1896 NSW Rugby Union Season

Six clubs signed up with the New South Wales Rugby Football Union to play the Senior Premiership. Each of the teams had participated in the premiership previously. At the end of the previous season, both the Balmain Football Club and Paddington Electorate Football Club had withdrawn from the premiership. At the beginning of the new season, a Paddington Football Club was formed which could be considered a new club. However, the Union did not agree and would classify the club as a continuation of the previous one. This would have ramifications for Paddington later in the season.[1]

Paddington Formed c.1883 Captain: Unknown	Pirates Formed on 27 March 1889 Captain: James Carson	Randwick Formed c.1882 Ground: Randwick Reserve Captain: John McMahon
Sydney University Formed c.1863 Ground: University Oval Captain: Harry Abbott	Wallaroo Formed c.1870 Captain: Paddy Lane	Wentworth Formed c.1892 Captain: William Warbrick

• Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
• Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round

	Team	Regular Season						MP		Finals
		1	2	3	4	5				W1	W2	W3	W4
1	Randwick	2	4	6	8	10		10		12	14	14
2	Wentworth	0	2	4	6	8		8		8	10[4]	12	14
3	Wallaroo	2	3	3	5	5		5		7	7	9	9
4	Sydney University	2	3	5	5	5		5		5	7	7
5	Pirates	0	0	0	0	1		1		1	1
6	Paddington	0	0	0	0	1		1		1	1[4]

• Ladder include Finals matches.

The top four teams that qualified for the Association Ground Cup were Randwick, Sydney University, Wentworth and Wallaroo. The games were decided by draw. In the first semi, Randwick defeated the 'Varsity, 21 points to nil. It was a convincing win for the premiers with most of their points being scored in the second half. The second semi final saw a much closer game between Wallaroo and Wentworth. Wallaroo had the upper hand throughout the game and proceeded to the final to face Randwick.[5]

A large crowd of 10,000 witnessed one of the most highly anticipated games. The game was a fierce and fast encounter with some players sent from the field. Wallaroo persistently attacked with Randwick holding strong in defence. After half time, the score was 3 points to nil in favour of Randwick. Soon after the second half had begun, Wallaroo took the lead 5 points to 3. However, Randwick soon rectified the result taking the lead once again. From this point to the end of the match, Wallaroo performed attack after attack with Randwick's defence holding firm. The final result gave Randwick their third win in the Cup. With this, Randwick became the permanent holders of the Association Ground Cup.[6]

Only one game was played for the Agricultural Society Trophy. The University-Pirates game was a fine example of football with "clean passing runs, able kicks, quick intercepting runs, long passes, fine fainting and capital tackling."[6] The Pirates were strengthened by a number of new players who held themselves quite well against the more experienced 'Varsity. At half time, University led 5 points to nil. During the second half, the Pirates scored but missed the conversion which cost them the match. The second game scheduled for the weekend was to be between Wentworth and Paddington. However, the Paddington club, which had been reformed at the beginning of the season, had inherited the past debits of the former club. As these debits were with the NSWRFU, the Union disqualified the club from the competition and awarded Wentworth the win.[6]

The first semi final for the trophy was played between Randwick and Wentworth. After the previous match against Wallaroo, Randwick had some players who were not at their best due to the intensity of that game. Wentworth, on the other hand, had done everything possible to ensure it had its best players available and were well prepared for the game. As a result, Randwick failed to play the majority of the game with their usual "dash" and met strong defence from Wentworth. A single try was scored by the Wentworth Captain to win the match. The second semi final saw Wallaroo play Sydney University. A high scoring match saw points added rapidly. Wallaroo won the game 30 points to 10.[7]

In the lead up to the game, it was feared that Wentworth would not be able to put up their best team for the match. Some of the players had been selected to play in the NSW representative team and were unavailable. As a sign of good sportsmanship, the Wallaroo captain PM Lane offered Wentworth to pick any player of their choice to ensure the game could be played. The Wentworth captain, W Warbrick, picked AG Fraser from the Randwick club to play for the team. The game was an "interesting and determined" one with nothing of excitement to note. Wentworth won with ease with Wallaroo lacking in aggressive tendencies. The defeated team never looked likely to score.[3]

	Player	Pl	T
1	William Galloway	8	7
2	Ernest Roberts	8	6
3	Fred Henlen	8	4
4	Ernest Martineer	7	4
5	O Riley	6	3
6	Charlie Winn	8	3
7	Harry Abbott	3	3
8	W Harris	1	3
9	Alex Kelly	7	3
10	AR Manchee	8	3

• Statistics include Finals matches.[8]

Initially, twelve clubs signed up for the First Junior Premiership. These were: Marrickville, Newtown, Paddington Borough, Strathfield, Summer Hill Oaklands, University II, Balmain A, Leichhardt, Petersham, Carlton, Central Cumberland and Woollahra.[1] Both Petersham and Woollahra dropped out of the premiership before it had begun. When the regular season games had been completed, the following teams qualified for the semi finals: Carlton, Paddington Boroughs, Leichhardt and Newtown. In the final Carlton played Newtown. Newtown created an upset, winning the match 6 points to 3 to be declared premiers.[9]

The Second Junior Premiership saw 17 clubs sign up to compete. These were: Richmond, Hawkesbury College, Wallaroo II, Balmain Junior, Manly Federal, Buccaneer, Oriental, Royal Oak, Federal, Hawkesbury, Shamrock, Homebush, University III, Pioneer, Rockdale, Mercantile and North Sydney.[10] At the conclusion of the regular rounds, eight teams qualified for the finals: Buccaneer, Royal Oak, Homebush, Mercantile, Hawkesbury, North Sydney, Balmain Junior and Rockdale. The final saw Buccaneer play Mercantile. Mercantile won the match 15 points to 5 to be declared premiers.[9]

The number of teams entered into the Third Junior Premiership was down compared to the previous season with 13 joining the competition. Clubs that signed up were: Ashfield, Glebe, Waverley, Pirates II, Willoughby Oaks, Ryde, Double Bay, Newtown Cambridge, Redfern Waratah, Balmain B, Adelphi, Hunter's Hill and Redfern Norwood.[10] When the regular rounds were completed, the following teams qualified for the semi finals: Glebe, Adelphi, Redfern Waratah and Pirates II. The final saw Glebe play Redfern Waratah. Redfern Waratah won the match 3 points to nil to be declared premiers.[11]

Forty clubs signed up to compete in the Fourth Junior Premiership in 1896. Due to the large number of teams entered, four divisions were created with teams allocated to each. In Division A were: Granville Royal, Hawkesbury College II, Hawkesbury Excelsior, St Mary's Union, Ardler, Windsor, Rookwood, Liverpool, Iona and Parramatta Ormonde. Division B teams were: Richmond II, Fort Street College, Chelsea, Woollahra Junior, South Sydney Juniors, Adelphi II, Boy's Brigade, Willoughby Federal, Coogee and Mosman. In Division C were: Imperial, Balmain C, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Carolinas, Rosegrove, Toxteth, Endeavour, Balmain Waratah, Warren and Leichhardt Gladstone. Division D teams were: Redfern Cambridge, Enmore Oaks, Summer Hill Oaklands II, Royal, Petersham II, Epsom, Belvidere, Newtown II, Victoria and Erskineville.[10] When the regular rounds were completed, the following teams qualified for the finals: Parramatta Ormonde, Granville Royal, South Sydney Juniors, Woollahra Junior, Forest Lodge Cambridge, Endeavour, Victoria and Newtown II. In the final Woollahra Junior play Newtown II. Woollahra Junior won the match in the dying moments 6 points to 5 to take the premiership.[12]