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{{Short description|Rugby season in 1885}}
{{Infobox rugby football league season|wooden_spoon=|wooden_spoon_count=|no_of_teams=8|league_leaders=|league_leaders_name=|season_champ_name=Premiers|season_champs=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]|season_champs_count=3rd|second_place=[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Wallaroo|title=1885 Sydney Rugby Premiership|top try scorer=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood (11)|top_scorer=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood (85)|league_leaders_count=|duration=May 16 to September 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}{{Use Australian English|date = May 2011}}
{{Infobox rugby football league season
|wooden_spoon=St. Leonards
|wooden_spoon_count=1st
|no_of_teams=8
|season_champ_name=Premiers
|season_champs=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]
|season_champs_count=3rd
|second_place=[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Wallaroo
|title=1885 Sydney Rugby Premiership
|top try scorer=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood (11)
|top_scorer=[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood (85)
|duration=May 16 to September 5
|prevseason_link=1884 Southern Rugby Union Season |prevseason_year=1884
|nextseason_link=1886 Southern Rugby Union Season
|nextseason_year=1886
}}


The '''1885 [[New South Wales Rugby Union|Southern Rugby Union]] season''' was the 12th season of the [[Shute Shield|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.
The '''1885 [[New South Wales Rugby Union|Southern Rugby Union]] season''' was the 12th season of the [[Shute Shield|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 ==
== 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28361535|title=SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. FOOTBALL.|date=1885-04-30|work=Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)|access-date=2018-08-23|pages=8}}</ref>


{| class="wikitable"
=== Senior Clubs ===
|+ 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.
|-

! Name
{| class="toccolours" align="center" style="text-valign: center;" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2"
! Icon
! Formed
! Ground
! Captain
|-
|Arfoma
|[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|center|50x50px]]
|Prior to 1883
|None
|EC Ebsworth
|-
|[[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]
|[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|center|50x50px]]
|c.1873
|None
|Ewen Cameron
|-
|Burwood
|[[File:Waratah_1874.svg|center|50x50px]]
|c.1876
|Burwood Park
|Samuel Chapman
|-
|Newtown
|[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|center|50x50px]]
|prior to 1883
|[[Erskineville Oval, Sydney|Macdonaldtown Park]]
|Sharpe
|-
|Redfern
|[[File:Redfern_1878.png|center|50x50px]]
|24 May 1878
|[[Moore Park, New South Wales|Redfern Ground]]
|George Walker
|-
|-
|St. Leonards
| width="195" align="center" |[[File:Redfern_1883.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Arfoma</small>'''<br />
|
<small>Captain: EC Ebsworth</small>
| June 1872
| width="195" align="center" |[[File:Balmain_1884.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Balmain</small>'''<br />
|The Reserve
<small>Formed: c.1873</small>'''<br />'''
|FT Cheeseman
<small>Captain: Ewen Cameron</small>
| width="195" align="center" |[[File:Waratah_1874.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Burwood</small>'''<br />
<small>Formed: c.1876</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Ground: Burwood Park</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Captain: Samuel Chapman</small>
|-
|-
|[[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]
| width="195" align="center" |[[File:Newtown_1885.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Newtown</small>'''<br />
|[[File:University 1865.png|center|50x50px]]
<small>Ground: Macdonaldtown Park</small>'''<br />'''
|c.1863
<small>Captain: Sharpe</small>
|[[Moore Park, New South Wales|University Ground]]
| width="195" align="center" |[[File:Redfern_1878.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Redfern</small>'''<br />
|Charles Tange
<small>Formed: 24 May, 1878</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Ground: [[Moore Park, New South Wales|Redfern Ground, Moore Park]]</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Captain: George Walker</small>
| width="195" align="center" |'''<small>St. Leonards</small>'''<br />
<small>Formed: June, 1872</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Ground: The Reserve</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Captain: FT Cheeseman</small>
|-
|-
|Wallaroo
| align="center" |[[File:Uni_jersey.svg|center|150x150px]]'''<small>[[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]</small>'''<br />
|[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|center|50x50px]]
<small>Formed: c.1863</small>'''<br />'''
|19 May 1871
<small>Ground: [[Moore Park, New South Wales|University Ground, Moore Park]]</small>'''<br />'''
|[[Moore Park, New South Wales|Wallaroo Ground]]
<small>Captain: Charles Tange</small>
|George Graham
| align="center" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.png|center|50x50px]]'''<small>Wallaroo</small>'''<br />
<small>Formed: 19 May, 1871</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Ground: [[Moore Park, New South Wales|Wallaroo Ground, Moore Park]]</small>'''<br />'''
<small>Captain: George Graham</small>
| align="center" |
|}
|}
<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28361535|title=SPORTING IN℡LIGENCE. FOOTBALL.|date=1885-04-30|work=Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954)|access-date=2018-08-23|pages=8}}</ref>


== Season Summary ==
==Rule changes==
In 1885 the [[Shute Shield|Sydney Rugby Premiership]] continued to develop into a more structured competition. Before the season began, the [[New South Wales Rugby Union|Southern Rugby Football Union]] decided to promote three Junior Clubs into the Gardiner Challenge Cup. This took the competing teams to eight.<ref name=":0" /> 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.
In 1885 the [[Shute Shield|Sydney Rugby Premiership]] continued to develop into a more structured competition. Before the season began, the [[New South Wales Rugby Union|Southern Rugby Football Union]] decided to promote three Junior Clubs into the Gardiner Challenge Cup. This took the competing teams to eight.<ref name=":0" /> 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 [[Sydney Cricket Ground|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 [[Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales|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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162822613|title=ATHLETIC SPORTS|date=1885-09-19|work=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912)|access-date=2018-08-23|pages=637}}</ref>
Overall, the season was not seen as being as brilliant as the previous. The [[Sydney Cricket Ground|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 [[Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales|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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162822613|title=ATHLETIC SPORTS|date=1885-09-19|work=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912)|access-date=2018-08-23|pages=637}}</ref>


Line 56: Line 94:


== Ladder ==
== Ladder ==
===1885 Gardiner Challenge Cup===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! width="20" abbr="Position" |
! width="20" abbr="Position" |
Line 73: Line 112:
|-
|-
|2
|2
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Wallaroo
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Wallaroo
|14||8||1||5||0||90||77||+13
|14||8||1||5||0||90||77||+13
|-
|-
|3
|3
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Waratah 1874.png|20px]] Burwood
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Waratah_1874.svg|20px]] Burwood
|12||6||3||3||0||86||31||+55
|12||6||3||3||0||86||31||+55
|-
|-
|4
|4
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern 1883.png|20px]] Arfoma
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] Arfoma
|11||4||3||4||0||69||48||+21
|11||4||3||4||0||69||48||+21
|-
|-
Line 89: Line 128:
|-
|-
|6
|6
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain 1884.png|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]
|13||4||3||6||0||49||85||-36
|13||4||3||6||0||49||85||-36
|-
|-
|7
|7
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Newtown 1885.png|20px]] Newtown
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown
|12||2||3||7||0||24||161||-137
|12||2||3||7||0||24||161||-137
|-
|-
Line 104: Line 143:
* 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.
* 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.


== Statistics ==
== 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/237249343?|title=N. S. WALES V. QUEENSLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL.|date=1885-08-12|work=The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930)|access-date=2019-07-03|pages=6}}</ref> With this in mind, the Queensland team had the edge in the first match, defeating NSW 14 points to nil.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article162822867|title=Intercolonial Football Match at Brisbane.|date=1885-08-22|work=Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912)|access-date=2019-07-03|pages=413}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111345087|title=FOOTBALL.|date=1885-09-01|work=Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931)|access-date=2019-07-03|pages=6}}</ref>

{{Rugbyleaguebox|attendance=4000|bg=#eeeeee|date=19 August 1885|drop1=F Hardgrave (1/1)|event=7th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match|goal1=F Hardgrave (0/5)|referee=|report=<ref name=":2" />|score=14 - 0|stadium=Albert Sports Ground|team2=[[File:NSW_1884.png|20px]] [[New South Wales Waratahs|New South Wales]]|team1=[[Queensland Reds|Queensland]] [[File:Redfern 1878.png|20px]]|try1=AJ Hickson (3), J Byron, JS Anderson|try2=|drop2=|goal2=}}

{{Rugbyleaguebox|attendance=4500|bg=#eeeeee|date=29 August 1885|drop1=|event=8th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match|goal1=F Hardgrave (0/1)|referee=|report=<ref name=":3" />|score=2 - 12|stadium=Albert Sports Ground|team2=[[File:NSW_1884.png|20px]] [[New South Wales Waratahs|New South Wales]]|team1=[[Queensland Reds|Queensland]] [[File:Redfern 1878.png|20px]]|try1=T Pratten|try2=H Fligg (2), GW Graham|drop2=|goal2=[[James O'Donnell (rugby union)|JA O'Donnell]] (1/2), AC Radcliffe (1/1)}}


==Team and player records==
* Statistics only include Senior games. Some data incomplete.


{{col-begin}}
=== Points ===
{{col-2}}
===Top 10 point scorers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! width="20" abbr="Position" |
! width="20" |Pts
! width="130" |Player
! width="130" |Player
! width="20" |Pl
! width="20" |T
! width="20" |T
! width="20" |G
! width="20" |G
! width="20" |FG
! width="20" |FG
! width="20" |Pts
|-
|-
! 85
|1
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood||11||21||0
|9||11||21||0||85
|-
|-
! 36
|2
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] James O'Donnell
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] [[James O'Donnell (rugby union)|James O'Donnell]]||3||10||0
|7||3||10||0||36
|-
|-
! 24
|3
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Fred Cheeseman
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Fred Cheeseman||2||4||2
|7||2||4||2||24
|-
|-
! 17
|4
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern 1883.png|20px]] EC Ebsworth
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] EC Ebsworth||1||5||0
|9||1||5||0||17
|-
|-
! 16
|5
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] George Graham
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] George Graham||8||0||0
|11||8||0||0||16
|-
|-
! 16
|6
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Herb Lee
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Herb Lee||8||0||0
|9||8||0||0||16
|-
|-
! 14
|7
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Francis Baylis
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Francis Baylis||4||2||0
|5||4||2||0||14
|-
|-
! 12
|8
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Leo Neill
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Leo Neill||6||0||0
|11||6||0||0||12
|-
|-
! 10
|9
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern 1883.png|20px]] FH Clapin
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] FH Clapin||5||0||0
|11||5||0||0||10
|-
|-
|10
! 10
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Charles Tange
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Charles Tange||5||0||0
|9||5||0||0||10
|}
|}


{{col-break}}
=== Tries ===

===Top 10 try scorers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! width="20" abbr="Position" |
! width="20" |T
! width="130" |Player
! width="130" |Player
! width="20" |Pl
! width="20" |T
|-
|-
! 11
|1
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] John Wood
|9||11
|-
|-
! 8
|2
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] George Graham
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] George Graham
|11||8
|-
|-
! 8
|3
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Herb Lee
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Herb Lee
|9||8
|-
|-
! 6
|4
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Leo Neill
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Leo Neill
|11||6
|-
|-
|5
! 5
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern 1883.png|20px]] FH Clapin
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] FH Clapin
|11||5
|-
|-
! 5
|6
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Charles Tange
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:University_1865.png|20x20px]] Charles Tange
|9||5
|-
|-
! 5
|7
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] GW McArthur
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] GW McArthur
|7||5
|-
|-
! 4
|8
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Francis Baylis
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Francis Baylis
|5||4
|-
|-
! 4
|9
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Henry Fligg
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Henry Fligg
|12||4
|-
|-
! 4
|10
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] CY Caird
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] CY Caird
|}
|7||4
{{col-end}}
===Most points in a match (team)===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
! width="20" |Pts
! width="150" |Team
! width="150" |Opponent
! width="175" |Venue
! width=""50" |Date
|-
! 27
| [[File:University 1865.png|20px]] [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Sydney_Showground_(Moore_Park)|Agricultural Society Ground]]||22 August
|-
! 26
| [[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Wallaroo||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||Darlington Reserve||6 June
|-
! 26
| St. Leonards||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Erskineville Oval, Sydney|Macdonaldtown Park]]||8 August
|-
! 25
| [[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] Arfoma||[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]||[[Sydney_Showground_(Moore_Park)|Agricultural Society Ground]]||29 August
|-
! 22
| [[File:Redfern 1878.png|20px]] Redfern||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Moore Park, New South Wales|Redfern Ground]]||27 June
|-
! 22
| [[File:Waratah_1874.svg|20px]] Burwood||St. Leonards||Burwood Park||25 July
|-
! 22
| [[File:University 1865.png|20px]] [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]||[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]||[[Moore Park, New South Wales|University Ground]]||1 August
|}
|}


===Greatest winning margin===
== Lower Grades ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"

! width="20" |Pts
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.
! width="150" |Team

! width="50" |Score
In 1885, the top Junior Clubs were Balmain Wellington and Rosedale who were both undefeated for the season.
! width="150" |Opponent
! width="175" |Venue
! width=""50" |Date
|-
! 27
| [[File:University 1865.png|20px]] [[Sydney University Football Club|Sydney University]]||27 - 0||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Sydney_Showground_(Moore_Park)|Agricultural Society Ground]]||22 August
|-
! 26
| [[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Wallaroo||26 - 0||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||Darlington Reserve||6 June
|-
! 26
| St. Leonards||26 - 0||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Erskineville Oval, Sydney|Macdonaldtown Park]]||8 August
|-
! 25
| [[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] Arfoma||25 - 0||[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain]]||[[Sydney_Showground_(Moore_Park)|Agricultural Society Ground]]||29 August
|-
! 22
| [[File:Redfern 1878.png|20px]] Redfern||22 - 0||[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown||[[Moore Park, New South Wales|Redfern Ground]]||27 June
|-
! 22
| [[File:Waratah_1874.svg|20px]] Burwood||22 - 0||St. Leonards||Burwood Park||25 July
|}


== Participating Clubs ==
== Participating clubs ==
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible" style="text-align:center;"
! width="260" rowspan="2"|Club
! width="260" rowspan="2"|Club
Line 225: Line 307:
|||||Y
|||||Y
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern 1883.png|20px]] Arfoma Football Club
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Redfern_1883.svg|20px]] Arfoma Football Club
|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain 1884.png|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain Rugby Football Club]]
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain_1884.svg|20px]] [[Balmain RFC|Balmain Rugby Football Club]]
|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
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|||||Y
|||||Y
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain_Wellington_1886.png|20x20px]] Balmain Wellington Football Club
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Balmain_Wellington_1886.svg|20x20px]] Balmain Wellington Football Club
|||||Y
|||||Y
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Waratah 1874.png|20px]] Burwood Football Club
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Waratah_1874.svg|20px]] Burwood Football Club
|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
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|||||Y
|||||Y
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Newtown 1885.png|20px]] Newtown Football Club
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Newtown_1885.svg|20px]] Newtown Football Club
|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
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|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo Colours.png|20px]] Wallaroo Football Club
| style="text-align:left;" |[[File:Wallaroo_Colours.svg|20px]] Wallaroo Football Club
|Y||Y||
|Y||Y||
|-
|-
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== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<references />
== External Links ==


==External links==
* [http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/sydney-club-rugby-history.17020/ Sydney Club Rugby History.]
* [http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/community/threads/sydney-club-rugby-history.17020/ Sydney Club Rugby History.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190311142512/http://nswwaratahs.com.au/waratahs/records/all-time-player-lists NSW Waratahs All-time player list.]
* [https://www.redsrugby.com.au/Portals/10/2019/Documents/170217-QRU-CapProject-v03.pdf Queensland Reds All-time player list.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711102139/https://www.redsrugby.com.au/Portals/10/2019/Documents/170217-QRU-CapProject-v03.pdf |date=11 July 2019 }}


{{Rugby union in Australia|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:1885 in Australian sport]]
[[Category:1885 in rugby union]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales]]
[[Category:Rugby union competitions in New South Wales]]

Latest revision as of 22:36, 23 December 2023

1885 Sydney Rugby Premiership
DurationMay 16 to September 5
Teams8
Premiers Sydney University (3rd title)
Runners-up Wallaroo
Wooden spoonSt. Leonards (1st spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) John Wood (85)
Top try-scorer(s) John Wood (11)

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

[edit]

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.[1]

Teams
Name Icon Formed Ground Captain
Arfoma
Prior to 1883 None EC Ebsworth
Balmain
c.1873 None Ewen Cameron
Burwood
c.1876 Burwood Park Samuel Chapman
Newtown
prior to 1883 Macdonaldtown Park Sharpe
Redfern
24 May 1878 Redfern Ground George Walker
St. Leonards June 1872 The Reserve FT Cheeseman
Sydney University
c.1863 University Ground Charles Tange
Wallaroo
19 May 1871 Wallaroo Ground George Graham

Rule changes

[edit]

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.[1] 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

[edit]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

Ladder

[edit]

1885 Gardiner Challenge Cup

[edit]
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD
1 Sydney University 14 12 2 0 0 177 23 +154
2 Wallaroo 14 8 1 5 0 90 77 +13
3 Burwood 12 6 3 3 0 86 31 +55
4 Arfoma 11 4 3 4 0 69 48 +21
5 Redfern 13 4 3 6 0 45 32 +13
6 Balmain 13 4 3 6 0 49 85 -36
7 Newtown 12 2 3 7 0 24 161 -137
8 St. Leonards 11 1 0 10 0 30 113 -83

[2]

  • 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Intercolonial matches

[edit]

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.[3] With this in mind, the Queensland team had the edge in the first match, defeating NSW 14 points to nil.[4] 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.[5]

7th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match
19 August 1885
Queensland 14 - 0 New South Wales
Tries: AJ Hickson (3), J Byron, JS Anderson
Goals: F Hardgrave (0/5)
Drop goals: F Hardgrave (1/1)
 [4]
Albert Sports Ground
Attendance: 4000
8th New South Wales – Queensland Intercolonial Football Match
29 August 1885
Queensland 2 - 12 New South Wales
Tries: T Pratten
Goals: F Hardgrave (0/1)
 [5]
 Tries: H Fligg (2), GW Graham
Goals: JA O'Donnell (1/2), AC Radcliffe (1/1)
Albert Sports Ground
Attendance: 4500

Team and player records

[edit]

Most points in a match (team)

[edit]
Pts Team Opponent Venue Date
27 Sydney University Newtown Agricultural Society Ground 22 August
26 Wallaroo Newtown Darlington Reserve 6 June
26 St. Leonards Newtown Macdonaldtown Park 8 August
25 Arfoma Balmain Agricultural Society Ground 29 August
22 Redfern Newtown Redfern Ground 27 June
22 Burwood St. Leonards Burwood Park 25 July
22 Sydney University Balmain University Ground 1 August

Greatest winning margin

[edit]
Pts Team Score Opponent Venue Date
27 Sydney University 27 - 0 Newtown Agricultural Society Ground 22 August
26 Wallaroo 26 - 0 Newtown Darlington Reserve 6 June
26 St. Leonards 26 - 0 Newtown Macdonaldtown Park 8 August
25 Arfoma 25 - 0 Balmain Agricultural Society Ground 29 August
22 Redfern 22 - 0 Newtown Redfern Ground 27 June
22 Burwood 22 - 0 St. Leonards Burwood Park 25 July

Participating clubs

[edit]
Club Senior Grade Junior
1st 2nd
Albion Football Club Y
Arfoma Football Club Y Y
Balmain Rugby Football Club Y Y
Balmain Harrowgate Football Club Y
Balmain Wellington Football Club Y
Burwood Football Club Y Y
Cammeray Football Club Y
Double Bay Football Club Y
Glebe Football Club Y
Manly Football Club Y
Newtown Football Club Y Y
Our Boys Football Club Y
Parramatta Football Club Y
Parramatta Union Football Club Y
Petersham Rugby Football Club Y
Randwick Football Club Y
Redfern Football Club Y Y
Rosedale Football Club Y
St. Leonards Football Club Y
Sydney University Football Club Y Y
Wallaroo Football Club Y Y
Waverley Football Club Y
Wentworth Football Club Y

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. FOOTBALL". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954). 30 April 1885. p. 8. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e "ATHLETIC SPORTS". Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912). 19 September 1885. p. 637. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
  3. ^ "N. S. WALES V. QUEENSLAND RUGBY FOOTBALL". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930). 12 August 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Intercolonial Football Match at Brisbane". Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1871 - 1912). 22 August 1885. p. 413. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b "FOOTBALL". Evening News (Sydney, NSW : 1869 - 1931). 1 September 1885. p. 6. Retrieved 3 July 2019.
[edit]
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