Today is the day - happy 100th birthday to club rugby league in Brisbane
At 2:15pm today, club rugby league commenced in Brisbane 100 years ago at the Gabba ....
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The league started the 1909 season by altering its name to the Queensland Amateur Rugby League (Q.A.R.L.) on 8th March, 1909. Expressions of interest were then sent by the league to numerous sporting organisations and clubs, which eventually resulted in four district teams based on electoral boundaries, accepting the challenge of playing the new football code. The four sides were North Brisbane (red and black), South Brisbane (sky blue), Toombul (red, white and blue), and Valley (royal blue).
As a marketing tool for the league and a familiarisation exercise for players, two weeks of double-header trial matches were staged free-of-charge at Davies Park in April 1909, the tight nature of the games giving a positive sign that all four sides would be clearly competitive. Although a vast number of these players were recognised former rugby union representatives, the proof of the games popularity was still to be realised from match attendances at the new professional codes fixtures. It was also a huge decision for these players to switch codes, with the rugby union officialdom imposing life bans on all who participated in the new rebel football competition.
With the league securing rights to stage matches at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, the first competition fixtures were held on Saturday, 8th May 1909, in front of more than 800 paying patrons. The early game saw North Brisbane reverse its trial match result against Toombul, securing a tough 8-0 victory, after the scores were locked nil-all at half time. With league official and five-eighth Mick Dore as captain, and winger Bill Evans starring in attack, Evans was rewarded with two spectacular tries in this historic match, while fullback Dwyer also kicked a penalty goal. The referee was league official George Watson.
The second match was a rip-roaring affair involving two dyed-in-the-wool former rugby union rivals, Valley and South Brisbane. Former rugby union stars peppered both sides; George Rousell, Doug Hazleton, Alf Dreveson, Harry Nicholson, and Vic Anderson for South Brisbane, while Eric Hanley, Noel McGregor, Bill Abrahams, Arthur Moxley, and Ern Cartmill turned out for Valley. A rugged first half saw South Brisbane leading 3-0 at the break, before the sky blues powered into top gear after the break, with the open style of free-flowing football the league purported the new game to profess. League official and referee Alf Faulkner eventually blew full-time with South Brisbane running out comfortable 12-2 victors over Valley. Tries for the victors were scored by I.Boyd, F.Sewell, D.Hazleton and J.Ellis, while Valleys solitary goal was kicked by E.Cartmill.
Junior matches were also staged at the Eagle Junction football grounds that day, which saw St.Bridgets defeat North Brisbane 8-4, and South Brisbane nudge out Toombul 9-8.
The game we all love had finally been born.
The names of those Brisbane club football pioneers that played on that historic day, should never be forgotten, and are listed as follows:
NORTH BRISBANE A.Dwyer, W.Evans, F.Veitch, G.Allingham, A.Mills, M.J.Dore, J.Dore, D.Givens, P.Dwyer, R.J.Jarrott, H.Mullins, J.Mills, G.Price
TOOMBUL G.Paull, F.Hubbard, F.Berge, H.Powell, F.Bean, C.Thwaites, G.Schneider, G.Smith, A.Dutton, B.Franklin, G.Hinton, F.McComb, J.Andrews
SOUTH BRISBANE J.Rowe, G.Rousell, D.Hazleton, A.Richards, A.Dreveson, F.Sewell, H.Nicholson, E.Wise, I.Boyd, I.Hewitt, W.White, J.Ellis, V.Anderson
VALLEY R.Harrower, T.Faunce, E.Hanley, J.Keir, N.McGregor, D.Kelly, W.Abrahams, H.Dickens, A.Moxley, E.Cartmill, D.Harrower, H.Gollan, J.Traine
Referees were George Watson and Alf Faulkner respectively, while the touch judges for both matches were Messrs. Vizer and Tighe.
After losing their first match of the season to South Brisbane, the powerful Valley football club wrote the first chapter into their long successful history with premiership success in 1909. Defeating Toombul 19-nil and 16-nil during the season, the minor premiers kept them scoreless yet again in the semi final with a record 30-nil scoreline. Interestingly, North Brisbane, who won their first match of the season, did not taste success for the remainder of the 1909 season. However, they managed to push the eventual premiers to a 6-8 loss and a 9-all draw. The other semi-final was a tough affair, South Brisbane beating North Brisbane 21-11. Only the class of international Vic Anderson and former NSW player Herb Brackenreg got the sky blues through.
However, sheer weight of quality players across the park saw the grand final become a one-sided procession, Valley running out comfortable 21-4 premiers. Running with the wind, South Brisbane took the challenge right up to the royal blues, trailing only 5-4 at the break, after a Valley try by Norm McGregor. However, the Valley kicking game, along with big rolling forward charges, saw tries come at will after the break. After Buckley crossed first, Hooker then crossed twice, along with Kelly to complete the rout. A section of the 1500-strong crowd were less than pleased with the performance of referee Jack Fihelly that day however, voicing their feelings throughout the match. However, the local constabulary were well represented to prevent any incident from occurring after the match.
Valleys complete dominance of the 1909 competition was not surprising, with so many representative stars in their ranks. Brothers Doug and Norm McGregor at fullback and centre respectively, wingers Bill Abrahams and New Zealander Babe Hooker, five-eighth Harold Dickens, halfback Doug Kelly, lock Arch Harvey, and second rower Ed Buckley all represented the state that year, while backrower Arthur Moxley had done so the year before. Of those, Doug McGregor, Dickens, Harvey and Buckley had also played for Australia against the touring Maoris side. It was extremely difficult for non-representative players to settle into any sort of rhythm in this inaugural season, with more representative matches actually staged than club games.
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