Competition: Newcastle First Grade Premiership.
Year: 1997.

Team: Central Charlestown at St John Oval. Coach: Jim Bell.
Team: Cessnock at Cessnock Sports Ground. Coach: Noel Dent.
Team: Kurri Workers at Kurri Sports Ground. Captain-Coach: Ken Kerr.
Team: Lakes United at Cahill Oval. Captain-Coach: David Smith.
Team: Maitland at Maitland Sportsground.
      Captain-Coach: Brett Gale.
Team: North Nelson Bay at Anna Bay Oval.
      Captain-Coach: Steve Vallette.
Team: South Newcastle at Townson Oval. Captain-Coach: Darren Forward.
Team: Toronto Workers at Lyle Peacock Field. Coach: Ian Thompson.
Team: Waratah Mayfield at Waratah Oval.
      Captain-Coach: Steve Henderson.
Team: Western Suburbs at Harker Oval. Captain-Coach: Tony Price.

Format: League, Cycle * 2, Top 5 (Points, Percentages);
   Knockout "Finals", Staggered.
Cycle: Kurri Workers, Maitland, North Nelson Bay,
  Central Charlestown, Lakes United, South Newcastle, Cessnock,
  Waratah Mayfield, Toronto Workers; Western Suburbs.


Round 1.

Kurri Workers 30 beat Toronto Workers 20
on Saturday 12th April at Kurri Sportsground.

North Nelson Bay 22 beat Cessnock 0
on Saturday 12th April at Anna Bay Oval.


Premiership Round 1, Sunday 13th April 1997.

Lakes United 33 beat Western Suburbs 20 at Cahill Oval.
South Newcastle 50 beat Central Charlestown 10 at St John Oval.
Maitland 40 beat Waratah Mayfield 22 at Maitland Sportsground.


Premiership Round 2, Friday 18th April 1997.

Cessnock 24 beat Central Charlestown 14 at Cessnock Sportsground.


Premiership Round 2, Sunday 20th April 1997.

Western Suburbs 26 beat Kurri Workers 18 at Harker Oval.
North Nelson Bay 40 beat Waratah Mayfield 22 at Waratah Oval.
Toronto Workers 26 beat Maitland 14 at Lyle Peacock Field.
Lakes United 18 beat South Newcastle 8 at Townson Oval.


Premiership Round 3, Saturday 26th April 1997.

Lakes United 28 beat Cessnock 18 at Cahill Oval.


Premiership Round 3, Sunday 27th April 1997.

North Nelson Bay 22 beat Toronto Workers 18 at Anna Bay Oval.
Western Suburbs 28 beat South Newcastle 22 at Townson Oval.
Central Charlestown 34 beat Waratah Mayfield 20 at St John Oval.
Kurri Workers 16 beat Maitland 14 at Maitland Sportsground.


Premiership Round 4, Saturday 3rd May 1997.

Kurri Workers 48 beat North Nelson Bay 12 at Kurri Sports Ground.
South Newcastle 38 beat Cessnock 8 at Cessnock Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 4, Sunday 4th May 1997.

Lakes United 68 beat Waratah Mayfield 6 at Waratah Oval.
Toronto Workers 25 beat Central Charlestown 24 at Lyle Peacock Field.
Western Suburbs 58 beat Maitland 0 at Harker Oval.


Premiership Round 5, Saturday 10th May 1997.

Western Suburbs 22 drew with Cessnock 22 at Harker Oval.
South Newcastle 44 beat Waratah Mayfield 0 at Townson Oval.
Lakes United 40 beat Toronto Workers 6 at Cahill Oval.


Premiership Round 5, Sunday 11th May 1997.

Maitland 28 beat North Nelson Bay 12 at Anna Bay Oval.
Central Charlestown versus Kurri Workers postponed at St John Oval.
    Note: postponed to 20th May and then to 27th May due to rain.


Premiership Round 6, Saturday 17th May 1997.

Lakes United 20 beat Kurri Workers 15 at Kurri Sports Ground.
Waratah Mayfield versus Cessnock postponed at Waratah Oval.
    Note: postponed to 10th June.
Maitland versus Central Charlestown postponed at Maitland Sportsground.
    Note: postponed to 11th June.


Premiership Round 6, Sunday 18th May 1997.

Western Suburbs 24 drew with North Nelson Bay 24 at Harker Oval.
South Newcastle 44 beat Toronto Workers 26 at Lyle Peacock Field.


Premiership Round 7, Saturday 24th May 1997.

North Nelson Bay 36 beat Central Charlestown 8 at St John Oval.
Western Suburbs versus Waratah Mayfield postponed at Harker Oval.
    Note: postponed to Tuesday 27th May 1997.


Premiership Round 7, Sunday 25th May 1997.

Toronto Workers 26 beat Cessnock 16 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Lakes United 66 beat Maitland 16 at Cahill Oval.
South Newcastle 22 beat Kurri Workers 20 at Marathon Stadium.


Premiership Round 7, Tuesday 27th May 1997.

Western Suburbs 42 beat Waratah Mayfield 2 at Harker Oval.


Premiership Round 5, Tuesday 27th May 1997.

Kurri Workers 32 beat Central Charlestown 18 at St John Oval.


Premiership Round 8, Saturday 31st May 1997.

Waratah Mayfield 16 beat Toronto Workers 8 at Lyle Peacock Field.
Kurri Workers 30 beat Cessnock 20 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 8, Sunday 1st June 1997.

Maitland 20 beat South Newcastle 12 at Maitland Sportsground.
Lakes United 18 beat North Nelson Bay 16 at Anna Bay Oval.
Western Suburbs 26 beat Central Charlestown 10 at St John Oval.


Premiership Round 9, Friday 6th June 1997.

Western Suburbs 28 beat Toronto Workers 0 at Harker Oval.


Premiership Round 9, Saturday 7th June 1997.

Maitland 18 beat Cessnock 14 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Kurri Workers 40 beat Waratah Mayfield at Waratah Oval.


Premiership Round 9, Sunday 8th June 1997.

Lakes United 36 beat Central Charlestown 18 at Cahill Oval.
South Newcastle 52 beat North Nelson Bay 14 at Marathon Stadium.


Premiership Round 6, Tuesday 10th June 1997.

Cessnock 22 beat Waratah Mayfield 20 at Waratah Oval.


Premiership Round 10, Friday 13th June 1997.

South Newcastle 72 beat Central Charlestown 14 at Townson Oval.


Premiership Round 10, Saturday 14th June 1997.

North Nelson Bay 28 beat Cessnock 18 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Waratah Mayfield 28 beat Maitland 18 at Waratah Oval.


Premiership Round 10, Sunday 15th June 1997.

Kurri Workers 36 beat Toronto Workers 0 at Lyle Peacock Field.
Lakes United 14 beat Western Suburbs 4 at Harker Oval.

Premiership Round 6, Wednesday 18th June 1997.

Maitland 24 beat Central Charlestown 18 at Maitland Sportsground.


Premiership Round 11, Saturday 21st June 1997.

Kurri Workers 30 beat Western Suburbs 12 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 11, Sunday 22nd June 1997.

Central Charlestown 32 beat Cessnock 24 at St John Oval.
Waratah Mayfield 27 beat North Nelson Bay 24 at Anna Bay Oval.
Maitland 40 beat Toronto Workers 16 at Maitland Sportsground.
Lakes United 34 beat South Newcastle 22 at Cahill Oval.


Premiership Round 12, Saturday 28th June 1997.

Kurri Workers 44 beat Maitland 20 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 12, Sunday 29th June 1997.

Lakes United 36 beat Cessnock 0 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Toronto Workers 20 beat North Nelson Bay 14 at Lyle Peacock Field.
Western Suburbs 30 beat South Newcastle 0 at Harker Oval.
Waratah Mayfield 42 beat Central Charlestown 4 at Waratah Oval.


Premiership Round 13, Saturday 5th July 1997.

Maitland versus Western Suburbs postponed at Maitland Sportsground.
  Note: postponed to 22nd July due to rain.
Kurri Workers 34 beat North Nelson Bay 8 at Anna Bay Oval.


Premiership Round 13, Sunday 6th July 1997.

South Newcastle versus Cessnock postponed at Townson Oval.
  Note: postponed to 15th July due to rain.
Lakes United versus Waratah Mayfield postponed at Cahill Oval.
  Note: postponed to 22nd July due to rain.
Central Charlestown versus Toronto Workers postponed at St John Oval.
  Note: postponed to 15th July due to rain.


Premiership Round 14, Saturday 12th July 1997.

South Newcastle 58 beat Waratah Mayfield 2 at Waratah Oval.
Kurri Workers 60 beat Central Charlestown 4 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 14, Sunday 13th July 1997.

Western Suburbs 44 beat Cessnock 8 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Toronto Workers versus Lakes United postponed at Lyle Peacock Field.
  Note: postponed to 29th July.
Maitland 24 beat North Nelson Bay 18 at Maitland Sportsground.


Premiership Round 13, Tuesday 15th July 1997.

South Newcastle 26 beat Cessnock 12 at Townson Oval.
Central Charlestown versus Toronto Workers postponed at St John Oval.
  Note: postponed to 22nd July.


Premiership Round 15, Saturday 19th July 1997.

Waratah Mayfield 26 beat Cessnock 18 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
Maitland 38 beat Central Charlestown 22 at St John Oval.


Premiership Round 15, Sunday 20th July 1997.

Lakes United 30 beat Kurri Workers 28 at Cahill Oval.
Western Suburbs 74 beat North Nelson Bay 16 at Harker Oval.
South Newcastle 72 beat Toronto Workers 18 at No Two Sportsground.


Premiership Round 13, Tuesday 22nd July 1997.

Toronto Workers 25 beat Central Charlestown 24 at St John Oval.
Western Suburbs 46 beat Maitland 6 at Maitland Sportsground.
Lakes United 40 beat Waratah Mayfield 6 at Cahill Oval.


Premiership Round 16, Saturday 26th July 1997.

North Nelson Bay 40 beat Central Charlestown 14 at Anna Bay Oval.
South Newcastle 20 beat Kurri Workers 16 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 16, Sunday 27th July 1997.

Western Suburbs 26 beat Waratah Mayfield 4 at Waratah Oval.
Lakes United 64 beat Maitland 4 at Maitland Sportsground.
Toronto Workers 18 beat Cessnock 14 at Lyle Peacock Field.


Premiership Round 14, Tuesday 29th July 1997.

Lakes United 46 beat Toronto Workers 6 at Lyle Peacock Field.


Premiership Round 17, Saturday 2nd August 1997.

Lakes United 46 beat North Nelson Bay 26 at Cahill Oval.
Western Suburbs 94 beat Central Charlestown 6 at Harker Oval.
Waratah Mayfield 46 beat Toronto Workers 12 at Waratah Oval.


Premiership Round 17, Sunday 3rd August 1997.

Kurri Workers 30 beat Cessnock 16 at Cessnock Sports Ground.
South Newcastle 20 beat Maitland 8 at Townson Oval.


Premiership Round 18, Saturday 9th August 1997.

South Newcastle 44 beat North Nelson Bay 26 at Anna Bay Oval.
Maitland 50 beat Cessnock 22 at Maitland Sportsground.
Kurri Workers 40 beat Waratah Mayfield 2 at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Round 18, Sunday 10th August 1997.

Lakes United 74 beat Central Charlestown 6 at St John Oval.
Western Suburbs 72 beat Toronto Workers 10 at Lyle Peacock Field.


Premiership Qualifying Semifinal, Friday 15th August 1997.

Western Suburbs 18 (B Cullen, L Smith, T Blasczak tries;
  Scott Bradley 3 goals) beat
Kurri Workers 0
at Harker Oval.
Half time: 2-0.


Premiership Elimination Semifinal, Saturday 16th August 1997.

South Newcastle 22 (Dominic Ngatuvai, Darren Forward,
  Gary Fairhurst, Adrian McNabb tries; R Warry 3 goals) beat
Maitland 8 (M Lockwood try; Steve McNabb 2 goals)
at Townson Oval.


Premiership Minor Semifinal, Saturday 23rd August 1997.

South Newcastle 26 (M Reid, Darren Forward, D Wells,
  Adrian McNabb tries; R Warry 5 goals) beat
Kurri Workers 20 (B Robb, D Linnane, P RomAniuk tries;
  P Williams 4 goals)
at Kurri Sports Ground.


Premiership Major Semifinal, Sunday 24th August 1997.

Western Suburbs 26 (Anthony Pauling 2, Tony Price 2, L Smith tries;
  Scott Bradley 3 goals) beat
Lakes United 22 (David Smith 2, M Chapman tries;
  Jeff Walters 5 goals)
at Cahill Oval.
Half time: 8-14.


Premiership Preliminary Final, Sunday 31st August 1997.

Lakes United 28 (S Barwick 2, M Smith, Paul Allardice,
  K Emmerton tries; Jeff Walters 4 goals) beat
South Newcastle 10 (M Leo, H Lowe tries; R Warry goal)
at St John Oval.


Premiership Grand Final, Sunday 7th September 1997.

Western Suburbs 26 (Steve Storrie 2, Tony Price, Paul Skovgaard,
  Tony Hutton tries; Scott Bradley 3 goals) beat
Lakes United 16 (David Smith 2, Craig Hibberd tries;
  Jeff Walters 2 goals)
at Number Two Sportsground.
Half time: 10-2. Crowd: about 7,000.
Man of the match: Adam Frost.