After the dismal results of the past few seasons, I was surprised to hear, on June 10th, that Wellington had beaten Canterbury in Christchurch. It wasn’t a great game of rugby, judging by most press reports, but Wellington after trailing at the break by 8-10, were more enterprising than their hosts in the second spell, adding two more tries in an 18-13 win.
The game was marred by ‘scrappy’ play and woeful goal kicking (Wallis 1/9 and McCormick 2/8), despite some good work in the forwards by Dave Martin, Al Keown and Wayne Nicholls and the constant graft from Gareth Head.
Dave Henderson and Lin Davis had virtually cancelled each other out, but Henderson it was said, was a little laboured and Darcy was not given the room he would have liked. Even so, the Wellington backs had looked sharp in the first half, but were unable to move with any great fluency, owing to the number of line-out infringements taking their toll on Wellington’s possession count.
The form of Jim Brown at centre was noted, scoring both of Wellington’s first half tries. In the first, he upset a fumbling McCormick, toed the ball ahead and scored. The second was set by by Graham Williams and Andy Leslie, winning a ruck in front of the Canterbury posts and putting Brown in out wide.
Canterbury’s Kevin Gimlett appears to have taken possession of the pill, despite the attempts of Andy Leslie. Dick Cleland (left) and Graham Wallis (right) close in.
Wellington made the game safe with the movement of the match, three minutes from the end, when Leslie caught the defence wrong footed and sent Twig away on the blind-side. He held on nicely, then fed a charging Nicholls, who crashed through to make the final score.
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The following weekend was a big round for club rugby in the capital. University scored seven tries in beating Upper Hutt by 36-13, in the main game at the Park. With the wind behind them, the students rattled in six of those four-pointer’s in the first half, going to the break ahead by 30-10.
With a great exhibition of open rugby, backs and forwards combined in passing movements, which often took them 3/4’s of the length of the field. Graham Wallis was in outstanding form, contributing 20 points (three tries and four conversions). They consolidated fourth position on the Swindale Shield ladder.
Nectar scored one of Petone’s seven tries in an equally blistering display, beating Hutt OB by 41-10. The competition co-leaders were completely dominant upfront and always imaginative and inventive in the backline, resourcefully shooting out to 31-0 at half-time.
The Axemen had a scrappy 30-3 win over lowly-rated Titahi Bay in the early game at HQ, looking well below the form which had given them a share of the leader board.
Though not programmed to appear, Clock and Batts turned out for MSP, having only just returned from the Junior AB’s Australian tour. Neither played much of a hand in their side’s 24-7 win over Naenae, in fact, the Clock’s radar was a little astray during the first spell, missing three penalties.
The Juniors had been successful in winning eight from eight on their tour to Oz, with Clock topping the points scoring with 57. His 11 points (try, penalty and two conversions) in a 23-13 win over Sydney the most meritorious.
Batts crossed for five tries (Paul Anderson and Peter Gilbert, nine each) in the seven matches he played, scoring a brace each against Rockhampton and Queensland Country.
June 24th went according to plan for most of the top sides, though there had been a few injury concerns for Frank Ryan to ponder as he planned out the rest of the representative season. Batts (and fellow Junior All Black, Paul Shannon) was lost to injury in his sides 23-29 loss to Petone.
When Robert Gray scored his third try, one minute into the second spell, MSP shot out to a 19-12 lead and the upset looked very much on the cards.
Batts and Gray were very much the stars of the first half, Batty having a hand in both of Gray’s tries, as well as being the leading light with some outstanding cover defence. But Petone stormed back in the second half, as true champions do, to secure the win and the championship points.
The main point of interest here was goal-kicking. Joe Karam continued to miss and his lull in form was a little alarming. Whereas in a significant turn of events, Nectar was a somewhat surprise choice as kicker for the villagers and his 13 points with the boot was the difference, as both team’s had managed four tries.
The Twig also went of injured, just before half-time, but the students ran rampant over Taita, winning by 27-0. Graham Wallis passed the 100 points for the season during the match. Ged Kember scored a couple of tries. Wellington were too good for WCOB to the tune of 27-10.
Victoria University senior 'A' side, 1972
Wellington club senior 'A' side, 1972
A few other notable firsts occurred, requiring further notebook entries; Sunday, June 25th, Carisbrook, Dunedin. University of Otago 16, Californian “Grizzlies” 12. Debut at the mighty ‘Brook!
Although this fixture was not given first class status, being against a club side (paired by NZU affiliation), it had interest value written all over it. Otago Uni (no mean side themselves) were up against a right bunch of weirdo’s from California, who called themselves the “Grizzlies”.
Some of them had equally weird-arsed American names, like Steve Auerback, ‘Skip’ Niebauer, Garry Chiotti (my favourite player), Jack Alustiza and Fred Khasigian. They wore numbers on the front of their scarlet jerseys, which - like Gridiron - had no collars and only half-sleeves.
The whole point of their tour was that they were here to learn and they were most entertaining and rifled the ball around ‘willy-nilly’, as we’d say here in Aotearoa. But the Otago Uni side stuck to a more traditional game plan and in the end were too good for these former American Football players, who by tour’s end, had learned sufficiently well enough to knock over a full New Zealand Universities outfit.
Players in the Otago Uni side who I’d see again in action later in the season, in provincial colours, were Graeme Sims and Greg McGee (both recently returned from the NZ Juniors tour), Rob Roy and another new hero (who had scored the winning try against the ‘Grizzlies’), Terry Morrison. Paul Sapsford would also later play for Otago and New Zealand.
It’s difficult to fathom why my father would want to go to a game such as this, I put it down to his fascination and respect for everything American. But I’m glad we went. Having watched them live, I followed the ‘Grizzlies’ results with interest as they tripped around the country, suffering a series of narrow, high scoring for the day loses against South Canterbury, New Zealand Maori and Poverty Bay, before victory in their final match.
The "Grizzlies" style of rugby entertained a crowd of 8,000 at Rugby Park in Gisborne on July 19. Although beaten by Poverty Bay at 27 points to 19, the visitors came into their own in the second half with long passes and some brilliant runs.
They were only given one hiding, a 4-23 loss on Athletic Park against a NZ Universities XV and were themselves victorious in another of the ‘minor’ matches, defeating Massey/Victoria Universities (captained by Gerald Kember) by 22-17.
Check out the photo's from the Californian "Grizzlies" tour to New Zealand in June and July of 1972 at right...
Captain and star performer for the Grizzlies.
scores a spectacular try during the second half. Other players from left; Alan Peterson and Bill Mabey of PB, Gary Chiotti of the Grizzlies.
Wellington’s July programme began with a match on the Park against Auckland, which was in essence lost because of a lack of a goal-kicker. Having racked up over a ton of points in club rugby, Graham Wallis was only able to convert one try and likewise, Nectar’s role as a specialist goal-kicker came to an end when he, as Wallis, could only land one from four attempts.
The Auckland fullback, Roger Whatman contributed 15 of his sides points in the 35-24 victory, following a bizarre half-time score of 24-20 to Wellington, with all ten tries having been posted in that forty minute period.
Looking into the sun and playing into a stiff Nor-wester, the visitors got off to a great start, with Willie Gascoigne scoring after just four minutes. That lead was extended by a Whatman penalty.
Then the gremlin of indecision got amongst the Aucklander’s. Some of their tackling deteriorated into mere gestures and the Wellington pack began to tear through line-outs. Graham Williams harassed Bruce Gemmell unmercifully and in one of the wide ranging pack attacks - with lovely handling skills - Wallis was given an overlap and scored.
A Whatman clearing kick was charged down and the ebullient Andy Leslie was on hand to score. Nectar converted. Three minutes later, Wayne Nicholls charged over, through some flimsy defence.
The Wellington supporters might well have thought the game was in the bag, when Nectar (who had not only regained favour with Frank Ryan, but was now also being talked of as at least a trialist come September) sent Leslie away for Wallis to score a second. Auckland’s dismal record against Wellington at the Park looked set to continue.
But the heavier and taller Auckland forwards began to make full use of their physical advantage. Their superior scrummaging power was most aptly demonstrated, when following a tight-head won by Ron Urlich, Neil Cullimore scored a push-over try.
But Wellington stormed back and from a five yard scrum, Leslie detached and fed Graham Williams, the skipper making the touchdown. Wallis converted and Wellington was out to 24-11. But following another penalty and a Basil Gascoigne try, Auckland had clawed back to 20-24 by the half-time adjournment.
The second half was a completely different kettle of fish. ’Pole’ Whiting dominated the line-outs and on Wellington’s throw, the visitors poured through on poor old Nectar. His opposite, the young Gemmell boy and flyhalf, Mike Richards exhibited a first class exhibition of tactical kicking, pinning Wellington back in the southern corners of the ground.
The outstanding figure of the second half, Laurie Knight, then charged down a clearing kick by Darce, regathered the ball and raced 25 metres to score without a hand being laid on him. From then on, the Auk’s never looked back. The Wellington pack was being overwhelmed and the backs tried to open play up from within their 25, but with forwards going backwards, it was of little use.
Unashamedly playing ten man rugby with the aid of the northerly breeze, Auckland did not look to advance through the backs and subsequently, not once during the second half did the ball move further along the chain than Richards. But it was a clinical tactic in the conditions and superior as it was, paved the way for a deserved victory.
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On the same afternoon in Whangarei, under a cheerless sky and on a muddy pitch, North Auckland successfully defended the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 1972, defeating Buller by 35-0.
The holder’s ran in seven tries (three to Denis Panther, all in the first half), choosing to employ enterprising dry weather tactics in discouraging conditions. While he could only convert two of the tries, Ken Going illustrated again that he was without peer in New Zealand as a running full-back, but continued to be completely overlooked by national selectors.
The Buller forwards did not win sufficient ball to give themselves any chance of winning the match, although they played with remarkable spirit and never showed signs of giving up. By far their best player was the lively young half-back, John Gilbert.
Meanwhile, down the line in Gisborne, a brilliant try by Kirky was the highlight of an otherwise drab match between Poverty Bay and Thames Valley, the home side too good in winning by 32-12. Kirkpatrick's try came during the second half, when he fielded a centre kick some 25m out and burst through the would-be tackles to score beneath the posts.
(Left) Joe Karam, brought back into the Wellington side for the match against Taranaki and Mike Parkinson, pencilled in as the AB second five-eighth for the first Aussie test following a strong showing in the inter-island fixture.
On July 4th, Wellington gave Taranaki an Independence Day hiding in Hawera, to the tune of 31-6. Again they ran in five tries (Karam, Gray, Dougan, Wallis and Nicholls). The loss to Auckland saw Frank Ryan bring in Joe Karam at fullback. I was also pleased to note that Nectar had retained the half-back spot and Twig was holding firm to the inside centre position.
Wellington were to embark on a southern tour in mid-August, which would take in Dunedin on the 20th. I was still very much a Wellington fan and the opportunity to see them at my new home was eagerly awaited. I’d get the bus to Carisbrook if need be.
A try and a strong performance all round at second five-eighth from Ross Michael Parkinson (30/05/1948-17/01/2009) of Poverty Bay during the North/South fixture on July 15th (with Nectar at half-back), had the majority pencilling his name in for the first test against the Aussies. The North were to good in Christchurch, winning by 19-8.
But Parkinson was over-shadowed if anything, by Joe Morgan, during North Auckland’s second Ranfurly Shield defence against Poverty Bay a week later. The Bay arrived with a big reputation; they were led by the current All Black skipper, Ian Kirkpatrick and had a rugged and experienced forward pack.
The electric Parkinson was catching the eye and they had a reliable goal kicker in fullback, Bill Mabey.
A few moments before half-time, when it seemed the Taniwha may only hold a slender 7-3 lead at the break and have to front up to all the elements in the second spell, centre Rod Jones and Brian Going pulled a move - with the dubious title of “ganga” - which saw Jones score a try under the posts.
The second half belonged to Super Sid. The All Black vice-captain turned in a blinder and so inspired his men that they produced a brand of rugby that could rarely have been bettered by any side in the country. They added four further tries in running out the winner by 31-3.
A week later, Manawatu came to try their luck in the far north. Like Buller and Poverty Bay before them, Manawatu had never won or held the Ranfurly Shield. They had as the short-lived ‘Manawhenua’ (combined with neighbouring Horowhenua, 1925-1933), but not as a province in their own right.
What prevailed was a great shield challenge in every respect and after the fairytale rides against Buller and Poverty Bay, a reminder to the North Aucklander's that the challenges were only going to get harder.
A long bus trip from Palmerston North and then billeted accomodation in Waipu was expected to take it’s toll on the visiting team, but in the end, how the match was lost by Manawatu - Sam Strahan and John Callesen winning the line-out count by 36-12 - was beyond anyone’s guess.
How North Auckland held on in the final ten minutes to escape with a 4-4 draw is as equally baffling, where Manawatu players were literally halted in their tracks or thrown over the sideline on the brink of scoring.
Even the usually reliable Jim Francis appeared to have lost his nerve, missing a wide angled conversion and five penalty attempts, one an absolute sitter.
The All Black five-eighth, Bob Burgess, was one who could have done little more to aid his side’s cause. With such line-out dominance, he was able to dictate terms and - as managing director - gave an impeccable display of tactical kicking, keeping the ball ahead of his snorting forwards, of which one, a young guy called Lambert, was particularly impressive.
But in that final period of play Burgess himself, Francis, Doug Rollerson and Hugh Blair all went close to scoring. But bent, buckled and broken, the North Auckland defence somehow held, itself a tribute to the side’s tremendous team spirit.
The fans found the tension almost unbearable, indeed, the electric atmosphere was too much for two spectators on the terraces, who actually died during the course of the match. For the Manawatu though, it was another harsh Ranfurly Shield lesson, but using the football final analogy; “you have to lose one to win one”, the reign of Pegasus wasn’t too far away.
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(Left) North Auckland winger, Denis Panther, cuts inside the tackle of Poverty Bay's Peter Martin (10) during the Bay's shield challenge on July 22nd. (Right) It's a try for Mike Parkinson during the North/South fixture the preceding weekend in Christchurch.
(Left) John Callesen (with ball) and Sam Strachan (centre) dominated the line-outs for Manawatu during their shield challenge. (Right) Sid Going kicks ahead during the match. Manawatu players from left; Bob Burgess, Hugh Blair. Denis Panther follows the action.
The first tour to New Zealand by an Australian national side since 1964, got off to the worst possible start, being thrashed by Otago at Carisbrook by a whopping 26-0. “Wallabies wilt in Otago porridge”, wrote Lindsay Knight, sports editor of the Dominion newspaper, whose collected tour reports made up the publication Wallabies ’72. The men in gold from ‘the lucky country’, from far warmer climes than salty old Dunedin, had never experienced anything like it.
Notebook out; Second International side seen, Australia. Second time watching an Otago team, for the first time on one of the world’s most famous rugby grounds. Disturbingly, after this performance, it was hard not to be in love with Otago.
With a classical display of rugby for the conditions, the Otago mudlarks romped all over the tourists and the biggest wonder of it all, was how the score remained so low and as absolutely ridiculous as it sounds, this was down to some magnificent defence by the Australians.
The home forward pack subjected the Wallabies to a ceaseless assault of rucking and driving and behind the terrier-like forwards, captain, Lin Colling, reigned supreme. The little maestro scored two tries himself, the first of which - after 23 minutes - took the dark blues out to a 16-0 lead.
I was starting to think about how many times I’d seen Wellington play and what their win ratio was. I was half way through my first half watching Otago and they were already up against an International side by a near cricket score.
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Wallabies Arthur McGill, John Cole and Jeff McLean muse over the Carisbrook mud, which they attempted, with disastrous results, to play rugby on the following day.
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The one major disappointment in the whole affair was that, once again, Keith Murdoch had failed to front for Otago. The No. 1 enigma in New Zealand rugby, whom the selectors were counting on to prop the first test scrum, had ‘allegedly’ injured his ribs playing for a South Pacific XV against France in New Caledonia in July.
After his controversial season in 1971, it was hoped that ‘Keefy’ had turned a corner, following his focused and impressive form on the internal tour. As appeared to be quite normal, Otago officials had little idea what Murdoch was actually up to most of the time or they did know, but were embarrassed and decided to keep shtum.
But an impressive performance the preceding year against the Lions by a relative rookie from North Otago, was backed up by another against the Australians and suddenly Murdoch had an adversary to be concerned about in Jeff Matheson. That probably spurred him into action more than anything.
On the same afternoon, the log o’ wood was up for grabs again, this time the challenger, Taranaki.
Including the sound beating by Wellington, the Naki had lost five of seven games played before their challenge and while traditionally considered to be tough opposition, the holders were generally expected to be too well equipped in most departments and expected to win easily enough.
The fans, barely recovered from the Manawatu challenge seven days prior, were as surprised as anyone when Taranaki, with first use of the stiff south-westerly, shot out to a 15-4 lead.
Slowly the Cambridge blues got the wheels back on the wagon and not only clawed back the deficit, but extended it out to a pretty useful win by 27-15, scoring five tries to one.
The heroes for North Auckland were Bevan Holmes and Joe Morgan. Holmes man of the match performance was based around his relish at being returned to the No. 8 spot, where he hungered for ball and man all afternoon.
Morgan was an absolute rock in defence and scored a grand try after completing a regulation Mid-Northern scissors move with Sid Going.
Don Colling goes in for one of Otago’s four tries against Australia. Graham Sims is in support, John Cole behind the action.
An eye would have to be kept on this Joe Morgan joker. Last thing we needed was more midfield congestion for Twig to have to sort through in order to get that UK plane ticket.
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Action from the Ranfurly Shield match between North Auckland and Taranaki. (Left) Brian Going looks to off load in the tackle of Dennis Wards. Terry Heppell watches on. (Right) Awarded by the referee and acclaimed by Super Sid...it's a try for Joe Morgan. Bevan Grant is the Taranaki player sprawled on his back, John Snelling on right.
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August 5th was also the date that the Magpies began their annual four yearly Southern tour, with a match against Canterbury on Lancaster Park.
But they were absolutely no match at all for Canterbury and were heavily beaten by 3-27.
Morrie Collins (now a Cantab) scored a brace of tries, with Kevin Gimlett, Tane Norton, and ‘Toby’ MacDonald also dotting down. Hawkes Bay’s sole points came via a Paul Carney penalty.
A frenetic twelve day period followed, a most glorious spurt in my rugby education.
It was the August school holidays. Now, historically, we’d be in Hastings staying with Betty and Bruce at this juncture, but, being so far away on this occasion had it’s advantages.
With the mighty Magpies of Hawkes Bay on their sojourn, an annual tour in which they had established a rapport with and always played the same four unions, so too were my grandparents and their long time friends, Don and Molly Hagensen.
Myself and Sindy with from left; mother, father, grandmother Betty, Molly and Don Hagensen.
Betty, Bruce, Don and Molly had toured the South Island with the 1968 Magpies and the fact that we were now living in Dunedin, gave them an opportunity to take in the beauty of the South Island in winter for a second time.
Victory in game two against South Canterbury by 12-4 restored some form of faith, enhanced by a hard fought 13-7 win over Southland in Invercargill.
Notebook out; Second time seen Southland (third time Hawkes Bay) and second time a Southland-Hawkes Bay fixture, one at each of their home-grounds. Blistering stuff.
I expect our visitors arrived in Dunedin on August 11th, because the following day, I was off in the morning with them to Invercargill to watch the match.
A trip to Invercargill. What excitement for a young rugby fan. I was keen to check the place out. The previous year at Kilbirnie School, the class had been told that Southlander’s talk funny, they roll their ‘r’s’ or something. And they apparently all ride around on horse back? I probably mis-interpreted that bit, I assumed there’d be no cars.
I pondered all this in the back of Don’s Valiant as we were all heading out of Dunedin, down through Milton, Balclutha, Clinton, Edendale - places I’d never been near in my life - and heading for the southern most city in the world.
As you do, I remember a few subliminal flashes of the game, grey, muddy, raining…but more the fact that afterward we went to the Hotel where the Magpies were staying and had dinner with the team. Don was never seated at the table, always deeply locked in conversation with one player or another. Bruce knew a few from the sale yards and happily chatted away to them.
Don introduced me to one of the Ranfurly Shield heroes, Aidan Thomas, and he became the understudy to Nectar in my Valhalla XV. I shook his hand and passed him my match programme to sign, which he did and then passed it to the adjacent table to have the whole team add their signatures. Don’t ask where it is. My mother had an annoying habit of throwing important items, just such as this, in the rubbish bin. More on that later.
The same day as the Southland-Hawkes Bay fixture, the Wallabies recorded the first win of their tour in New Plymouth, defeating Taranaki by 20-15. Since the thrashing received against Otago, they had gone on to Westport and been beaten (10-15) by West Coast-Buller, who even combined would be close to New Zealand’s smallest union. But once again, heavy rain and a slushy turf were factors in their demise. New Plymouth was the first venue where they were aided by a dry track.
Therefore a win against such meritorious opposition as Taranaki was a real morale booster, with the first test in Wellington just seven days away. And on that note, with the gymnasium at the Star club in NP being used for the after-match function, AB selectors Vodanovich, Gleeson and Duff snuck into the women’s toilet for their final conference, reappeared and announced the All Black side for the first test.
Wallaby ball in the Taranaki match. Ian Eliason (5) bursts through in an attempt to obstruct Gary Grey (10).
I'll pre-suppose it was Sir Ivan who made the announcement, but in those days, it would have gone very much like this;
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"Here is the All Black side who will face Australia in the first test in Wellington next Saturday (some ruffling of paper and a clearing of the throat); T J Morris (Nelson Bays), B G Williams (Auckland), D A Hales (Canterbury), B J Robertson (Counties), R M Parkinson (Poverty Bay), J P Dougan (Wellington), S M Going (North Auckland), A R Sutherland (Marlborough), I A Kirkpatrick (Poverty Bay-Captain), A I Scown (before the word 'Taranaki' had been uttered, a buzz went around the gymnasium....the 'Naki had a new All Black and there was some degree of back-slapping and well wishing before the announcement continued).
P J Whiting (Auckland), S C Strahan (Manawatu), G J Whiting (King Country), R W Norton (Canterbury) and J D Matheson (Otago). Thank you ladies and gentlemen."
Once the well-wishers had finished swamping the home-town hero and focused had shifted back to the announcement, the first point of interest; seven new caps.
This created a little apprehension, we’d been in this vulnerable position a year before, trying the untried. But these Australians were not in the class of the Lions, in fact, the press had already dubbed them the “Woeful Wallabies”.
No Murdoch. It was hoped that ‘Keefy’ would be available to play, as one of the debutants was Graham Whiting and blooding two new props in one international was pretty risky stuff. But selection chair, Vodanovich, confirmed that - because of injury - Murdoch had not been considered. This paved the way for Jeff Matheson to continue his rise through the ranks and two new props it was. Alistair Scown was the only other forward who would be on debut.
The Going-Burgess partnership was re-instated, with a new inside centre-centre combination of Mike Parkinson and Bruce Robertson. This allowed BeeGee to take his rightful place on the left wing, with Duncan Hales elevated to the test arena on the other.
And after appearing in all fixtures on the internal tour, Trevor Morris retained the full-back berth, thus he too was making his test debut.
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The Naki had a new All Black in Alistair Scown. Along with Murray Wills (1967), they are the only two from the small Patea club.
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A few questions were asked as to the players who had gone on the internal tour, but now found themselves on the scrap heap; Richie Guy (although a named reserve), Alan McNaughton, Phil Gard and Ken Carrington. But the selectors stated that their replacements; Matheson, Scown, Parkinson and Hales had all earned their test call up’s on current form as it stood around the provincial circuit.
I noted with interest that two Otago players I’d seen in action recently, Lin Colling and Graham Sims were in the reserves. Both had been on the internal tour, as had me old mate from Wellington, ‘Darcy’ Dougan, also an emergency for the first of the internationals.
Lin Colling’s rise through the ranks was complete when confirmed as Goings understudy following the internal tour, where he played in matches against Marlborough (two tries), Mid-Canterbury, Counties and Wairarapa-Bush (two tries).
Yet another brace, a sterling performance and the ‘chief guiding light’ in Otago’s demolition of Australia, was enough to secure Colling’s place on the reserves bench for the three tests against the Aussies. Selection ahead of Lin Davis for the South Island side also, seemed to confirm that he was now firmly regarded as New Zealand’s No. 2 half-back.
It was then the turn of the Bay of Plenty union to be in the spotlight, with a Ranfurly Shield match and a game against the Wallabies just three days apart. It was an opportunity for Alan McNaughton particularly to make a statement with selectors present, but also other Hori Bop hopefuls in Peter Gilbert (Junior AB), the exciting Maori centre Eddie Stokes and AB trialist Greg Rowlands, perhaps.
But on the day of the shield challenge, Gilbert limped off injured and McNaughton was taken from the pack and put on the wing to replace him (after he’d been giving the Northland backs some curry) and Rowlands handled brilliantly, but kicked too often and inaccurately.
The Bay of Plenty began by performing a haka and on the field, stormed to within metres of the North Auckland line. They mounted robust and enthusiastic charges and for a long time, the men up front breathed sparks and fire.
But tries in the 27th (Ken Going) and 30th minutes (Rod Jones), turned the contest around and put paid to the hopes of the husky warriors in blue and gold.
North Auckland went to the break ahead by 16-0, the crowd of 17,000 enjoying the sunshine and the exhibition of skills on such a heavy track. Ken Going - playing his 100th match for his province - was again outstanding, as was the in form Joe Morgan.
Had the Bay side not put everything in the tank into their shield challenge, they may well have taken the scalp of the ‘Woeful’ Wallabies, who continued their woeful form by drawing 6-6 in the match in Tauranga. But the BoP faded badly in the closing stages and failed to seize the moment.
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Keefy (headband) in action for Hawkes Bay against Taranaki in a Ranfurly Shield match in New Plymouth, 1965.
Back in Dunedin, it was dead lucky for me that the grandparents were still in town, as the following day, four days after the Invercargill excursion, it was Hawkes Bay-Otago on Carisbrook. Being a Wednesday, I’d most likely not have been able to go, as it was there was a small controversy.
“You need to get permission from the principal,” protested my mother.
“Oh, c’mon Diane,” it was Uncle Don. “Where’s that spirit of that rebel girl I used to know?”
“I’m surprised at you Diane.” That was Betty and my mother was never going to get any change from her.
Father? Already gone to work. What would he say? No one could answer.
First piece of great news, not so great for a guy called Dave Olsen, was that Keefy was back in blue. Hawkes Bay folk were not great Murdoch fans. He’s one of life’s wanderers, couldn’t settle, moved around from province to province. The kind of fella who just needed to knuckle down (sorry Britain’s, that may have been the wrong term to have used). He’d even turned up in the Bay in ’65 and played a handful of games for the Magpies.
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"There were dead magpies hanging off the fences from Patea into New Plymouth. Mind you, we should have taken the shield home. (Keith) Murdoch. He just couldn’t keep his fists to himself. We were winning with two minutes to go and he had a go at one of their props.’’
Rex Harwood, Hawkes Bay Today (Roger Moroney), 2009
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He provided, of course, one of the games true highlights, when, with ball in hand, he came off the end of a line-out and charged straight at little Vince Costello, the Bay inside centre. The referee blew his whistle for an infringement, but Keefy had so much momentum going it was difficult for him to put the skids on instantly and Costello was back-peddling and trying to sidestep the giant for all he was worth. You could see the shit stain from the members stand.
But just like the Wallabies had, Hawkes Bay found the combination of mud and Otago’s powerhouse forward pay, just too much. It wasn’t just Vince Costello, the whole Magpie team played most of the game in reverse and it took some courageous play from full-back, Paul Carney, to stop Otago running riot.
It wasn’t so much a bad Hawkes Bay side either. Led admirably by Robbie Stuart (one of my Valhalla XV locks), the side still contained shield hero Mick Duncan and others from that golden era in Graham Wiig, Geoff Martin and Carney, Maori AB Tim Carter, Junior AB’s in Robbie Hunter and Ian Grant and future All Black, Mike McCool. Their 1972 playing record was 11 wins from 16 fixtures.
Laurie Mains was the star of the show for the dark blues, scoring a try, knocking over five penalty goals (hitting the crossbar on a sixth occasion), scoring 19 points in his teams 23-3 victory. Otago folk wondered why he was an All Black discard, asking questions about the incumbent, Trevor Morris and as to exactly why he was considered ‘better’.
Hawkes Bay rugby union representatives 1972
Otago rugby union representatives 1972
The following weekend was a very busy one. Saturday was test day. Now all the speculation and talk would be put to the test. It wasn’t even comprehensible that we would actually lose to this ‘woeful’ mob, but it was important for so many, many reasons that the All Blacks click, play well and post a small cricket score if possible. The latter bit, just for morale if nothing else.
First bit of drama. Bob Burgess withdrew from the team through illness and Darce was elevated to the starting XV, on his home track of Athletic Park to boot! And of course, he had a major impact in the game for several reasons. Firstly, he scored the game’s opening try, the first to be awarded four points under the new IRB scoring system, in an international fixture.
Secondly, owing to his natural, unbounded enthusiasm, he got a little off-side with Kirky, who had to remind him that he was the captain and would make the calls. The nervous chatter-box didn't have a great afternoon with his hands either unfortunately, but then all have suffered at times, brother Brian aside possibly, from playing stand-off outside Sid Going.
For the record, the All Blacks won the test by 29-6. They won the line-outs by 34-8, rucks 31-7 and Tane Norton took three tight-heads from his opposite, Mick Freney. So arguably, they should have won by a landslide, but the five tries posted and the nature of the forward performance was pleasing enough to the selectors and the general public.
In fact, the wealth of possession gained and superiority of the pack, driving and rucking with great heart, fire and purpose, had some saying it was the finest performance in a test by All Black forwards since the golden days of the 1960’s.
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Two on debut during the first test against Australia; John Dougan and Duncan Hales. Aussies from left; Garrick Fay, Gary Grey and Reg Smith.
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The following day, I’d be back at Carisbrook for a real juicy encounter - and a lot was riding on it - even four years before an official national provincial championship; Otago v Wellington.
It was my third trip to Carisbrook, so that lifted it one above McLean Park and second only to Athletic Park (7). My second Otago-Wellington encounter and - like Hawkes Bay-Southland - one at each venue.
Wellington’s own southern tour had begun on August 15th with a 38-11 win over South Canterbury in Timaru. Batts and Robert Gray scored a couple of tries each with Dave Martin, Kevin Horan and Graham Wallis chiming in also and Joe Karam being awarded a penalty try. Clock, now firmly entrenched as the number one full-back, could only convert three of the eight tries scored.
Another big win was recorded in Oamaru on the 17th, North Otago put away by 46-13. Gray collected another three tries, two for KS Jones and one each Wallis, Nicholls and Henderson. Karam improved his conversion ratio to an even 50% and banged over a couple of penalty goals.
Nectar and Dave Henderson were to share half-back responsibilities on the South Island tour, which was likely to decide who’d play in the major fixtures during September to close the season out. Nectar played the first game against South Canterbury, partnered with Dougan. Henderson played match two against North Otago, putting in a first class performance and scoring a try. Dougan had returned to Wellington to go in camp with the All Blacks before the first test and with not a lot riding on it and lack of other available personnel, Ryan named Nectar at first five-eighth.
Dougan returned for the Otago match, backing up from the test match the preceding day, but owing to an injury he received during the game, his chances of playing the second were thrown into jeopardy. The injury would in fact, rule him out of the remainder of the series and although he returned for the All Black trial on September 23rd, he hadn’t played enough top class rugby and had lost ground to others in his position, with a twist of irony, Ian Stevens in particular.
Like the Wallabies, like Hawkes Bay, Wellington - in atrocious conditions - were buried in the Carisbrook bog. While Laurie Mains again racked up a points tally from a try, penalty and two conversions, it was Joe Karam who emerged as the star of the match, consistently applauded for his faultless handling, sound tackling and good line kicking.
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Otago flanker, Rex Smith, can see the direction in which play with travel and support is coming thick and fast from Murdoch, Lindsay Clark, Greg McGee and Warren Townsend. Andy Leslie and Al Keown look pensive.
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Unfortunately for Wellington though, they never got themselves into gear and spent 80% of the match on defence. Lin Colling and Terry Morrison also scored tries for Otago, with Lyn Jaffray knocking over a dropped goal. Wellington’s points came from two ‘Clock’ penalties.
Nectar had taken to the fly-half position like a duck to water. Following the Otago game, with Dougan injured, Ryan paired Henderson and Stevens together again for the final match against Southland and following their performance, as part of a convincing team win, retained that combination for the remaining calendar of matches (the Waikato match aside on September 16th, where Darcy was given a run before the All Black trials and Nectar, returned to half-back, played a blinder).
On August 26th I was back at the ‘Brook for a fifth time that season, on this occasion to witness my first match in the old battle for southern supremacy between Otago and Canterbury.
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Canterbury half-back, Brent Elder, can ill afford to let Keefy get hold of him. Doug Bruce, Ian Hurst, Grizz, Morrie Collins, Toby MacDonald, Kerry Tanner and Tane Norton in support.
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Once again, Carisbrook was in a right state. Overhead conditions were favourable, but the ground was very heavy underfoot and only conducive to a good ol’ forward ding dong, between arguably the two best packs in the country. Courtesy of a try by Billy Bush (and the new IRB scoring system), Canterbury chiseled out a 4-3 win. Otago’s points, a Laurie Mains penalty of course.
On the same afternoon, there was plenty of other rugby action around the regions of New Zealand. Firstly, the Australian tour continued with a match in Napier against the Magpies, having returned from their own southern tour.
In fact, before their Wallaby fixture, they’d had a morale boosting win against the Waikato in Hamilton by 18-16, so ready they were to face the woeful’s. Hawkes Bay hadn’t beaten an international side since they dismantled England (20-5) in 1963, Ian MacRae scoring three tries and announcing his arrival as a class act in the midfield.
Although they were outscored by three tries to one, it was the Bay who held on to take the match by 15-14, although technically they should have been beaten by a solitary point, rather than winning by one.
With time up on the clock, Russell Fairfax had an opportunity to win the match for Australia, by converting the try as scored by Jeff McLean, right on full-time. The kick was but 15 metres to the left of the posts, but the pin-up boy of Australian rugby was sadly astray and with the poor miss, his side slumped to their fourth loss in seven matches on tour.
Relishing a rare dry track, the Wallabies stormed out to a 10-0 lead after 28 minutes, with Arthur McGill and Jeff McLean scoring tries, McLean - worryingly for the Magpies - leaving Paul Carney for dead with his speed and swerve.
Carney partially redeemed himself with a successful penalty and then the game’s turing point came on the stroke of half-time, flyhallf Geoff Martin, brushing aside some weak tackles to score by the posts. Australia, despite first use of a stiff offshore breeze, went to the break just 10-9 ahead.
Another Carney penalty followed by a 40m dropped goal by Martin, saw the Bay take control of the game at 15-10 before the show stopping finale. It had been a spirited performance by the Magpie eight up front. Led admirably by Robbie Stuart, they had driven into rucks with enthusiasm and vigour, Barry Macklow, Tim Carter and Don Mather proving an effective loose trio.
HB-Oz was also the first live broadcast of a rugby match (black and white) in New Zealand.
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Two try hero for the Oz, Jeff McLean is engulfed in the tackle of Paul Carney, with Don Mather arriving to finish the job. Mick Duncan and Don Rathie at left.
550km’s North-West in Whangarei, 36,000 packed into Okara Park for what was expected to be the sternest test of North Auckland’s character of ’72, a match against the old foe, Auckland. And that’s exactly what they got…a classic game of two halves.
The holders led by 9-3 at half-time courtesy of three penalty goals to Ken Going. Roger Whatman was successful with just the one for the challenger’s. North Auckland had won a surprising amount of line-out ball during the first forty minutes and often used it to launch bursting forward rushes. But for all their vim and vigour, they were unable to make the death thrust, as such, with a try or two.
The second half belonged to the challengers. Northland were denied line-out ball, knocked over by some ferocious tackling and long punts into open country by Bruce Gemmell and Mike Richards saw Auckland start to dictate terms and take control of the territorial tussle. Eventually, the points came.
A Mike Richards dropped goal levelled the scores at 9 a piece and a second from him with five minutes to play, saw Auckland stretch their lead out to 16-9. In between the pots, Dave Palmer had crossed for a try, through some pretty suspect tackling.
North Auckland now needed to score twice to retain the shield and time was running out. With 39 minutes on the clock, Super Sid did manage to do his usual damage when Auckland had a scrum on their goal line. Ken converted, but it was all too late.
North Auckland’s shield reign is over. Sid Going says a few words before handing the trophy over to Auckland skipper, Neil Cullimore.
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One of the shining lights of the Auckland victory was the 6’ 6” Andy Haden, who cleaned Northland out in the second half line-outs. It was noted too, that Peter Sloane had shaded Ron Urlich in their hooking duel and was ‘mighty’ in general play.
Young Gemmell had looked slick at half-back, but not as slick as Richards at first five-eighth. This was a little worrying for Nectar and what might be a pecking order in the furious race to the finish come selection for the UK.
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