District Football ClubYYY20px Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYYY20px Glebe District Football ClubYYY20px Newtown District Football ClubYYY20px North Sydney District Rugby Football ClubYYY20px South Sydney District Football ClubYYY20px Sydney University Football ClubYYY20px Western Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYY Footnotes References Sydney Club Rugby History. "Sydney Club Season". Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886 - 1939). 1901-08-21. p. 8. Category:1901 in Australian rugby union Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales