Paul Cross (centre) trains with fellow Balmain players, Wayne Thompson (left) and Peter Boulton
Balmain winger, Paul Cross scored six tries for the Tigers in an end-of-season rugby league match against Brisbane Brothers at Lang Park. The match was one of a number played by Sydney clubs in Queensland in September, with Cronulla, Penrith and Newtown also venturing over the border. There also was a trip north by Newcastle premiers, Western Suburbs.
Balmain, who had won the Sydney Premiership in 1969, displayed amazing teamwork in their win over Brothers with Cross never having to run more than 20 metres for his six tries, the combinations inside making it easier for the speedster. Giant forwards, Arthur Beetson and Barry McTaggart, both Queenslanders, played the entire 80 minutes for Balmain, and entertained fans with their clever ball play.
Brothers contributed to a fine spectacle with centre, Graham Cronk and five eighth, Graham Lena their most dangerous attacking players. Fullback, Nev Harman’s kicking game was outstanding, and he saved at least three tries with resolute defence. Young forwards, Greg Thomas and David Wright did not look out of place against the Sydney stars.
At Davies Park 48 hours earlier, Newtown gave Souths Magpies lessons in speed and long, accurate passing, thrashing the home side 61-10. Newtown fullback, Dave Barnsley scored 25 points from a try; nine goals and two field goals. Forward, Jim Murphy and five eighth, Graeme Atherton were Souths’ best.
Penrith Panthers defeated Norths Devils 13-10 at Bishop Park, Nundah with the visitors scoring the only try. Norths’ 10 points came from the boot of Peter Lobegeiger.
At Kingaroy, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks defeated South Burnett 51-13. A few days earlier Cronulla, led by former Great Britain halfback, Tommy Bishop, had beaten a Queensland Colts side 17-16 at Lang Park with Toowoomba’s Wayne Bennett the fullback for the Colts side. The Queensland outfit also included Kingaroy halfback, Noel Leisagang.
Brisbane Brothers flew the flag for Queensland sides by beating Newcastle Wests 21-17 at Corbett Park, Grange, after leading 13-3 at halftime.
At the same time as these matches were taking place a host of regional Finals were being played.
The one which attracted the most headlines was the Mount Isa preliminary final between Black Stars and Town, with referee, Mick Ackermann dismissing three Black Stars’ players and then finding himself in the centre of a riot, with angry fans forcing him to take refuge in the dressing rooms after the game was abandoned with 20 minutes remaining.
The abandonment was forced on Ackermann when Black Stars players walked from the field in protest after the third dismissal. The Courier-Mail reported that a Black Stars official had kicked Ackermann up the backside as he ran off the field. For more than hour after the match about 60 irate fans (from a crowd of 1,500) stood outside the dressing rooms with Mt Isa officials having to form a human barricade outside the door. When the crowd finally dispersed the referee was able to leaving the dressing rooms for home.
Black Stars were fined $200 and the 10 players involved in the walk-off were fined $20 each. The man who assaulted the referee (his name wasn’t given in the Courier report) was banned from attending all Mt Isa matches in 1971.
In Ipswich, Brothers defeated Booval Swifts 8-7 in the Grand Final at the Ipswich Recreation Oval in front of a record crowd, with the lead changing five times.
Swifts halfback and captain, Lionel Tewes scored the only try – from a bomb by five eighth, Barry Griffiths. When Griffiths kicked a field goal with five minutes left to give Swifts a 7-6 lead, their fans started to celebrate.
But referee, Des Creedy gave Brothers a scrum a penalty soon after, with Vince Carroll landing the simple shot at goal. Carroll had kicked a penalty goal earlier in the match while Kev Woolley had kicked two field goals. Scrums were contested in those days and it was within the rules to kick for goal if there was a scrum infringement. Brothers’ skipper, Brian McDonald was inspirational, while lock, Phil Gardiner was exceptional for Swifts. Swifts’ second rower, Ken Churchill went on to play for Wynnum-Manly in the Brisbane competition.
The Courier-Mail sent Lawrie Kavanagh to Murwillumbah to cover the Tweed Rugby League Grand Final, with Cudgen defeating favourites Tweed Heads Seagulls 20-7. One of Cudgen’s stars was 17-year-old Indigenous fullback, Jim McDermott, who displayed attacking flair and kicked two pressure field goals at vital stages. Prop, Morrie Morgan, a brother of former Test winger, Lionel Morgan, kicked four goals and a field goal.
Kavanagh was particularly impressed with three youngsters – Seagulls’ second rower, Peter Ryan; and wingers, Les McClymont (Seagulls) and winger, John Nobbs (Cudgen). Kavanagh said Nobbs looked like Fijian rugby star, Joe Levula, who had switched to league with Rochdale Hornets in England.
South Murwillumbah defeated Mullumbimby 15-0 in Reserve Grade; Murwillumbah Brothers defeated Seagulls 21-7 in under-18s and Cudgen accounted for Gold Coast Tigers 14-7 in under-16s.
I will be self indulgent here – I was captain of the Brothers’ under-18 side, which was coached by first grade centre, Owen Maye from Tumbulgum. Our most notable graduate from that side was hooker, John Dowling who went on to represent Queensland in the State of Origin arena (that’s another story). Brian Walsh won first grade premierships with Wynnum-Manly in the 1980s and represented Brisbane; Kel Sherry played first grade for Easts in Sydney while Tony Burley played first grade rugby union for Warringah in Sydney.
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