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 MANAWATU 

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McLean Park, Napier. July 22nd, 1967

 

HAWKES BAY 11, MANAWATU 6 (Half-time: 11 – 3)

 

 

For Hawkes Bay: Dave Bone T, Ian MacRae T. Ian Bishop, C & 2P

 

For Manawatu: Lindsay Meads, 2P

 

Hawkes Bay: Ian Bishop, Doug Curtis, Bill Davis, Dennis Smith, Ian MacRae, Blair Furlong, Hepa Paewai, Dave Bone, Gary Condon, Rod Abel, Kaaran Crawford, Kel Tremain, Neil Thimbleby, Myles Reddy, Hilton Meech.

 

Manawatu: Ray Paewai (Massey University), Mick O’Callaghan (Massey University), Lindsay Meads (Oroua), Rex Kitchen (Fielding), Donald Kitchen (Fielding), Cam Stewart (Palmerston North, Marist BOB), Don McCaskie (Oroua) captain, Alan Cornelius (Palmerston North HSOB), Ron de Cleene (Massey University), Sam Strahan (Oroua), Francis Thompson (Oroua), John ‘Tote’ Rumball (Massey University), Kevin Nesdale (Oroua), Brian Kitchen (Fielding), Doug Knight (Oroua)

 

Referee: JPG (John) Pring (Auckland) Crowd: 21,500 (7/22) Net profit to HBRFU: $8,424.76

 

 

 

“It was over 30 years since the shield had been in the province and everyone, administrators included, had to find out how things should be done. We came out of the Manawatu match just a little bit wiser. We all profited from the experience and amended our ideas accordingly.”

Colin Le Quesne, (Shield ’67)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the streets and in the pubs in Napier and Hastings, at the sale yards in Dannevirke, Wairoa and Waipukurau, in the back blocks of Porangahau, Nuhaka, Maraekakaho, followers of the national game throughout Hawkes Bay were talking only about the sheer, euphoric excitement of defending the Ranfurly Shield and for a lot of them, for the first time in their natural lifetimes.

 

Skeptics, who had been through the glory days of the 1920’s and four cliff-hanger challenges earlier in the decade (possibly not so much in the triumph in Hamilton), were not convinced that the current side had the mettle to hang on to the most prized trophy in New Zealand sport for very long at all!

 

The first defence of the current tenure with the Ranfurly Shield would be against one of the Bay’s oldest adversaries and south-western neighbour, Manawatu. The Manawatu Rugby Union, based in the city of Palmerston North, was founded on April 17, 1886, by the clubs of Palmerston North, Manchester (Fielding) and Foxton. Eventually, outlying catchment areas of Ashurst, Fielding, Rongotea, Linton and Bulls all came under the union’s jurisdiction by drawn provincial boundaries. Foxton would later join the Horowhenua union in 1889, becoming a fully affiliated member in 1911.

 

The Fielding club played a significant role in establishing the game in the province. Widely regarded as the first match ever played in the Manawatu, Fielding FC hosted a ‘Rangitikei combined clubs XV’ on July 13, 1878. Even greater infamy was to follow. In 1887 (although there are conflicting opinions regarding the actual date of composition), the most famous rugby song, ‘On the Ball’, was written by the captain of the Palmerston North club, Edward ‘Ted’ Secker, in admiration of his opposite, Andrew Thompson, the captain of the Fielding side.

 

Secker was born in London in 1861 and immigrated to New Zealand as a 20 year, settling originally in Bulls. He became the first captain of the Manawatu in 1886. An accomplished, self-taught pianist, a fine singer and student of Charles Dickens, Secker composed the song while sitting at the piano in the Club Hotel, the ‘unofficial clubrooms of the Palmerston North side

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After match functions in those days were a grandeur affair, comprising dinner followed by a ‘smoke concert’, where players who had taken part in the game of ‘rugger’ were encouraged to entertain with skits, singing and playing music. Ironically, the Manawatu side had a reputation for their ‘concerts’ exceeding their rugby ability. ‘On the Ball’ became very popular, especially once published by music company Chas. Begg & Sons in Dunedin. Secker gifted to the song to his old rival: ‘To Andrew D Thompson, an old opponent and good friend’.

 

Hawkes Bay and Manawatu had first ‘crossed swords’ on June 20 the same year, when the Bay defeated the team then called ‘Manawatu Country Rugby Football Union’ by 7-0. The match was played in Wellington (Hawkes Bay had played and drawn 0-0 with Wellington on June 18) and it is presumed that the game was played there to facilitate travelling.

The last time the two provinces had met, in 1966 in Palmerston North, a most exciting match was played out, with Hawkes Bay – courtesy of two tries to Dennis Smith – ‘pulling it out of the bag’ in the last minutes to record a 14-13 victory.

 

In 1967, Manawatu were one of 17 unions throughout the country to have never held the Ranfurly Shield (Counties, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, East Coast, Poverty Bay, King Country, Wanganui, Horowhenua, Bush, Golden Bay-Motueka, Nelson, Marlborough, Mid-Canterbury, West Coast, Buller and North Otago being the others).

 

Combined with Horowhenua and known as ‘Manawhenua’ (1925-1933), the newly amalgamated union did taste shield success in 1927, when an 18-16 win over the Wairarapa in Carterton brought the trophy to Palmerston North for the first time. Successful defences were recorded against Taranaki (9-3) and Wanganui (25-6), before Canterbury took the shield south with a 17-6 victory on September 7th.

 

As its own Union, Manawatu had unsuccessfully challenged for the shield on nine previous occasions, the most recent being a 3-6 loss to Taranaki in 1964. The green and whites were given little chance of resting the trophy, Taranaki possessing six All Blacks in their ranks, Manawatu’s sole New Zealand representative being lock, Ron Horsley.

 

A crowd of 12,000 turned up to Rugby Park, New Plymouth on a cold, wet and muddy day – punctuated by hail showers – to watch the challengers defend stoutly throughout. Two penalties to Kevin Briscoe saw Taranaki lead 6-0 at half-time, the sole points of the second spell being a dropped goal to Jimmy Taitoko, the Maori All Black regarded as somewhat of a modern day George Nepia. Hawkes Bay’s No. 1 referee, Ivan Versalko, controlled the game well in trying conditions.

 

The 1967 Manawatu side were coached by (future All Black coach), John ‘Jack’ Gleeson, in his sixth season as a selector (the sole selector since 1965). Gleeson himself had represented the province from 1949 to 1955, mainly as a wing three-quarter or at centre, but he played everywhere in the Manawatu back-line at some point, bar half-back. The 40 year old hotel manager was a firm believer in leading by example and would always ‘don his rugby gear’ to train with his team.

 

Manawatu were unbeaten in four matches leading up to their challenge and had not had their line crossed in any of those outings. A rare 6-0 win over Wellington at home on June 5th the most impressive, with Bruce Steel Cup victories recorded against Wanganui (14-9, Wanganui), Horowhenua (24-3, Levin) and Bush (38-3, Palmerston North).

 

The talk of their ranks was Sam Strahan, a 22 year old, standing 6’ 4” and weighing close to 17 stone, with a big reputation as a fine ball winning lock. Strahan was born in Palmerston North on Christmas Day, 1944 and had attended Huntley Preparatory School in Marton before furthering his education at Wanganui Collegiate, where he was in the 1st XV in 1961.

 

His fine physique attracted early notice and after just three club games for Oroua in 1965, he was selected for Manawatu, making his debut against Hawkes Bay, an 8-17 loss in Hastings. His line out skills particularly, brought him to the attention of the national selectors and in 1966 he made the New Zealand Juniors side, playing in both their matches against Marlborough (19-8, Blenheim) and the British Lions (3-9, Wellington).

 

The Juniors match was his second appearance against the touring side from the four home unions, having earlier played for the combined Manawatu-Horowhenua selection, defeated by 8-17 in Palmerston North. The Scottish wing three-quarter, Sandy Hinshelwood, dotted down twice for the visitors, who lost full-back Donald Rutherford for the remainder of the tour, the Englishman breaking his arm in the 10th minute of the second half.

 

From the Manawatu side which challenged Hawkes Bay in the first defence of 1967, the captain Don McCaskie, Alan Cornelius, Brian Kitchen, Kevin Nesdale and Ron de Cleene were the others to have played against the Lions. Nesdale, Kitchen and McCaskie represented the same combined unions against the Springboks of 1965, along with Frank Thompson, John ‘Tote’ Rumball and Ray Paewai.

 

It was the third match of the South Africans tour, their 30-8, seven-try victory (half-time 11-8), a timely morale booster, having been beaten so convincingly in match two by a rampant Wellington side, by 23 points to 6. After 18 minutes things looked even grimmer for the South Africans, when ‘Tote’ Rumball – following up a kick from Jimmy Taitoko – gathered in the ball to crash over for a try to open the scoring.

 

Local hopes were eventually dashed as the try appeared to have stung the Springboks into action. The star of the South African backline was centre, John Gainsford from the Western Province, who made many powerful, slashing runs through the middle of the park. It was the first time on tour that New Zealanders had seen in the flesh, the young Springbok captain, Dawie de Villiers and the half-back did not disappoint. His passing, switching of play and tactical appreciation was greatly admired.

 

Alan Cornelius, originally from the Rakaia club near Ashburton, made his debut for Mid-Canterbury in 1961, playing in five representative matches that season. He was soon recognized as an outstanding side-ranker, strong and fit, who enjoyed the open aspects of his position, adept in any of the loose forward roles.

 

His elevation to the New Zealand Colts to tour Australia in 1964 was just reward and Cornelius played in three tour matches; against Victoria (60-3, Melbourne), Australian Universities (22-6, Sydney) and Queensland (12-30, Brisbane).

He played for South Canterbury-Mid-Canterbury and North Otago in 1965, when beaten 13-28 in Timaru by the ‘Boks, with Janie Engelbrecht of the Western Province running in three tries. He also received a South Island trial in 1965.

 

The following season he transferred to Manawatu (along with Ron de Cleene, who had arrived from Wellington) adding experience, weight and strength to the Manawatu scrum. These two, along with Rumball made up a most effective and intelligent loose forward trio.

 

Ron de Cleene from the Poneke club, made four appearances for Wellington in 1965, the most notable being when coming on as a replacement during the Ranfurly Shield challenge against Taranaki. In moving to Palmerston North he linked up with the Massey University club. After a solitary match for the Manawatu, he was selected in the New Zealand Universities squad of 22, assembled to face the might of the British Lions.

 

He played in the two warm up matches against Otago (9-3, Dunedin) and Southland (3-24, Invercargill), but was only a reserve against the tourists. The dismantling of the Universities pack by their superior Southland counterparts caused a re-think before the clash with the Lions and may have cost him his place in the starting line-up.

 

He was back in the black of the national Universities jersey on the ‘between-seasons’ tour to Hong Kong and Japan in February and March of 1967, the side winning all ten fixtures played, defeating Japan by 19-3 in Osaka and 55-8 in Tokyo, the unofficial ‘tests’ on tour. Ron de Cleene played in both matches against Japan and in eight in total, scoring ten tries.

 

Upon the teams return to New Zealand, he played in a match against a Wellington XV on March 25th, won by the Universities by 27-3, scoring one of his side’s six tries. Following the Universities Inter-Island clash of June 21st (won 8-6 by the North) he played for NZU against Auckland at Eden Park three days later, the home side winning by the same scoreline of 8-6, de Cleene coming on to replace injured captain, Neil Cullimore.

 

John Rumball and Mick O’Callaghan had both played in this match also. ‘Tote’ Rumball first represented Manawatu in 1963, having already played for the New Zealand Universities side in 1962. The quick and lively flank forward, a scientist at Massey University had notched up over 50 first class matches before Manawatu’s shield challenge.

 

Mick O’Callaghan was born in Rotherham, North Canterbury and attended Christchurch Boys High School and then Lincoln College. As a young vet student, he transferred to Massey University in 1966, making his debut for the Manawatu (at centre) against Wanganui, in a Bruce Steel Cup match in Palmerston North (won 15-12 by Manawatu). That was to be his sole outing for the province in 1966, but following matches against Wanganui and Wellington in early ’67 (and an appearance for North Island Universities), he was selected for New Zealand Universities to play Auckland.

 

Ray Paewai, another veterinary student from Massey University, was at full-back. An old boy of the Te Aute and St. Stephens 1st XV’s, the 24 year old had first played for Manawatu in 1963 ... Paewai did not play for Manawatu in 1966, but the previous season he had played for club and province as a five- eighth, with two further appearances for Manawatu-Horowhenua against Taranaki (a 6-6 draw in Palmerston North) and the Springboks.

 

At centre, was school teacher, Lindsay Meads. Considerably experienced, Meads – from the Bulls club – made his first class debut for Wanganui in 1961, a 3-18 loss to the King Country in Taumarunui. As a newcomer to the provincial scene, he began his career on the wing and made ... appearances for Wanganui, between 1961-1966.

 

A move in saw him re-invent himself as a hard-running centre and in that position, in 1964, he played in a thrilling 15-15 Ranfurly Shield encounter with neighbours, Taranaki. A week later he was in the Wanganui side beaten 0-14 by the touring Australians.

 

A year later, having switched to the Hunterville club, Meads played in all but one of Wanganui’s 13 fixtures, including another unsuccessful shield challenge (9-23), in which he scored one of his sides tries and added a penalty goal. A fine goal kicker in his own right, he had also made an appearance at centre three days prior, for the combined Wanganui-King Country side against the Springboks (19-24, Wanganui).

 

The entertaining match, the Wednesday following the first test loss in Wellington, was a five try to three bonanza, with Stan and Colin Meads backing up from test duty just four days prior, plus Frik du Preez, Jan Ellis and Abie Malan from the ‘Bok pack. With some breath-taking rugby, the visitors shot out to a 21-6 half-time lead, before Colin Meads rallied the local troops to a stirring second half comeback.

 

Lindsay Meads played just once for Wanganui in 1966 and after transferring to the Manawatu and playing for the powerful Oroua side, his early season club form in 1967 warranted a call up to the representative team, where Jack Gleeson had given him the nod over the incumbent at centre, John Lundy.

 

There was experience aplenty besides in the inside back combination of half back, Don McCaskie (who would be playing his 99th game for Manawatu), and first five-eighth, Campbell John Stewart who had played almost 60 first class matches (50 of those for Wellington between 1956-1964, plus All Black trials).

 

Don McCaskie had first played for Manawatu in 1956 also and had been a tremendous servant to Manawatu rugby in general. In an era where New Zealand were served by a plethora of quality half- backs, the prospect of him playing for his country was never really touted with any degree of seriousness, but there is little doubt that he had given all he had to his provincial outfit.

 

Stewart, considered by many to be unlucky not to have been chosen to represent his country, moved to the Manawatu in 1965, having largely kept his under-study, Neil Wolfe, out of the Wellington side, but then watched on playing ‘second fiddle’ as Wolfe made the All Blacks in 1961 for the series against the French. McCaskie and Stewart were perceived a probable threat too, if Manawatu were to get close to parity in the forward battle.

 

A surname synonymous with the much vaunted Fielding club, Kitchen, would provide three of the Manawatu challenging side – or 1/5 of the team make-up – Brian, Donald and Rex. The first two named had both made their debut’s for the province in 1962. Brian had taken a while to affirm his position in the front row, but from 1965 onward had been the regular first choice at hooker. His main attributes were his speed; striking the scrum feed and off the front of the line-out. The Ranfurly Shield challenge was his 49th appearance for Manawatu.

 

Donald, a sound second five-eighth, quick in acceleration, played ... games for Manawatu in his debut season, then left the province to join the Army and was based at Burnham Camp in Christchurch. In 1966 he had played one game for the red and blacks (against Marlborough at Lancaster Park, won 16-14 by the visitors) before returning to the Manawatu, for whom he made a further seven appearances.

 

His younger brother, 20 year old Rex was first selected for Manawatu earlier in the 1967 season – his second season of senior rugby – and was opined toward having a bright future, noted for his speed and elusiveness. In his first three outings prior to the shield challenge he had scored tries in the victories over Wanganui and Bush.

 

Prop, 36 year old Kevin Nesdale of the Oroua club, a sheep farmer from the Kimbolton area, had first represented the Manawatu in 1953, but was not a regular choice in his specialist berth until the 1964 season. Since then he had made only consecutive appearances in the Manawatu front row and was nearing the 50 match mark.

 

His propping partner, Doug Knight - also a farmer and the other side of the Oroua scrum as well – had made 30 appearances in the Manawatu jersey, the last 26 of those almost in succession. With Brian Kitchen hooking, there was some considerable experience up front.

 

Locking the scrum with Sam Strachan was his Oroua club-mate, Frank Thompson. Thompson had been a Manawatu rep since 1961, making his debut on the last Saturday of that season against Taranaki, Manawatu crashing to an 8-29 home defeat. Also a more than useful flanker, the Saturday before the shield match, the farmer had played his 50th match for the province, against Bush.

 

By geographical association, the Hawkes Bay and Manawatu players knew each other very well. For example; When the Wellington based ‘Centurions’ met the Napier based ‘Saracens’ on April 16th in Dannevirke (a benefit match for ex-Hawkes Bay half-back, Tom Ingram) the ‘Saracens’ comprised Bay players; Bishop, Davis, MacRae, Paewai, Johnson, Tremain and Thimbleby with the balance from the Manawatu team; Brian, Donald and Rex Kitchen, Jimmy Taitoko, Alan Cornelius, Sam Strachan and Kevin Nesdale. McCaskie and de Cleene played for the ‘Centurions’.

 

Tom Ingram was – and this is quite some statement for a province that has produced some of the very best – one of the finest half backs ever to play for Hawkes Bay and local folk during his playing days were astounded that he never attained higher honours.

 

Perhaps the greatest tribute ever paid to Tommy Ingram came from Norm McKenzie, when addressing the Dannevirke Rugby Sub-Union; “It may be cold comfort but it will be some consolation for Tom Ingram to know that he was the next on the list as half back to go to South Africa with the All Blacks in 1949.”

 

McKenzie was one of the All Black selectors for that tour and it is hard to understand how Ingram didn’t gain a berth, with Newspaper reports the nation over throughout the 1948 season seeming to endorse him as possibly even the countries number one scrum half, widely considered – of all the candidates – as simply the best passer of the football.

 

*****

 

Tickets for shield matches were often like gold. There was a never ending quest to get tickets, which at times created ‘fractious conditions’ and queue jumping.

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“We used to train on a Tuesday and at half past five they would open the old ticket boxes at McLean Park for pre-match sales. They did that week after week. People went mad over the shield. They just wanted to be part of it.” 

Blair Furlong, HB Today, 2013

 

 

The Hawkes Bay players themselves, were feeling the great weight of expectation. Even so, morale had remained high following the loss to Auckland – despite the slaying received in the press - but the ‘unexpected’ was also hanging over the entire squad and management. The province hadn’t held the shield for 32 years and as such, the current company had no culture with the ‘log o’ wood’, or indeed any safety in knowledge of how to go about defending it. The fear of losing it in the first defence and being laughed at was uppermost in their minds.

 

Shield fever had also hit the Manawatu players, supporters and administrators. Following a trend in recent years, where provincial supporters clubs had introduced a mascot, fitting of representing in some way their region, a Mr. Fred Graham of Palmerston North, had designed a papier maiche horse, ‘Cassius the Colt’, which was being brought to Napier especially for the shield Challenge.

 

One step ahead, the ‘Hawkes Bay Supporters Club’ members realised that ‘Hawkeye’ herself, was too cumbersome and difficult to take onto the field – as Ferdinand, Leo and Mooloo were all able to run up and down the sideline and entertain the crowd – so a scheme was devised whereby the bird should lay an egg...the egg should hatch...and out should come a ‘chick’!

 

The ‘hatching’ of this chick took place in a much-publicised pre-match ‘operation’, moments before the Manawatu challenge commenced. The upshot was that the ‘Hawkeye’ egg produced ‘Hawkeye Junior’ – none other than Napier rugby enthusiast, Graham Nicholson – a ‘man-sized’ cheerleader, an itinerant replica of the huge mascot, who delighted the crowd with his ground side capers.

 

The mascot now had the mobility that his stationary parent did not!

In a pre-planned ‘operation’, Hawkeye – symbol of Hawkes Bay rugby – had laid an egg, which was hatched shortly before kick-off. ‘Hawkeye Junior’ (Graham Nicholson inset) thrilled crowds at matches and preceding shield parades with his endless capers and antics.

 

 

“My two mates and I got a hell of a fright as we made our way to the ground that day. It was the very first challenge and we had dallied a little long at the Mayfair pub in Hastings. There was a hell of a roar when we were about 50 yards from the gates and we thought the game had started early, but it was the unveiling of Hawkeye and Hawkeye Junior”. ‘

Keeping Stock’, internet ‘blog’

 

 

Festooned in an ocean of black and white, members of the ‘Hawkes Bay Supporters Club’ (membership having risen from 40 to over 600) sat under the ‘giant bird’ on the embankment selling cardboard hats, ribbons and badges. As the series progressed with each successful defence throughout 1967, the club devised further gimmicks designed to encourage and foster rugby with fun in the province.

 

The ‘Hawkettes’, a band of cheer leaders known as ‘Hawkeye’s family’, became a staple at the pre- match parades, which became a popular mid-morning drawcard on challenge days. Thousands turned out as the Napier City Band, ‘Hawkeye’, ‘Hawkettes’ and the mighty bird herself led the parade down crowd-lined Emerson Street. Napier came alive to the noise, humour and gaiety of this welcome diversion from the tense rugby that would shortly follow.

 

Young Steve Wiig rode inside the avian parent hero, tugging strings which operated the beak and wings and with the in-built sound system fully functional and warbling like a magpie, rode all the way to McLean Park, where the bird would then park up on the great embankment for the match, to show one and all that this was ‘magpie country’.

 

 

“My Dad (Warren Stevens, manager of the Hawkes Bay Savings Bank’) used to drive the Oxford Morris that towed the trailer with ‘Hawkeye’ on board.”

Felicity Jones, Napier

 

“I was in a marching team called the ‘Weathermaster Robinettes’, who used to march in the ‘Hawkeye’ parades.”

Patty Tanzer, Napier

 

 

‘Hawkeye Junior’ missed the inaugural shield parade, with his ‘official’ hatching still a few hours away. For the first and last time of the entire shield campaign of 1967-1969, the Hawkes Bay team and management convened at the Criterion Hotel (also in Emerson Street) just prior to the festivities on Saturday morning before the Manawatu match.

 

*****

 

The Hawkes Bay side took all their built up anxiety, the nervousness and uncertainty on to the field and after only five minutes of their first defence, were down 0-3, courtesy of a penalty goal by the Manawatu centre, Lindsay Meads.

 

Rod Abel had to have injections in a torn calf muscle before he could take the field and even then, was unable to jump in the line-outs. With Able injured, Strahan was unchallenged in winning clean ball, but more alarming was the lack of disruption to the Manawatu line-out in general, the challenging pack able to feed McCaskie quality service. Things were already starting to look a little ominous.

 

Only some poor tactical options by McCaskie and Stewart outside him, kept the Bay in the match, as the Manawatu inside backs looked to dictate field position and kicked away what ended up being close to 80% of possession. Stewart was attempting to control things, as Ross Brown had done so successfully for Taranaki during their recent era in the mid 60’s. But again, little pressure was being applied to him by the Hawkes Bay ‘loosies’. The crowd grew restless.

 

Slowly the Bay clawed their way back into the game, although it would take twenty minutes before they were able to post their first points in defence of the shield, an Ian Bishop penalty goal from right out in front.

 

The Magpies then pounced on the challenging side’s complete lack of enterprise and scored the first try of their campaign. Spotting the Manawatu winger, Rex Kitchen, out of position, Hepa Paewai ran the blind to the left and from outside the 25, kicked ahead toward the Manawatu goal line. The game turned on a penny.

 

As is commonly acknowledged, a rugby ball allowed to bounce can lead to all sorts of trouble – and by following up in a flash and collecting the loose ball – Dave Bone crashed over for a try in the tackle of Manawatu full back, Ray Paewai. Ian Bishop failed to convert from a wide angle. Hawkes Bay led by 6-3.

 

The black and whites would add another try before the interval. Blair Furlong hammered the ball toward the wing and when Kel Tremain got his hands on it, he found the ‘fast friends’ outside him. Davis handled before putting MacRae in for the try, with Curtis ranging along outside him, in the cover tackle of Mick O’Callaghan,. Ian Bishop converted and at half-time, the holders led by 11 points to 3.

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That margin proved to be important, as throughout the second half, Manawatu continued to dominate possession and press the Bay defence, with Stewart still opting to kick often. An early Lindsay Meads penalty reduced the gap to five points.

 

Hawkes Bay – still feeling their way into the shield series – were called on to defend stoutly and did so splendidly. Manawatu were playing as though they were the holder and this would be to their detriment, for had they attacked more, the result may have been different.

 

All Black selector, Fred Allen, had come to Napier for the Manawatu challenge, specifically to watch Strachan, searching for a lock to partner Colin Meads following the premature retirement of his brother Stan. He saw Strahan, not only dominate the injured Rod Abel, but also perform effectively in general play. In his most memorable game for Manawatu, Strahan was largely responsible for his team's (squandered) 35-17 line-out advantage.

 

Nervously, the crowd of 21,500 waited out the final 30 minutes, with the score unchanged. Local hopes had dwindled a little as Manawatu pressed and pressed late in the game, but the Magpies defence was resolute. When Mr. John Pring of Auckland, the match referee, blew the whistle for full time, the weight of anxiety that had encapsulated the entire province, subsided and with it came the realization; Hawkes Bay would defend the Ranfurly Shield for at least a second time.

 

 

“We were lucky to win, no doubt about it. We were all on tender hooks. We were too tight and too bound up in itself. The old diehards hadn’t accepted us, we were still being compared unfavourably with the giants of the past.”

Kel Tremain, (Shield Fever)

 

 

Although as a team the Bay had performed well below their collective level of expectation, a few recent editions to the squad had all performed well. Doug Curtis had a fine game. He’d run around his opposite on a couple of occasions, with a good turn of pace and a solid looking fend and his centre kicking had put the Manawatu defence to the test.

 

Myles Reddy had taken a couple of tight heads off his opposite, Brian Kitchen and had played a fiery game at the front of the line out. Gary Condon had been constructive in the loose and was still steaming along well at the end of the match.

 

After such a nervous and tentative start with the log, the players and Le Quesne decided that for the remainder a far more relaxed approach toward the shield matches was warranted. The Manawatu game was a turning point, as far as all were concerned, starting on the field. The ‘open’ game - not all that evident during the first defence - had not been forgotten, but it was not going to be played simply for the sake of it. The faithful had been greatly discouraged by this performance however and it was generally agreed by players, administrators and supporters; the sooner the Bay returned to their natural game, the better!

 

Later, as part of the successful first defence debrief, it was decided that - and happened forevermore from this point on – the squad would meet at the hotel on the Friday night before the match. Colin Le Quesne had decided that a night spent together as a unit, helped ensure that by the time they left for McLean Park, the whole team was in the right spirit for the game.

 

Another lesson learned by Le Quesne that he would always endorse following the Manawatu match was to always play fit players. Besides Rod Abel, Ian Bishop, already suffering from the flu, was involved in a car accident on the Saturday morning. Blair Furlong was also flu ridden, with a septic throat.

 

Le Quesne believed that, because of their collective experience, the immense pressure the side was already enduring and the sheer importance of it being the first defence, all three must play. Following the match he indicated that in future, the selecting of players unfit and unable to participate fully, was not likely to happen again. The next challenger, Waikato, was but seven days away.

 

*****

 

Despite their failure to lift the log ‘o wood, Manawatu enjoyed a most successful 1967 season overall, returning a nine wins from 12 outings ratio, with two loses and a draw. Their only other loss was to King Country (0-3, Turangi), with the draw recorded against Otago on August 23rd, 11-11. The same forward pack played in 9/12 fixtures, as the same eight had done in being the scrum in 1966 and had developed into an experienced, solid and intelligent pack.

 

1968 was no different. Besides the eight that played in the unsuccessful shield challenge in Napier, the only other forward who got on the park was David Bydder. The 22 year old was a most promising flank forward, but his ability to also cover No.8 and lock earned him a spot as the latter for New Zealand Universities against Japan (25-16, Wellington). In 1969, when John Rumball headed north to Hawkes Bay, Bydder earned for himself a more permanent spot in the Manawatu pack.

 

Kevin Nesdale and Brian Kitchen both retired at the end of the 1968 season. Nesdale held a Manawatu record until 2011 with 58 consecutive appearances for his province, but it must be stated that – unlike the professional era where tactical substitutions are the norm - he played the full 80 minutes in every one of those matches. Rob Foreman who took over his record started 33 matches and came off the bench 25 times.

 

Nesdale recalls the closest he ever went to having to leave the park was when Brian Lochore ordered Wairarapa lock, Bob Meadows, ‘deliver a punch to the solar plexus’ as Nesdale was ‘giving grief’ to the opposition front row. Although in some considerable pain and feeling ‘giddy’, Manawatu captain, Ron Horsley, implored Nesdale to stay on his feet and finish the match. Afterward in the showers, Nesdale was massaging his wounded stomach, only to have Lochore add; “That won’t come off you know KJ!”

 

Kevin Nesdale usurped brother Gerald’s record of 44 straight appearances in Manawatu’s match with Wanganui (19-3, Palmerston North) in 1967. Gerald, a hooker, played a total of 66 games for Manawatu between 1960 –1964, his playing career ended by an accident on his farm when he was dragged by a horse. Kevin’s record run began with a match against Bush (19-8, Pahiatua) in July, 1964 and ended with the last match of the 1968 season, a 12-23 loss to Taranaki in New Plymouth.

 

Brian Kitchen played his 50th match for the Manawatu in their next outing following their shield challenge, a 14-8 win over the Wairarapa in Palmerston North. When he retired at the completion of the 1968 season, he had amassed 68 games for the province himself, and like Nesdale, most of those were back to back. An injury which forced him from the field against Horowhenua in 1966 (and prevented him playing the next two fixtures with Wairarapa and Canterbury), disrupting his own personal continuity.

 

Within weeks of Manawatu’s challenge, Sam Strahan would play first for the North Island and then make his test debut against Australia, in the Jubilee test in Wellington won by New Zealand by 29-9. Fred Allen’s trip to Napier had been a success, thus, Samuel Cuningham Strahan became the Manawatu’s 14th All Black and only the second locally born (the first being wing, Archie Law, who played four matches in Australia in 1925). His test selection was imminent following the Inter-Island match – won 17-6 by the North in Dunedin – where one rugby writer critiqued; “Strahan gave one of the finest displays of high jumping and clean two handed catching seen in New Zealand rugby for 20 years”.

 

It was no surprise then at season’s end when he was selected to tour the Northern Hemisphere, where his rugby allegedly improved with every outing. He played all four test matches on tour (England, Wales, France and Scotland), 11 matches in total, including two of the more colourful ‘non-tests’, those being the 3-3 draw with the Carwyn James coached East Wales outfit and the annual end of tour clash with the Barbarians, won by 11 to 6 by the All Blacks.

 

Strahan was back in black for the early season tour of Australia in 1968, where he played in eight of the tour matches, including both test matches. He made a further seven appearances for Manawatu and partnered Colin Meads in all three tests against the touring French.

 

Another to wear the All Black jersey in 1968 was, Mick O’Callaghan. The wing three-quarter played in all 12 of Manawatu’s outings in 1967 and gained a berth for himself in the first U23 trial in New Plymouth, but did not make the New Zealand Juniors.

 

In May 1968, he took his place in the early All Black trial to select the team for Australia, scoring a try in the Possibles side beaten 6-35. He did not gain selection for the tour party but was picked in the Junior’s side, beaten 19-25 by Japan at Athletic Park, scoring two tries from the centre position. Five days later he played on the wing for New Zealand Universities against the same opposition, Varsities victorious by 25-16, O’Callaghan again scoring a brace.

 

With Tony Steel of Canterbury injured, his try scoring prowess and great form was enough to earn him a call up to national honours ahead of All Blacks Bill Currey (Taranaki) and Michael Knight (Counties). He played all three tests against France, plus for Manawatu in their 3-8 loss in tour match number seven. North Island selection, where he scored yet another try in a 34-17 win, rounded out a fantastic year for O’Callaghan, but one he would unfortunately be unable to repeat. Mick O’Callaghan was the top try scorer in New Zealand domestic rugby during 1968 with 13.

 

Don McCaskie duly brought up his 100 games for Manawatu, the first player to do so in the union’s history. The team captain for 1966 and 1967 – who had represented the green and whites since 1956 – played his last game for the province against Wanganui (19-3, Palmerston North), having to leave the field injured and replaced by his immediate successor, Brian Cuff from the Palmerston North High School Old Boys club.

 

Likewise, Cam Stewart completed the 1967 season then brought the curtain down on his long career, which had started with Wellington in 1956. The accountant from Palmerston North died at the most premature age of only 38 in 1976.

Ray Paewai also played all 12 of Manawatu’s fixtures in 1967 at full-back, but did not play for the province again. Similarly, Lindsay Meads and Rex Kitchen made only a handful more appearances each - all in 1967 – and neither played for Manawatu beyond that.

 

When DJ Aratema of the Bay of Plenty pulled out of the New Zealand Junior trial in August, Rex’s pace earned him a call-up as his replacement, scoring a try in his Possibles sides 8-6 win. He did not make the Juniors side however. His elder brother, Don, made 20 appearances for Manawatu in 1967 and 1968 at second five-eighth or centre.

 

*****

 

The Hankins Shield – presented each year to the winner of the Manawatu senior club competition – is believed to be the oldest prize awarded at senior level in New Zealand rugby. From 1963-1966, the trophy had been won by the powerhouse Oroua club (who would claim it again in 1968), but in 1967 the trophy was lifted by Palmerston North High School Old Boys (who also claimed the Licensed Victuallers Cup, for competition between the winners of the Manawatu and Wanganui championships). PNHSOB defeated Waverly in the final on September 30th, the curtain-raiser to the season finale between Manawatu and Taranaki.

 

*****

 

Had Manawatu's challenge been successful

 

Based on the laws of the Ranfurly Shield, when the trophy changes hands mid-season, the new holder’s remaining home fixtures for that season automatically become a challenge. Therefore the following matches (with results in brackets) would have been Manawatu’s defences for 1967.

 

1967: Wairarapa (14-8), Otago (11-11), Southland (17-3), Wanganui (19-3), Taranaki (22-12)

 

1968: Manawatu would have been afforded the luxury of setting its challengers and it is likely that as a result of this, the sequence of matches would have differed from what was their actual representative programme. The likelihood is that the annual Queens Birthday fixture against Wellington – for example – would probably have been shifted to toward the end of the season to accommodate a shield challenge and draw a handsome gate for the Manawatu Rugby Union. Therefore, hypothetically but based on the actual results of the 1968 season, Manawatu’s defences may have gone like this;

 

June 25: East Coast (34-9), July 13: Wanganui (17-0), July 30: Horowhenua (22-5), August 6: Nelson (27- 15), August 31: Wairarapa (15-3), September 14: Hawkes Bay (6-9), September 28: Wellington

Thus, Hawkes Bay would have had two automatic home defences: September 21: v Bay of Plenty (14-0), September 28: v Auckland (9-9)

 

*****

 

On July 22nd, the following first class matches were also played around New Zealand; The New South Wales Country side had a good win over Horowhenua in Levin by 28-0. Wanganui were too strong for Bush, winning at home by 11-3. North Auckland kept Thames Valley scoreless, winning 14-0 in Whangarei. In the southern west coast derby, West Coast defeated Buller by 14-12 in Westport, while up the road in Motueka, King Country had a big win over the locals, Golden Bay-Motueka by 33-3.