Anzac Day Clashes (2019)

2019 marks 106 years since the start of World War I and 104 years since the inception of ANZAC Day in Australia. When the Great War ended in 1919, troops returning home were not met by parades and huge fanfare, because they arrived home to a country in the grips of the Influenza epidemic, which was so bad, people were not allowed to congregate in large groups, and if they were going to be in a populated area, they had to wear face masks.

In Rugby League, vast numbers of players and even officials from all over the country, volunteered to serve and protect their nation and the Commonwealth, many of whom lost their lives.

In 1927 the NSWRL held its first ever games on ANZAC Day, when all 4 matches from Round 2 took place.

Balmain defeated Newtown 14-13 at Wentworth Park
Wests defeated Glebe 12-4 at the SCG

University defeated Norths 21-9 at North Sydney Oval

St.George defeated Easts 23-7 at Earl Park.

Those were the first 4 of a total of 239 games played on ANZAC Day.

Interestingly enough, only 1 of those 8 sides and 1 of those 4 venues will be seen in the NRL on ANZAC Day in 2019, when the Roosters play at the SCG against the St.George-Illawarra Dragons.

In 1927, St.George, led by captain-coach and Immortal Frank Burge, took on the Roosters in the very first of what is now a traditional ANZAC Day match.

St.George	vs	Eastern Suburbs
Frank Meighan	Fullback	Rick Bevan
Stan Brain	Wing	Les Steel
Eric McCormack	Centre	Tom Barry
George Carstairs	Centre	George Harris
Frank Saunders	Wing	Hugh Byrne
Arnold Traynor	Five-Eighth	Larry Hedger
Bill Benson	Halfback	Norm Pope
Aub Kelly	Lock	George Boddington (c)
Bill Hardman	Second Row	Tom Fitzpatrick
Frank Burge (c)	Second Row	George Clamback
Jim Warwick	Front Row	G Hall
Arthur Justice	Hooker	Arthur Oxford
Clarrie Tye	Front Row	H Kavanagh

Former Bears player Lal Deane was the referee for this game, where a crowd of 5000 turned up to watch the match at Earl Park.

The game started with both sides playing expansive football which had the crowd on their feet and showing great appreciation. Frank Saunders and George Carstairs were very good early on, however it was the tri-colours who scored first when Arthur Oxford kicked a penalty goal. The Dragons hit back with a penalty goal to Eric McCormack and then later in the half Arnold Traynor and McCormack both kicked a field goal each to give the Dragons a 6-2 lead at halftime.

The Easterners resumed play in glorious style, as they broke through the Dragons defensive line, before the ball was kept alive and put through many hands before Tom Fitzpatrick dived over to complete a spectacular try under the posts. Oxford converted and Easts lead 7-6.

Tom Barry suffered an injury and this gave the Dragons an advantage. Some splendid passing and strong running saw the Dragons run away with the game, as they scored 5 unanswered tries late in the second half. Frank Saunders bagged a try double. George Carstairs and Jim Warwick also crossed for tries, as did Frank Burge, who scored a typical long range try after making a strong run that saw him break through the defensive line from inside his own half. McCormack converted just one of the 5 tries as the Dragons ran away with the match to win 23-7.

All ANZAC Day Clashes 1927-2018

1927	Glebe	4		Wests	12		Sydney Cricket Ground
1927	Newtown	13		Balmain	14		Wentworth Park
1927	Norths	9		University	21		North Sydney Oval
1927	St George	23		Easts	7		Earl Park
1928	Balmain	10		Souths	22		Birchgrove Oval
1928	St George	7		Newtown	2		Earl Park
1928	Easts	13		Norths	10		Agricultural Showground
1928	Wests	14		University	25		Pratten Park
1929	Balmain	18		Wests	18		Birchgrove Oval
1929	Norths	10		Easts	10		North Sydney Oval
1929	Souths	28		Glebe	2		Sydney Sports Ground
1929	St George	19		University	0		Earl Park
1931	Norths	0		Balmain	2		North Sydney Oval
1931	Souths	22		Newtown	17		Marrickville Oval
1931	St George	12		Wests	19		Earl Park
1931	Easts	40		University	2		Sydney Sports Ground
1932	Balmain	12		Souths	26		Birchgrove Oval
1932	Norths	10		Wests	25		North Sydney Oval
1932	St George	23		University	7		Earl Park
1932	Easts	28		Newtown	12		Sydney Sports Ground
1933	Newtown	7		Souths	9		Marrickville Oval
1933	Norths	8		St George	13		North Sydney Oval
1933	Easts	16		Balmain	3		Sydney Sports Ground
1933	Wests	32		University	22		Pratten Park
1934	Balmain	5		Wests	18		Leichhardt Oval
1934	Newtown	5		St George	10		Marrickville Oval
1934	Norths	3		University	4		North Sydney Oval
1934	Souths	3		Easts	0		Sydney Sports Ground
1935	Newtown	5		Easts	14		Marrickville Oval
1935	Norths	20		Canterbury	5		North Sydney Oval
1935	Souths	24		University	19		Sydney Sports Ground
1935	St George	8		Wests	16		Sydney Cricket Ground
1936	Balmain	13		Wests	30		Leichhardt Oval
1936	Newtown	20		Canterbury	4		Sydney Cricket Ground
1936	Norths	41		University	5		North Sydney Oval
1936	St George	7		Souths	11		Earl Park
1938	Balmain	22		Norths	5		Leichhardt Oval
1938	Canterbury	28		Wests	3		Belmore Sports Ground
1938	Newtown	3		St George	20		Henson Park
1938	Souths	21		Easts	14		Sydney Cricket Ground
1939	Canterbury	10		Balmain	30		Belmore Sports Ground
1939	Newtown	10		St George	32		Henson Park
1939	Norths	7		Easts	27		Sydney Cricket Ground
1939	Souths	8		Wests	6		Sydney Sports Ground
1940	Balmain	10		St George	10		Sydney Sports Ground
1940	Easts	23		Canterbury	9		Sydney Cricket Ground
1940	Wests	16		Souths	11		Cumberland Oval
1940	Norths	13		Newtown	6		North Sydney Oval
1941	Balmain	22		Norths	7		Leichhardt Oval
1941	St George	16		Canterbury	19		Sydney Cricket Ground
1946	Canterbury	31		St George	12		Belmore Sports Ground
1946	Easts	13		Balmain	20		Sydney Cricket Ground
1947	Norths	19		Canterbury	38		Sydney Cricket Ground
1947	Parramatta	13		St George	23		Cumberland Oval
1947	Wests	32		Easts	4		Pratten Park
1949	Manly	0		Souths	32		Brookvale Oval
1949	Newtown	41		Wests	17		Sydney Cricket Ground
1949	Easts	12		Norths	2		Sydney Sports Ground
1950	Balmain	20		Easts	11		Drummoyne Oval
1950	Canterbury	10		St George	13		Belmore Sports Ground
1950	Manly	18		Wests	25		Pratten Park
1950	Parramatta	8		Newtown	23		Sydney Cricket Ground
1950	Souths	23		Norths	15		Redfern Oval
1951	Canterbury	10		Parramatta	18		Belmore Sports Ground
1951	Manly	17		Souths	29		Brookvale Oval
1951	Norths	5		St George	25		Sydney Cricket Ground
1951	Easts	17		Newtown	10		Sydney Sports Ground
1951	Wests	40		Balmain	17		Pratten Park
1952	Manly	7		Wests	8		Sydney Cricket Ground
1952	Parramatta	12		St George	24		Cumberland Oval
1952	Easts	12		Balmain	2		Sydney Sports Ground
1953	Canterbury	20		Balmain	15		Belmore Sports Ground
1953	Manly	17		Newtown	14		Brookvale Oval
1953	Parramatta	11		Norths	17		Cumberland Oval
1953	Souths	23		St George	10		Sydney Cricket Ground
1953	Wests	19		Easts	17		Pratten Park
1955	Norths	35		Easts	16		North Sydney Oval
1955	Parramatta	28		Balmain	16		Cumberland Oval
1955	St George	30		Manly	12		Sydney Cricket Ground
1956	Balmain	22		Easts	9		Leichhardt Oval
1956	Newtown	14		St George	4		Sydney Cricket Ground
1956	Norths	16		Manly	49		North Sydney Oval
1956	Parramatta	22		Canterbury	21		Cumberland Oval
1956	Wests	11		Souths	14		Pratten Park
1957	Newtown	13		Souths	7		Henson Park
1957	Parramatta	10		Manly	17		Cumberland Oval
1957	Wests	27		Easts	16		Sydney Cricket Ground
1958	Newtown	7		Manly	12		Sydney Cricket Ground
1958	Parramatta	5		Balmain	7		Cumberland Oval
1959	Canterbury	3		Norths	36		Belmore Sports Ground
1959	Newtown	7		Souths	5		Henson Park
1959	Parramatta	2		Manly	7		Cumberland Oval
1959	St George	15		Easts	6		Sydney Cricket Ground
1960	Manly	13		Newtown	12		Sydney Cricket Ground
1960	Wests	22		Parramatta	8		Pratten Park
1961	Balmain	6		Parramatta	9		Leichhardt Oval
1961	Canterbury	18		Newtown	13		Belmore Sports Ground
1961	Norths	17		Manly	9		North Sydney Oval
1961	Souths	9		Wests	17		Redfern Oval
1961	St George	13		Easts	7		Sydney Cricket Ground
1962	Canterbury	26		Manly	3		Belmore Sports Ground
1962	Norths	19		Newtown	27		North Sydney Oval
1962	Souths	23		Balmain	16		Redfern Oval
1962	St George	30		Parramatta	9		Sydney Cricket Ground
1962	Wests	24		Easts	11		Pratten Park
1963	Balmain	13		Easts	5		Leichhardt Oval
1963	Newtown	11		Canterbury	19		Henson Park
1963	Parramatta	8		Manly	13		Cumberland Oval
1963	Souths	9		Norths	11		Redfern Oval
1963	Wests	8		St George	5		Sydney Cricket Ground
1964	Canterbury	11		Manly	31		Belmore Sports Ground
1964	Parramatta	17		Easts	11		Cumberland Oval
1964	St George	14		Balmain	4		Sydney Cricket Ground
1964	Wests	13		Norths	14		Pratten Park
1965	Souths	8		Wests	4		Sydney Sports Ground
1965	St George	24		Parramatta	5		Kogarah Oval
1966	Newtown	15		Souths	11		Sydney Cricket Ground
1967	Balmain	13		Manly	15		Sydney Cricket Ground
1967	Canterbury	13		Parramatta	10		Belmore Sports Ground
1967	Souths	15		Newtown	17		Redfern Oval
1967	St George	22		Easts	7		Kogarah Oval
1967	Wests	19		Cronulla	7		Lidcombe Oval
1967	Norths	18		Penrith	6		North Sydney Oval
1968	Canterbury	12		Norths	9		Belmore Sports Ground
1968	Manly	22		Easts	13		Sydney Cricket Ground
1968	Newtown	21		Balmain	25		Henson Park
1968	Souths	15		Cronulla	9		Redfern Oval
1968	Parramatta	21		Penrith	6		Cumberland Oval
1969	Manly	13		Balmain	18		Sydney Cricket Ground
1969	Wests	12		Parramatta	18		Lidcombe Oval
1970	Parramatta	12		Newtown	18		Cumberland Oval
1970	Easts	7		Souths	18		Sydney Cricket Ground
1971	Newtown	7		Wests	6		Henson Park
1971	Canterbury	26		Penrith	16		Belmore Sports Ground
1971	Norths	10		Manly	20		North Sydney Oval
1971	Easts	23		Cronulla	17		Sydney Sports Ground
1972	Balmain	8		St George	17		Sydney Sports Ground
1972	Canterbury	13		Easts	7		Belmore Sports Ground
1972	Cronulla	12		Wests	18		Endeavour Field
1972	Newtown	23		Penrith	5		Henson Park
1972	Norths	14		Souths	19		North Sydney Oval
1972	Parramatta	7		Manly	9		Cumberland Oval
1973	Newtown	16		Wests	14		Henson Park
1973	Easts	15		Souths	16		Sydney Cricket Ground
1974	Balmain	20		Canterbury	28		Leichhardt Oval
1974	Easts	41		Parramatta	0		Sydney Sports Ground
1975	Balmain	5		St George	31		Leichhardt Oval
1976	Balmain	18		Penrith	4		Leichhardt Oval
1976	Cronulla	11		Easts	22		Endeavour Field
1976	Manly	38		Norths	13		Brookvale Oval
1976	Wests	23		St George	13		Lidcombe Oval
1977	Manly	0		Easts	20		Sydney Cricket Ground
1977	Newtown	10		Cronulla	37		Sydney Cricket Ground
1978	Cronulla	35		Penrith	9		Sydney Cricket Ground
1978	Norths	16		Newtown	5		Sydney Cricket Ground
1978	Easts	22		St George	6		Sydney Cricket Ground
1979	Easts	9		St George	22		Sydney Cricket Ground
1980	Easts	14		Wests	7		Sydney Sports Ground
1981	St George	23		Penrith	15		Kogarah Oval
1982	Cronulla	7		Manly	13		Endeavour Field
1982	Illawarra	45		Canberra	0		Wollongong Showground
1982	Newtown	8		Parramatta	21		Henson Park
1982	Norths	28		Easts	12		North Sydney Oval
1982	Souths	27		Wests	22		Redfern Oval
1983	St George	45		Balmain	12		Kogarah Oval
1984	Balmain	16		Souths	2		Leichhardt Oval
1984	Illawarra	10		Canberra	14		Wollongong Showground
1984	Manly	12		Norths	26		Brookvale Oval
1984	Penrith	24		Cronulla	12		Penrith Park
1984	St George	24		Parramatta	20		Kogarah Oval
1984	Easts	54		Wests	6		Sydney Sports Ground
1985	Illawarra	0		Canterbury	6		Wollongong Showground
1985	Balmain	8		Easts	12		Leichhardt Oval
1985	Canberra	44		Wests	12		Seiffert Oval
1985	Norths	10		Penrith	22		North Sydney Oval
1985	Parramatta	16		Cronulla	12		Belmore Sports Ground
1985	St George	20		Manly	16		Sydney Cricket Ground
1986	Souths	2		Canterbury	26		Sydney Cricket Ground
1987	Manly	18		Easts	10		Brookvale Oval
1988	Manly	14		Souths	28		Brookvale Oval
1989	Illawarra	8		Canberra	44		Seiffert Oval
1989	Easts	6		Canterbury	30		Sydney Football Stadium
1992	Illawarra	23		Manly	10		Wollongong Showground
1993	Balmain	26		Parramatta	2		Leichhardt Oval
1993	Knights	19		Illawarra	18		Newcastle International Sports Centre
1993	Norths	18		Souths	20		North Sydney Oval
1993	Penrith	12		Cronulla	26		Penrith Park
1993	St George	14		Brisbane	20		Kogarah Oval
1993	Easts	14		Gold Coast	12		Sydney Football Stadium
1993	Wests	4		Manly	11		Campbelltown Sports Ground
1994	Canterbury	22		Wests	16		Belmore Sports Ground
1996	Easts	62		Souths	0		Sydney Football Stadium
1998	Adelaide	12		Cronulla	22		Adelaide Oval
1998	Balmain	10		Canterbury	26		Leichhardt Oval
1998	Melbourne	22		Penrith	14		Olympic Park
1998	North Qld	16		Easts	50		Willows Sports Complex
1999	Balmain	28		Wests	16		Leichhardt Oval
1999	Canberra	21		Knights	21		Bruce Stadium
1999	Cronulla	18		St George-Illawarra	16		Endeavour Field
1999	North Qld	20		Brisbane	20		Willows Sports Complex
2000	Canterbury	22		Melbourne	44		Stadium Australia
2002	St George-Illawarra	20		Easts	24		Sydney Football Stadium
2003	Parramatta	14		Brisbane	20		Parramatta Stadium
2003	Easts	20		St George-Illawarra	24		Sydney Football Stadium
2004	Brisbane	32		Penrith	14		Lang Park
2004	Easts	11		St George-Illawarra	8		Sydney Football Stadium
2004	Wests Tigers	30		Manly	22		Leichhardt Oval
2005	Easts	24		St George-Illawarra	26		Sydney Football Stadium
2006	Easts	12		St George-Illawarra	22		Sydney Football Stadium
2007	Easts	18		St George-Illawarra	4		Sydney Football Stadium
2008	St George-Illawarra	26		Easts	6		Stadium Australia
2008	Brisbane	32		Souths	18		Lang Park
2009	Melbourne	14		Warriors	14		Olympic Park
2009	North Qld	26		Manly	12		Willows Sports Complex
2009	Easts	0		St George-Illawarra	29		Sydney Football Stadium
2010	St George-Illawarra	28		Easts	6		Sydney Football Stadium
2010	Canberra	24		Souths	26		Bruce Stadium
2010	Melbourne	40		Warriors	6		Docklands Stadium
2011	Melbourne	14		Warriors	18		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2011	Easts	10		St George-Illawarra	24		Sydney Football Stadium
2012	Melbourne	32		Warriors	14		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2012	St George-Illawarra	28		Easts	24		Sydney Football Stadium
2013	Melbourne	28		Warriors	18		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2013	Easts	34		St George-Illawarra	10		Sydney Football Stadium
2014	Brisbane	26		Souths	28		Lang Park
2014	Melbourne	10		Warriors	16		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2014	St George-Illawarra	14		Easts	34		Sydney Football Stadium
2015	Brisbane	28		Parramatta	16		Lang Park
2015	Melbourne	10		Manly	12		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2015	Warriors	28		Titans	32		Mt Smart Stadium
2015	Knights	24		North Qld	26		Newcastle International Sports Centre
2015	Easts	12		St George-Illawarra	14		Sydney Football Stadium
2016	Melbourne	42		Warriors	0		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2016	Knights	10		Manly	26		Newcastle International Sports Centre
2016	St George-Illawarra	20		Easts	18		Sydney Football Stadium
2017	Melbourne	20		Warriors	14		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2017	Easts	13		St George-Illawarra	12		Sydney Football Stadium
2018	Melbourne	50		Warriors	10		Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
2018	St George-Illawarra	24		Easts	8		Sydney Football Stadium