Seasons 1955 to 1959
FOR A BETTER QUALITY PAGE (COLOUR, PHOTOS ETC) CLICK 1955 to 1959
1955
The 1955 season saw West have their most successful season since the Second World War. Ex Kangaroo, Charlie Gill, coached the First Grade side to second place on the points table with 10 wins 
and 7 losses. Reserve Grade under coach Gordon Freeman recorded 8 wins whilst Third Grade under coach Don Hardy won 6 games. All in all West won a total of 24 games for the season – a big improvement as a club over previous years. New players at the start of the season included Doug Isenhood (South), Eric Fitzgibbons (Nambucca Heads), Brian Bower (from the Sunday comp), whilst Col Curry returned from Cowra and Neil Gibson returned after sorting out his problems with Parramatta. At the Awards night the best players in each grade were acknowledged – Kevin Vipen (First Grade), Brian Bower (Reserve Grade) and Geoff Bice (Third Grade). Col Curry also represented Newcastle against the Frenchmen..and scored 2 tries. In the Junior grades, West won 14 consecutive games to finish Minor and Major Premiers in Under 20’s. The under 16 team did one better – they went through the whole season undefeated. Indeed in a “one off” game at the end of the season they defeated “The Rest of Newcastle”. With such success in 1955, there was much expectation about the 1956 season, but alas……..
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Round
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Opponent
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Result
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1 – 9 April
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Waratah
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Won 15 – 5
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2 – 16 April
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North
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Lost 20 - 16
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3 – 25 April
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Maitland
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Lost 31 - 13
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4 – 7 May
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Kurri
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Lost 8 - 2
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5 – 14 May
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Central
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Lost 12 - 4
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6 – 21 May
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Cessnock
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Lost 46 - 8
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7 – 28 May
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Bye
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8 – 4 June
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South
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Won 24 - 2
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9 – 11 June
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Lakes
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Won 21 - 7
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10 – 18 June
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North
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Won 19 - 14
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11 – 25 June
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Waratah
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Won 20 - 7
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12 – 2 July
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Central
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Won 18 - 3
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9 July
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Newcastle 17 def France 15 – Crowd 20 824
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13 – 16 July
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Maitland
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Won 26 - 19
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14 – 23 July
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Cessnock
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Lost 15 - 12
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15 – 30 July
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Bye
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16 – 6 August
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South
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Won 37 -13
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17 – 13 August
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Lakes
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Won 23 - 20
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18 – 20 August
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Kurri
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Won 28 - 12
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10 September
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Semi Final Maitland 19 def West 16
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17 September
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Final Cessnock 9 def Maitland 7
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1956
Coming into 1956 Charlie Gill was again elected as First Grade Coach, whilst the “biggest” signing was “big” John Lightfoot from Waratah, whilst another key signing was Warren Turvey – son of West fullback from the early thirties, Ern “Ikey” Turner. First Grade played 15 games for 5 wins and 10 losses. Reserve Grade was coached by Ron Vipen and won 13 games and lost 4 to finish second in the competition, but were beaten in the final. Les Cook coached the Third grade that won 9 games and made the semi finals. Seasons trophies went to Captain / Coach Charlie Gill in 
First Grade, Kevin Vipen (Reserves) and Roy Anderson(Thirds).The most improved player went to Ron “Charger” Walls. Jack Fitzpatrick represented Newcastle against the New Zealand Maoris. Don Howie showed his points scoring ability by scoring 144 points for the year, and fullback, Don Bentlin, played his 100th First Grade game for the club. In the juniors West Under 16’s again went through the competition undefeated, and beat South 15 – 3 in the Final. During the year they scored 457 points to 59 against, and the best players were Allan Buman, Kev Duncan, Ian Sills, Robert Spruce, Ross Fairhall, Ivan Leggett and Dave Brown. Dave Brown represented St George and NSW and returned to Newcastle to play with the “Butcher Boys”, Central Newcastle.
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Round
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Opponent
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Date
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1 – 7 April
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North
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Lost 22 - 15
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2 – 14 April
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Lakes
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Lost 31 - 16
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3 – 21 April
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Kurri
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Won 15 - 10
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4 – 28 April
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Waratah
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Won 19 - 17
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5 – 5 May
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South
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Won 24 - 19
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12 May
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Manly 23 def Newcastle Coalfields 16
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6 – 19 May
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Maitland
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Lost 32 - 5
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7 – 26 May
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Central
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Lost 15 - 13
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8 – 2 June
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Bye
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9 – 9 June
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Cessnock
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Lost 28 – 13
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10 – 16 June
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Lakes
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Lost 17 - 14
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11 – 23 June
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North
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Match abandoned - rain
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12 – 30 June
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Waratah
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Lost 16 - 15
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13 – 7 July
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Kurri
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Won 25 - 18
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14 – 14 July
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Central
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Lost 22 - 20
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15 – 21 July
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South
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Won 24 - 22
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16 – 28 July
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Cessnock
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Lost 24 - 9
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17 – 4 August
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Bye
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18 – 11 August
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Maitland
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Lost 13 - 10
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18 August
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Newcastle 19 def Maoris 15
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1 September – Semi Finals
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Res Gr South 12 def West 8
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Third Gr Mait 24 def West 13
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15 September
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Final Maitland 16 def Cessnock 9
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1957
The 1957 season brought a complete change of the Coaching Staff at West. Horrie Marjoribanks was appointed First Grade coach, Doug Fishlock (Reserves) and Wal Harding (Thirds). All three grades 
missed out on the semi final, with Don Howie being the top point scorer in First Grade with 86 points, and Neil Gibson the top try scorer with 12 tries. Noel Dagwell returned to the club from Central, and he, and Si Brown, represented Newcastle against St George. Trophy winners for the year were Jack Everleigh (First), Dick Maddison (Reserves) and Harry Parkinson (Thirds). In the Junior Grades the new Under 16’s were not as successful as the previous year, winning only 2 games, and the Under 20’s after battling for players early, scraped into the semi finals. However, the Under 18’s, under coach Ken Mogg were undefeated Minor and Major Premiers, beating Lakes 34 to 2 in a Grand Final replay. Many great West names in this Under 18 side – “Wagga” Johnson, Viv Hodge, Ian Sills, Allan Buman, Ted Curtis, Bob Darcy, Ivan Leggett and Ernie Snelson just to name a few. Just remember that Junior Rugby League was “big time” in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Headquarters of the Junior Rugby League was at District Park behind the tennis courts..and the Grandstands were…two tram carriages…and the dressing sheds looked like an iron shearing shed!! THOSE WERE THE DAYS!
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Round
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Opponent
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Result
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Waratah
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Won 24 – 8
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2 – 13 April
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Central
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Lost 9 - 8
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3 – 20 April
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Bye
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4 – 27 April
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Maitland
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Lost 26 - 14
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5 – 4 May
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Lakes
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Won 25 - 22
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11 May
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St George 42 def Newcastle 23
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6 – 18 May
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Cessnock
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Lost 16 - 14
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7 – 25 May
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Kurri
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Won 25 - 3
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8 -1 June
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South
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Lost 19 - 12
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9 – 15 June
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North
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Won 21 - 15
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10 – 22 June
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Waratah
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Won 10 - 7
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11 – 29 June
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Central
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Lost 14 - 8
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12 – 6 July
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Bye
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13 – 13 July
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Maitland
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Won 22 - 15
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14 – 20 July
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Lakes
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Won 31 - 16
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15 – 27 July
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Cessnock
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West lost – Score ??
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16 – 3 August
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Kurri
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9 all draw
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17 – 10 August
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South
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Lost 16 - 11
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18 – 17 August
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North
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Lost 38 - 10
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Grand Final
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Maitland 17 def Kurri 12
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1958
In 1958 JJ “Mo” Wilson vacated the President’s chair, and Harry Harding took over as President – a 
position he would hold until 1975. Jack Everleigh was appointed First Grade Coach, and Cec Cavanagh was recruited from Rugby Union, and “Wagga” Johnson made his grade appearance. West had a very light pack, but ran equal 4th in the competition, but lost the 4th place play off to North 27 – 10. Neil Gibson was selected to play for Newcastle against the English Tourists on 24 May, and “Charger” Walls was selected in the Newcastle team for the return match against England at Maitland. Noel Dagwell returned to the club after a season coaching at Quirindi, and pint sized John Allen made his 
First Grade debut. Si Brown led the point scores with 113 points, and Neil Gibson led the try scorers with 14 tries. Both Reserve Grade, coached by John Lightfoot, and Third Grade, coached by Brian Bower, both failed to make the semi finals. Trophy winners for the year were “Charger” Walls (First Grade), Brian Bower (Reserve Grade) and 17yo Graham Hardes (Third Grade). For West Juniors it was also a lean year, with the Under 18’s doing the best although they were beaten in the Grand Final. “Mo” Wilson was awarded Life Membership of the Football Club for his sterling efforts over many years, and Ron Vipen was also awarded Life Membership for playing 100 Grade games.
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Round
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Opponent
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Result
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1 – 5 April
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North
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Won 26 - 13
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2 – 12 April
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Bye
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3 – 19 April
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Maitland
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Lost 19 - 6
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4 – 25 April
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Kurri
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Won 47 - 14
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5 – 3 May
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Waratah
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Won 17 - 16
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10 May
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St George 41 def N’Cle 1 14
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West (Syd) 42 def N’Cle 2 8
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6 – 17 May
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Lakes
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Won 18 - 14
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24 May
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England 35 def Newcastle 16
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7 – 31 May
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South
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Lost 24 - 14
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8 – 14 June
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Central
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Won 33 - 9
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9 – 21 June
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Cessnock
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Lost 9 - 6
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10 – 28 June
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Bye
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11 – 5 July
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Maitland
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Lost 30 - 13
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12 – 12 July
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Kurri
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Won 27 - 16
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13 – 19 July
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Waratah
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Won 14 - 7
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14 – 26 July
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Lakes
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Lost 19 - 12
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15 – 2 August
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South
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Won 23 – 16
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16 – 9 August
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Central
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Won 26 - 10
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17 – 16 August
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North
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Lost 16 - 10
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17 August
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England 30 def Newcastle 10
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18 – 24 August
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Cessnock
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Lost 43 - 13
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31 August
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Play off for 4th North 27 def West 10
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27 September
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Grand Final Maitland 22 def Cessnock 7
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1959
The 50th year of West Rugby League brought very few results – with only Third Grade making the semi finals. Third Grade, coached by Neil Gibson, went down to Lakes 13 – 7 in the final. First Grade coach 
was Jack Everleigh, whilst Reserve Grade coach was Si Brown. Col Curry came back to West from Waratah won the award for Best First Grade player. A young Barry Martin (from Cascade – where is Cascade? Well it’s a small town in the middle of Lowanna, Ulong, Megan, Moonpar and Wild Cattle Creek….Does that help?..Best really to “Google” it) won the most improved player in the club, and Brian Bower, Ian Sills and Col Law shared the Reserve Grade award. Bill Gray took out the Third Grade honours. Three West players, “Charger” Walls, Viv Hodge and “Wagga” Johnson represented Newcastle against the visiting Manly side. In the Juniors, West again won the Under 20’s when they defeated North in the Grand Final, whilst the Under 18’s were semi finalists. In the Under 16’s a young Wayne Hore was showing signs of being a good footballer ..and what an asset he has been to the Western Suburbs RLFC!!
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Round
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Opponent
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Result
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1 – 4 April
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Lakes
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Lost 42 - 8
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2 – 11 April
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Central
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Won 17 - 9
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3 – 18 April
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North
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Lost 23 - 12
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4 – 25 April
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Bye
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5 – 2 May
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Maitland
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Lost 36 - 14
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6 – 9 May
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South
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Lost 24 - 16
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16 May
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KO Semi West 15 def North 8 KO Final Cessnock 6 def West 0
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16 May
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N’Cle 1 32 def Nth Sydney 30 N’Cle 2 17 drew with Manly 17
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7 – 23 May
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Waratah
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Won 22 - 15
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30 May
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New Zealand 25 def Newcastle 6
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8 – 6 June
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Kurri
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Won 17 - 9
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9 – 13 June
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Cessnock
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Lost 21 - 13
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10 – 20 June
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Lakes
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Lost 21 - 13
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11 – 27 June
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Central
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Won 22 - 8
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12 – 4 July
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North
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Lost 21 - 14
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13 – 11 July
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Bye
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14 – 18 July
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Maitland
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Lost 8 - 3
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15 – 26 July
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South
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Won 11 - 0
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16 – 1 August
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Waratah
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Won 18 - 10
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17 – 8 August
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Kurri
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Won 15 - 12
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18 – 15 August
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Cessnock
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Lost 12 - 8
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22 August
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Reserve Grade Play off for 4th South 10 def West 9
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12 September
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Third Grade Final Lakes 13 def West 7
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12 September
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First Grade Final North 13 def Maitland 12
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