No
Joy in Manly's First Grand Final
[Extracted from
Whiticker 1994, pp 65-66.]
"Souths
ascended to the minor premiership with relative ease
in 1951, losing only one match during the season to
lead the competition by a record 11-point margin.
Long odds-on favourites to retain the premiership,
Souths reserved their worst performance of the year
for the semi-final against St George, losing 38-8 in
inglorious fashion. The next week, the Dragons were
beaten by a gutsy Manly side in the final, 18-8. The
infant Manly club had qualified for its first grand
final barely five seasons since entering the League
in 1947.
Manly
players Roy Bull, Ron Beaumont, Jack Hubbard
and Jack Lumsden beefing it up in the lead up to trhe
Grand Final. [From Smith 1991, p. 53]
The smallest crowd
in grand final history was on hand at the Sports
Ground to witness a one-sided game which Souths won
42-14. A highlight of the record win was Test winger
John Graves' four tries in the match - the only time
this has been achieved in a grand final.
Manly were without former Test star and coach Wally O'Connell and were captained by
hooker Kevin Schubert. Gordon Willoughby played out the match with
his leg heavily strapped rather than leave his side
further depleted but Manly's hopes of upsetting the
defending premiers were shattered in a spectacular
display of attacking football by Souths.
[From Smith
1991, p. 53]
Souths led 15-4 at
the break and piled on 27 points in the second-half.
Tries to Churchill, Mason, Rayner and Cowie added to
Graves' record haul of four tries. The Rabbitoh pack
held centre stage with Ernie Hammerton giving his
teammates a feast of possession. Purcell landed seven
goals from nine attempts and was dynamic in attack.
Hammerton added another goal."
SOUTHS:
C.Churchill, J.Graves, K.WooIfe, M.Atkinson, H.Wells,
-N.Spillane, R.Mason, L.Cowie, J.Rayner(c),
B.Purcell, D.Donoghue, E.Hammerton, B.Orrock.
MANLY: R.Beaumont,
J.Lumsden, W.Simmons, G.Willoughby, R.Rowles,
J.Sullivan, K.Arthurson, G.Hunter, J.Herbert,
J.Hubbard, F.Brown, K.Schubert(c), R.Bull.
Souths 42
(J.Graves 4, C.Churchill, R.Mason, J.Rayner, L.Cowie
tries, B.Purcell 7, E.Hammerton, D.Donoghue goals)
defeated
Manly 14 (J.Lumsden 2 tries,
R.Rowles 4 goals).
Referee: J.O'Brien.
Crowd: 28,505
