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Early History
Editors note: Despite our best efforts we are aware of the potential for possible omissions, errors and oversights contained in this account of the early history of Wanderers Rugby Football Club. If you are aware of any inaccuracies in this publication, or are able to obtain more information or photographs, please contact the club by using the mail link on this web site.
The Begining and Rebirth
The club began in 1924 under the banner of the GPS Old Boys, by a small yet enthusiastic group of players and administrators, many of whom had played schoolboy rugby with either Newcastle Boys' High or private colleges in Sydney. The following year, 1925, the Wanderers name was adopted as it is today. While few details are available about why the name was changed, it is reasonable to assume that Wanderers was deemed more appropriate because many of the club's players had been recruited from a such a wide variety of schools and locations.
The club coach in 1925 was E.J. Anderson, who later became a prominent administrator with the NRU. “Tuni", as he was affectionately known, was also instrumental in the name of Wanderers being revived in 1941, after the club had gone into recess for two years because of World War II.
The Wanderers club took part in its first official game on Saturday, May 2, 1925, lining up against Surf Club at the Newcastle Sports Ground. The Two-Blues team was listed as: J. Brett, W. Greaves, T. Langwill, L. Street, W. Harris, G. Pooley, K. Burke, C. Morrissey (vice-captain), G. Pearce (captain), J. Dixon, L. Woods, R. Cant, B. Dowling, E. Hull, E.J. Anderson (coach). The match was refereed by W. Harbury, with Surf Club edging out Wanderers 13-6. In second grade, Wanderers were convincingly beaten 37-0 by Maitland.
Early 1941 saw a big influx into the Newcastle steel industry of young Engineering and Metallurgy trainees. With World II in full swing, industry vacancies were filled by teenagers from throughout NSW, Queensland and Victoria. Among them were dozens of rugby players and a sprinkling of Australian Rules players.
These young men had matriculated mostly from GPS Schools, and under the BHP Trainee system, were required to complete their Diploma (similar, to a University Degree) by attending the Newcastle Technical College for approximately four nights a week from 6pm to 9pm. The trainees were working 44 hours a week during day shifts.
Newcastle was always a great sporting town with Australian Representatives in Rugby League, Union, Soccer, Cricket etc, and these trainees wanted to enjoy their chosen sport. But then, as now, training sessions for the various Clubs took place after work and the trainees were left in No Man’s Land due to their study demands ... and they weren’t happy about the situation. Many of them had played Rugby Union at school and were keen to continue in the sport but had run into this dead-end. It was three former St Josephs College students (Greg Horton and Jack Elliott from Newcastle, and Bill Rawle from Neath near Cessnock) and one from Barker College (Ron Worboys from Canowindra) who saw an opportunity to form a new Newcastle rugby club.
The group scouted around the various classes at the Technical College. They found a reservoir of players who had mostly played 3rd and 4th grade at school and they were keen to play. An informal meeting was held in one of the classrooms and it was found that nearly two teams could be produce so they approached the Newcastle Rugby Union about entering this new club. The four hadn’t decided on a name and when they met the Newcastle Rugby Union Committee, who was only too happy to have another enthusiastic club, they made the suggestion, to save a lot of paper work, that they take the name of a club that had been defunct for about four years. The name of the Club was -THE WANDERERS.
Apparently, it was Tuni Anderson that suggested to the foursome that they reform the Wanderers club since he pointed out that they were from a similar background as the original Wanderers. A meeting was subsequently called at Newcastle Technical College and, with the assistance of Dave Williams and Phil Rose the Wanderers were reborn.
Mr Colin Chapman was elected as club president, with Bill Rawle whom had done most of the legwork being appointed as the revamped club's first captain. The next question was the colour to be would be adopted for the Club jumper. Bill had two white GPS representative jumpers and decided that it would be most economic if the new Wanderers turned out in white. This is the colour Wanderers wore for the first year. The new club subsequently decided to adopt the same two-blue colours of the original Wanderers but, due to a shortage of supplies caused by the war, only plain blue gurneys were available.
The next decision was where and when to train. Next to the Tighes Hill Technical College was a wide drain and next to it a cow paddock. So at 9pm twice a week the Wanderers players would all clamber over the drain and train by the light of the Maitland Road traffic lights, dodging the cow manure as best they could.
When the press announced the birth of the Wanderers, one of the old team, Ken Shortridge, appeared and with his size, business experience and enthusiasm was a great asset to the newly reformed Wanderers Club. Other Wanderers such as Herb Hume, Alan Campbell, Dick Howard, Les Brain and Martin Ramsay returned to lend experience to the younger brigade. Leading officials from BHP were approached to be vice-presidents of the club. These BHP heavyweights gave considerable assistance to the club, ensuring a steady flow of players each year.
As with all new clubs fielding two teams it was a constant battle to field two full teams and for most of the season Rawle played full back in the Seconds and breakaway in the Firsts. Both teams, in general, lacked size and weight. The players of opposing teams, that included Merewether Carlton, The Army, RAAF, St Patrick’s, and Mayfield East, were mature adults and the Wanderers were constantly getting pushed off the ball. The half back, Bill Riordan, had a terrible time coping with these big forwards.
After a lot of heart searching, this problem was solved by having Bill put the ball in as soon as the two scrums met and Charlie Drinkwater would instantly strike. After this possession improved 100% ... and the other teams never woke up.
The 1941 season was moderately successful and the Club made it through to the semi final. They got out of gaol right on full time through a scrum on halfway when Ron Worboys gained possession and tossed the ball over the scrum to Bill Rawle who had the luck to score under the post to win the game. However, luck went the other way in the preliminary final at Mitchell Park with the club losing 15-16 to United Services in the first-grade semi final. United Services scored in the corner on the bell and their kick from the side line to win landed on the cross bar and bounced over.
Bill Rawle commented, “Looking back over this initial team I feel it is amazing that this original team advanced so close to the Grand Final. But they all had played rugby under good coaching at their schools and they were prepared to accept team discipline at training, despite the primitive conditions, and to work to a plan during a game. And it is this sort of attitude that is the basis of rugby union’s great tradition.” Bill provided one story to finish his account of this history of Wanderer’s beginning.
“Fielding two teams that first year was terribly difficult and our Seconds finished well down the list. |
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NEWS ITEMS
Notices
Saturday 19th May
‘Bessie’ our 10 burner BBQ will be on the concourse at the completion of first grade along with some tables, chairs and outdoor heaters. The committee hopes that those of you with young ones can now stay a little longer after the game, cook some dinner for the kids and enjoy the new Blue Room.
Food options include;chicken skewers, lamb cutlets, sausages, scotch fillet and boneless sirloin. Each meal will be served with a bread roll, jacket potato and salad.
WANTED...2nd Grade Manager
If interested please contact committee@wanderersrugby.com.au
Wallaby vs Scotland Test
The Cricketers Hotel will be running a bus service to and from the Scotland Test.The plan is to meet at the Cricketers prior to kickoff and then again for a BBQ post match.
Blue News April 2012
No.2 Update
Following an inspection of No. 2 Sportsground, NCC has decided that the new ground will not be playable for the NHRU competition until 26 May.
WRC Update 2012
WANDERERS TOY RUN
If you have toys or play equipment you want to donate but are unable to drop off, please contact Peter Fallon Peter.Fallon@cbre.com.au to arrange a pick up.
Round 6 Results
| Premier 1 |
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| WANDERERS |
31 |
V |
Waratah |
32 |
| Premier 2 |
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| WANDERERS |
22 |
V |
Waratah |
8 |
| Premier Colts |
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| WANDERERS |
17 |
V |
Waratah |
30 |
| Premier 3 |
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| WANDERERS |
39 |
V |
Waratah |
12 |
| C Grade |
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| WANDERERS |
18 |
V |
East Maitland |
20 |
| Women |
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| WANDERERS |
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V |
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Round 7 Fixtures
| Premier |
V |
Southern Beaches |
(home) |
| @ No.2 Sportsground, Newcastle |
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| C Grade |
V |
East Maitland |
(away) |
| @ Tenambit Sports Oval, East Maitland |
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Coming Up...
First Aid Training
Sunday 27th May 10am
Community Room @ No. 2 Sportsground
Wallabies Test Match Training
Monday 4th June 2.30pm - 5pm
@ No. 2 Sportsground
Juniors and Sponsors Day
Saturday 16th June
@ No. 2 Sportsground vs Lake Macquarie
Ladies Day
Saturday 7th July
@ No. 2 Sportsground vs University
Wanderers Ball
Saturday 11th August
@ TBA
WRC Lunch
Friday 17th August
Newcastle Club
NHRU Points Table - P1s @ Rd6
| 1 |
Southern Beaches |
27 |
| 2 |
Hamilton |
25 |
| 3 |
WANDERERS |
19 |
| 4 |
Merewether |
17 |
| 5 |
Lake Macquarie |
13 |
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Club Championship @ Rd 6
| 1 |
Hamilton |
357 |
| 2 |
WANDERERS |
350 |
| 3 |
Merewether |
324 |
| 4 |
Southern Beaches |
306 |
| 5 |
Maitland |
268 |
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