More than 50 years ago, the Goulburn Workers and Queanbeyan faced off in a rugby league grand final which set the tone for a fierce rivalry which continues to this day.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
In 1965, the stage was set for a dramatic Group Eight grand final between the two. Goulburn came into the match as favourites, having bested Queanbeyan in a heated semi-final the fortnight prior.
After Queanbeyan rebounded from the loss to beat Canberra 15-10 in the preliminary final, further drama erupted regarding the location of the grand final.
"The match was originally set down for Queanbeyan but, after protests by the Workers, officials of the two clubs decided to change the venue to Goulburn Workers Sports Arena," the Canberra Times' Alan Reid wrote the day before the match.
"However, the Workers refused to play on their own ground because it gave them an unfair advantage."
Another meeting followed, at which it was agreed to play the match at different Goulburn venue: League Park.
So the stage was set for a riveting grand final.
However, not all was well within Goulburn's ranks. Injuries to key players, five-eighth Barry Robertson and second-row forward John Kelleher, forced captain-coach Phil Jackson into a host of changes to the lineup.
The most important aspect of the lineup for Jackson, was the combination of John Carr at five-eighth and Barry Devlin at inside centre.
"Jackson has taken special care to retain the Carr-Devlin combination which proved such a problem to the Queanbeyan attack and defence in the semi-final," Reid wrote.
Reid's next sentence would turn out to foreshadow the match.
"If Queanbeyan can keep the combination in check and not leave any gaps for Carr or Devlin it could reverse the result of the second semi-final."
Come game day, on Monday, October 3, 1965, tempers quickly became heated as it appeared Queanbeyan were heading for another loss.
In the first half, Goulburn dominated possession but struggled to put Queanbeyan on the defensive. The Workers took advantage of a strong wind to push Queanbeyan back with long kicks, but struggled to break the visitors' line and only scored once.
The Carr-Devlin combination did, however, prove effective once again, and the pair established several counter-attacks which helped Goulburn fend off their relentless opponents.
At half time, the score was 5-4 in favour of the Workers and the match appeared in the balance. But Queanbeyan came out firing after the break, and the tension soon boiled over.
Late in the second half, which was dominated by Queanbeyan, a scuffle broke out behind play. Goulburn's Stafford Dixon and Queanbeyan's Brian Bourke were both sent off, for what Reid described as a "dubious infringement" in which "no punches were delivered although both players were grappling on the ground".
What sparked the melee was unclear, but it was too little, too late for the Workers.
During the second half, Reid said Queanbeyan "out-played, out-thought and out-manouvered" the Workers, to turn what had been a close match into a one-sided affair.
Queanbeyan scored 13 points to two in the second half to claim a 17-7 win and finish the 1965 season as premiers.
While you're with us...
Did you know the Goulburn Post is now offering breaking news alerts and a weekly email newsletter? Keep up-to-date with all the local news: sign up here.
