M
mud n blood
Guest
Malza and I just got back from a "morning tea" at the Ipswich Civic Centre/Hall (?) where we gave a paper each in front of 300-400 people. There were about 7 or 8 speakers in all .... none better than Jim Foreman, Gary Parcell and especially the mercurial George Lovejoy - which was easily the highlight !!!!
Gary Parcell was surprisingly critical of the way the game is structured/run these days, and has called for the re-introduction of a Bulimba Cup type competition as a matter of urgency. Jim Foreman told some great anecdotes of his playing days .... had the place in stitches.
My talk was on the history of the Bulimba Cup (below on this post), while Malza's was on more of the social aspect of Rugby League and the impact of the national comp, importance of preserving history etc.
We had a great chat to Johnny Brown (Ipswich, Brisbane, Bris-Norths, Qld and Aust rep) and George Lovejoy (the man who coined the phrase "the greatest game of all")before formalities, and both found it all a worthwhile exercise.
I would encourage everyone who can, to get up to Ipswich while the Bulimba Cup/RL/Sporting exhibition is on - it's terrific.
***********************
My paper ....
<span>The Bulimba Cup<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
office" /><o
></o></span> Introduction ..... Well, here it is â the Bulimba Cup. Not the most spectacular trophy to look at, but certainly one of the most passionately-contested pieces of silverware in Queensland Rugby League history. In fact, an old-timer once quoted to me that âthe blood, sweat and tears spilt on the football field trying to win that silly cup, would easily fill it a thousand times overâ. It is fair to say that at its prime, the Bulimba Cup was contested as keenly as any interstate series, and has a history dotted with controversy and underlined with passion. It was from this annual competition that many of the greats of Queensland and Australian Rugby League became household names, with the tough-as-teak nature of the Bulimba Cup competition providing a terrific guide for selectors when choosing state sides. The importance placed on this competition was never made so evident, as in the fact that for many years, a full round of intercity fixtures were played simply as a lead-up to the Bulimba Cup competition proper, with Cup fixtures also often played to signify the official commencement of the football season. It was also from this competition that the green strip of Ipswich, and the classic âClydesdalesâ guernsey from Toowoomba, were made famous. Intercity football has its roots with Ipswich sides participating on and off in the Brisbane premiership competition from 1910 through to 1916. In 1913, the first fully-fledged intercity challenge was staged with Brisbane winning a tough encounter at the Gabba 5-3, to hold the unofficial SQ championship. It should be noted however, that just a week later the Ipswich lads took revenge and battered the Brisbane side 20-10 in front of a packed North Ipswich Reserve. The tough yet bright football displayed by both sides ensured that these matches would become a permanent fixture on the Rugby League calendar. And by 1921, a representative side from Toowoomba joined the fray, making it a classic three-way challenge. In 1925, Bulimba Breweries weighed in with a massive £20 prize and a cup to represent the gameâs supremacy in the south, with a view to fostering intercity rugby league. In the Bulimba Cupâs inaugural season, a powerful Toowoomba side led by the great Tom Gorman, and including names like Thompson, Steinohrt and Brown, barged its way to an undefeated win â¦. although Ipswich managed to draw one match 3-all with the galloping Clydesdales. It wouldnât take long though, for the Limestone Lads from Ipswich to make their own mark on the Bulimba Cup competition, winning it the very next year under the captaincy of<span> </span>Norm Potter, with a team containing their own legendary names such as Aynsley, Caples, Frauenfelder and Jimmy Craig. In fact, the Greenbacks would go on to not only win the Bulimba Cup a total of 11 times, but win it an unprecedented 8 times in the competitionâs first 14 years. <span>This cup in particular represents the 1937, â38 and â39 championships that Ipswich won â¦. with that mob from up on the downs only mentioned once (1936) - and that other lot from down the river not rating a mention at all !!!</span> Itâs safe to say that the Ipswich Rugby League made this Cup all but its own during those halcyon days in the 1930âs, when they won it six times in seven years â¦. with famous names like Wright, the Doonar brothers, Heidke, âBabeâ Collins, Macrae, Bichel and Dempsey all donning the green and destroying all before them. Interestingly, Lismore actually played in the 1931 Bulimba Cup, after years of playing one-off matches against Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba â and also against the Queensland state side during its annual pilgrimage to Sydney. Their poor showing in their inaugural year, along with the associated travelling and other logistical costs, saw this as their only foray into the great Bulimba Cup competition. And not to shy away from controversy â¦. it should be mentioned that the 1935 Bulimba Cup won by Ipswich, was only won after Toowoomba forfeited itâs last match to Brisbane, following a protest over the transfer of Vic Hey from Sydney to Toowoomba. Had the Clydesdales not forfeited this match, the Cup would have been theirs. <span>Canât help bad luck â¦..</span> It would then be somewhat of a lean time for the Ipswich Rugby League, as they would only win the cup twice more - in 1957 and 1958 -<span> </span>before their last title in 1966 â where they won a memorable Lang Park final against Brisbane by 7-2, under the captaincy of Brian Blowes. It should be mentioned though, that the Ipswich Greenbacks were runners-up on many occasions during this time. Such was the strength in Ipswich and Toowoomba during the 1950âs and 1960âs, that a player of the calibre of Brian Davies never actually played in a winning Bulimba Cup team with Brisbane, during his entire illustrious international career. It was also during this time â 1960 in fact â that "that" now-famous Aussie front row of Dud Beattie, Noel Kelly, and Gary Parcell took on the frogs in the first test at the SCG. With the advent of a full-blown state championship in 1962, the Bulimba Cup took on added importance for the selection of teams to confront the tough and classy sides from the North and Central Qld. However, by the late 1960âs, the writing was on the wall for the demise of this great competition. Brisbane sides, brimming with former Ipswich and Toowoomba talent, were recording regular 30 and 40 point victories over their hapless country counterparts. Ipswichâs lowest ebb was no doubt the 66-5 drubbing they received at the hands of Brisbane at Lang Park in 1970. Lopsided scorelines, falling attendances, and poor press were not what sponsors and administrators wanted to see. The shock one-point loss by Brisbane to the Bob Hagan-coached Toowoomba side in the final, a week after the Ipswich debacle, would be the only thing that saved the Cup from extinction. The 1971 series saw exactly what sponsors had hoped for â¦. a replay of the previous yearâs final. With Brisbaneâs dented pride on the line, and players hungry for revenge, history will show that Brisbane won a âtoughâ final 22-13. However Bulimba Breweries manager Tom Kelly, was far from impressed with the brawling, scrappy showing of both sides, ending with the dismissal of 4 players for fighting. (Brown and Morris from brisbane, and Greg Platz and ? from Toowoomba) During his presentation speech, Mr. Kelly said â and I quote - âThe way it looks today, if I am presenting this cup next year it will be at Festival Hall. I am directing my remarks to the 26 players out here now, and to the referees. Wake up to yourselves, donât fight, play football, or there will be no Bulimba Cup to play for next year.â <span>Strong words indeed.</span> Sadly though, the Bulimba Cup would actually last just one more year, with Brisbane winning a terrible final by 55 points to 2 in a cakewalk against Toowoomba, in front of empty terraces around Lang Park. Consequently, Bulimba Breweries withdrew their sponsorship, and the Cup was no more. Carlton Breweries however, immediately weighed in with a $2000 offer for a new intercity competition, called <span>(strangely enough!)</span> the Carlton Cup. However, the Brisbane Rugby League was not interested in being part of this new concept, citing that it was too close to club semi-finals time. Wide Bay took Brisbaneâs place in the new competition, but it would never reach the heights of the Bulimba Cup, and finally even this competition folded in 1981. In recent years though, an unofficial Bulimba Cup challenge has been played between the Ipswich Rugby League and the Brisbane âAâ Grade representative side. Albeit not the profile of its famous predecessor, there is somewhat of a groundswell of public support for the powers-that-be to formalise this annual match into more of the annual three-way intercity competition we all knew and loved as the <u>Bulimba Cup</u>. Cheers. Mud
Gary Parcell was surprisingly critical of the way the game is structured/run these days, and has called for the re-introduction of a Bulimba Cup type competition as a matter of urgency. Jim Foreman told some great anecdotes of his playing days .... had the place in stitches.
My talk was on the history of the Bulimba Cup (below on this post), while Malza's was on more of the social aspect of Rugby League and the impact of the national comp, importance of preserving history etc.
We had a great chat to Johnny Brown (Ipswich, Brisbane, Bris-Norths, Qld and Aust rep) and George Lovejoy (the man who coined the phrase "the greatest game of all")before formalities, and both found it all a worthwhile exercise.
I would encourage everyone who can, to get up to Ipswich while the Bulimba Cup/RL/Sporting exhibition is on - it's terrific.
***********************
My paper ....
<span>The Bulimba Cup<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
office" /><o></o></span> Introduction ..... Well, here it is â the Bulimba Cup. Not the most spectacular trophy to look at, but certainly one of the most passionately-contested pieces of silverware in Queensland Rugby League history. In fact, an old-timer once quoted to me that âthe blood, sweat and tears spilt on the football field trying to win that silly cup, would easily fill it a thousand times overâ. It is fair to say that at its prime, the Bulimba Cup was contested as keenly as any interstate series, and has a history dotted with controversy and underlined with passion. It was from this annual competition that many of the greats of Queensland and Australian Rugby League became household names, with the tough-as-teak nature of the Bulimba Cup competition providing a terrific guide for selectors when choosing state sides. The importance placed on this competition was never made so evident, as in the fact that for many years, a full round of intercity fixtures were played simply as a lead-up to the Bulimba Cup competition proper, with Cup fixtures also often played to signify the official commencement of the football season. It was also from this competition that the green strip of Ipswich, and the classic âClydesdalesâ guernsey from Toowoomba, were made famous. Intercity football has its roots with Ipswich sides participating on and off in the Brisbane premiership competition from 1910 through to 1916. In 1913, the first fully-fledged intercity challenge was staged with Brisbane winning a tough encounter at the Gabba 5-3, to hold the unofficial SQ championship. It should be noted however, that just a week later the Ipswich lads took revenge and battered the Brisbane side 20-10 in front of a packed North Ipswich Reserve. The tough yet bright football displayed by both sides ensured that these matches would become a permanent fixture on the Rugby League calendar. And by 1921, a representative side from Toowoomba joined the fray, making it a classic three-way challenge. In 1925, Bulimba Breweries weighed in with a massive £20 prize and a cup to represent the gameâs supremacy in the south, with a view to fostering intercity rugby league. In the Bulimba Cupâs inaugural season, a powerful Toowoomba side led by the great Tom Gorman, and including names like Thompson, Steinohrt and Brown, barged its way to an undefeated win â¦. although Ipswich managed to draw one match 3-all with the galloping Clydesdales. It wouldnât take long though, for the Limestone Lads from Ipswich to make their own mark on the Bulimba Cup competition, winning it the very next year under the captaincy of<span> </span>Norm Potter, with a team containing their own legendary names such as Aynsley, Caples, Frauenfelder and Jimmy Craig. In fact, the Greenbacks would go on to not only win the Bulimba Cup a total of 11 times, but win it an unprecedented 8 times in the competitionâs first 14 years. <span>This cup in particular represents the 1937, â38 and â39 championships that Ipswich won â¦. with that mob from up on the downs only mentioned once (1936) - and that other lot from down the river not rating a mention at all !!!</span> Itâs safe to say that the Ipswich Rugby League made this Cup all but its own during those halcyon days in the 1930âs, when they won it six times in seven years â¦. with famous names like Wright, the Doonar brothers, Heidke, âBabeâ Collins, Macrae, Bichel and Dempsey all donning the green and destroying all before them. Interestingly, Lismore actually played in the 1931 Bulimba Cup, after years of playing one-off matches against Brisbane, Ipswich and Toowoomba â and also against the Queensland state side during its annual pilgrimage to Sydney. Their poor showing in their inaugural year, along with the associated travelling and other logistical costs, saw this as their only foray into the great Bulimba Cup competition. And not to shy away from controversy â¦. it should be mentioned that the 1935 Bulimba Cup won by Ipswich, was only won after Toowoomba forfeited itâs last match to Brisbane, following a protest over the transfer of Vic Hey from Sydney to Toowoomba. Had the Clydesdales not forfeited this match, the Cup would have been theirs. <span>Canât help bad luck â¦..</span> It would then be somewhat of a lean time for the Ipswich Rugby League, as they would only win the cup twice more - in 1957 and 1958 -<span> </span>before their last title in 1966 â where they won a memorable Lang Park final against Brisbane by 7-2, under the captaincy of Brian Blowes. It should be mentioned though, that the Ipswich Greenbacks were runners-up on many occasions during this time. Such was the strength in Ipswich and Toowoomba during the 1950âs and 1960âs, that a player of the calibre of Brian Davies never actually played in a winning Bulimba Cup team with Brisbane, during his entire illustrious international career. It was also during this time â 1960 in fact â that "that" now-famous Aussie front row of Dud Beattie, Noel Kelly, and Gary Parcell took on the frogs in the first test at the SCG. With the advent of a full-blown state championship in 1962, the Bulimba Cup took on added importance for the selection of teams to confront the tough and classy sides from the North and Central Qld. However, by the late 1960âs, the writing was on the wall for the demise of this great competition. Brisbane sides, brimming with former Ipswich and Toowoomba talent, were recording regular 30 and 40 point victories over their hapless country counterparts. Ipswichâs lowest ebb was no doubt the 66-5 drubbing they received at the hands of Brisbane at Lang Park in 1970. Lopsided scorelines, falling attendances, and poor press were not what sponsors and administrators wanted to see. The shock one-point loss by Brisbane to the Bob Hagan-coached Toowoomba side in the final, a week after the Ipswich debacle, would be the only thing that saved the Cup from extinction. The 1971 series saw exactly what sponsors had hoped for â¦. a replay of the previous yearâs final. With Brisbaneâs dented pride on the line, and players hungry for revenge, history will show that Brisbane won a âtoughâ final 22-13. However Bulimba Breweries manager Tom Kelly, was far from impressed with the brawling, scrappy showing of both sides, ending with the dismissal of 4 players for fighting. (Brown and Morris from brisbane, and Greg Platz and ? from Toowoomba) During his presentation speech, Mr. Kelly said â and I quote - âThe way it looks today, if I am presenting this cup next year it will be at Festival Hall. I am directing my remarks to the 26 players out here now, and to the referees. Wake up to yourselves, donât fight, play football, or there will be no Bulimba Cup to play for next year.â <span>Strong words indeed.</span> Sadly though, the Bulimba Cup would actually last just one more year, with Brisbane winning a terrible final by 55 points to 2 in a cakewalk against Toowoomba, in front of empty terraces around Lang Park. Consequently, Bulimba Breweries withdrew their sponsorship, and the Cup was no more. Carlton Breweries however, immediately weighed in with a $2000 offer for a new intercity competition, called <span>(strangely enough!)</span> the Carlton Cup. However, the Brisbane Rugby League was not interested in being part of this new concept, citing that it was too close to club semi-finals time. Wide Bay took Brisbaneâs place in the new competition, but it would never reach the heights of the Bulimba Cup, and finally even this competition folded in 1981. In recent years though, an unofficial Bulimba Cup challenge has been played between the Ipswich Rugby League and the Brisbane âAâ Grade representative side. Albeit not the profile of its famous predecessor, there is somewhat of a groundswell of public support for the powers-that-be to formalise this annual match into more of the annual three-way intercity competition we all knew and loved as the <u>Bulimba Cup</u>. Cheers. Mud
