1904 Metropolitan Rugby Union season

The 1904 Metropolitan Rugby Union season was the 31st season of the Sydney Rugby Premiership. It was the fifth season run for clubs that represented a district. Eight clubs (seven representing a district, the remaining club representing Sydney University) competed from May till September 1904. The season culminated in the fourth district premiership, which was won by Sydney University. Sydney University were crowned premiers by virtue of finishing the season on top of the table.

1904 Sydney Rugby Premiership
Duration7 May to 10 September
Teams8
Premiers Sydney University (11th title)
Minor Premiers Sydney University (8th title)
Runners-up North Sydney
Wooden Spoon Balmain (4th spoon)
Top point-scorer(s) HE Glanville (52)
Top try-scorer(s) William Burleigh (8)
Second Grade
Number of teams10
Premiers Sydney University Glebe
Boroughs Competition
Number of teams18
PremiersEast Sydney
Runners-upMarrickville

Teams

Eight clubs contested the season; seven clubs representing a district and one club representing Sydney University.[1]

Balmain

Formed on 26 March 1900
 Ground: Birchgrove Oval
 Captain: C Light
Eastern Suburbs

Formed on 22 March 1900
 Ground: Hampden Park
 Captain: Patrick Carew
Glebe

Formed on 15 March 1900
 Ground: Wentworth Park
 Captain: Victor Harris

Newtown

Formed on 22 March 1900
 Ground: Erskineville Oval
 Captain: Ross Brown
North Sydney

Formed on 23 March 1900
 Ground: North Sydney Oval
 Captain: Charlie White
South Sydney

Formed on 26 March 1900
 Ground: Sydney Sports Ground
 Captain: J Bourke

Sydney University

Formed on 19 August 1865
 Ground: University Oval
 Captain: John Manning
Western Suburbs

Formed on 22 March 1900
 Ground: St Luke's Park
 Captain: Stanley Wickham

Season Summary

The 1904 Sydney Rugby Premiership was the most successful on record. The attendance of the public at the various matches was, on the average, the greatest yet known in Sydney football. In nearly every district there were young players coming into First Grade, developing play through lessons learnt from the games against the visiting British team.[2]

For the first time in thirteen years, Sydney University carried off the premiership without any question of legitimacy. The team were one of the best during the first round of games, but their performance slipped during the second round. However, the team were worthy premiership winners despite their drop in form. It was a popular victory for the old club.[2]

North Sydney finished the season in the runners-up position and could have won the premiership if they had not lost key players to the NSW tour of Queensland. Astonishingly, the team were only able to score 14 tries throughout the regular games compared to over twice that amount for the Varsity. In the end, they lost the premiership by one competition point.[2]

South Sydney were considered the most dangerous of all of the teams. They were some of the most cleverest players in the competition displaying control, excellent tackling and smart tactics. Their weak point was their three-quarter line who, if they had performed better, may have given the team the premiership. South Sydney lost the premiership by the slim margin of two points.[2]

Ladder
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Sydney University 141022013864+7422
2 North Sydney 14101309264+2821
3 South Sydney 14923014371+7220
4 Newtown 14905012659+6718
5 Eastern Suburbs 14626016092+6814
6 Glebe 14419057133-769
7 Western Suburbs 142210057170-1136
8 Balmain 141013022142-1202

[3]

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
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1 Sydney University 246810121416171719192022
2 North Sydney 23579[4]9911131517171921[5]
3 South Sydney 024457911111315171820[6]
4 Newtown 2244681010121414161818
5 Eastern Suburbs 00023355688101214
6 Glebe 022335[7]57777999[5]
7 Western Suburbs 01122222446666
8 Balmain 22222[4]2[7]22222222[6]

Statistics

Points
Player Pl T G FG Pts
1 HE Glanville 12113452
2 Joseph McMahon 13311137
3 William Burleigh 1380232
4 Jack Verge 13010124
5 Charles Russell 753021
6 Arthur Fisher 1170021
7 Victor Futter 1470021
8 Stanley Wickham 713219
9 L Seaborn 1260018
10 Walter Ogaard 1060018

Tries
Player Pl T
1 William Burleigh 138
2 Arthur Fisher 117
3 Victor Futter 147
4 L Seaborn 126
5 Walter Ogaard 106
6 Edward Mandible 115
7 Charles Russell 75
8 H Barry 85
9 Reg Baker 84
10 EG Hooper 114

Lower Grades

The MRFU also conducted Second Grade and Boroughs competitions this season.

Second Grade

Ten teams participated in the Second Grade competition: the eight First Grade clubs entered a team each, in addition two Boroughs clubs, Gipps and Manly, were permitted to each enter a team. At the end of the regular games, North Sydney finished at the top of the ladder.[8] The season concluded with a final between Sydney University and Glebe. The game resulted in a scoreless draw, with both teams declared joint premiers.[9]

Boroughs Competition

Eighteen teams participated in the Boroughs Competition. The teams were split into two divisions of nine teams. In Division A was North Sydney, Willoughby, Mosman, Manly, East Sydney, Surry Hills, Redfern, Balmain and Gipps. In Division B was Marrickville, University, Waterloo, Rockdale, Glebe, Annandale, Leichhardt, Rozelle and Ashfield. At the end of the regular games, North Sydney finished at the top of Division A and Marrickville finished at the top of Division B.[8] The final saw East Sydney beat Marrickville 6 points to 5 to take the premiership.[10]

Participating Clubs
Club Grade
1st 2nd B.
Annandale Football ClubY
Ashfield Football ClubY
Balmain District Football ClubYYY
East Sydney Football ClubY
Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYY
Gipps Football ClubYY
Glebe District Football ClubYYY
Leichhardt Football ClubY
Manly Football ClubYY
Marrickville Football ClubY
Mosman Football ClubY
Newtown District Football ClubYY
North Sydney District Rugby Football ClubYYY
Redfern Football ClubY
Rockdale Football ClubY
Rozelle Football ClubY
South Sydney District Football ClubYY
Surry Hills Football ClubY
Sydney University Football ClubYYY
Waterloo Football ClubY
Western Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYY
Willoughby Football ClubY

Footnotes
  1. "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 4 May 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  2. "FOOTBALL". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 14 September 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. "SYDNEY FIRST GRADE PREMIERSHIP, 1904". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 14 September 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  4. Balmain forfeited the game against North Sydney. (Rd. 5)
  5. Glebe forfeited the game against North Sydney. (Rd. 14)
  6. Balmain forfeited the game against South Sydney. (Rd. 14)
  7. Balmain forfeited the game against Glebe. (Rd. 6)
  8. "SYDNEY RUGBY PREMIERSHIP FIRST GRADE". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 10 August 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  9. ""REFEREE" SCORE-BOOK". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 31 August 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. ""REFEREE" SCORE-BOOK". Referee (Sydney, NSW : 1886 - 1939). 7 September 1904. p. 8. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
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References
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