Seasons 1930 to 1934

For a better quality page ( Colour, Photos etc ) click 1930 to 1934

1930

The 1930 season was a better for West. After finishing 4th in Mullally Shield, they were beaten by the 2nd placed team North, 5 - 2,  in the semi final on 13 Sept. The West team was R Gearing, T Charlton, C Sinclair, Jim Williams (goal), J Pringle, B Spruce, J Davies, A Morris, A Sanderson, P Gray, G Kerr, J Collinson and H Walls. South were Minor Premiers, and Central Major Premiers in First Grade. West also qualified for the final series in the Crawford Cup Reserve Grade competition, being defeated 6 to 5 by South in the Final on 27 Sept. The West team on this day was K Burns, W Harman, J Corrigan, H Stewart, J Bell, W Kerr, R Corrigan, D Jones, D Anderson, T Farrell, F Wivell, J Pringle and C Primmer. On the representative scene, New Zealand defeated Newcastle 25 - 22 on 11 August at Newcastle Showground. The West Under 20 team made the Premiership Final, and led South 17 - 0 at halftime. But in something of a boilover, South came from behind to win 18 - 17.    1930 was better year for West - semi finalists in both grades. West would make the semi finals in just one grade in 1931, but which grade? Well, that's next week’s story. 

1931

The 1931 competition saw 10 teams compete - North, Central, Kurri, South, West, Morpeth, Cessnock, East, Maitland and Waratah. West just finished outside the top 4, and failed to make the semi finals. The First Grade Grand Final played on 26 September, ended in a 7 all draw between Kurri and North, with Kurri winning the competition 9 - 0 in the Grand Final replay on 3 October. North defeated West 24 - 4 in the Reserve Grade Final (there was no Grand Final) to be Major and Minor Premiers in this grade. The West team was M Blundell, C Hamilton, W Williams, Jim Williams (2 goals), H Harding, B Mood, J Bell, R Gearing, F Wivell, J Pringle, A Nesbitt, J White and T Farrell. This game was played on 19 September. After the Grand Final North Reserve Grade issued a challenge to play any team, any grade. The challenge was accepted by the Carrington Rugby Union Club, who were Premiers in 1931. The match was played as the early fixture to the First Grade Grand Final on 26 September. The game was played under Rugby League rules, and North 7 defeated Carrington Rugby Union 5. The West Captain / Coach in 1931 was former Norths centre, Alex Rice, and although West won 6 of their first 8 games they again disappointed. West Under 20's were beaten in the final by North - so there were no major prizes in 1931. West were financially "poor", and at the end of the season, the First Grade playing bonus was set at 3/6d. To avoid a financial loss for the year, West Juniors gave West Seniors 20 pound to balance the books - hard times indeed for West!  1931 saw West qualify for the semi finals in Reserve Grade. What would happen in 1932? Well, that's next week’s story)

1932

The same 10 teams entered the Newcastle Rugby League Competition in 1932. West won 6 games, drew 1 and lost 11 games to again miss out on the semi finals. In Reserve Grade West just missed out on the semi finals as they won 8 games, drew 1 and lost 9. On the Representative scene three Newcastle teams played 3 St George teams on 30 April, with Newcastle winning "3rd" grade 2 - 0, "Reserve Grade" 11 - 7 and the "First Grade" was a 6 all draw. West's Captain / Coach in 1932 was Hans Mork, who came from Newtown and has represented City. Hans boarded at the Marquis of Lorne Hotel at Lambton, looked after by "mine hosts" John and Aida Beisler. Despite the efforts of Hans Mork, West did not make the finals. On 22 May 1932 New Lambton Sports Ground (later named Harker Oval) was opened by the Mayor of New Lambton, Alderman E Dunkley. Hans Mork a "fine footballer and a gentleman) left Lambton in August 1932 - a great loss to West. One good happening for West in 1932 was on the schoolboy front. Keith Froome, Jack Bell and Art Kentish were selected in the NSW Schoolboys team to play Queensland. All these lads played First Grade for West, and Keith Froome went on to play for Australia. West also entered a team in the midweek Chappell Cup (see attached photo)  1932 saw West without any semi final appearances. What would happen in 1933? Well, West would very nearly make the First Grade semi finals, but, that's next week’s story)

1933

After defeating West in the playoff for 4th place, Waratah made it through to the First Grade Grand Final, only to be defeated by Minor Premiers in the Grand Final (20 -0). A sad event occurred on 16 September on the day in which Waratah played North in the Semi Final. The Reserve Grade semi final was between Maitland and North. At full time it was 11 all, after 20 minutes of extra time it was 16 all. Two North players, George Huff and J Passmore were taken from the field on stretchers towards the end of the extra time, and because of the injuries, a second period of extra time was called off. George Huff was taken to hospital by ambulance, but collapsed and died shortly before half time in First Grade. Newcastle League Officials then called off the First Grade semi final at half time, with Waratah leading 5 - 4. In the replay on the following week, Waratah won 10 points to 4. Maitland were also Minor and Major Premiers in Reserve Grade, defeating Cessnock 5 -4 in the Grand Final. For West the season started out well - winning 6 out of the first 7 games. However, things went downhill from there, as many players left the club to travel away to obtain employment during the depression years (some players went to Bega to obtain work on road building projects). The players were paid one pound a game, not a fortune, but one pound a game more than they were to be paid in 1934. How would West fare in 1934? Would they be again in the doldrums? Well, that's next week’s story.For a year by year history of the club from 1910, click on "News" on the top menu bar, then click on "From the Beginning"  

1934

West again struggled during the 1934 season. During the year they won 6 games from 18, to again miss a place in the semi finals. However, they did win the Len Morris Cup, a cup for those that did not qualify for the semi finals. This meant it was a cup for the 5th and 6th placed teams. On 15 September West defeated North 13 - 3 to win the Len Morris Cup. The West team was C Hincks, R Gray, W Hawke, E Rutherford, G Brown, J Wilson, V Lewis, A Price, G Cameron, B Austin, G Hamilton, W Breeze and R Johnson. In the First Grade final Maitland defeated Waratah 4 - 2. In Reserve Grade West won 9 games to just finish outside the semi finalists. In 1934 all home games were played at Hobart Park, because New Lambton Oval was being top dressed and grassed. One success for West in 1934 was the Under 18's who defeated South 8 -5 in the final. West Under 18's included the following players - Tom Richardson, F England, G Johnstone, R McGaw, G McIntosh, C Kentish, R Notley, G Watt, R Sheldon, A Payne, J Ernest, J Mowbray, C Jukes and Spec Pears. West also won the Under 15's Presidents Cup. In the outlying districts West Wallsend won the A Grade Premiership.What would 1935 bring? Semi Finals - well, no, but it was an interesting year. However, that's next week’s story.