North Sydney Bears return to Chatswood Oval for the first time in Eighty One Years

It’s been 81 years since top flight Rugby League has taken place at Chatswood Oval. However, all that changes this Sunday when the North Sydney Bears face the Wests Tigers in Round 5 of the Intrust Super Premiership at the historic ground.

Chatswood Oval has seen both big-time cricket, as well as Rugby League in its 117-year history.

The heydey of cricket for Chatswood Oval was up to the 1930s. Of note was Don Bradman’s 201 runs in April 1932, including 28 fours and two sixes in 171 minutes. Local resident Victor Trumper played there and was a crowd favourite. The Trumper Pavilion was named in his honour.

However Rugby Leagues’ appearance was more truncated, Easts, Souths and Norths claimed Chatswood Oval as a home venue for five matches in the 1930s, possibly due to other grounds being unavailable at this time. Norths played in all five.

Date                              Home                                 Away                                Crowd
1933         Jul 22nd     Eastern Suburbs     20    North Sydney     5
1933         Aug 12th     North Sydney          12     Balmain               12
1934         Jul 21st       South Sydney          11      North Sydney     11
1935         May 4th      South Sydney          10     North Sydney     17
1936         Aug 29th    South Sydney          27     North Sydney     12        3,000

North Sydney will face the Wests Tigers at Chatswood Oval on Sunday 2nd of April at 3:00 pm.

NSW Rugby League Senior Representative Competition | Intrust Super Premiership Competition [Open Age]
Round Five | North Sydney Vs Wests Tigers |Chatswood Oval | 3:00 pm | 02/04/2017

1 Latrell Robinson
2 Dane Nielsen
3 Edward Murphy
4 Tyrell Fuimaono
5 Abbas Miski
6 Luke Kelly
7 Eli Levido
8 Toby Rudolf
9 Bradley Deitz (C)
10 Dave Tyrrell
11 Cameron Murray
12 Tautalatasi Tasi
13 Cheyne Whitelaw

Interchange
14 Piki Rogers
15 Clayton Williams
16 Jamel Hunt
17 Patrice Siolo

Coach: Ben Gardiner