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.
Teams Eight clubs contested the season; seven clubs representing a district and one club representing Sydney University.
Balmain Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: Birchgrove Oval Captain: C LightEastern Suburbs Formed on 22 March 1900 Ground: Hampden Park Captain: Patrick CarewGlebe Formed on 15 March 1900 Ground: Wentworth Park Captain: Victor HarrisNewtown Formed on 22 March 1900 Ground: Erskineville Oval Captain: Ross BrownNorth Sydney Formed on 23 March 1900 Ground: North Sydney Oval Captain: Charlie WhiteSouth Sydney Formed on 26 March 1900 Ground: Sydney Sports Ground Captain: J BourkeSydney University Formed on 19 August 1865 Ground: University Oval Captain: John ManningWestern 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.
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.
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.
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.
Ladder
TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts1 Sydney University141022013864 +74222 North Sydney14101309264 +28213 South Sydney14923014371 +72204 Newtown14905012659 +67185 Eastern Suburbs14626016092 +68146 Glebe14419057133 -7697 Western Suburbs142210057170 -11368 Balmain141013022142 -1202
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
Team12345678910111213141 Sydney University2468101214161717191920222 North Sydney23579Balmain forfeited the game against North Sydney. (Rd. 5)9911131517171921Glebe forfeited the game against North Sydney. (Rd. 14)3 South Sydney024457911111315171820Balmain forfeited the game against South Sydney. (Rd. 14)4 Newtown22446810101214141618185 Eastern Suburbs000233556881012146 Glebe022335Balmain forfeited the game against Glebe. (Rd. 6)577779997 Western Suburbs011222224466668 Balmain22222222222222
Statistics
Points PlayerPlTGFGPts1 HE Glanville121134522 Joseph McMahon133111373 William Burleigh13802324 Jack Verge130101245 Charles Russell7530216 Arthur Fisher11700217 Victor Futter14700218 Stanley Wickham7132199 L Seaborn126001810 Walter Ogaard1060018
Tries PlayerPlT1 William Burleigh1382 Arthur Fisher1173 Victor Futter1474 L Seaborn1265 Walter Ogaard1066 Edward Mandible1157 Charles Russell758 H Barry859 Reg Baker8410 EG Hooper114
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. The season concluded with a final between Sydney University and Glebe. The game resulted in a scoreless draw, with both teams declared joint premiers.
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. The final saw East Sydney beat Marrickville 6 points to 5 to take the premiership.
Participating Clubs ClubGrade1st2ndB.Annandale Football ClubY Ashfield Football ClubY Balmain District Football ClubYYY East Sydney Football ClubY Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYYGipps Football ClubYY Glebe District Football ClubYYYLeichhardt Football ClubYManly Football ClubYYMarrickville Football ClubY Mosman Football ClubY Newtown District Football ClubYY North Sydney District Rugby Football ClubYYY Redfern Football ClubYRockdale Football ClubYRozelle Football ClubY South Sydney District Football ClubYYSurry Hills Football ClubY Sydney University Football ClubYYYWaterloo Football ClubY Western Suburbs District Rugby Football ClubYYWilloughby Football ClubY
Footnotes
References
Sydney Club Rugby History. "Football". Referee (Sydney, NSW: 1886 - 1939). 1904-09-14. p. 8.