ALTHOUGH in the 21st century we take the twice yearly South Bendigo-Sandhurst battles for granted, the two famous clubs were first matched up 117 years ago.
The newly-formed Bloods took on the Hurst in just their second senior game after being admitted to the league. The game was played on May 10th, 1893.
The season in the then Bendigo District Football Association did not start until May with some club delegates voicing misgivings about Bendigo fielding as many as six clubs.
At a BDFA meeting on April 22nd before the start of the 1893 season, a Mr. G. Cockerill of Sandhurst told fellow delegates that there were too many clubs in the city.
Ballarat, which had a population of 50,000, had only three yet here with 30,000 inhabitants it was proposed to have six clubs, he said.
Mr. Cockerill's motion wasn't carried and South Bendigo was admitted to the competition which was made up of Eaglehawk, Sandhurst, North Bendigo, Bendigo, South Bendigo and North Sandhurst.
The day before Sandhurst and South were scheduled to play at the Upper Reserve, Bloods' secretary W. Knight applied for a permit for player Kershaw of the Bendigo club to play with South. This was at a BDFA meeting held at the View Point Hotel on May 9th.
No clearance was produced, Kershaw was not present and Mr J. Michelsen of Sandhurst described South Bendigo's action as "touting". Mr. Knight replied that Kershaw had authorized him to apply for a permit but as the player wasn't present, no action was taken.
SO AFTER all the preliminaries had been completed the two clubs battled it out on a wet and muddy Upper Reserve.
The Advertiser report noted that "owing to the rain which fell during the early part of the day, the ground was by no means in a fit state for playing football.
"Anything like a scientific display was altogether out of the question."
F. Leaney captained Sandhurst with S. Sampson acting in a similar capacity for South Bendigo. From the outset, the game was all in favour of the older club although once or twice South Bendigo made a bit of a spurt.
"But they evidently require a lot more practice together before they can expect to hold their own with the other senior clubs," the report added.
At half-time the game stood --- Sandhurst 3 goals 3 behinds, South Bendigo three behinds.
After the usual interval the play was resumed and the newly fledged senior club made a rush and succeeded in kicking their first and only goal.
Sandhurst players then set to work with a will and without much trouble added three more goals to their score, the final result being --- Sandhurst 6 goals 6 behinds, South Bendigo 1 goal 4 behinds.
The goalkickers were for Sandhurst: Neale 2, McDonough 2, Lehman and Matthews one each. For South Bendigo: Mollard one goal.
THAT left the 1893 Bendigo District Football Association ladder, after two rounds, as:-
Eaglehawk 2 wins, no losses; 5 goals for and 2 goals against; 8 points.
Sandhurst 2 wins, no losses; 11 goals for and 2 goals against; 8 points.
North Bendigo one win, one loss; 7 goals for and 5 goals against; 4 points.
Bendigo no wins, 2 losses; 4 goals for and 11 goals against; 0 points.
South Bendigo no wins, 2 losses; 4 goals for and 11 goals against; 0 points.
North Sandhurst no wins, 2 losses; 1 goal for and 6 goals against; 0 points.
AFTER losing their very first game to the Bendigo club and then going down to Sandhurst, the Red and Whites were determined to garner some premiership points when they took on North Bendigo in their third match of 1893.
Once again Sampson captained South with H. Trewhella the North skipper.
"The match was very warmly contested and although the play, as a whole, was not of a very scientific description at times some really smart work was put in," the Advertiser match report states.
From the outset the Souths went in with an evident determination to win, if possible.
During the first quarter Sharp roused the spirits of the supporters of the Red and White by putting up first goal for his side. The Norths could score only a behind.
In the second quarter the North boys put on a bit of a spurt and had several shots for goal, but only five behinds resulted, the South's score remaining at one goal.
After the usual interval the ball was again set rolling and Weiland made an attempt for goal, but the ball struck the post.
Only another behind was registered.
Shortly afterwards, however, Bogle for Norths succeeded in equalizing the score by kicking the first goal for the Yellow and Black.
During the last quarter the game was very exciting, but owing to the darkness coming on the players could not be distinguished on the field.
[Matches in the 1890s often did not start until almost 4 pm and even though it was May when South's first ever matches were contested, there wasn't much twilight.]
Just before the call of time, Williams of the Souths secured the ball and by a well-directed kick put it between the posts and so scored second goal for the Souths.
The final result was: South Bendigo two goals three behinds; North Bendigo one goal, nine behinds.
Luke of the Souths was far and away the best player in the field, the Advertiser reporter added.
Mr. F. Dickason acted as general umpire and gave general satisfaction.
Owing to the game being roughly contested Mr. Dickason's duties were more than ordinarily arduous. There were about 20 free kicks allowed.
One of the South Bendigo players, Slater, struck a member of the North team and the umpire will doubtless bring the matter under the notice of the Association at their next meeting, the newspaper account read.
AND SO after three games in their first senior season, the Red and Whites had garnered their first premiership points ---- two points for a draw against North Bendigo.
Sandhurst eventually ended up as premiers that year --- in 1893. South won their first premiership in 1899. No finals were played back then with the pennant going to the club which finished on top of the ladder.
In 1899 South won 11 games, Eaglehawk won 8, Sandhurst 4 and Bendigo one. North Sandhurst and North Bendigo (wound up in 1897) had both disappeared only six years after South's first BDFA season.
In 1900 South won again with Sandhurst disbanding that season, leaving just three clubs in the competition. After an absence of almost two decades, Sandhurst rejoined the now Bendigo Football League in 1919 at the completion of World War 1.
Richard's tips for Round 17: Sandhurst, South Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Gisborne. Season total to date: 69.
By Richard Jones
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