History

1950: Cessnock's pack beats Central at Maitland

Nine years after their first title, Cessnock won the 1950 premiership 19-12 over Central Newcastle, in a grand final moved to Maitland Showground.

By Craig Dunstan · First published 3 October 2026

Cessnock won their second Newcastle Rugby League premiership on Saturday 7 October 1950, beating Central Newcastle 19-12 in the grand final at Maitland Showground.

They had needed a second chance. Cessnock were minor premiers but lost the first semi-final to Central 12-7, which under the rules of the day gave them the right to a grand final rematch.

The forwards did it

Central looked the better side for the first 20 minutes, both the Newcastle Morning Herald and the Cessnock Eagle agreed. Then Cessnock’s forwards took over. The Herald named Gavin Stevenson, Bob Alexander and D. Schofield as the pack that “pounded through to put their backs in the clear”; the Eagle singled out “Gabby” Stevenson, who “was in everything”.

Billy Lind scored the first try after Stevenson picked up a loose ball and barged into the open. Keith Roe added the second, barging through a cluster of tacklers from the 25. By half-time Cessnock led 14-4.

Fullback Dave Parkinson kicked five goals, and in the second half tried three field goals within a minute, two of them missing by inches. Keith Austin’s try sealed it after Central had pulled back to 16-9.

At Maitland

With the grand final at Maitland, the Eagle reported, “a crowd of 5,000 paid £298 to see the game”, and it hoped the coalfields would get finals again “whether Newcastle grounds are available or not”.

It was Cessnock’s first premiership since 1941. Four years later Parkinson kicked the goals again, in the season Newcastle beat Great Britain twice and Cessnock won the title.

Craig Dunstan is the pen name of the editor of Cessnock Rugby League. Every fact in this story comes from the sources listed above.