1960 - St George Untroubled By Easts

ST. GEORGE 31 (Gasnier 2, King 2, Bugden, Brown, Provan tries; Graham 5 goals)
d. EASTS 6 (Landers 3 goals).
Referee: Darcy Lawler. Crowd: 53,156 at SCG.

Kevin Ryan arrived in 1960 to further strengthen the Dragons pack as they again finished as minor premiers. St. George claimed first place on 28 points ahead of four other teams sharing second place (22 points).

For-and-against averages were not taken into account and all four clubs (Wests v Balmain and Easts v Canterbury) had to play-off for positions 2,3 and 4 before the semi-finals could start! The Dragons simply sat back and watched!

Wests and Easts won the two matches and earned the right to play-off for positions 2 and 3 - Wests won over the Roosters by 18-7. Meanwhile, the two losers Balmain and Canterbury fought a sudden-death game for fourth place, with the Berries winning 18-7. This left the Top4 as St.George, Wests, Easts and Canterbury.

Saints and Wests delivered yet another "physical" encounter and pushed each others temperament all game, before the rested Dragons won 31-7 and earned another week off waiting for their Grand Final opponent. Meanwhile Canterbury and Easts ran into extra-time before the Roosters, coached by Dick Dunn, pulled away to win by 16-9.

Easts then upset the pundits by defeating the experienced Wests side by 20-15 in the Final. Easts' tenacious tackling and cover play frustrated the Magpies no end. They were well led by captain Jack Gibson up front and in general play by St. George discard Bill McNamara at five-eighth.

Easts had played five games in three weeks, including extra-time in one, and many league fans were pleased to see a different club in the decider for a change - but that is all they got. St George took the Roosters apart by 31-6 to win their fifth title in succession.

The Dragons had equalled the record set by the great South Sydney teams of the 1920s who won five titles between 1925-1929.

Even though captain-coach Ken Kearney announced his playing days were over, few "experts" were prepared to offer an opinion that St. George wouldn't succeed in setting a new benchmark.

ST GEORGE: B.Graham, J.King, J.Stathers, R.Gasnier, D.Brown, B.Clay, R.Bugden, J.Raper, N.Provan, M.Porter, W.Wilson, K.Kearney (c), K.Ryan.
EASTS: J.Andrew, B.Beeton, W.Roney, D.Ricketson, R.Landers, W.McNamara, B.Ranier, R.See, R.Heffernan, B.Wright, J.Gibson (c), K.Ashcroft, R.McDonagh.

Minor semi-final: Easts 16 d. Canterbury 9. Major semi-final: St George 31 d. Wests 7. Final: Easts 20 d. Wests 15

History Article © Sean Fagan / RL1908