I'm a Hawkeye Guy
There's Something About a Magpie
April 1st, 1967
Round one of the new club season.
The Napier-Hastings Senior club season kicked off, in idyllic autumnal conditions, for the first time in almost forty years with Hawkes Bay as the current holder of the Ranfurly Shield. If the sheer excitement of that was not enough, a new trophy was up for grabs also – dubbed the ‘Bramwell Rosebowl’ – to be awarded to the side placed first at the end of the first completed round robin section, before splitting into the Maddison Trophy (top six) and Bowman Cup (bottom six).
Both major grounds McLean Park (Napier) and Nelson Park (Hastings) were in perfect order, endorsing an age old adage; there are only two seasons – rugby and summer! The scoreboard in Hastings had even been given a fresh lick of paint.
‘Everything in the garden looks rosy’ further claimed regular match programme columnist, Ed Culver. Club rugby had never looked better, he indicated, with gains by clubs – in player terms – far outweighing the losses. Hastings clubs in particular, he believed, looked to be the greatest benefactor in these gains.
Another columnist, Ken Hawker, wrote that spectators could hardly being blamed for being slightly perplexed in finding two senior matches being played on McLean Park at the same time. This annoyance was partially overshadowed by the fact that the standard of club play in the first round of matches was high. It was also obvious that players – whether it be the arrival of the shield or not – were fit, clearly the product of some intensive training in preceding months.
It was also noted that players from the Hawkes Bay side of 1966, were amongst those who shone the brightest on opening day. Tom Johnson and Gary Condon made a significant contribution to the Marist cause in that sides 11-3 win over Tamatea. Incumbent Magpie first five-eighth, Max Loughlin – likely to play a pivot role in the upcoming shield series - was also in fine fettle for Marist, his line and positional kicking to the fore. Six of the seven Tamatea backs were ex-Te Aute College 1st XV.
In a closer contest, Technical defeated Taradale by 16-11. The victors did well to deny Bill Davis the ball and in doing so, negated any danger the Taradale backline possessed. Former North Auckland hooker, Myles Reddy, arrived in the Bay for the 1967 season and his first club outing (for Taradale) indicated that Gus Meech may have a job ahead of him to retain his role as the provinces number one rake.
The most impressive team on opening day though, was M.A.C, who shot to the top of the table with a 47-0 win over Celtic. The margin of victory was aided by the Celts being possibly the un-fittest of senior teams on display in both cities and without two key players in Kerry Walsh and John Guerin.
It was noted, somewhat surprisingly, that Colin Le Quesne had been spotted checking out the MAC- Celtic clash (he was not often found in Hastings during round one), pondering his side to defend the shield no doubt, although preparations to do so had started in earnest back in February. Karaan Crawford was in dynamic form for M.A.C.
In the main game at Nelson Park, eyebrows were raised and a buzz of excitement went round the ground, when (not even listed in the reserves) Barry Neale came on at half back to replace Dave Selby, for NHSOB. Although a bit slower and beefier than in the past, a few master touches behind the scrum went down well with the gathered crowd. His opposite, Jonathan Moffet, skipper of the Hastings club, played well throughout, but his side was well beaten by 27-0. Napier Old Boys scored five tries, Paul Carney converting three and with Hastings continually infringing, he knocked over a couple of penalties as well for a personal tally of twelve points.
On Saturday, April 29th, a month long trial of the proposed new ‘kick into touch’ rule was nationally instigated into senior club competition. It would be two seasons before the introduction of this as law, which basically meant that one could only kick directly into touch from within one’s own 25 yard line. Outside of this line, the ball must bounce at least once before going out of play, or else a scrum would be set adjacent to where the ball was kicked, the loose head going to the opposition of the kicker (or perpetrator).
Early rep matches with initial ‘shield squad’, pre-first defence.
As the first rep outing against the Wairarapa approached, the coveted trophy, the Ranfurly Shield, was proving to be somewhat of a draw card, with Le Quesne having assembled a 24 man squad earlier to train and prepare for the forthcoming Shield games.
From the 1966 Bay side, only lock David Kirkpatrick (who had returned to Poverty Bay) and Gerry ‘GAL’ Stone, a former New South Wales representative, who had retired from first class rugby at the end of the previous season, were not available for selection.
Rod Abel made himself available again for representative honours. Although the lock had retired at the conclusion of the 1965 season, he had continued to play senior rugby for NHSOB in 1966. Le Quesne used the lure of shield rugby to attract the experienced veteran back to the big time. Other gains included the return of Hilton Meech from Lincoln College in Christchurch and the arrival from Whangarei of hooker, Myles Samuel Reddy.
The timely return to Hawkes Bay from Christchurch of the powerful prop, Hilton Meech, was also of immense value to coach Le Quesne. Meech had represented the Bay seven times from 1962-64, before heading to Lincoln College for two years to further his agricultural studies.
In 1965, he made three appearances for Canterbury ‘B’ and played for South Island Universities. The following season he went a step further, seven matches for Canterbury, another for the southern Universities side and an appearance for New Zealand Universities, an 11-24 loss to the touring British Lions in Christchurch. In a seven-try bonanza, Irish centre, Barrie Bresnihan was the chief benefactor, dotting down on three occasions.
Front row strength was paramount in Le Quesne’s reckoning; Meech and Thimbleby were near perfect props. Reddy joined the Taradale club upon arrival in Napier, the 25 year old having 12 first-class matches under his belt, 11 of those for North Auckland in 1965 and 1966 (including marking the Irish hooker, Ken Kennedy, in North Auckland’s 3-6 loss to the Lions).
Two years in the Maungaturoto High School 1st XV were followed by selection in 1961 in the North Auckland juniors, making his senior debut for the Kaiwaka club the following season. Reddy had also played for North Auckland Maori (1963-66) and had trialed for New Zealand Maori in 1965.
Dave Bone was fit, available, back to his marauding best and in the kind of form in club rugby that had him earmarked several seasons before as a possible All Black. Bone had played 55 matches for Hawkes Bay between 1960-1964 and had played in four New Zealand trial matches, but his rise to the top was curbed when he was fortunate to escape with his life after tumbling headlong over a cliff when deer stalking in bush country near Wairoa. He had spent the 1966 season in the unbeaten ‘B’ team.
In the annual Queens Birthday fixture, Hawkes Bay easily disposed of the Wairarapa in Masterton, by 22 points to 12. The Magpies were pretty much at full strength, the exception being at No.8, where Peter Smith of Excelsior in Dannevirke was given a run. On debut at first-five eighth was Neil Richard Armstrong and on the wing (coming on to replace Dennis Smith) Douglas Graeme Curtis of NHSOB.
A farmer from Wairoa, Armstrong had been a member of the Christs College (Christchurch) 1st XV during the seasons of 1964 and 1965 and made his senior debut for the Athletic club (Wairoa) in 1966. Although he played soundly throughout the match, scoring one of the Bay’s three tries, first five-eighth had become a bit of a concern for Le Quesne. Was Neil Armstrong the answer?
The original Shield training squad included the man with ‘impeccable hands’, Max Loughlin, who had played 39 matches for Hawkes Bay since 1960 (and had an All Black trial in 1965 as well as being a reserve for the NZ Maori side) and his understudy throughout the 1966 season, Tony Waldin of NHSOB.
But just before the match against Wairarapa, both were lost through injury. This thrust the young debutant, Armstrong, into the fray. Originally selected in the training squad as a utility back, he found himself starting at first-five eighth against the Bay’s southern neighbours. With the search on for a back up, it was 19 year old Geoffrey Ivan Martin (Dannevirke Old Boys) who was quickly whisked into the team.
Martin had spent two years in the Dannevirke High School 1st XV (1964-65) and had been a Hawkes Bay junior representative from 1964-66. He was also a fine cricketer, having made the Southern Hawkes Bay side during the summer of 1966-67.
When the Bay hosted the touring New South Wales Country side (July 8th), it was Martin who started and he again, who took the field against Counties in Papakura four days later. But when forced from the field with injury, one Blair Furlong came on as his replacement, now back in Napier and working for Rothmans.
Furlong played his rugby in the capital in 1966, appearing for Wellington ‘B’ and had played one game for the Bay of Plenty already in 1967, that against Bush in Edgecombe on June 17th (a 38-6 win for the Bay, Furlong scoring a try from full-back).
Immediately upon his return to Napier, a furore was caused by the Marist club, playing Furlong before his residential qualification period was fulfilled. It was explained to the Hawkes Bay Union at a management committee meeting, that the opposing clubs permission had been gained and that for the benefit of the representative side, it was imperative that Furlong play as much rugby as possible.
Furlong started the match against Auckland on July 15th and – with only a week before the first challenge against Manawatu – it now certainly looked as if that he had played his way back into prime contention for the number ten jersey.
It wasn’t as if the youngster from Dannevirke had done much wrong. He was a very clever footballer and had played soundly against the visitors from Australia, including drop kicking two goals, adding yet another against Counties before retiring from the field.
In some circles, it had always been questioned as to whether Furlong was agile enough to play in the first five-eighth spot and he had, in fact, not always been the first choice in this position for Hawkes Bay. Le Quesne had used him as a fullback upon occasion, a spot he was also more than comfortable with.
But ‘The Fuhrer’ also knew that when the pressure was on against the bigger unions, looming large as serious shield challengers (amongst others, Taranaki, Otago and Wellington), Furlongs cool, tactical nous and experience would be crucial to the success of the team.
The Hawkes Bay side had been panned by the critics following their 28-8 win over the New South Wales side in Hastings on July 8th, the visitors having lost five of their previous eight matches while on tour in New Zealand. But the Bay had not had a run since early June and the NSW side was much improved as their tour progressed and had lost only 0-11 to Otago the preceding Saturday.
Still, with only fourteen days until the first Shield defence, Bill Davis was in blistering form at centre, scoring one of the four tries posted by the Bay, while outside him his wingers, Doug Curtis and Mick Duncan, also touched down.
Just where to play the mercurial Davis, had been another question for Le Quesne to ponder before settling on his shield line up. The once All Black winger had been moved from the midfield to the outside by the selector/coach, when Ian MacRae arrived in 1963 and had only really returned to the centre spot (where he had played in the successful shield challenge against Waikato) in 1966.
This now seemed the most logical position to play Davis as the Bay were blessed with an embarrassment of riches on the wing. The incumbents, Dennis Smith and 19 year old Mick Duncan, were joined throughout the 1967 season by Curtis, backed up by Frank Jones of the M.A.C club in Hastings, who had first played for the Bay in 1961.
The 1967 edition of the ‘Rugby Almanac of New Zealand’ had named Dennis Smith in its ‘New Zealand XV’ (along with MacRae and Tremain). The honour accorded him was a little surprising, but there could be no question concerning his class as a quality three quarter and certainly not as a try scorer.
His selection in the Almanac side was principally earned by having dotted down no fewer than 13 times in 1966, in as many matches. One week after lifting the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato, Hawkes Bay were ruthlessly put to the sword by Wellington on Athletic Park. The 6-20 scoreline was an emphatic defeat for the ‘Magpies’, but the six points were made up of two tries of rare quality from Dennis Smith.
The same edition of the Almanac had named Mick Duncan (only 18 when first selected against East Coast) as one of the ‘five most promising players’ of the 1966 season. Because of his size and strength and being an immensely strong runner with ball in hand, Duncan had been likened to the 1950’s All Black from Petone, Tom Katene. In ten matches for the Bay in 1966, Mick Duncan scored six tries.
As the new season unfolded, Doug Curtis would prove to be as good as either Duncan or Smith. Between the three, no other winger got a look in during the entire shield series, 1967-69 (Frank Jones aside, who managed to get on the field twice as a replacement, against Taranaki and then Wellington in 1967).
The highly promising Paul Carney aside, there were no other realistic contenders for fullback than the reliable Ian Bishop and it would be difficult to overstate his worth to Le Quesne and the team. The 38 game veteran had been in the Bay side since 1963 and not only was his goal kicking tremendously accurate, his all round soundness and consistency, had always given his team supreme confidence.
Likewise, at second five-eighth, Ian MacRae had a virtual mortgage on the position for Marist, Hawkes Bay and New Zealand (although all three often used him also at centre). The talisman of the backline, MacRae was also entering his fifth season in black and white and by now his undoubted class was on display for all to see. His ability to take the tackle and create position from which secondary attacks could be launched was crucial and yet, Ian MacRae was a beautiful mover and deceptively fast.
The only half back named in the squad was Hepa Paewai. The 19 year old had played all but one of the Bay’s thirteen fixtures in 1966, including games against the touring British Lions (drawn 11-11) and in the shield retrieval against Waikato.
Paewai was indeed a famous sporting name in Hawkes Bay and like his Uncle Lui (an All Black in 1923 who played 13 matches for the Magpies during their first golden shield run, 1922-26) started his career in the five-eighths. Colin Le Quesne introduced Hepa into his side as a half back, with immediate success and some sage rugby brains were instantly fitting him out in an All Black kit.
Still a little raw around the edges at his tender age, Paewai was strongly built and had the Maori flair and a touch of the unorthodox. It was perceived that once his passing game had been improved, he would be the complete half back.
By contrast, the forwards more or less picked themselves. In the loose department, the only question really was getting the combination right. Gary Condon, who had played a scant five matches for the Bay in 1965 and 1966, (also representing New Zealand Services in ’66) was in outstanding form for Marist and looked likely to play open side.
Likewise, back to his best form, Dave Bone looked the best choice to take on the No 8 role. This meant that captain, Kel Tremain, was the perfect foil for both and could continue in his blindside flanker position as he had done for the Bay throughout much of the previous season.
Until injured during the Wairarapa shield match, Tom Johnson was never far from the reckoning either. Having missed the first defence against Manawatu, Johnson had forced his way back into the side at the experience of Gary Condon and played superbly against Waikato. But once the veteran Johnson was injured (and out for the remainder of the 1967 season) the immediate benefactor was Condon, with Nick Smith of NHSOB called into the reserves.
The contrasting locking styles of Rod Abel and Karaan Crawford were also totally complimentary. Abel (31, 6ft 5in, 17st) was prominent in line outs and in tight play while Crawford (24, 6ft 3in, 17st 4lbs) was irresistible in the loose, on the burst, often found surging up field, clutching the ball in one hand like a Harlem Globetrotter.
Back up to these two was the highly promising 19 year, old Robert Locksdale Stuart. Born in Napier on January 9th, 1948, the ex Napier High School student (1961-63) opted to play his rugby for the Technical COB club and had been a Hawkes Bay Ross Shield representative in 1960 and a junior Magpie in 1966.
Neil Thimbleby was the rock upon which all Hawkes Bay scrums had been founded since his introduction to the team, against the touring British Isles in 1959. He had played his 100th first class game against Counties, late in 1966 and had a reputation amongst his contemporaries in the front row of being a torrid and formidable opponent. Lou Cooper was named as back up for Thimbleby and Meech.
The hooking position looked likely to be a direct showdown between Myles Reddy and Hilton Meech’s brother, Augustus. Gus Meech – like his younger sibling – was an ex-Lindisfarne College 1st XV member, having spent five seasons in his schools top team. He also played against the Lions of ’66 and in the shield win in Hamilton.
Whatever combination was going to take the field at McLean Park to defend the Shield, it was expected that the Bay would play what was termed ‘balanced rugby’; the pack assuming control with the backs swinging into action, supported by the forwards, to deliver the ‘coup de grace’.
Despite the claims by Colin Le Quesne that “we only have to hold the Shield” and that “the approach of the opposition will have an influence on the style we adopt”, the commonsense selector-coach knew that since his appointment to that position, Hawkes Bay were at their best when moving the ball.
It was also widely regarded than any deviation of style would be ill-advised and could even be potentially suicidal. The attractive approach had worked so successfully in the past and with the wealth of players available to him, there was no necessity to change the basic game plan.
By early July, things were indeed ‘heating up’ and the talk of two cities was the first challenge of the 1967 series against Manawatu. The match programme for the N.S.W. Country match carried an advertisement on page seven that read as such; WANTED Boys, 11 years of age and over are wanted to sell Ranfurly Shield programmes this season. Youngsters interested are asked to report to the Pirates Gymnasium, Napier at 10:30am tomorrow morning.
The same match programme featured Neil Thimbleby on the cover, as he was playing his 100th match for Hawkes Bay – the first player to do so in the Unions history.
One week later, the Bay were on Eden Park for their shield dress rehearsal against an old foe, Auckland. Winger, ‘Rocky’ Paterson scored two tries for the home side as they convincingly defeated the Magpies by 14 points to 3 and in doing so, inflicted the only loss the Bay would endure that season.
A sub-editor of the Auckland based newspaper, the New Zealand Herald, provided a heading for T.P. McLean’s match report; ‘Bay May Need a Miracle in Shield Series’.
The Hawkes Bay side may have been forgiven for having the first defence – now only seven days away – in the back of their minds, but Gus Meech was not and, after conceding eight tight-heads, he was to lose his place in the starting line up to Myles Reddy, who had acquitted himself very well against All Black, Bruce McLeod in the Counties match on July 12th, a match won by the Magpies by 20-12.