Canterbury's great front row of Porter, Kiraldy and Burns

The 1942 grand final will be long remembered for the atrocious conditions it was played in. The 26 171 fans that braved the wet day glimpsed two of Rugby Leagues more unforgettable moments. Both were the fault of the weather.
The game, of course, was played right in the middle of the Second World War. Many in attendance were servicemen on leave, who took the opportunity to see the competitions two newest clubs, Canterbury and St George, fight out for the prize. However, as the rain pelted down mercilessly, the crusty toffs of the SCG Trust refused to open the gates into the empty Members Stand, thus denying the fans one of the few dry areas available. After much agitation, the fence at the eastern hill started to give way midway through the reserve grade match. The crowd simply picked up the separated fence, and began to march straight across the field into the empty Members Stand, thus holding the reserve grade game up!

As one would expect from a game played in mud, the match quickly became a brutal forward slogfest. This played directly into Canterbury's hands, as the club fielded what has been described as the greatest club front row ever, with props Eddie Burns, Henry Porter and hooker Roy Kirkaldy. Burns was a particular favorite with Berries fans, being a local junior who held the clubs all time try scoring record for over 40 years (before it was broken by Terry Lamb). These three quickly set a solid platform, and it was a Porter pass that sent five eighth Bob Jackson through a narrow gap 25 yards out from their own line. Jackson sped across the mud like a greyhound, and outpaced St George's Lindwall brothers in a 70 yard sprint to the line. Fullback Lin Johnson converted, and extended the lead to 7-0 soon after with a penalty goal from 35 yards out.

The Lindwalls were St George's guns. Jack played on the wing, and found himself on the end of a sweeping backline movement that sent him over wide out with 10 minutes remaining. His brother Ray provided the brilliant conversion from the sideline. With 2 minutes remaining, Berries winger Edgar Newham was caught offside. Ray Lindwall landed the equaliser, and St George had nullified the big Canterbury side's early advantage. They were valuable points, too, as the ever worsening mud continued to deteriorate

With a 7-7 halftime score, both sides were confident in the second half. However, the conditions gradually prevented St George from using their superior backs. The Canterbury forwards began to dominate possession, but Saints hung on. With 20 minutes remaining, however, St George had worked themselves deep into Canterbury's territory. A knock on by Johnson saw a scrum pack 35 yards from the Canterbury line. Kirkaldy was penalised for a loose arm, and Ray Lindwall landed the goal. For the first time in the match, Saints were in front 9-7.
However, this lead was short lived. Dragons prop Col Montgomery was penalised for punching Burns in a scrum near his own line. It was a silly act in a game where tries were rapidly becoming impossible, and goals imperative. Johnson's goal robbed St George of any advantage in the game, and with still 15 minutes left, the scores were tied at 9-9

With the rain still pelting down, and the SCG reduced to little more than a swamp, the crowd remained to a man as the two sides slugged it out during the last 10 minutes. Field position was vital, and Burns and Porter took it upon them to carry their side home. Sensing the urgency, however, Saints also lifted, and threw all they had at the bigger Canterbury side. The mud was everywhere, and players struggled to keep their footing, or to maintain possession. However, it was the more experience Berries pack that worked their way toward the St George line, where they waited for something to give. With a mere 2 minutes left on the sodden SCG clock, their chance came.

Ten yards from his own line, Dragons hooker Herb Gilbert was penalised for a scrum infringement. Lin Johnson stepped up to the mark to take the shot for goal. He built his mound in the SCG quagmire 10 yards out, and right in front of the sticks.
With a premiership on the line, Johnson, a player who had played rep football for New South Wales, managed the worst kick of his career. As he moved into the kick, he slipped no the muddy surface, and fell over. Miraculously, his right boot connected with the ball, and in a flying shower of SCG mud and slush, the ball lazily lifted enough to scrape onto the crossbar, and amazingly, fell over the other side! Johnson lay in the mud, to embarrassed to see where the ball went, but was he opened his eyes, he saw the touch judges raise the flags for a goal. Canterbury had bagged their second premiership, 11-9. If the raised flags didn't confirm it, the patch of mud left on the crossbar did!

Canterbury had to wait 38 years before they tasted premiership glory again. For St George, they experienced heartbreak again 4 years later, losing to Balmain by a point. That match turned out to be the last game of Rugby League for Ray Lindwall. After that, he pursued, his other sporting passion. As a cricketer, he became one of Australia's finest pace bowlers, and a Test captain, and one of the genuine legends of that sport.

Canterbury Bankstown 11( R Jackson try, L Johnson 4 goals) defeated St George 9 (J Lindwall try, R Lindwall 3 goals)

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