Preseason Cup

New South Wales Rugby League competition

The Craven Mild Cup was a competition held by the New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL) in Australia before the start of the season proper, from 1962 until 1981. From 1962 to 1969 it was simply known as the Preseason Cup, before tobacco company W.D. & H.O. Wills took up sponsorship - with the competition rebranded the Wills Cup - in 1970, and the Craven Mild Cup for its last four seasons, from 1978 to 1981.

The Preseason Cup first took place over March 1961, with matches played at night under lights at the Sydney Sportsground, Redfern Oval and Lidcombe Oval. The halves were played 35 minutes each.[1] In March 1962, the Berries won the Preseason Cup, beating Western Suburbs 14-10 under floodlights at the Sydney Sportsground.[2]

In 1972, an estimated 251,000 spectators watched matches in the competiion.[3]

The NSWRL competition clubs made up the participants, except in 1970 when Wentworthville and Sydney Uni took park as well.

The competition was discontinued in 1982 due the increased length of the NSWRL regular season with its expansion to 14 clubs.[citation needed]

## Results

[edit]

Year  | Winner  | Score  | Loser

|
|
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1962  |  Canterbury  | 14-10  |  Western Suburbs
1963  |  St George  | 17-6  |  Balmain
1964  |  St George  | 41-14  |  North Sydney
1965  |  St George  | 15-7  |  Western Suburbs
1966  |  South Sydney  | 11-3  |  North Sydney
1967  |  Balmain  | 11-10  |  Manly-Warringah
1968  |  Penrith  | 28-12  |  Newtown
1969  |  South Sydney  | 19-7  |  Western Suburbs
1970  |  Canterbury  | 20-11  |  St George
1971  |  St George  | 20-7  |  Cronulla-Sutherland
1972  |  South Sydney  | 11-10  |  Eastern Suburbs
1973  |  Newtown  | 17-15  |  St George
1974  |  Eastern Suburbs  | 43-0  |  South Sydney
1975  |  Parramatta  | 11-5  |  Manly-Warringah
1976  |  Balmain  | 17-5  |  Manly-Warringah
1977  |  Eastern Suburbs  | 13-9  |  North Sydney
1978  |  South Sydney  | 10-3  |  Canterbury-Bankstown
1979  |  Eastern Suburbs  | 12-9  |  Balmain
1980  |  Manly-Warringah  | 21-12  |  Balmain
1981  |  Eastern Suburbs  | 12-3  |  Parramatta

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pre-Season Competition Starts March 1". The Rugby League News. 42 (29): 4. January 1962. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
2. ^ "Berries Were Really Up This Time". The Rugby League News. 43 (1): 17. April 1962. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
3. ^ "Wills Increase Prizemoney". The Rugby League News. 54 (3): 5. February 15–18, 1973. Retrieved 17 February 2024.

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Rugby league in New South Wales

Federations|

* New South Wales Rugby League (Women's)
* Country Rugby League (defunct; now a division of NSWRL)
* NSW Physical Disability Rugby League

Representative competitions|

* State of Origin series
* Interstate Series (defunct)
* City vs Country Origin
* Women's City vs Country Origin

Representative teams|

* New South Wales Blues
* City Origin Team
* Country Origin Team
* New South Wales Residents
* New South Wales Women
* New South Wales U20's
* New South Wales U18's
* New South Wales U16's

NRL clubs|

* Canberra Raiders
* Canterbury Bulldogs
* Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
* Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
* Newcastle Knights
* Parramatta Eels
* Penrith Panthers
* St. George Illawarra Dragons
* South Sydney Rabbitohs
* Sydney Roosters
* Wests Tigers

NSWRL Junior Representatives|

* Jersey Flegg Cup
* S.G. Ball Cup
* Laurie Daley Cup
* Harold Matthews Cup
* Andrew Johns Cup
* Tarsha Gale Cup
* Lisa Fiaola Cup

Metropolitan Competitions|

* NSW Cup
* NSWRL Women's Premiership
* Presidents Cup
* Ron Massey Cup
* Sydney Shield
* NSWRL Conference Competitions
* Metro Open Age Gold
* Central Northern Open Age
* Central West Open Age
* Cronulla A-Grade
* Parramatta Open Age
* Penrith A-Grade
* South Sydney A-Grade
* Junior Competitions
* Balmain
* Canterbury
* Cronulla
* Manly-Warringah/North Sydney
* Parramatta
* Penrith Open Men's
* South Sydney A-Grade
* St George
* Sydney Roosters JRL

Country Competitions|

* Clayton Cup
* Presidents Cup
* Leagues:
* Barwon Darling
* Canberra
* George Tooke Shield
* Central Coast
* Hastings
* Illawarra
* Macarthur
* Mid West
* Newcastle
* Newcastle & Hunter
* Northern Rivers
* Outback
* Western
* Western Riverina
* Woodbridge
* Groups:
* East Coast
* 2
* 3
* Greater Northern
* 4
* 19
* 21
* Riverina
* 9
* 20
* Western
* 14
* South Coast
* 7
* 16

Discontinued competitions|

* NSWRL premiership
* Amco Cup
* Groups: (1, 5, 13, 18, 19 (Southern Tablelands), 19 (Canberra))
* Crookwell
* Kennedy Shield
* Newtown JRL
* NSW Challenge Cup
* NSW Tertiary Student Rugby League
* Sydney Combined Competition
* Sydney Metropolitan Women's RL

Related Articles|

* List of clubs

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