1981 1982 1983 1986 
Post by Electric Eel on Aug 2, 2020 20:40:22 GMT 10
On 12th April 1947, a crowd of about 6,000 turned up for the first day of premiership competition for the Parramatta club. On the same day thousands packed the banks of the Nepean River to watch Newington win the Head of the River.
But at Parramatta, the big event was at Cumberland Oval, still referred to by some as Parramatta Oval. The Parramatta team, made up mostly of locals and minor grade players from other clubs, went down fighting, 34-12. They matched the bigger Newtown side for two thirds of the match but wilted during the second half.
Parramatta fullback, Col Schomberg, Kings School educated, a Parramatta Union first grader at 17 and a NSW player at 19, had just switched codes and was a shock choice as fullback.
He recalled the nervous state of the side before running out to meet players they had idolised only a season before.
"We were shaking in our boots," Schomberg said. "It was very big time for most of us.
"I remember in the dressing room everyone was nervy, but we all felt very proud that we were the first to wear the blue and gold of Parramatta.
"We went out the back of the stand to have our photo taken before the game. It was a real gala day, the citizens band played and there were speeches.
"Newtown were one of the top sides and very big. We held them in the first half but like many times that season, we wilted towards the end of the game.
"And when we came off we were greeted by cold showers. It's funny that the old grandstand (which stood until Cumberland was burnt down in 1981) became notorious for cold showers in the decades after."
Parramatta: Col Schomberg, Dave Munro, Bob Andrews (c), John Smith, Keith Gerbach, Les (Bert) Bell, Wally Woodward, Arthur Slattery, Ted (Barney) Hearn, George Saywell, George Robertson, George Cook, Frank (Snowy) McKean.
Newtown: O.Kennerson, N.Jacobsen, L.Smith, L.McLean, M.Mullane, L.Torphy, K.Froome, C.Cahill, G.Scully, T.Pittman, F.Farrell (c), F.Johnson, L.Doran.
Newtown 34 (L.McLean 2, T.Pittman 2, L.Doran, C.Cahill, G.Scully, N.Jacobsen tries, K.Froome 4, L.Doran goals) beat Parramatta 12 (G.Cook, F.McKean tries, B.Bell 3 goals).
Parramatta lost the reserves 9-5 and in the first game at Cumberland the thirds lost 16-7.
The Quest for Glory
Neil Cadigan
But at Parramatta, the big event was at Cumberland Oval, still referred to by some as Parramatta Oval. The Parramatta team, made up mostly of locals and minor grade players from other clubs, went down fighting, 34-12. They matched the bigger Newtown side for two thirds of the match but wilted during the second half.
Parramatta fullback, Col Schomberg, Kings School educated, a Parramatta Union first grader at 17 and a NSW player at 19, had just switched codes and was a shock choice as fullback.
He recalled the nervous state of the side before running out to meet players they had idolised only a season before.
"We were shaking in our boots," Schomberg said. "It was very big time for most of us.
"I remember in the dressing room everyone was nervy, but we all felt very proud that we were the first to wear the blue and gold of Parramatta.
"We went out the back of the stand to have our photo taken before the game. It was a real gala day, the citizens band played and there were speeches.
"Newtown were one of the top sides and very big. We held them in the first half but like many times that season, we wilted towards the end of the game.
"And when we came off we were greeted by cold showers. It's funny that the old grandstand (which stood until Cumberland was burnt down in 1981) became notorious for cold showers in the decades after."
Parramatta: Col Schomberg, Dave Munro, Bob Andrews (c), John Smith, Keith Gerbach, Les (Bert) Bell, Wally Woodward, Arthur Slattery, Ted (Barney) Hearn, George Saywell, George Robertson, George Cook, Frank (Snowy) McKean.
Newtown: O.Kennerson, N.Jacobsen, L.Smith, L.McLean, M.Mullane, L.Torphy, K.Froome, C.Cahill, G.Scully, T.Pittman, F.Farrell (c), F.Johnson, L.Doran.
Newtown 34 (L.McLean 2, T.Pittman 2, L.Doran, C.Cahill, G.Scully, N.Jacobsen tries, K.Froome 4, L.Doran goals) beat Parramatta 12 (G.Cook, F.McKean tries, B.Bell 3 goals).
Parramatta lost the reserves 9-5 and in the first game at Cumberland the thirds lost 16-7.
The Quest for Glory
Neil Cadigan
