| 1992 |
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The first game the Wollongong College Mustangs played was the Merino Bowl on May 9 at Walker Park in Yass against the Canberra Sabretooths. The Mustangs going down by the respectable score line of 12 – 0.
 Merino Bowl Programme The original playing roster comprised: 10 Scott Ricketts (DB) The club’s first season was part of the New South Wales Gridiron Football League (NSWGFL) AA Division. At the time the NSWGFL comprised of two divisions with the stronger established teams competing in the AAA Division and the newer teams entered in the AA Division. The AA Division comprised the Sutherland Seahawks, Manly Warringah Redbacks, North Western Rebels, Liverpool Pirates, Mascot Jets and the Wollongong Mustangs. The Mustangs’ first competition was against the Mascot Jets at Caringbah High School on June 14. A review of NSWGFL matches in the Australian Gridiron News reported: The League’s “new boys”, the Wollongong Mustangs and the Mascot Jets battled out to see who would be the first round winners. The Jets, with a few veterans from other teams were able to overcome the Mustangs by 5 TDs to 3. For the Mustangs, FB Garth Hittman, TE Scott Ricketts and SB Nick Rowland all made their marks on the score sheet. Final score Jets 31 – Mustangs 18. The next week the Mustangs were defeated by the North-West Rebels 34 – 6 with Garth Hittman scoring the Mustang’s only points. Continuous rain in Sydney washed out the week 3 metropolitan matches, but the game between the Pirates and the Mustangs at Wollongong TAFE was able to go ahead – the Pirates thumping the home team 48 – 0. The next round the Mustangs faired no better going down 43 – 0 to the Seahawks with the game called early due to an injury to Quarterback Hugh V’Cortez. In week 7 the Redbacks made their first trip to Wollongong and came away with a 25 – 0 victory (their biggest win of the season). Although the Mustangs did not score they proved that they could move the football and that there was encouraging signs for the future. The battle of the new boys in week 8 saw the Jets come away with their second victory over the Mustangs. Jets QB Lawrence Tafa (who moved to the Mustangs the following season) starred as the Jets won 20 – 6. Week 9 the Rebels recorded their second win of the season downing the Mustangs 14 – 0. The Australian Gridiron News reporter Craig McLennan gave this assessment of the Mustangs first season: The Wollongong TAFE Mustangs are on what could be called a learning curve as they battle through the season. Even though they haven’t yet won a game, they have played patches of good football and they are sure to be showing an improved performance next year. It was not until the following season that the Mustangs were able to savour their first victory. |