1961 Ainslie First Grade Premiership Team

There were seven teams in the Canberra League in 1961, Acton, Ainslie, Eastlake, Manuka, Queanbeyan, RMC and Turner.

 

Ainslie finished the home and away games in second position behind leader Eastlake.

 

Ainslie defeated Eastlake in the Second Semi-Final by 15 points at Ainslie Oval to advance through to the Grand Final.

Final score: Ainslie 8.7-55 def Eastlake 5.10-40

Goal kickers for Ainslie: Durkin 2, Neeson 2, Cawson 2, Williams 1, Heales 1

 

Ainslie won the 1961 Premiership by defeating Queanbeyan by 8 points in the Grand Final. The game was played before a record crowd at Manuka Oval of 6,000.
Final score: Ainslie 9.12-66 def Queanbeyan 9.4-58
Goals: Durkin 2, Lyon 2, Cawson 1, Heales 1, Neeson 1, Kershaw 1, Robbie 1
Best: A Ray, Neeson, Ross, Browning, Kershaw, Gale, Irvine, Cawson

 

The Ainslie Grand Final team was:

Backs: Spencer, Carnegie, Ray

Half Backs: Palmer, Hincksman, Gale

Centres: Kershaw, Browning, Ross

Half Forwards: Williams, Neeson, Durkin

Forwards: Cawson, Lyon, Farrelley

Rucks: Irvine, Robbie, Heales

19th: Monaghan, 20th: Murphy

Reserves: Blomfield, Neave, Elliot, Cross

 

Coach First Grade: Norm Neeson

 

Second Grade

 

Ainslie Second Grade were defeated in the First Semi-Final by Turner to finish in fourth place.

Final score: Ainslie 2.6-18 def by Turner 6.8-44

Best: Anderson, Murphy, Neave

 

The Ainslie Second Grade team that played in the Semi-Final was:

Storkie, Dart, Pridham, Cross, Murphy, Porter, Scholes, Cartledge, Tonks, Farrelley, McGeachie, Brown, Voltz, Speering, Taylor, Kruger, Neave, Elliott, 19th: Emery, 20th: Anderson, Reserves: Calear, Bright, K Moore, Collis

Club Awards

 

First Grade

Best & Fairest: Alan Ray

Most Consistent: Keith Heales

Most Improved: Jim Robbie

Best Clubman: Peter Murphy

 

Second Grade

Best & Fairest: F Burke

Most Consistent: B Neave

Most Improved: E Kruger

 

Intermediates

Best & Fairest: P Murphy

Most Consistent: K Moore

Best Utility: J Williams

Most Improved: Laurie Laffan

1961 Office Bearers

 

President: H.J. Gaylard

Senior Vice-President: Stan J.L. Ray

Treasurer: R.J.R. Glynn

Secretary: Alan L. Ray

Committee: R Alder, A Bright, R Donnellan, L James, T Graham, J Rowe, J Robbie, H McCulloch, E Clifford, A Bennett

 

Patrons: Ralph Lewis, R.W. Chew