1960-1963 | I'm a Hawkeye Guy

1960

Still finding the road back to success a long and arduous one, Hawkes Bay enjoyed a measure of triumph with four victories in 13 matches, including a narrow and surprise 13-12 win over Southland in Invercargill on their four-match South Island tour. The return to the side of Harry Marrett (although he was largely wasted on the wing and may have been of more value at centre) was a big factor in more favourable results attained.

Marrett had enjoyed a long and successful career, playing all his club rugby for Napier Old Boys. He had played for the North Island, for ‘the rest’ against the All Blacks in 1954, for a NZ XV against the Maori and had been an All Black reserve. Full-back, BW Allen, who represented Manawatu twice in 1959, impressed with his safe fielding of the ball, whilst his unhurried and devastatingly long kicks were a valuable asset.

Bernie Troy’s experience was of considerable advantage when he returned to the team as second five-eighth and captain. Unavailable for the first five rep matches, he returned for the game against Manawatu in Palmerston North, a 9-20 defeat, but played in each of the remaining eight fixtures. His defence throughout the season was outstanding.

Troy had made 56 appearances for the Magpies since 1954, but did not represent the Bay again after 1960, although he played 16 games for North Auckland in 1963 and ’64, when transferred to Whangarei by the Insurance company he worked for.

Bernie Troy in action against Poverty Bay at McLean Park. The northern counterparts won the encounter by 17-8. HB players from left: Thimbleby, McKinnon, Cooper, Guerin, MacEwan and Bone.

Another most useful arrival was the 1958 Wellington representative, Brian Jakes, who made ten appearances in all, as a five-eighth or at centre. Another from outside the district to have arrived was RW Moffat (HHSOB) from Canterbury. WG Jones (Dannevirke Excelsior) had last worn the ‘magpie’ jersey in 1958.

Bryan Wilson scored a try in a 5-3 victory in the first outing against Wairarapa on June 6th, but that was him for the season. Dave MacKay of Havelock North was a speedy winger, with Russell Exeter (Marist) and Roger Spencer (HHSOB), three-quarters of promise. At half-back was the small but lively Colin Eddy (Tech OB).

John McKinnon (HHSOB) proved a reliable flank forward. John Guerin (Celtic) locked well with Pat MacEwan (Hastings), an improved player who shone in the line-out.

There were few better front rows in the country than that containing Neil Thimbleby and Derek Tombs as props, with Waipukurau HSOB’s Pat Cooper the rake. Thimbleby missed just the one match, that a 0-22 loss to Auckland on McLean Park.

The outstanding forward was Tom Johnson who made ten appearances, as always tireless in his efforts. Lou Cooper played just four times for his province, but played at lock for the losing ‘blue’ team in the Auckland trial to select the NZ Maori side to tour Tonga and Western Samoa. He did not make the team.

Of the ten new representatives called in, the most likely was David Ralph Bone a good line-out exponent who played equally well on the side of the scrum. Bone spent a year in the first XV at Wellington College and made his senior debut for the Hastings HSOB club in 1959. He made his representative debut against East Coast in Napier (12-3) and played in eleven matches during the 1960 season.

A promising young first five-eighth named Max Laughlin also represented for the first time, making his debut in an 8-17 defeat at the hands of Poverty Bay in Napier. A carpenter from Taupo, he had first played at senior level for that club in 1958.

Maddison Trophy winners, 1960: Hastings High School Old Boys

Colin Eddy clears the ball in the match against Counties. The 12-8 victory was viewed as 'a vastly improved game of forceful rugby'.

1961

15 new ‘Magpies’ were called upon in 1961 and for the first time in many seasons, the Bay returned a higher win than loss ratio, being victorious in seven of the 11 fixtures played.

The most impressive of the newcomers was 18 year old William Leslie Davis of the HHSOB club, who announced his arrival with a brace of tries on debut against the Wairarapa, in an 18-6 victory on June 5th in Masterton. The fastest back on the field, for one try he kicked over the full-backs head, regathered and scored. This performance in itself was enough to see him in the first North Island All Black trial in Palmerston North on June 22nd, where once again he confirmed his promise with a try.

In his third first-class match, for Hawkes Bay against Wellington in Napier, he once again scored a try and went on to dot down eight times in his ten appearances for the season. Ironically, it was a try he didn’t score which will remain the most infamous, best described in the words of the NZ Press Association at the time; “From a ruck near the Auckland line, a Hawkes Bay forward hurled the ball across the field and who should catch it but W. Davis, perhaps the fastest man on the field. Davis began to sprint the 20 yards to what seemed an undefended corner. P F Little made one frantic lunge as he fell, clipped Davis’ boot and the Hawkes Bay man crash landed.”

Time followed almost immediately, with Auckland retaining the Ranfurly Shield with a narrow 5-3 victory. It had been a grand display by the Magpies, much against expectation at large, the side then went on to be unbeaten in their remaining four matches (in which Davis scored five of his eight tries).

Wellington hooker, CH Toomey (assisted by Bruce Ross) and Neil Thimbleby dispute possession of the ball in the Wellington match in Napier. Magpies from left; Huriwaha Maniapoto, Colin Eddy, Pat MacEwan and Tom Johnson. All Black Ken Gray is the next Wellingtonian to arrive at the melee.

Born in Hastings on December 15th, 1942, ‘Billy’ Davis spent the winters of 1958-1960 in the Hastings High School 1st XV, the same seasons he gained Hawkes Bay junior representative honours. His elevation to full honours was inevitable and his inclusion meant that Le Quesne now had a back of true class around which to base his attack.

Another newcomer was Frank W P Jones, converted into a full-back by Le Quesne, Jones playing as a loose forward for his M.A.C. club. With a growing reputation for the success of such ‘experiments’, the selectors problem of finding a first five-eighth was also duly solved by creating one out of former half-back, Allen Brown of HHSOB.

Gary Watts had an impressive debut season at second five-eighth, the Tech OB man playing 10 matches in total. Roger Spencer was again reliable on the wing, with another newbie in Miles Percy of Dannevirke Excelsior taking his slot on the other.

Colin Eddy was again lively at half-back, but lost his spot for the second half of the season to another Dannevirke Excelsior man, Rod Stone.

A fit and lively pack were lead by Tom Johnson, well supported in open play by Tony Small from the side of the scrum and some excellent No. 8 play from Dave Bone. Eric Hogge and Pat MacEwan were useful locks, with the cornerstone of the pack, Neil Thimbleby a robust and active prop, supported by RW Johnston of Celtic, who had represented New Zealand Combined Services in 1958.

Gordon Love was a newcomer at prop, playing in just three matches, with new representative Colin Craik of HHSOB at hooker making ten appearances.

George Koopu did not play for Hawkes Bay, but made the New Zealand Maori side which played two matches; against Hawkes Bay (17-6, Hastings) and France (5-3, Napier). Koopu did not play in the trial match in Rotorua, of which the only other Magpie involved was Huriwaha Maniapoto.

Nine Hawkes Bay players played for Tai Rawhiti in the Prince of Wales Cup fixture in Palmerston North on September 2nd, the match won by 11-8 by Tai Hauauru. They were; Frank Jones, MJ Thomas, RM Kora, Moray Bevan (captain), Lou Cooper, Huriwaha Maniapoto, Thomas Hindmarsh, George Cooper and PR Ormond. Tama Ormond was a selector.

Maddison Trophy winner, 1961: Hastings High School Old Boys & Tech OB

Hawkes Bay came within a whisker of upsetting the Ranfurly Shield apple cart, going down 3-5 to Auckland during the first defence of the 1961 season. In the photo at right Waka Nathan scores the try that sealed the Magpies fate, after Tony Small had put the Bay ahead with a penalty goal.

1962

The Magpies continued to improve and trend upward in 1962, winning 10 of their 13 fixtures. Carrying on with lessons learned from the defeat to the British Lions of three seasons prior, Le Quesne and the team favoured the open passing game and gave several ‘bright displays’, only thwarted by the inability to gain enough possession to put the game plan to work in its most efficient capacity.

Without doubt and the reason for the winning of most matches, the most important new acquisition to the side was All Black, Kelvin Robin Tremain, late of Canterbury. Tremain had made his first-class debut for Southland in 1957 (10 matches), played six matches for Manawatu the following season, 14 games for Canterbury in 1959 and 1961 (playing for the South Island in both years mentioned), punctuated by three for Auckland in 1960.

Tremain was born in Auckland in 1938 and spent two seasons in Auckland Grammar School’s 1st XV, before taking an agricultural field cadetship in 1957, where he ended up in Riversdale, from which club he was called into the Southland side. His lot was a difficult one, for his side were invariably beaten, but none showed up better than the young Tremain. His line-out jumping and general improvement with each game played, earned him inclusion in the New Zealand Under-23 side which toured Japan and Hong Kong.

He moved to Massey College in Palmerston North in 1958 and then onto Lincoln College in Christchurch the following year, where he made his debut for Canterbury in a 19-0 defeat of Buller in Westport. In his next three outings against the West Coast, Wellington and the British Lions respectively, he helped himself to two tries apiece.

Originally a lock (the position he played in against the Lions for NZ Universities in tour match four), he was successfully converted into a flanker by Canterbury coach, Bob Duff and having scored the two tries in the red and blacks 20-14 victory over the same opposition, found himself in the second test lineup, following the All Blacks poor and erratic display in the first test in Dunedin.

An improved performance, an 11-8 victory on Athletic Park, saw him retain his spot for the final two tests. By seasons end he had scored nine tries in his eight appearances for Canterbury, playing grandly as a loose forward and was one of 14 nominees from that province included among the 75 to receive a national trial for New Zealand selection, early in 1960.

Four members of the 1959 Canterbury pack subsequently made the All Black side which made the trek to South Africa, via Australia; Tremain, Dennis Young, John Graham and Dr. Hugh Burry (plus five-eighth’s, Mick Bremner). Kel Tremain played in sixteen tour matches, including all four tests, scoring seven tries (two in a 45-6 win over Northern Universities in Potchefstroom).

Personally, he had been one of the tour’s successes, despite the disappointment of the series loss. Especially noted were his ‘fine work from the side of the scrummage and his ability in the line out, placing him in the top flight’.

Upon return to New Zealand, he locked the Auckland scrum and helped defend the Ranfurly Shield in the final three matches against Wellington (22-9), Taranaki (25-6) and his former province, Canterbury in the dramatic finale on September 28th.

The Cantabs had Young, Graham and Burry back in their pack. The trio had played against Otago (put to the sword on Lancaster Park to the tune of 5-39) four days before the shield challenge. The Auks accommodated half of their returning tourists; Tremain at lock, Wilson Whineray at No.8 and Steve Nesbit into the five-eights.

The match itself was ‘a cracker’ and certainly lived up to all the pre-match hype, in fact it had far outweighed expectation. Auckland had the better of the first half and went to the break ahead by 11-6. A second half resurgence led by captain, Stan ‘Tiny’ Hill, saw Canterbury claw their way back into the match. The lead changed hands several times in the closing stages, eventually the red and blacks had it by 18-14, with one minute to go on the ground clock.

But a late and dramatic try to Waka Nathan (converted by Mike Cormack) saw Auckland home by 19-18, in a match still regarded as not only one of the greatest of all Ranfurly Shield matches, but one of the greatest of provincial encounters in New Zealand rugby.

Kel Tremain saw little of the closing moments. He had been involved in line-out skirmishes with Army Warrant Officer Hill, playing his 84th and final match for Canterbury, the veteran of 19 All Black tests and rated as one of New Zealand’s most rugged forwards ever. Hill warned Tremain that if he persisted in infringing as he was, he’d have to take the law into his own hands. “Have a go, Grandad,” Kel told ‘Tiny’. Moments later, following the next line-out, Tremain was rendered unconscious and the stretcher called for.

As a Lincoln College affiliate, he captained the New Zealand Universities side on a ten match tour of California and British Columbia in February and March of 1961, scoring two tries in each of the matches against UCLA (37-3, Los Angeles), San Diego State College (52-3, San Diego), Leland Stanford University (29-9, Stanford) and University of British Columbia (32-3, Vancouver).

Back in Canterbury colours on six further occasions, he played both tests against the 1961 French tourists, charging down a clearing kick and scoring a try in the first test in Wellington, where the weather was most vile. The miraculous sideline conversion from Don Clarke (in the atrocious conditions) enabled the All Blacks to come from 0-3 down to win the match by 5-3, in what is now regarded as one of the most legendary test matches in New Zealand rugby history.

Having transferred to Hawkes Bay early in 1962 and joining the NHSOB club, Tremain toured Australia, once again playing in all the test matches, three on this occasion. Back from that tour for ten days, he made his Magpie debut on June 27th against Auckland, a 6-11 loss on McLean Park.

During the return Australian tour to New Zealand in August and September, he played in only the first test match (a 9-9 draw in Wellington) and perceived to be out of form, was dropped for the remaining two test matches.

His appearances for the Bay were limited to eight from 13 fixtures, locking the scrum with Eric Hogge in several games, such was the depth of loose forwards available to Le Quesne. Tony Small (11 matches) was big and fast and a centurion in goal-kicking points. Dave Bone (12), was outstanding when given a game on the side of the scrum, but was also used competently as a lock. Tom Johnson (12), having transferred to the Marist club, was again an inspiring leader, handling well and always in the right place.

One of the Magpies best performances in 1962 came in a 9-6 victory against Canterbury on McLean Park on August 15th. Barry Neale sets sail, with support from left; Tom Johnson, Kelvin Tremain, Gordon Love, Dave Bone, C T Craik and Tony Small.

Back in Canterbury colours, he played both tests against the 1961 French tourists, charging down a clearing kick and scoring a try in the first test in Wellington, where the weather was most vile. The miraculous sideline conversion from Don Clarke (in the atrocious conditions) enabled the All Blacks to come from 0-3 down to win the match by 5-3, in what is now regarded as one of the most legendary test matches in New Zealand rugby history.

Having transferred to Hawkes Bay early in 1962, Tremain toured Australia, once again playing in all the test matches, three on this occasion. During the return Australian tour to New Zealand in August and September, he played in only the first test match (a 9-9 draw in Wellington) and perceived to be out of form, was dropped for the remaining two test matches.

Gerry Alexander Lawson Stone (28/6/1938-16/2/2021) of the Ruahine club, the fifth loose forward available, proved a good handler and intelligent player in his debut season. While limited to only four appearances, Hilton Meech of the HHSOB club was a player of promise, earmarked for a big future.

Rod Stone began the season at half-back, but was successfully switched to first five-eighth when Barry Neale returned after two seasons in Wellington. Unfortunately, the ball did not reach the three-quarters regularly or quickly enough, as Bill Davis was in excellent form and Percy and Spencer useful wingers, often starved of opportunity.

The Bays new acquisition from Canterbury, Kelvin Tremain, seen here passing to Bill Davis in the match against East Coast in Napier, won by 38-6, the Magpies biggest winning margin in some years. Tremain scored one of Hawkes Bay's six tries.

Davis, Johnson, Thimbleby and Tremain played in the North Island trial, Johnson and Tremain going onto the national trial, Tremain gaining All Black selection. Johnson and Tremain represented the North Island.

Maddison Trophy winner, 1962: Marist

1963

Despite losing five of its 15 fixtures for 1963, Hawkes Bay enjoyed an outstanding season, a pack of seasoned forwards being well supported by young and enterprising backs.

The early season runaway victory over England, gave an indication of what to expect. The all out effort to halt Auckland’s record breaking Ranfurly Shield tenure, only just fell short of success. The season closure was equally as impressive, a decisive defeat of the strong Waikato side.

Hietia Hiha has possession for the Bay following a line-out in the 20-5 victory over England in May. Magpies from left are; Gerry Stone, Kel Tremain, Hiha and Gordon Love. The England player is lock, Mike Davis of Devonshire.

The arrival of Canterbury and South Island representative, Rodney Seaton Abel and the return of the big veteran Hietia Hiha, who had first played for the Bay in 1954 (and six games for East Coast in 1961), meant the pack was based around two experienced locks. Both were toilers, grand line-out exponents and vigorous in the tight. Hiha played in 14 matches and Abel 13.

Rodney Abel was born in Cambridge in 1936. He attended first Kaikohe College in Northland and then Napier Boys High School, but played little rugby while at school. He made his senior debut in 1954 for the Hamilton City side and at the end of that season joined the New Zealand Police and transferred to Auckland, where he played for the Parnell club.

He returned to Hamilton in 1956, resigned from the Police and in 1959, was included in the Waikato squad, but was unable to play through injury. Moving to Christchurch and joining the Linwood club (which included Fergi McCormick) he was brought into a Canterbury XV for the Queens Birthday match of 1960 against Mid-Canterbury and then taken on Canterbury’s four match North Island tour, debuting for the province in a 6-11 loss to North Auckland in Whangarei.

He played in the fixtures against Waikato (8-6, Hamilton) and Taranaki (17-15, New Plymouth), making eight appearances in total for the Cantabs that season. In his final outing against West Coast at Lancaster Park, a 40-9 win, he locked the scrum with ‘Tiny’ Hill (who was returning from injury) and Abel was not called on again that year.

In 1961 he played 11 further matches for Canterbury, 16 in 1962 (the most-capped forward) and earned a call up to the South Island New Zealand trial and then a berth in the South Island side, locking the scrum with his provincial team-mate and future All Black, Allan Stewart, the pair having developed into a strong locking duo.

Rod Abel moved to Napier early in 1963 and joined the NHSOB club, going directly into the Magpie lineup for the seasons first encounter against Bush in Pahiatua, marking his debut with a try in the 18-3 win.

Another on debut for the Bay, who also scored a try, was Ian Robert MacRae. Born in Christchurch in 1943 and educated at Rangiora High School (1st XV 1958-59), MacRae was much bigger than most backs of his era and as such made a sizeable impact when he first appeared on the New Zealand rugby scene.

Becoming a forestry cadet upon leaving school, he moved around the country, playing for the West Coast in 1961, his debut season in first-class rugby. He and his club mate at Greymouth Marist, Neil McAra, formed an outstanding partnership in the five-eighths and the representative side returned their best season - results wise - for several years. Ian MacRae played in all ten of West Coast’s fixtures, which included the winning of the Seddon Shield by beating Marlborough by 14-6 in Blenheim.

Similarly, upon transferring to the Bay of Plenty in 1962, he played all seven representative matches for the province, having played the club season for St. Michaels Old Boys of Rotorua.

Moving to Napier and joining the champion Marist club, in his second match for the Magpies he scored a trick of tries in Hawkes Bay’s resounding 20-5 victory over the touring Englishmen, in front of 17,000 spectators, who had ‘absented themselves from other duties’ to attend the midweek fixture.

The fans were certainly not disappointed and in some way demons from the Lions whipping four seasons prior were partially exorcised. The pathway to victory was paved by some robust forward play and some classy finishing from the back division.

Making his first appearance for Hawkes Bay the same day was 18 year old, Blair Donald Marie Furlong, one year out of Dannevirke High School. Furlong, who played in 12 of the Bay’s 15 matches at fly-half or full-back, was another from the Marist club, which filled half of the vanguard. He played several outstanding matches and was regarded as ‘full of promise’.

Ian Robert Bishop, the NHSOB full-back, was another to make his first class debut in the Bush match in Pahiatua. The young engineers assistant had starred in the Napier Boys High School 1st XV in 1960 and 1961 and had been a junior Magpie in 1961 and ’62. He had also played for the Centurions Colts in 1961.

Tom Johnson has hold of a Waikato player in the last match of the season in Hastings, a thoroughly impressive 28-8 win for the Bay. Max Laughlin and Billy Davis are the other Hawkes Bay players in shot.

Tom Johnson again captained the side and was in his element in the open attacking game. Kelvin Tremain enjoyed one of his best seasons and was outstanding in all aspects of forward play, scoring ten tries himself.

On the other side of the scrum, Le Quesne was torn between Dave Bone, a most confident loose forward who also played well at No. 8 and Gerry Stone, another most useful breakaway. In the Ranfurly Shield match, both were bypassed for Tony Small, a competent side-ranker and a champion goal kicker.

Neil Thimbleby and the young and improving Gordon Love were two solidly built and strong props, with Craik and a newcomer, Augustus Meech as the hookers.

The arrival of Ian MacRae gave the Bay the services of the most outstanding young centre-threequarter in the country and despite the handicap of injuries, he clearly demonstrated his quality, the scorer of nine tries.

Moved to the wing, Bill Davis had a most profitable season, scoring eight tries himself, while exhibiting quick acceleration and considerable speed. On the other wing, Peter Orangi (11 games, seven tries for King Country in 1962) also enjoyed a fine season once he had established his position, scoring a try in his first appearance, a ten try, 43-3 rout against Wairarapa at McLean Park.

Max Loughlin, whose last appearance had been in 1960, was now also with the Marist club, the young star had moved to Napier to replace Whangarei-bound Bernie Troy. He represented New Zealand Maori in a match in Whangarei, a 0-9 loss to North Auckland and played for Southern Maori in the Prince of Wales Cup fixture.

Barry Neale had an outstanding season at scrum-half, with a fast and lengthy service, being both versatile and most active. he earned himself an All Black trial in may and was a reserve in the end of year trial to pick the side to tour North America, the United Kingdom and France.

Along with Neale, Ian MacRae, Bill Davis, Kel Tremain, Rod Abel and Neil Thimbleby appeared in the New Zealand trials in May, the three first named again in the end of year trial, along with Tom Johnson, Gordon Love and Dave Bone. Tremain represented New Zealand in the two tests against England and with Johnson, appeared for the North Island.

Tremain, Davis and MacRae won selection for the New Zealand touring side, the latter two first time All Blacks. Suddenly, for the first time in forty years, Hawkes Bay had three national representatives amongst their playing ranks.

Kel Tremain played in 22 of the 36 tour matches, captaining the side in a mid-week, 6-3 win against Munster (a match in which Ian MacRae scored a try). He played in all five internationals; on the side of the scrum against Ireland (6-5, Lansdowne Road, scoring a try), England (14-0, Twickenham) and Scotland (0-0, Murrayfield) and at No. 8 against Wales (6-0, Cardiff Arms Park) and France (12-3, Colombes Stadium). He scored ten tries in his 22 appearances.

Bill Davis and Ian MacRae, both 20 year olds, played in predominantly mid-week matches, with Aucklander's Malcolm Dick preferred over Davis in the test arena and Paul Little over MacRae. Davis played in 15 matches scoring seven tries, MacRae two more games and one less try.

Maddison Trophy winner, 1963: Marist