GPS Rugby Season, 1907

Sydney High School's first GPS Rugby season, in the absence of a school magazine in the period before 1909, has been reconstructed from contemporary newspaper reports and other schools' magazines.

St Joseph’s College 

Wednesday 1 May 1907

Lost 0 - 39

The GPS competition starts to-day, and as the teams have been putting in a lot of serious training, the matches should be full of vim from the whistle. … St Joseph's will play the High School, and although it is practically a certainty that they will win, it is hardly likely that they will pile up the score they did last year. [The Daily Telegraph, 1 May 1907, p 7 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238053060]

St. Joseph's College and Sydney High School, first and second grades, met Wednesday in the opening of the first round of the Great Public Schools' Competition. The day was bleak in the extreme, and had it not been for a very strong westerly wind may have proved an ideal day for rugby. The strong gale gave a decided advantage to the side winning the toss. The seconds set the ball rolling at 2.20 pm, and it was soon apparent that the collegians, led last year by skipper T Duffy, were bent on adding to their previous reputation. They held a great lead in point of weight, and this, told early in the game. They ran up a score of 56 points, crossing their opponents line 18 times, and only converting once. A proof of either the velocity of the gale, or of bad judgment in place kicking. The High School firsts were a heavier and more dashing side than the team of last season. Their forwards showed more anxiety to be in the thick of the fray, and had the backs helped them more the game might have proved a closer one. The College hurly-burly forwards seemed seized with the idea of each man securing all the points, and this led to that scattered play, which will never bring victory to a side struggling against fast, dashing opponents. Early in the game the College attacked against the wind, and E Fahey, the skipper, registered first try for his school in this season's competition. Points gradually mounted up, until the total reached 39. The High School failed to score, but they should be a hard team to beat ere the season is over. F Marien played a great game for St. Joseph's, as also did E Fahey, T Beigley, R Lloyd, and R Cansdell. In the matches of next week it is hoped more of those brilliant dribbling rushes will be witnessed. [The Australian Star, 3 May 1907, p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229521797]

Sydney High School was defeated by St Joseph’s College on the College park, by 39 points to nil. Though this was a somewhat large margin, the points scored against the school show that they have made considerable improvement since last season, when they had 84 points to nil scored against them in their first engagement with St Joseph’s. The school forwards played a hard game throughout, and one or two of the back division shaped promisingly. Their play still lacks dash, and combination has not yet been properly obtained. Still on the whole, their display was encouraging, especially in view of the fact that five players from the second and one from the third team of last year were included.

The seconds were badly beaten, but played a plucky, if hopeless, game against opponents much heavier and much better trained. [The Daily Telegraph, 8 May 1907, p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238055165]

See also The Catholic Press, 9 May 1907, p 8. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106287563

Sydney Grammar School

Wednesday 8 May 1907

Lost 0 - 12

The scores put up between Sydney Grammar School and Sydney High School yesterday denoted a fairly close game. Sydney High School has a much improved fifteen this season, and has shown that before long they will give the other schools a shaking up. True they have not yet scored in competition football, but the margin of points has narrowed from the hundred odd compiled against them early last season to 12, which SGS obtained yesterday afternoon. The High School should be distinctly encouraged. [The Australian Star, 9 May 1907 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229521230]

In this match, the High School team showed considerable improvement in the form showed in their previous engagements. They succeeded in holding Grammar School in the scrums, and their ruck work was distinctly good. Eventually they were beaten by 12 to nil (three tries and a penalty goal). The latter, kicked by Lamrock, was the only score registered during the second half of what was a fairly well contested match. The High School forwards are a fairly solid lot, but the backs require to work up much better combination, especially in attack, than they have previously shown. [The Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1907, p 11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238049087]

See also The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 May 1907, p 10 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14846887

Sydney Church of England Grammar School

Saturday 11 May 1907

Lost 0 - 26

One could scarcely credit after seeing the game put up by Sydney High School against the Sydney Grammar School on the previous Wednesday that it was the same team that met North Shore Grammar School on Saturday last. The dash that characterised the play on the previous occasion the hard, determined tackling were alike missing. There were, it is true, one or two sparkles, but they were few and far between. For from 15 to 20 minutes they fully held their own, and then, whether from lack of form or whatever reason, collapsed. Once the ball left the forwards, the backs were helpless to resist the attack of the enemy. It was discouraging to the forwards, who right through played a fair—but only a fair—game, to find the three-quarter (for the half and five-eight of the city school played hard and with some cleverness) repeatedly shirk their work. A three-quarter who is afraid to go down on a ball, or to tackle a man hard when called upon, is no advantage to a team. The SCEGS, on the play, at any rate, after the first 20 minutes, were superior to the full extent of the 26 points to nil they succeeded in scoring. [The Daily Telegraph, 15 May 1907, p 11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238049181]

The Kings School

Saturday 18 May 1907

Lost 0 - 10

No greater testimony to the phenomenal improvement in the High School team can be made than to compare last season's match against the Parramatta boys with that played on Saturday. Last year TKS piled up the mammoth score of 85 to nil, and seemed capable of adding as many more as time would permit. On Saturday during the first half they were completely extended, and yet failed to break through the High School defence; and in the second half they only got over twice, finally emerging victors by 10 points to nil. No one who had seen the High School beaten by 26 points to nil the previous week would have expected them to put up such a fine game against the vanquishers of St. Ignatius. There was plenty of hard, clean tackling and any number of dashing forward rushes. Early in the game, The King’s School half sent out the ball from a scrum, and the three-quarters handled it in their customary clean style, but there was a surprised hush as each three-quarter was grassed in the most workmanlike manner. Only the failure of a three-quarter to gather in the ball at a critical moment prevented The High School from having the advantage of the first half. Then the better condition of TKS told. They were cleverer than The High School boys in scrum work, and invariably got the ball, but in the open and in the ruck the city boys more than held their own. Jennings, the High School captain, played the best forward game on the ground, while the break-aways were nippy and forceful. Bourne played a good game, and the half and five-eight tackled with a sure and certain confidence that spelt disaster. King's were without Smith and Metcalfe. The three-quarters handled surely in the passing rushes, and their line-kicking always made ground, but they seemed unable to pick up cleanly in the loose, and repeatedly misjudged the knockbacks from line-outs. [The Daily Telegraph, 22 May 1907, p 6 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238049464]

On Saturday afternoon the lads of Sydney High School visited Parramatta, and met in a Schools’ Premiership match, on T.K.S. oval, the Blue-and-white fifteen, Hewitt led The King's School team; and Jennings the High School fifteen.

Mr. J. Nicholls was referee.

The teams were:—

King's School: Westropp; Gardiner, N. Milson, N. D. Smith, A. D. Milson; Arnott; Bundock; Reynolds, Barton, Glasson, Baylis, Wharton, Jude, Hewitt, Wilson.

High School: Symons; Pike, Bourne, Pryor, Todd; Southee; Deane; Lane, Bull, Seale, Jennings, Kidston, Hyndes, McNamara, and Ireland.

The High School representatives having fared so poorly against the lads of the Parramatta School on previous occasions, the majority of the spectators expected, perhaps, that the game would be a runaway win for King's. But there was nothing of that in it. Although the Blue-and-whites attacked with spirit from the jump, the visitors showed a splendid spirit in defence, and this they maintained till the end of the match. Bourne, of the Chocolate-and-blues, was useful in stopping the first King's School assault; and A. D. Milson did similar work at the other end of the ground when it became the turn of the visitors to press northwards. Again the Blue-and-whites poured into the south, but this time, Deane—aided by Southee and others—“held the pass.” The game which the King's School back division had little opportunity of playing at Stanmore, was now seen, a combined passing movement from the heel of the scrum out to the far wing. It was like The King's School game of old.

Wharton and Todd exchanged kicks, and Southee marked cleverly off a kick by A. D. Milson. The visitors were quite holding their own now; indeed, pressing ever and anon. Symons got possession, and after going forward, passed to Dean, who put in a clever kick. Deane was playing one of the best games on his side.

A mark was gained by King's School, but Hewitt did not put the ball over.

Jennings and Bull, with others, were doing good work in the H.S. scrum; Bourne was tackling like a terrier. Southee broke away, and sailed northwards. Arnott (playing, as he usually does, a very sound game in the Blue-and-white interest) replied, relieving the pressure, after the right wing of The King’s School formation had been broken through.

Gardiner marked; and Hewitt again failed with the kick. The H.S. took refuge in a force.

A fine spirited dash forward by the local fellows was repulsed right in a dangerous spot in front of the High School goal, largely through the timely efforts of Bull, and the whistle went for the spell a little later.

Neither side had scored so far; and it was just a question as to which crowd could last the better, to decide the fate of the match.

The danger threatening—as from opponents against whom it had not been deemed necessary to include Metcalfe (notwithstanding that he was pretty well “fit”)—seemed to stir up the King’s to more valiant deeds than before. In the opening play of the second spell Smith showed to advantage. But the whole thirty were doing well—so well that it seemed almost an offence to take notice of individuals. Seale staved off an assault by the locals; but trouble came a little later. In a mix-up in High School territory, on the east, a knock-on by a King's School player missed the eye of the referee; and a High School fellow failed to win a favorable decision in an appeal for a mark. The result was a score—a try by Bundock, and a goal by Hewitt. 5—0.

The score was hard luck for the visitors, who had held back the ordinary kind of attack, and now had suffered because something had missed, the neutral judge of affairs.

After this the King's played a winning game,—with plenty of dash and spirit and enthusiasm. But valiantly the visitors kept their end up. It might have been expected that, after the previous strain, they would go to pieces after the unexpected disaster; but, though dispirited, they kept at their toil. Certainly, another five points were scored, a try being cleverly scored by Gardiner, and two more points being added by Hewitt; but still the Chocolate-and-blues were far from being disgraced when the halt was called.

All present were loud in their praise of the good fight put up by High School. The game was hard and fast, though, perhaps, not anything like as hard and fast as will be some games the Blue-and-whites will be called upon to play soon, The Parramatta forwards did excellent work; had they not, their side would have been beaten, for the High School boys are no slouches. [The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86156556]

St Ignatius’ College

Wednesday 22 May 1907

Lost 0 - 34

St. Ignatius gained an easy victory, winning by 34 points to nil. In the opening play the school defended well, their full-back playing a fine plucky game, and taking some excellent marks. Then the defence collapsed, and the game became a procession, the college scoring when they liked. Eight tries were scored by Quinn (2), Barry (2), Veech (3). Fernandez (2), and Higgins (1). Five of them were converted by Conlon. The High School half kicked well and tackled gamely, but seemed to mistrust his backs, one of whom seemed to shirk things pretty pointedly. Jennings, M'Namara, and Lane were the pick of the High School forwards; while Dean and Southee shaped well in the back division. Barry, Higgins, and Conlon were most prominent among the Riverview boys. [The Daily Telegraph, 29 May 1907 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238055433]

St. Ignatius met High School yesterday on the Erskineville Oval, and won an easy victory by 34 points to nil. High School, winning the toss played with whatever sun there was behind them, and managed to sustain for the first ten minutes their opponents' forward rushes. Soon, however, one of the College forwards secured the ball from a loose scrum and scored. Conlon kicked for goal, and added the two extra points. Some rut work followed and the College boys were frequently beside the goal line, but the School full-back was playing a plucky defensive game, and saved the situation several times by good marking. However, the College backs, who were not manipulating the passing well, managed to get going, and another try was secured. At one moment in the first half the School looked like scoring— they got a mark in the College territory, and a splendid kick just dropped short of the bar. No further score was registered at half-time.

On resuming play the College backs livened up considerably, and some interesting passing ensued. It was soon apparent, that they had completely outclassed their opponents. Try followed try in quick succession, and Conlon's goal-kicking was good. He generally managed to add the extra points. The neatest bit of play in the game was a heady run of the full-back, Conlon. The ball reached him from a good long kick of one of the school backs, and, beating several men, he made his way into their 25, where he transferred a neat pass to Quinn, to Barry, who eluded two men, and scored. This latter, for a forward, was playing a remarkably fast game. He was frequently ready toreceive the ball from the backs. For the winners tries were secured by Veech, Higgins (3), Quinn, Barry (2), Fernandos (2). Dr. Bohrsmann acted as referee. [The Australian Star, 23 May 1907, p 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229533763]

Newington College

Wednesday 29 May 1907

Lost 5 - 11

This afternoon … The High School and Newington will play at Wentworth. Talking of The High School, it is glad news to lovers of athletics that the Department of Public instruction is so thoroughly seized with the necessity for physical development that arrangements have been made for the use of a football ground. Then next year, when Grammar hoists the house flag at the new ground at Rushcutters’, all the associated Great Public Schools will be able to experience the glow that comes from afforded hospitality. [The Daily Telegraph, 29 May 1907, p 12. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238055433]

Newington and High School met on Wednesday last at Erskineville Oval, and a really first-class game eventuated. Newington, especially in the second half, showed superiority in the back division, Hill's line kicking being particularly fine. For the first 20 minutes there was very little to choose between the teams, and then Southee, who showed much cleverness throughout the game, broke through a ruck with the ball, kicked past the Newington full back, and, showing great pace, scored first blood for the school, and afterwards converted his try. Newington strove hard to equalise matters, but the defence was solid until just before half-time whistle blew. Hill coming round the blind side, found a High School three-quarter out of place, and scored a try. The same player negotiated from a very difficult angle. In the second half play of a very even character took place for some time. The line-kicking of Newington was excellent, repeatedly changing a position of defence to one of attack. The ruck work and open play of High School was first-class. Kidston, M’Namara, and Jennings being particularly noticeable, while the defence of Lane and Seale was splendid. But the determined attacks of Newington were at last rewarded, Westley scoring. High failed at goal. Some time after a mistake made by a school forward in his own 25 resulted in Pountney adding three more points to the College score from a penalty kick. The game ended in a win for Newington by 11 points to 5. [The Daily Telegraph, 5 June 1907, p 10 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238049034]

Newington College and the High School played a first-class game at Erskineville Oval yesterday afternoon, and the former fifteen won by 11 points to 5. In this match High School, for the first time since they have been admitted into the G.P.S. Rugby competition, scored. High School have made wonderful improvement this season, and are reaping the rewards of patience and perseverance. [The Australian Star, 30 May 1907, p 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229533538]

GPS representatives

To the Editor.

Sir,— It will he noticed that the High School is not represented in the selected teams for next Wednesday's matches. No member of the High School staff attended the meeting at which the teams were chosen, but even this want of enthusiasm should not have been allowed to militate against the "High" boys' chances of selection to compete on this important annual occasion. The inference deducible from the choice — that not one of the High School footballers is worthy of representing the Great Public Schools in either of the teams— can hardly be justified, nor can the teams as they stand be strictly classed as representative. — Yours, etc., S.G.C. OLD BOY. June 14. [The Daily Telegraph, 15 June 1907, p 18 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238047545]

Saint Ignatius’ College

Wednesday 7 August 1907

Lost 0 - 21

Last Wednesday's matches were remarkable for the consistency shown by all the winners in piling up a lot of points themselves, and preventing the other follows front "opening an eye." SGS beat Newington by 23 to nil; St Joseph's scored 38 to King's School nil; and St Ignatius' beat The High School, the latter not gaining a point. [The Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1907 p 11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238069091]

Newington College

Friday 9 August 1907

Lost 0 - 22

On Friday Newington beat High School by 22 points to nil. It was a good match in the first half, but in the second half Newington romped through. [The Daily Telegraph, 14 August 1907, p 11 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238069091]

Sydney Church of England Grammar School

Wednesday 14 August 1907

Lost 3 - 34

Played at Erskineville Oval. … Mr. Mitchell, referee. For this match, [Shore] were without Rich and Warden, their places being taken by Marsh and Nickoll. Playing with the wind, [they] made the game fast from the outset, and it was not long before Edwards secured and scored. Other tries followed by Hosking, Marsh and Tucker, and at half-time the score was 14 to nil in [their] favour. In the second spell, [they] put on 20 points through the agency of tries by McDonald (2) and Kater (2), and goals by Merewether and McDonald. High School, too, took a hand at scoring, and after some mulling by Pockley i. and Pockley ii., their forwards rushed the ball to [the] line, where Bulteau secured and dived over. The kick for goal failed, and not long after the whistle sounded, leaving S.C.E.G.S. winners by 34-3. [The Torch-Bearer (The Magazine of the Sydney Church of England Grammar School) vol 17 no 2 (Oct 1907) p 48, https://online.fliphtml5.com/nsoqf/eiyy/]

The King’s School

Saturday 17 August 1907

Lost 5 - 9

On the King’s School oval on Saturday after noon the Blue-and-white fifteen met and defeated the High School lads in an All Schools' Premiership match.

The Rev. P. Stacy Waddy was referee.

The teams were:—

T.K.S.— Back, Metcalfe; three-quarters, Lowe, Westropp, Smith, Gardiner; five-eighth, Arnott; half, Bundock; forwards, Glasson, Buckland, Reynolds, Hodgson, Baylis, Hewitt (capt.) Hebblewhite, Wilson.

The High School.— Back, Symons; three-quarters, Mathieson, Sinclair, R. Kidston, Bourne; five-eighth, Southee; half, Deane; forwards, Parry, Bull, Scale, T. Kidston, Jennings (capt.), McNamara, Bulteau, Ireland.

In the first half, during which the visitors (who had won tho toss) had the slight advantage of a faint breeze blowing somewhat obliquely across th3 ground, yet slightly towards the goal-line they were attacking, High School obtained a lead, and when the whistle sounded for the half the scores were 5 to 3 against the Parramatta School. From a free they had scored a goal, thanks to the good place-kicking of Hewitt. On the other hand, the High School lads—who show more improvement every time they are seen in Parramatta—had scored five, a good try having been gained by McNamara, after a combined forward attack, in which Bulteau did good dribbling work. Southee had converted the try.

The play in the first spell was very even indeed, there being nothing to choose between the teams. High School got the ball frequently at the scrums; though in the ruck work the Blue-and-whites appeared to make up very often for the disadvantage at which the better hooking of the H.S. forwards placed them. Metcalfe was a shade better than the opposing back from Sydney; and the visitors as a whole did not handle the ball quite as well (to our thinking) as did Kings; but, as has already been hinted, there was no little to pick between the two lots that points ot superiority had to be hunted for with, as it were, a microscope.

In the second spell things ruled much in the same fashion for a time. Then a sense of all that a defeat that afternoon would mean seemed to sting “School” into a spirit—something like the old spirit—of determination to battle through successfully at all hazards. Aided by perhaps a superior bit of condition the Blue-and-whites put up a rattling finish, the last ten minutes of the game being interesting and exciting to a degree. Hewitt got over about twenty minutes before no-side; and that made the points six to five in favour of “School.” Then more battling in which the King's bustled and rattled the enemy to such an extent that no opportunity was left for them to dream of developing successful attacks; and the latter were kept very busy, in the dust and the warm sunshine, defending against resolute willing forwards in more or less dismantled blue-and-white jerseys. For a lot of new shirts were called for in that last twenty minutes. A few minutes before no-side a fine bit of K.S. play resulted in a mission over the line for Massey-Westropp. The try was not converted; but, then, the match was over, for by this time the gallant High School lads had been played to a standstill by the despairing dash of the startled boys of T.K.S.

It was a close call for the latter; and a feeling of regret would obtrude itself even in Parramatta minds that the visitors, after having had their first glimpse of glorious victory ahead, should in the end have had the cup of success dashed from their lips. [The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate, 21 August 1907, p 4 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article86157144]

St Joseph’s College

Wednesday 21 August 1907

Lost 0 - 54

The teams met at Erskineville Oval, when St. Joseph's had a runaway victory by 54 to nil. In the first half, playing with the wind, High School played fairly well, but made little use of the opportunities for attack the wind afforded. In fact, they were defending from the start of the game. With the wind against them in the second half their case was hopeless. Kicking high and following on well the great weight of the St. Joseph's forward division overbore all opposition, and the result was the biggest score debited to the school during the present season. It was a victory due to superior weight and condition, better play, and better judgment. Laziness was again noticeable on the part of one or two of the High School forwards. Their ruck work not being nearly solid enough. The threequarters were slow in moving, and lacked accuracy in handling. For St. Joseph's Beigly and Fahy played well in the forward division, while Deans was the pick of the back division. [The Daily Telegraph, 28 August 1907, p 13 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article238081930]

Sydney Grammar School

Wednesday 28 August 1907

Lost 0 - 56

In the Sydney Grammar School-High School match, at the Sports Ground, the former won easily. The score was 56 points to nil. [The Australian Star, 29 August 1907, p 8 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229506371]

Season overview

The most pleasurable feature in metropolitan football is the all-round improvement and great success of this season's Great Public School football. Last season St. Joseph's College, winners of the GPS premiership, were far and away the best team in the GP schools. This year however, though they possess an even better team than last season, and have again secured the coveted premiership, they have had to battle all the way. … Even the High School has progressed, and Newington College is not likely to forget that the first try gained by High School in two years' GPS football was scored against them. [The Sunday Sun, 1 September 1907, p 14  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227138126]