1960 SEASON
Wests First Grade before training at Pratten Park 1960
Back Row: Denis Meaney, John Dawson, Dave Barsley, Don Malone, Garry Russell, Peter Dimond, Bill Carson, Keith Holman
Front Row: Dick Poole, Nev Charlton, Ken Bray, Bill Brown, Ian Moir, Bill Tonkin
1960 was another good year for Wests, although another Premiership went begging. A record number of players trialled pre-season, indicating that Wests was a club players wanted to join. They won the Club Championship, but the ridiculous play-off system took its toll at the end of the season. Wests won seven of their last eight games but were forced into a preliminary play-off and then another play-off to make the semis. Unsurprisingly, they lost the semi-final and then the Final to Eastern Suburbs in a hard-fought 20-15 loss, where, ironically, the difference was the brilliance of the Eastern Suburbs captain, Jack Gibson. The Reserves and Third Grade also lost Finals. It had been another injury-riddled season with Peter Dimond, Kel O’Shea, Roger Buttenshaw and Bill Carson sidelined for significant periods. The injury to Buttenshaw saw the promotion to First Grade of the mercurial Arthur Summons.
Billy Owens, Doug Jones and Arthur Summons at early training at Ashfield Park
Wests lost two very good players in Buddy Bowman and Darcy Henry but picked up great substitutes in Ken Bray from Parramatta, Denis Meaney from Manly and Bill Owens from Canterbury. Darcy Russell was again the top points scorer with 185 points, even after missing his first games in four years through injury. Peter Dimond, again despite injuries, scored 14 tries in 14 games.
It was a year where the stars came out to shine. Bede Goff and Harry Wells played for Sydney and NSW, while Harry represented Australia in two Tests against France and was selected in the World Cup team. Remarkably, Keith Holman won the Herald “Best and Fairest” (third time), the 2UW Best and Fairest (second time) and the 2SM Shavemaster Award.
Keith Holman in yet another dash from dummy half against Easts at the SCG
The Junior League continued to expand, adding an U13 competition.
Two notable league deaths during the year were pioneers Harry “Jersey” Flegg and Arthur “Pony” Halloway. Harry still lives on in the eponymously named Junior Competition.
Western Suburbs President’s Cup /Inter District Squads
Western Suburbs:
Fullback: T Nelson, Three-quarters: R Richards, W Burgess, J Thomas, K Gentles, Halves: D Grainger, J Evans, Forwards: I Russell, B Oates, R Culpin, I Scott, P Thomson, T Regan, Reserves: K Bell, E Teedla, L Page, M Courias
The legendary Arthur Summons debuted in 1960