Shield ’69 – The Ranfurly Shield in Hawke’s Bay 1969
THE 1968 HAWKE’S BAY TEAM – Back row: N. R. Armstrong, D. G. Curtis, D. B. Smith, A. Meech, B. Albert, M. S. Reddy. Third row: G. A. Condon, G. T. Wiig, H. Meech, R. S. Abel, R. L. Stuart, K. K. Crawford, J. Brownlie. Second row: Mr J. J. O’Connor (shield team manager), P. D. Pratt, W. L. Davis, I. R. MacRae, M. G. Duncan, I. R. Bishop, P. R. Carney Mr I. Hay (masseur). Seated: T. W. Johnson, Mr W. S. Bramwell (chairman), K. R. Tremain (captain), Mr C. M. Le Quesne (selector), B. D. M. Furlong, Mr J. B. Buxton (assistant coach), N. W. Thimbleby. In front: M. A. Thomas, J. P. Dougan, H. J. Paewai, G. I. Martin.
Hurst Studio, Napier
Page ONE
HAWKE’S BAY Rugby once again attained great heights during 1969, a season in which the introduction of the kick-into-touch law altered the character of the game and imposed a fresh dimension in defending the Ranfurly Shield.
FOREWORD
Yet the resources of the Hawke’s Bay team were such that it overcame the change by modifying its previous thinking, establishing a new defensive scheme and emerging with merited success in all but its last defence – the team’s 22nd.
And, in losing the shield to Canterbury, Hawke’s Bay displayed the same high ideals of sportsmanship that highlighted its three years of supremacy in New Zealand Rugby.
Although the defeat with so many new achievements on the horizon was a disappointment to the team and its many supporters, Hawke’s Bay Rugby emerged with the knowledge that its depth in youthful talent and its sound financial backing would ensure the province a major place in New Zealand Rugby for many years.
There was a great deal more movement and excitement in the eight defences of ’69 and a great many more tries against Hawke’s Bay than in the previous two seasons. The year had its high points in the try-scoring bonanza against Waikato, King Country’s spirited second-half resurgence and, of course, the season’s inevitable cliff-hanger, this time against North Auckland.
Hawke’s Bay faced the disappointment of Kelvin Tremain’s retirement from international Rugby and was shocked that only one player reached the North Island side, although others did subsequently play as a result of injuries to original selections.
Two players, Ian MacRae and Bill Davis, retained their All Black places, and Hepa Paewai and Tom Davis played for the New Zealand Maoris.
In farewelling the shield to Canterbury, the Hawke’s Bay team and public wish Canterbury success. The Hawke’s Bay supporters thank its team for three glorious years of Rugby and express the wish that the shield may soon return.
Contents
Features: Page
R.B.R.F.U messages 2
End of an Era, by C. M. Le Quesne 3, 4
Shield Men ’69 5, 6, 7
Match revenue 9
H. B. statistics, appearances 10, 11
Training, by Bryan Wilson 43, 45
Spare a Thought interview with K. R. Tremain 47, 49
Goal-kicking glamour 51
Shield History 52, 53
Challenge:
Wairarapa 14
Manawatu 17
King Country 21
Waikato 25
Wellington 30
North Auckland 33
Taranaki 38
Canterbury 55
Written and compiled by K. R Hawker. Edited by R G. Mulholland.
Photographs by The Daily Telegraph staff photographers, D. C. McLachlan, R. Marshall and R. Slagter
Page TWO
“A MAGNIFICENT JOB”
By Mr W. H. Gimblett, president H.B.R.F.U.
During the past three seasons, and, more particularly, this year, I’ve not ceased to be amazed at the tremendous amount of work which goes into the holding of the Ranfurly Shield and generally administering this wonderful game of Rugby.
The team this year has done a magnificent job. The players have been devoted to their task in all matches – shield and non-shield – and at all times given their utmost to each other, their province and the game.
The administrators have all shared equally the burden of extra work which comes with holding the shield and although they have had to face their share of criticism, from time to time, their job has been done with honesty and sincerity and for the good of the game.
This will go down as another great season in Hawke’s Bay Rugby and may I personally thank all those who have contributed to its success.
By Mr W. S. Bramwell, chairman H.B.R.F.U.
The Canterbury match in 1969 marked a three-year tenure of the Ranfurly Shield by Hawke’s Bay. During that time 22 challenges have been met, including a challenge from every major union in New Zealand.
Only the players in this team of ours, the selector, the coach and the union can speak with authority of the tremendous effort and the constant training needed from every member of the team to keep at peak match fitness.
We remember, too, those players who have been on the fringe of the team, and yet have cheerfully trained constantly with it week after week. The wives of the players have also made great sacrifices during this long period. We think, too, of those players who have unfortunately, suffered injuries.
The members of the management committee have also made a wonderful contribution. The holding of the shield has entailed much additional work for them, but everyone has carried out his job willingly and well.
Page THREE
By C. M. Le Quesne, Hawke’s Bay Selector, 1957-1969.
END OF AN ERA…
When I saw Canterbury score that try early in the second half in our last defence of 1969, I realised not only were we going to lose the Ranfurly Shield, which had been part and parcel of our lives in Hawke’s Bay for three years, but we had to come to the end of an era.
When I took over Hawke’s Bay Rugby in 1957 things were in a bad state. We were unable then to break even in representative matches.
My first job, as I saw it, was to start building a team which had weight and size in the forwards. This took about four years and I first realised that we were starting to make some real progress into the top levels of provincial Rugby about 1960.
I suppose the first signs of success were evident in 1961 when the team won seven matches and lost four and again, in 1962, we won 10 matches and lost only three.
Those first 10 years by myself were hard. It was hard for the players and for myself to find the support of the public which had spent so many years watching a losing Hawke’s Bay side.
By the early 1960s, Hawke’s Bay was on the way to the top. The members of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union made a real effort to get behind the players and myself and this was about the time that the present chairman of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union, Mr W. S. Bramwell, took over.
The players also got behind the union and the combination of these factors provided the foundation from which it was possible to build up our playing strength.
We did not lose sight of the Hawke’s Bay style of Rugby as it had always been played, or, as other Hawke’s Bay teams in the leaner years, had tried to play it.
By looking for size and weight in the forward packs we were able, in 1957, to put together a pack with an average weight of 15st 4lbs. The bigger, promising boys were trained and the nucleus of the team for the 1960s was formed.
My only regret is that we did not win the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland in 1963. We drew that match 3-all, but had we won then we would have continued.
Hawke’s Bay Rugby was really at the top then. But the players were younger, everyone was that much keener and so much better placed to spend more time on the game and give more to it.
So that when I say I saw the end of an era with that Canterbury try I then felt for the first time that the end of the 1960s in Hawke’s Bay Rugby had arrived. We started from a low point and finished on a high note and I’m very proud and grateful for the way the boys have toiled and worked to achieve all they have done.
But make no mistake about it, this has been a great year for Hawke’s Bay. We played 14 matches and won 13 of them. This is the closest we have come to an unbeaten record and even if the shield has gone it is certainly a season’s record to be proud of.
The new kick-into-touch law made a great difference. It brought the weaker teams up and nearer the level of the stronger sides. It required a new approach
Page FOUR
End of an era
by us at the start of the season, but I felt all along that we could handle it.
It meant that we had to go back to driving forward play and, of course, this was a phase of play at which Canterbury were so much better on the day.
Now that the shield has gone we can still look to great years of Rugby from Hawke’s Bay teams. The legacy of the shield years will be the depth of talent in the province.
This has been the chief benefit to the sport in Hawke’s Bay over the past three years.
The shield has just gone in time because we would have been in danger next season of losing some of those younger players who have had to sit in the background for the past three years.
A province can hold the shield for too long and, now that we have come to the end of an era in Hawke’s Bay, we can look forward to some fresh, modern thinking on the game.
I’ve retired because if I were to carry on it would just be the same old ideas all over again. There are other considerations as well. I’m 56 and I don’t think I could put into the game everything that I have done over the past 13 years.
If it were just a simple job of going along on Saturdays to look at players and select teams, then I would be prepared to continue. But, as every selector who has ever had the job in any province will agree, the job of selector is more than just selecting teams.
You have to organise, train, coach and bring together a group of chaps and this takes time. In fact, it is a full-time job.
This was a hard season, but a very successful one. The best team we played was Canterbury. The hardest pack we came up against was Taranaki and the hardest game of all was against North Auckland.
But looking back over the 22 defences, I still think the best shield match was against Taranaki in 1967. This had everything – tension, good solid football and real purpose and excitement in every movement.
The team took a hammering in its final few matches of the season and while Canterbury was the better team – make no mistake about that – our chaps looked tired. During the last week they trained well and nobody could have asked for more. They could have been mentally tired, as well.
We lost to Canterbury because we lacked possession in the lineouts and, if you haven’t got possession there isn’t much you can do. This was interesting because, during the season, Hawke’s Bay had done extremely well in the lineouts. For Canterbury to achieve this success was completely against the pattern in Hawke’s Bay’s other matches.
It has been suggested that eight shield defences in one season are too many. I think the ideal is six or seven defences, but we had our breaks in between and, in general, I think the programme for the 1969 season worked out satisfactorily.
In the non-shield fixtures we used only five or six of the shield team, the remainder being reserves and, to win all those matches, particularly the Auckland match, was a fine achievement. Over the past three or four years, Hawke’s Bay has brought Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Waikato into its list of annual fixtures and this should ensure a good standard of competition in the future.
Hawke’s Bay Rugby can enter the future with confidence. The union should never look back. The players can take the field and hold their heads up and the team should never be in a position where it cannot break even.
If any of the current players retire then some, if not all, may take up coaching which is sadly lacking in the province.
The shield in Hawke’s Bay has been a wonderful thing, although it is much better challenging for it than defending it. It doesn’t really pay to hold it for longer than two seasons because it tends to interfere with football at all levels and especially the younger players.
I suspect most people won’t be sorry to see it go, but I would make a plea for the public not to desert the Hawke’s Bay team and Hawke’s Bay Rugby in general now that it has gone. Public support helped make the Hawke’s Bay team what it is today.
As the game develops under the new laws we will see more attacking Rugby. The game has become more fluid and for this reason I consider that the shield will change hands more frequently in the future. It may be that Hawke’s Bay is the last of the teams to hold the shield for any great length of time.
The Taranaki style of defence as we all know it is out and this is for the good of the game. It has produced a brighter, more spectacular game and requires players to be more adaptable and mobile. No team has yet mastered the new laws and greater emphasis will have to be given the role of the full-back in the modern game and speed in the basic skills.
Thanks are due to the administrators, the public, the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Supporters’ Club. my assistant coaches over three years, John Buxton and Tom Johnson the masseur, Ian Hay, the training instructor, Bryan Wilson, and the shield team manager, Jim O’Connor.
In thanking Hawke’s Bay players for their support, I must point out that the behaviour of the Hawke’s Bay team has never been criticised. They have been a great bunch of chaps and their behaviour has always been complimented.
I had often wondered how the team would react to losing the shield. It was something I had never mentioned, but I’m proud that they accepted defeat in a sportsmanlike fashion. This is what sport and the game of Rugby is all about. If we can continue to be gallant in defeat, then Rugby in Hawke’s Bay will continue to flourish.
Page FIVE
Shield men ’69
KELVIN TREMAIN
Flanker: 31, 6ft 2in, 16st 7lb; Southland 1957, Manawatu 1958, Canterbury 1959, 1961, Auckland 1960, Hawke’s Bay 1962-69. All Blacks 1959-68. Failed to make Tests against Wales this year and has since retired from international Rugby. Still regarded as the greatest loose forward. Stock agent.
IAN BISHOP
Full-back: 26, 5ft 11½in, 12st 3lb; Hawke’s Bay 1963-69. Had an indifferent start to the season under the new kick-into-touch rule, but emerged with a great understanding of the new role. Failed to score points century for first time in four years, but still an impeccable goal-kicker. Engineer’s assistant.
PAUL CARNEY
Full-back: 22, 6ft, 13st; H. B. B team 1967-68, Hawke’s Bay A 1969; emerged as a real threat to Bishop at the start of the season; an accurate goal-kicker and very sound player in defence. Farmhand.
MICK DUNCAN
Three-quarter: 21, 6ft 1in, 13st 10lb; Hawke’s Bay 1966-69. Moved from wing to take up Davis’ place at centre later in season; grand form caught selector’s eye putting him in the Junior All Blacks and the North Island side. Farmhand.
DENNIS SMITH
Wing: 25, 5ft 10½in, 11st; Hawke’s Bay 1964-69. Made an outstanding contribution on the wing, especially in the Taranaki match; another who made his mark when brought from the reserves for later matches. Clerk.
DOUG CURTIS
Winger: 25, 5ft 9½in, 12st 3lb; Hawke’s Bay B 1964-65, Hawke’s Bay 1967-69. Reserve for early matches, but made a fine job on the wing after Davis’ injury. A splendid match against Taranaki. Stock agent.
BILL DAVIS
Centre: 26, 5ft 11½in, 12st: 12lb; Hawke’s Bay 1961-69; All Blacks 1963-64, 1967-69. Started season on the wing, but showed true potential when moved to centre. Promise of a great season ended with a broken ankle in the North Auckland match. Company representative.
IAN MacRAE
Five-eighth: 26, 6ft 2in, 14st; West Coast 1961, Bay of Plenty 1962, Hawke’s Bay 1963-69; All Blacks 1963-64, 1966-69. A strong link in the Hawke’s Bay line first at centre and later at second five-eighth. Timber company employee.
Page SIX
JOHN DOUGAN
Five-eighth: 22, 5ft 7½in, 11st; 8lb; Wellington 1967; Hawke’s Bay 1968-69; Junior All Black 1967-58. Started out as No. 1 second five-eighth but became second-string to MacRae after mid-season rearrangement. Sales rep-representative
BLAIR FURLONG
Five-eighth: 24, 6ft, 13st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1963-65, 1967-69; Bay of Plenty 1967. A fine tactical player at first five-eighth, directed the holders well and impressed with accomplished kicking; reached North Island reserves. Clerk.
HEPA PAEWAI
Half-back: 21, 5ft 7in, 11st 9lb; Hawke’s Bay 1966-69. Maintained place as top half-back in Hawke’s Bay with some brilliant displays: played in the New Zealand Maori side for both Tests against Tonga. Farmhand.
AIDAN THOMAS
Half-back: 22, 5ft 6in, 10st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1967-69. Failed to dislodge Paewai from behind the scrum for major matches in spite of fine form in non-shield matches. Bank officer.
GARY CONDON
Loose forward: 24, 6ft 2in, 14st 3lb; Hawke’s Bay 1965-69. His game did not reach the high points of 1968, but a most reliable and valued back row forward. Police constable.
JOHN RUMBALL
Flanker: 26, 6ft 1in, 13st 12lb; former Manawatu and New Zealand Universities representative made his debut for Hawke’s Bay this season and after a slow start caught the imagination of the public with some outstanding Rugby. Agricultural officer.
KARAAN CRAWFORD
Lock: 26, 6ft 3in, 17st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1964-69; Junior All Blacks 1965. A grand season both in loose and tight play with his line-out work at its most spectacular and successful against North Auckland. Teacher.
ROD ABEL Lock: 33, 6ft 4½in, 165t 71b; Canterbury 1960- 62; Hawke’s Bay 1963- 65, 1967-69. A grand forward in all phases of the game; commanded respect from every forward pack which played Hawke’s Bay. Marineland manager.
NEIL THIMBLEBY
Prop: 30, 5ft 10in, 15st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1959-69. An institution in Hawke’s Bay Rugby after 10 years service; a challenge in himself to any front row which came up against him. Played 142 matches for the province. Watersider.
Page SEVEN
GUS MEECH
Hooker: 29, 5ft 10½in, 13st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1963-69; resumed hooking role after retirement in 1968 of Myles Reddy. Held his own with success against the country’s best; Market gardener.
HILTON MEECH
Prop: 27, 6ft 3in, 15st 7lb; Hawke’s Bay 1962-64; Canterbury 1965-66; Hawke’s Bay 1967-69; played terrific Rugby until a broken shoulder in the North Auckland match brought his season to an early end. Farmer.
GRAHAM WIIG
Prop: 21, 6ft 3½in, 15st 10lb; Hawke’s Bay 1968-69. Made his shield debut against Taranaki replacing the injured Hilton Meech. Impressive stature and regarded as the province’s brightest forward prospect. Plastics worker.
20 players called on in defence of shield
Twenty players were called on to defend the Ranfurly Shield for Hawke’s Bay during 1969, but the squad, which originally numbered 25, was enlarged at times to meet the demands of other representative matches and injuries.
In all, 29 players were asked to play or strengthen the reserves and of this number 26 played in either shield or non-shield matches.
Three players, Max Loughlin, Robbie Stuart and Neil Bishop (brother of Ian Bishop) were reserves in shield matches, but did not play for the province during the season.
Those to play in non -shield matches were Mike O’Malley (hooker), Mike Natusch (five-eighths), Phil Pratt (flanker or No. 8), Richard Robinson (lock), Tom Davis (flanker), and Peter Hobdell (winger).
OTHER HONOURS
Other honours gained by Hawke’s Bay players during the season included Bill Davis and Ian MacRae in the All Blacks; Mick Duncan reached the New Zealand Juniors and Hepa Paewai was the reserve half-back in that team; Davis was named in the North Island team, but was unable to play because of injury, and MacRae and Duncan later made the North Island side although not originally selected; Blair Furlong was a reserve for the North Island.
Both Tom Davis and Paewai played for the New Zealand Maoris in “Tests” against Tonga.
BISHOP’S RECORD
Full-back I. R. Bishop headed Hawke’s Bay’s points scoring in shield matches from 1966 to 1969 with 178 points and, in doing so, bettered the previous highest individual total of 177 by Auckland’s M. C. M. Cormack.
Hawke’s Bay points scorers in shield matches (1966-69) were:
T P C DG Pts
I. Bishop – 33 38 1 178
W. Davis 13 – – – 39
K. Tremain 12 – – – 36
B. Furlong 6 – – 6 36
M. Duncan 11 – – – 33
I. MacRae 9 – – – 27
J. Dougan 2 – – 3 15
D. Smith 4 – – – 12
P. Carney – 2 2 – 10
T. Johnson 3 – – – 9
D. Bone 3 – – – 9
H. Paewai 3 – – – 9
A. Thomas 2 – – – 6
G. Condon 2 – – – 6
K. Crawford 2 – – – 6
H. Meech 2 – – – 6
D. Curtis 1 – – – 3
N. Thimbleby 1 – – – 3
J. Rumball 1 – – – 3
R. Abel 1 – – – 3
Totals 78 35 40 10 449
Page NINE
THREE SEASONS YIELD $180,000
The Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union made a profit of about $180,000 from its 22 defences of the shield over the past three seasons.
More than 430,000 paid $152,000 to see these matches and on top of this programme sales for the period realised more than $28,000.
Attendances this year, because there were eight challenges compared with seven in each of the previous two seasons, exceeded the 160,000 mark – the highest for the three seasons.
The ’69 season also included a ground attendance record. The figure of 26,292 was reached at the Wellington defence.
Although attendances were higher, profits were down because three of the eight matches (King Country, North Auckland and Canterbury) were special challenges.
Special challengers can claim up to 40 per cent of the net gate for expenses incurred in playing the match.
The major item in the expenses is the 20 per cent paid to the Napier City Council in ground rental.
Attendances: –
1967: Manawatu 21,500, Waikato 22,500, Wairarapa 18,800, Southland 19,600, Taranaki 24,200, Otago 19,150, Wellington 25,580; total, 151,330.
1968: Bush 13,781, East Coast 13,292, Poverty Bay 14,249, Marlborough 20,125, Counties 13,241, Bay of Plenty 18,695, Auckland 25,423; total, 118,806.
1969: Wairarapa 16,480, Manawatu 17,986, King Country 21,252, Waikato 17,358, Wellington 26,292, North Auckland 20,574, Taranaki 20,177, Canterbury (est) 23,000; total, 163,119.
Programme returns: – 1967, $9,922; 1968, $9,278; 1969 (est), $9,500; total, $28,700.
Shield match revenue
1967
Match Gross Expenses Net
Manawatu $10,400.91 $1,976.15 $8,424.76
Waikato $10,251.00 $1,855.90 $8,395.10
Wairarapa $9,256.22 $1,982.95 $7,273.27
Southland $9,870.23 $2,185.87 $7,684.36
Taranaki $11,628.92 $2,124.92 $9504.00
Otago $9,016.01 $3,517.67 $5,498.34
Wellington $12,202.11 $2,399.86 $9,802.25
$72,625.40 $16,043.32 $56,582.08
1968
Match Gross Expenses Net
Bush $7,118.96 $1,355.40 $5,763.56
East Coast $6,763.36 $1,308.44 $5,454.92
Poverty Bay $7,242.50 $1,593.22 $5,649.28
Marlborough $9,207.14 $2,520.72 $6,686.42
Counties $6,719.94 $1,564.81 $5,155.13
Bay of Plenty $8,801.40 $1,555.70 $7,245.70
Auckland $11,430.55 $1,463.95 $9,966.60
$57,283.85 $11,362.24 $45,921.61
1969
Match Gross Expenses Net
Wairarapa $9,238.72 $3,999.13 $5,239.59
Manawatu $9,503.45 $4,089.92 $5,413.53
King Country $10,949.78 $4,362.03 $6,587.75
Waikato $7,559.62 $3,531.88 $4,027.74
Wellington $12,300.00 (est.) $3,100.00
North Auckland $9,8000.00 (est.) $3,500.00 $6,300.00
Taranaki $9,700.00 (est.) $2,900.00 $6,800.00
Canterbury $10,500.00 (est.) $3,900.00 $6,600.00
$79,551.57 $29,382.96 $50,168.61
Page TEN
Hawke’s Bay won the Ranfurly Shield from Waikato, 6-10, in its last match of the 1966 season. That season, Hawke’s Bay played 13 matches, won eight, lost two, and drew three, scoring 233 points and conceding 116.
1967
MATCH RECORD
For Ag.
v. Wairarapa, at Masterton 22 12
v. N.S.W. Country, at Hastings 28 8
v. Counties, at Papakura 20 12
v. Auckland, at Auckland 3 14
v. Manawatu, at Napier * 11 6
v. Waikato, at Napier * 35 9
v. Poverty Bay, at Gisborne 13 6
v. Wairarapa, at Napier* 27 6
v. Bay of Plenty, at Rotorua 8 8
v. Southland, at Napier* 29 6
v. East Coast, at Tokomaru Bay 19 0
v. Taranaki, at Napier* 16 3
v. Otago, at Napier * 9 8
v. Wellington, at Napier * 12 12
252 110
* Denotes Ranfurly Shield defence.
Played 14, won 11, lost 1, drew 2.
POINTS SCORERS
P T Con D.G. Pts
I. R. Bishop 18 – 25 1 107
K. R. Tremain – 8 – – 24
I. R. MacRae – 6 – – 18 1.
G. I. Martin – – – 4 12
D. G. Curtis – 4 – – 12
B. D. M. Furlong 1 2 – 1 12
W. L. Davis – 3 – – 9
D. R. Bone – 3 – – 9
M. G. Duncan – 3 – – 9
N. W. Thimbleby – 2 – – 6
D. B. Smith – 2 – – 6
R. S. Abel – 2 – – 6
M. A. Thomas – 2 – – 6
P. Carney – – 2 – 4
A. Dick – 1 – – 3
N. R. Armstrong – 1 – – 3
K. K. Crawford – 1 – – 3
G. A. Condon – 1 – – 3
19 41 27 6 252
1968
MATCH RECORD
For Ag.
v. Wairarapa, at Hastings 17 6
v. Waikato, at Hamilton 15 14
v. Bush, at Napier* 36 6
v. East Coast, at Napier* 31 0
v. Wairarapa, at Masterton 6 0
v. France, at Napier 12 16
v. Taranaki, at New Plymouth 3 6
v. Poverty Bay, at Napier* 21 5
v. Canterbury, at Christchurch 8 3
v. Sth. Canterbury, at Timaru 19 12
v. Otago, at Dunedin 3 14
v. Southland, at Invercargill 24 12
v. Marlborough, at Napier* 30 3
v. Manawatu, at Palmerston Nth. 9 6
v. Counties, at Napier* 18 3
v. Wellington, at Wellington 19 9
v. Bay of Plenty, at Napier* 14 0
v. Auckland, at Napier* 9 9
*Ranfurly Shield defence. 294 124
Played 18, won 14, lost 3, drew 1.
POINTS SCORERS
T. Con. D.G. Pts
I. R. Bishop 2 5 – 16 1 110
M. G. Duncan – 9 – – 27
B. D. M. Furlong – 2 – 7 27
P. R. Carney 4 – 2 – 16
K. K. Crawford – 5 – – 15
G. A. Condon – 5 – – 15
W. L. Davis – 4 – – 12
D. G. Curtis – 4 – – 12
T. W. Johnson – 4 – – 12
K. R. Tremain – 4 – – 12
D. B. Smith – 4 – – 12
J. P. Dougan – 2 – – 6
R. Abel – 2 – – 6
H. J. Paewai – 2 – – 6
I. R. MacRae – 1 – – 3
H. Meech – 1 – – 3
Total 29 49 18 8 294
1969
MATCH RECORD
For Ag.
v. Wairarapa, at Masterton 17 14
v. Auckland, at Auckland 6 3
v. Counties, at Papakura 17 9
v. Wairarapa, at Napier* 18 11
v. Manawatu, at Napier* 22 6
v. King Country, at Napier* 19 16
v. Bay of Plenty at Whakatane 20 14
v. Waikato, at Napier* 27 13
v. Wellington, at Napier* 14 6
v. Poverty Bay, at Gisborne 19 14
v. North Auckland, at Napier* 10 8
v. East Coast, at Tokomaru Bay 51 3
v. Taranaki, at Napier* 24 8
v. Canterbury, at Napier* 11 18
*Ranfurly Shield defence.
Played 14, Won 13, Lost 1
POINTS SCORERS
P T Con D.G. Pts
I. R. Bishop 12 – 14 – 64
P. R. Carney 7 1 14 – 52
B. L. Davis – 9 – – 27
J. P. Dougan – 2 – 4 18
I. R. MacRae – 5 – – 15
D. B. Smith – 5 – – 15
D. G. Curtis – 4 – – 12
M. G. Duncan – 4 – – 12
B. D. M. Furlong – 2 – 2 12
K. R. Tremain – 3 – – 9
M. R. S. Natusch – 3 – – 9
K. K. Crawford – 2 – – 6
H. J. Paewai – 2 – – 6
H. Meech – 2 – – 6
J. P. Rumball – 2 – – 6
R. S. Abel – 1 – – 3
P. D. Pratt – 1 – – 3
Totals 19 48 28 6 275
Page ELEVEN
H.B. APPEARANCES IN 1969
Wairarapa Auckland Counties WAIRARAPA MANAWATU KING COUNTRY Bay of Plenty WAIKATO WELLINGTON Poverty Bay NORTH AUCKLAND East Coast TARANAKI CANTERBURY Totals
I. R. Bishop 1 † 1 1 † 1 † 1 1 † 1 * 1 1 9
W. L. Davis 1 * * 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * * * 9
I. R. MacRae 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 † 1 * 1 1 11
M. G. Duncan * 1 1 1 1 1 † * 1 * 1 * 1 1 9
J. P. Dougan 1 1 1 1 1 1 † † † 1 † 1 † †8
B. D. M. Furlong * 1 † 1 1 1 † 1 1 † 1 * 1 1 9
H. J. Paewai 1 * * 1 1 1 * * 1 * 1 † 1 1 8
G. A. Condon 1 † 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 11
J. P. Rumball – 1 1 1 1 1 † 1 1 † 1 1 1 1 11
K. K. Crawford 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 14
R. S. Abel 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 † 1 1 13
K. R. Tremain * 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 12
N. W. Thimbleby 1 * 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 13
A. Meech † † 1 1 1 1 † 1 1 † 1 † 1 1 9
H. Meech 1 1 1 1 1 1 * 1 1 † 1 * * * 9
P. R. Carney – 1 † † 1 † 1 † † 1 † 1 † † 5
M. A. Thomas † 1 1 † † † 1 1 † 1 † 1 † † 6
D. G. Curtis 1 † 1 † † † 1 1 † 1 † 1 1 1 8
M. R. S. Natusch 1 † 1 † † † 1 * † 1 † 1 † † 5
D. B. Smith † 1 † 1 † † 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10
M. J. O’Malley 1 1 † † † † 1 † † 1 † 1 † † 5
G.T. Wiig – 1 † † † † 1 † † 1 † 1 1 1 6
P. D. Pratt 1 – – † † † 1 † † 1 † 1 † † 4
R. M. Robinson * 1 † † † † 1 * * * † 1 † † 3
T. Davis 1 * * † † † * † † * † 1 † † 2
M. Loughlin – – – – – – – † – – – † – – 0
P. Hobdell – – – – – – – – – – – 1 † † 1
R. L. Stuart – – – – – – – – † – – – – – 0
N. J. Bishop – – – – – – – – † – – – – – 0
Key: 1 appeared, * unavailable, † reserve.
Page THIRTEEN
AMONG THE MANY DISTINGUISHED GUESTS of Hawke’s Bay Rugby during the 1969 season was the United States Ambassador to New Zealand, Mr John Henning (fifth from right), pictured here with his son, Thomas (10), on the balcony of the Hawke’s Bay team’s hotel watching the Wellington procession. Hawke’s Bay players, from left, are Phil Pratt, Mike O’Malley, John Dougan, Blair Furlong, Kel Tremain and Richard Robinson.
Page FOURTEEN
CHALLENGE ONE:
Dougan shines in uneasy victory
Man’s first step on the moon dominated the news early in the week leading up to the Hawke’s Bay’s first defence of the shield for 1969, against Wairarapa.
But by the end of the week the province was buzzing with Rugby excitement again as the first big game drew nearer and Hawke’ Bay returned from the two-match warm-up tour against Auckland and Counties with its first “double” win.
The match started dramatically as Wairarapa opened the scoring in the first minute with a penalty goal by Dermott Payton – a glorious kick from the 10-yard mark and one which had spectators worried that Payton would be Wairarapa’s shield winner.
Payton, however, was astray with an easier shot after 10 minutes by which time Hawke’s Bay had started its typical rampage into the challenger’s territory.
Two minutes later Blair Furlong trickled a kick through the Wairarapa backs. Gary Condon belted it further ahead with his boot and John Dougan flashed through to take the ball over the line before gathering in to score.
Six minutes later, Dougan received the ball from a quick heel just inside the Wairarapa 25 and flicked over a classy dropped goal.
But John Tuckerman, the Wairarapa first five-eighth, followed up a series of dangerous kicks into Hawke’s Bay’s goal by slinging a dummy and then putting over a dropped goal to equalise the score.
A gentle breeze was favouring Wairarapa in the first: half and back down in Hawke’s Bay’s territory after 25 minutes, half-back, Hepa Paewai, was hurried into a wild in-field pass. The Wairarapa forwards seized on the opportunity and Bill Rowlands crashed over for a try beneath the posts.
This was the third try against Hawke’s Bay in its 15 defences up to that point and Payton made no mistake with the conversion.
Bishop, however, kicked a 35-yard penalty 10 minutes before half-time, and Hawke’s Bay trailed 9-11.
But 10 minutes after the start, Kel Tremain charged away from a lineout on the Wairarapa 25. Hilton Meech took the pass, dummied back to Tremain, and dived over for the try.
There was no further score until six minutes before full-time when Brian Lochore was penalised for deliberately knocking the ball forward. Bishop goaled.
Dougan, the star of the match, started the final movement of the match when he moved on the short side. Furlong was outside him and Mick Duncan, who had made several devastating runs earlier, outclassed his man to score in the corner.
After the match Tremain paid tribute to the determination of the Wairarapa team. It had certainly been a spirited and worthy challenge from Wairarapa, and an uneasy start to the 1969 series for Hawke’s Bay.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; M. G. Duncan, W. L. Davis, D. B. Smith; J. P. Dougan, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; K. R. Tremain (captain), K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, J. P. Rumball; N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
Wairarapa: D. H. Payton; H. J. Sims, D. Munro (replaced by K. Crossman), F. Retford; B. Page, J. Tuckerman; R. Sommerville; R. Brock; G. Gray, B. J. Lochore (captain), J. Deidrichs, G. Mahupuka: W. Rowlands, G. Falconer, M. Sutherland.
Hawke’s Bay 18
Wairarapa 11
Half-time: 9-11.
Hawke’s Bay: J. P. Dougan, H. Meech, M. G. Duncan (tries); Dougan (dropped goal); I. R. Bishop (2 penalty goals).
Wairarapa: W. Rowlands (try); D. H Payton (conversion and penalty goal); J. Tuckerman (dropped goal).
Referee: Mr A. R. Macey (Nelson).
Crowd: 16,480. Date: July 26.
Page SIXTEEN
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Page SEVENTEEN
CHALLENGE TWO:
TREMAIN TRY AGAIN SHOWS THE WAY
Two changes were made in the Hawke’s Bay team to defend the trophy against Manawatu – the team which had all but taken the shield away in the first challenge of the series back in l967.
The changes were the introduction of full-back Paul Carney for his first full shield match, although he had come as a reserve against Auckland at the end of ’68 to kick the shield-holding goal.
The other was the return of Ian MacRae, injured for the first match, at centre, with Bill Davis moving out to the wing to take Dennis Smith’s place.
Once again the weather was fine, but a strong wind swept down the field and Kel Tremain, the Hawke’s Bay captain, decided to give Manawatu the advantage of it in the first half.
It proved a shrewd decision because the wind kept up in the second half, which Hawke’s Bay entered with the scores level, 3-all.
Paul Carney had a frightening start to the match when he fluffed his first attempt at goal from a penalty and then missed a “sitter” from in front of the posts.
Jim Francis, the Manawatu full-back and a former Hastings player, opened the scoring with a penalty goal, and it was not until six minutes before half-time that Hawke’s Bay’s first points were scored.
These were from a “honey” of a try by Tremain who flashed through at the front of a lineout near the Manawatu goal-line.
The try was in the classic Tremain tradition. The speed with which he moved from the middle of the line-out, took the pass, and crashed into the corner, bewildered Manawatu players and spectators alike.
Hawke’s Bay had done extremely well to be on even terms at the turn-round, although Manawatu had helped a little by not making full use of the wind. A few high kicks would have drifted downfield and pushed Hawke’s Bay back on defence.
Hawke’s Bay did not make the same mistake and for most of the second half Hawke’s Bay was camped down inside the Manawatu 25.
Manawatu defended extremely well so that it was not until 16 minutes of the second half that John Dougan was able to add more points with a dropped goal.
The final burst however left Manawatu wide open as first Ian MacRae scored after a long kick through and Carney, kicking confidence restored, converted from touch.
Then Mick Duncan took a pass on the short side from Hepa Paewai and scored. Again from a wide angle Carney converted. Meanwhile, Carney and Francis had added penalty goals.
The final points came in the last minute when Bill Davis set out for the line from outside the Manawatu 25. He dived magnificently over for a fine try to end the match on a high note.
Hawke’s Bay: P. R. Carney; W. L. Davis, I. R. MacRae, M. G. Duncan; J. P. Dougan, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; J. P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
Manawatu: J. Francis: R. Twentyman, T. Loveridge, M. O’Callaghan; D. Kitchen, G. Tuarau; B. Cuff; A. Cornelius (captain); R. de Cleene, S. Strahan, F. Thompson, D. Bydder; D. Knight, W. Grieve replaced by J. Murphy), A. O’Connell (replaced by D. Kerr).
Hawke’s Bay 22
Manawatu 6
Half-time: 3-3.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. MacRae, M. G. Duncan, K. R. Tremain, W. L. Davis (tries); P. R. Carney (2 conversions, penalty goal); J. P. Dougan (dropped goal).
Manawatu: J. Francis (2 penalty goals).
Referee: Mr A. R. Taylor (Canterbury).
Crowd: 17,986. Date: August 2.
Page EIGHTEEN
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Page TWENTY-ONE
CHALLENGE THREE:
H. B. survives and achieves record achieves record
King Country’s special challenge proved to be special in more senses of the word than that neatly defined in the rules of shield matches.
The days before the match provided an unexpected build-up as King Country’s reputation spread throughout Hawke’s Bay.
The only change in the Hawke’s Bay team from the previous week was the return of Ian Bishop as full-back in place of Paul Carney.
The ground was hard, it was warm and sunny but a brisk wind from the north gusted across as Colin Meads and his All Black team-mate for many seasons, Kel Tremain, led the teams on.
Within four minutes Hawke’s Bay patrons were gasping as Tony Marriner kicked ahead and Dave Koni raced in for a try. But this was only the start.
After 21 minutes of the first half, a quick heel instigated by Tremain provided Hepa Paewai with the chance to set the backs alight and Mick Duncan scored.
Four minutes later, Karaan, Crawford flung ball from loose play back to Paewai and John Dougan chalked up his third dropped goal in successive shield matches.
Six minutes to half-time and Tremain charged down a King Country clearing kick and Bill Davis scored.
Shades of things to come happened right on half-time when the King Country half-back, Barry Cull, raced wide from a scrum on the Hawke’s Bay line and Ian Ingham, at first five-eighth, flashed through by the scrum to score.
Hawke’s Bay led 9-6 at half-time and the second half opened with a tremendous burst by the holders. First Paewai had flashed through in a brilliant solo run to score.
Ian Bishop’s conversion gave Hawke’s Bay two points and the team a record number of points in 65 years of shield Rugby.
Within the opening 10 minutes, Ian MacRae had taken the reverse pass from Paewai and scored. Again Bishop converted and Hawke’s Bay commanded a 19-6 lead.
But King Country came back as Meads, playing his 298th first-class match, set his team to the task and first George Peake scored. Maurice Rush converted.
Then John Wereta darted through as Cull raced wide. Rush converted.
Six minutes left and only three points behind, the match could have gone either way.
Hawke’s Bay however was equal to the task and survived, even though four tries had been scored against it one more than the 16 previous challengers put together had managed.
It was a great game and not since 1934 when Hawke’s Bay beat Wanganui 39-16 had a team scored four tries and yet failed to take the shield.
A great game to watch, a close call for Hawke’s Bay, but another win just the same.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; W. L. Davis, I. R. MacRae, M. G. Duncan; J. P. Dougan, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; K. R. Tremain (captain), K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, J. P. Rumball; N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
King Country: J. Wereta; D. Koni, W. McKay, P. Slykerman; A. Kiely, I. Ingham; B. Cull; M. Rush; G. Peake, C. E. Meads (captain), W. Symonds, T. Marriner; G. Whiting, T. Spry, G. Hill.
Hawke’s Bay 19
King Country 16
Half-time: 9-6.
Hawke’s Bay: M. G. Duncan, W. L. Davis, I. R. MacRae, H. J. Paewai (tries); I. R. Bishop (2 conversions); T. P. Dougan (dropped goal).
King Country: J. Wereta, I. Ingham, G. Peake, D. Koni (tries); M. Rush (2 conversions).
Referee: Mr J. P. G. Pring (Auckland).
Crowd: 21,252. Date: August 9.
Page TWENTY-TWO
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Page TWENTY-THREE
DANNY HEARN, the former English international, paralysed after tackling Hawke’s Bay’s Ian MacRae in an All Black match in Britain in 1967, watched the Waikato challenge as a guest of the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union. Pictured are (from left): Hearn’s companion, Andrew Bulmer, the former Hawke’s Bay player and another paraplegic, Tom lngram, Hearn, and the Union’s record keeper, Bill Spain, who was crippled by war injuries.
Page TWENTY-FIVE
CHALLENGE FOUR:
Four tries make Bill Davis man of match
Cold Wintry weather, a wet muddy ground and two changes in the Hawke’s Bay team because Hepa Paewai and Mick Duncan were playing for the New Zealand Juniors against Tonga on the some day did not provide a bright prospect for the Waikato defence.
Both teams took a cagey look at conditions when the game started, but it was not long before both discovered that handling the ball was not going to be as treacherous as they first thought.
In the end, it was Hawke’s Bay who handled the ball better than Waikato. Hawke’s Bay won more ball and, with devastating play in the inside backs between Ian MacRae and Bill Davis, chopped Waikato to shreds.
A couple of light showers wet the surface of the ground during the game, but nothing could halt the onslaught of the Hawke’s Bay team as it shaped up to Waikato with almost a repeat performance of its 1967 win by 35 points to nine.
In that game, Hawke’s Bay scored seven tries of which MacRae scored four. This time, it was to be Davis’ turn.
The first 20 minutes were a tentative affair as first Ian Bishop goaled from a penalty and later Waikato full-back Noel Pickrang hoisted three points from a penalty.
There was a warm round of applause for Bishop’s successful goal because it gave him a total of 146 points in shield Rugby – two more than 1920s Hawke’s Bay player Bert Grenside, the previous highest Hawke’s Bay shield scorer.
Davis, who was to become the match hero, figured in the first try of the match – a penalty try awarded to Waikato when Davis tackled Andy Johnson before Johnson could gather in the ball on the Hawke’s Bay line.
But then Davis put Waikato back in full measure. Four minutes later he slashed through on the end of a reverse pass from Blair Furlong. Just before half-time, from a brilliant move in which Davis, Bishop and Dennis Smith brought play to the Waikato line, Hilton Meech scored from Smith’s centre kick.
Ahead by 11 points to eight at half-time, the best of Hawke’s Bay was yet to come as the forwards dominated possession in the tight, raced hard and purposefully to the loose ball and set up the backs in unstoppable movements.
It was Davis’ match.
MacRae lobbed a high pass which Davis took on his finger tips to score; Davis set up Smith for a try; Davis dummied and sliced through a gap a mile wide for his third try; Davis scored his fourth on the end of a passing move which included Neil Thimbleby, Gary Condon, John Rumball, Karaan Crawford and MacRae.
Waikato had one brief sortie into the holder’s territory and Mike Hull scored a try.
It was great day for Davis, but a greater day for Hawke’s Bay to hit top form and score six glorious tries.
Not only had Hawke’s Bay won – and in grand style – but the holders. had overcome difficult playing conditions and shown again that it was a team capable of turning on great Rugby regardless of the circumstances.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; D. B. Smith, W. L. Davis, D. G. Curtis; I. R. MacRae, B. D. M. Furlong; M. A. Thomas; G. A. Condon; J. P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
Waikato: N. A. M Pickrang P. J. McGrath, A. T. P. H. Johnson, G. R. Skudder, G. H. Catley, H. T. Schuster; K. M. Greene; M. R. P. Hull (captain); I. K. Begbie, M. J. Gilmer, J. R. Barrett, T. K. Henry, G. F. Bremer, G. W. J. Wright, B. A. Forrest.
Hawke’s Bay 27
Waikato 13
Half-time: 1-8
Hawke’s Bay: W. L. Davis (4), H. Meech, D. B. Smith (tries); I. R. Bishop (three conversions, penalty goal).
Waikato: M. R. P. Hull (try); N. A. M. Pickrang (two conversions, penalty goal).
Referee: Mr L. O’Keefe (Taranaki).
Crowd: 17,358.
Crowd: 17,385. Date: August 23.
Page TWENTY-SEVEN
Champion iron man of H.B. pack
Three Manawatu players in this year’s Ranfurly Shield challenge join forces to halt Neil Thimbleby, the Hawke’s Bay prop, in this fine study of strength and determination.
Thimbleby, regarded by many as the finest prop in New Zealand in recent years, has failed throughout his career to gain any honours higher than an early trial for the All Blacks.
But in Hawke’s Bay he has been the cornerstone of the province’s power pack since 1959.
A fantastic record emerged up until the middle of 1968 by which time Thimbleby had played 114 consecutive games for the province.
Thimbleby, champion iron man among all front rows to have played on McLean Park in the past three seasons of shield Rugby, has now played in more than 140 matches for Hawke’s Bay.
Memorable moment in great match
A record crowd … warm, sunny weather … and two of the country’s top provincial sides combined to make the Wellington challenge a magnificent highlight of yet another Hawke’s Bay Ranfurly Shield season.
And one of the memorable moments in the match was this classic try by Ian MacRae constructed initially by Hepa Paewai and Blair Furlong.
MacRae lunges through the tackle of Wellington’s loose forward, Graham Williams, against the colourful backdrop of the lush McLean Pork turf and packed crowd.
Page THIRTY
CHALLENGE FIVE:
Teamwork overcomes individualism
After a brilliant win over Waikato, Hawke’s Bay geared itself for Wellington unbeaten (like Hawke’s Bay) in its eight provincial matches before the game.
Tension mounted as more than 5000 Wellington supporters travelled to Hawke’s Bay lending vocal support to wide-spread publicity about Wellington’s chances.
The only changes to the Hawke’s Bay team were the inclusion of the two Junior All Blacks, Mick Duncan and Hepa Paewai.
A record crowd of more than 26,000 packed the park, with disturbances following as officials for the first time in the park’s history ordered the closure of all gates 15 minutes before the match.
The match opened in brilliant, sunny weather. It was hot and there was no wind as Wellington kicked off and the game burst into the first of a series of forward exchanges which characterised tough, hard play.
Wellington scored after six minutes when Ian Stevens scuttled round the scrum and Michael Knight beat the Hawke’s Bay defence to pass back to Stevens, who scored.
Rocked back on their heels but undaunted, Hawke’s Bay retaliated and, after 15 minutes, a beautiful drop kick at goal by Blair Furlong was followed through by Bill Davis. As the Wellington full-back, Gerald Kember, waited for the bounce, Davis leapt into the air, took the ball, and scored. Bishop converted.
Mattie Blackburn, the Wellington first five-eighth added the next points with a dropped goal which gave Wellington the lead for the second, but last time.
Just before half-tune, a quick throw in put the Hawke’s Bay pack on the rampage with Gary Condon, Neil Thimbleby and Kel Tremain in the van A quick ruck and Paewai dived over in the corner.
Ahead 8-6, Hawke’s Bay put in a typical second half burst when play resumed and moving on the short side from a scrum near the Wellington line, Ian MacRae took the pass and lunged through a tackle to score.
There was only one more score and this came from a lineout penalty against Wellington and Ian Bishop kicked the goal.
The game did not feature a great deal of movement, but the tension maintained the interest and excitement.
Hawke’s Bay overcame Wellington with some brilliant teamwork which proved dangerous on attack and dependable on defence.
Wellington’s game bristled with some fast and often brilliant individual movements in which Andy Leslie and Kember were key figures and the blond-headed Stevens always prominent.
But support was lacking and Hawke’s Bay’s superbly drilled effort won the day comfortably.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; M. G. Duncan, W. L. Davis, D. B. Smith; I. R. MacRae, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; J. P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
Wellington: G. F. Kember; M. O. Knight, B. L. Hill, O. S. Stephens; M. Sayers, M. Blackburn; I. N. Stevens; A. R. Leslie; G. C. Williams, P. Delaney, B. Guy, W. J. Nicholls; G. A. Head, P. W. V. Abraham, K. F. Gray (captain).
Hawke’s Bay 14
Wellington 6
Halftime: 8-6
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. MacRae, W. L. Davis, H. J. Paewai (tries); I. R. Bishop (conversion, a penalty). Wellington: M. Blackburn (dropped goal); I. N. Stevens (try).
Referee: Mr K. C. Gawn (North Otago).
Crowd: 26,292. Date: August 30
Page THIRTY-ONE
HAWKE’S BAY’S INDOMITABLE forward pack, pictured here during the Wellington match, was pitted against many of the country’s best forwards during the shield series and emerged with honours from each encounter. Players are (from left): Ken Gray (Wellington, partly obscured), Pat Abraham (Wellington) and Hawke’s Bay’s Gary Condon, Kel Tremain (partly obscured), Rod Abel, Neil Thimbleby, Karaan Crawford, Hilton Meech and Gus Meech (foreground).
Page THIRTY-TWO
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Page THIRTY-THREE
CHALLENGE SIX:
Mighty close, tough and controversial
The North Auckland challenge, which was not a great game of Rugby, will nonetheless go down in shield history as one of the closest, toughest and most controversial.
The match was cloaked in controversy from the time it was first accepted as a special challenge, with North Auckland protesting at Hawke’s Bay’s nomination of Saturday, September 6, as the fixture date.
This clashed with the New Zealand Maori-Tongan second Test at Auckland and through subsequent negotiation the date was changed to Wednesday (Hawke’s Bay’s first mid-week defence), September 10.
Although the two teams had not met for close on 40 years, these overtures contributed character to the game.
The match was beset with problems. Firstly, injuries struck the North Auckland side and then it was forced to re-arrange its travel schedule because of the closure of Whangarei Airport on the day it was leaving for Napier.
No wonder the Hawke’s Bay captain, Kel Tremain, said later he thought North Auckland’s luck had changed when in the opening seconds of the match Sid Going, the challenging half-back, put over a wobbly dropped goal.
But the controversy and the mystery of the piece had only started: Hawke’s Bay dominated lineouts and it took the challengers 35 minutes to win one lineout, but in the opening five minutes Frank Colthurst snapped up four tightheads.
A strong wind favoured North Auckland in the first half and just before half-time they went further ahead when Bevan Holmes scored a try and Brian Going converted.
Even the conversion was controversial: Ian MacRae charged and kicked the ball away as Going moved in (as the referee ruled) to make a re-adjustment.
But the second half was all Hawke’s Bay, although with less than four minutes to go a try by MacRae and a conversion by Ian Bishop after 12 minutes into the second half left Hawke’s Bay trailing by three points.
Hawke’s Bay could not snap the North Auckland defence in spite of repeated attacks, but finally the break came as Tremain packed down as No. 8 and with the scrum screwing he dived and the referee awarded the try. Bishop converted.
Then it started: Did Tremain really score?
Tremain said he picked up the ball two feet short of the line and dived over and was pushed back over the line. North Auckland players, arms pointing and protesting loudly, said Tremain never reached the line.
But the shield was safe and the despairing Hawke’s Bay players broke into warm smiles as the match ended.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; M. G. Duncan, W. L. Davis (replaced by D. G. Curtis), D. B. Smith; I. R. MacRae, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; J P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, H. Meech.
North Auckland: R. S. Trigg; T. Whitehead, R. R. Jones, L. J. Bradley; J. E. Morgan, B. L. Going; S. M. Going; L. P. Haddon; D. W. Hewitt (captain), J. E. Young, B. Holmes, M. Robinson; P. N. Mac (replaced by F. T. Morgan), F. J. Colthurst, R. A. Guy.
Hawke’s Bay 10
Nth. Auckland 8
Half-time: 0-8.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. MacRae, K. R. Tremain (tries); I. R. Bishop (two conversions).
North Auckland: S. M. Going (dropped goal); B. Holmes (try); B. Going (conversion).
Referee: Mr A. G. Derby (King Country).
Crowd: 20,574. Date: September 10.
Page THIRTY-FOUR
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Page THIRTY-SEVEN
THAT TRY…
The most controversial incident of the 1969 shield series was Kelvin Tremain’s last minute and shield-winning try against North Auckland. Three on-the-spot pictures of the try support Tremain’s account that after grounding the ball over the line and being awarded the try he was pushed back into the field of play.
Top left: A general, ground-level view of the try with two players pushing against the buried Tremain.
Above: Ross McKelvie, of Hurst Studio, Napier, took the view showing Tremain over the line (that is, alongside the knee of the North Auckland defender).
Left: A telephoto view of the try from an elevated position shows Tremain’s hands back from the defender’s knee and short of the goal-line.
Page THIRTY-EIGHT
CHALLENGE SEVEN:
Convincing victory over Taranaki
Taranaki started out the underdogs for Hawke’s Bay’s 21st consecutive defence of the shield and did little during the match to alter the position.
Hawke’s Bay piled up four tries, three conversions and two goals from penalties to record one of its most convincing shield wins of the season.
Taranaki had not had a very successful season before meeting Hawke’s Bay, although a meritorious draw against the touring Welshmen early in the season had lifted its shield hopes.
Injuries, however, struck the team during the season, and it was only on the morning of the match that the Taranaki captain, Alan Smith, was cleared to play, having spent many weeks recovering from a broken finger.
Hawke’s Bay started out for the match with the knowledge that Bill Davis and Hilton Meech were out for the last two matches. Davis received a broken ankle and Meech a fractured shoulder in the North Auckland match.
Mick Duncan had been moved to centre and Doug Curtis took his place on the wing, while Graham Wiig made his shield debut in Meech’s place.
Hawke’s Bay were given the advantage of a slight breeze in the brilliantly sunny conditions at McLean Park and the crowd watched anxiously as Ian Bishop failed twice during the early stages to goal from penalties.
He landed one after 15 minutes, but the Taranaki full-back, Barry O’Dowda, equalised after 20 minutes and it was not until five minutes before half-time that Hawke’s Bay scored again—with the first try of the match.
This came from a long lineout in which Kel Tremain took the ball and charged towards the line before passing to John Rumball, who carried on to score. Bishop converted and Hawke’s Bay turned into the second half ahead by eight points to three.
Just then, the wind changed so that Hawke’s Bay had the advantage of it in the second half, too, which they opened with a move by Hepa Paewai, Ian MacRae, Duncan, Rumball and Dennis Smith taking part for Smith to score. Bishop landed the conversion.
Taranaki scored next with Jim Irving beating Blair Furlong. Dave Vesty got over the line to the ball ahead of Ian Bishop, but lost control of the ball. Bill Currey was there, however, to score. O‘Dowda converted.
With a penalty to Bishop after 21 minutes, Hawke’s Bay quickened the pace with Tremain. at first five-eighth giving MacRae the chance to kick ahead. Smith gathered in the bouncing ball and Duncan took the pass to score.
Paewai, Furlong and Smith worked the short side for Smith to score his second try and for Bishop to convert to give him 12 points for the match and a shield total of 173 – only four short of the record held by Auckland’s M. C. Cormack at 177.
A comfortable and deserved win by Hawke’s Bay but little time to pause before the big Canterbury match the following Saturday.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; D. G. Curtis, M. G. Duncan, D. B. Smith; I. R. MacRae, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; J. P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); N. W. Thimbleby, A. Meech, G. T. Wiig.
Taranaki: B. I. O’Dowda; D. A. Vesty, W. D. Currey, K. P. Hurley; T. N. Wolfe, J. E. Irving; D. J. Wards; A. L. Campbell (replaced by R. Feather); M. C. Wills, T. D. Jenkins, A. E. Smith (captain), P. G. Coles; B. L. Muller, F. W. Harris, A. J. Gardiner.
Hawke’s Bay 24
Taranaki 8
Half-time: 8-3.
Hawke’s Bay: D. B. Smith (2), M. G. Duncan, J. P. Rumball (tries); I. R. Bishop (2 penalty goals. three conversions).
Taranaki: W. D. Currey (try); B. I. O’Dowda (conversion, penalty goal).
Referee: Mr A. R. Taylor (Canterbury).
Crowd: 20,177 Date: September 20.
Page THIRTY-NINE
FIRST TRY AGAINST TARANAKI: John Rumball scores after a line-out break by Kel Tremain. Referee Alan Taylor, of Canterbury, signals the try and so does Graham Wiig in his shield debut. From left: Mr Taylor, Roger Feather, Wiig, Jim Irving (on ground), Neil Thimbleby, Dave Vesty, Trevor Jenkins.
Page FORTY
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Page FORTY-THREE
“The now famous ‛last 20 minutes’ became not only a physical factor the opposition had to contend with but a psychological one.”
Training plan key factor in success
(BY BRYAN WILSON)
The basic requirement in any top line sport is a specifically prescribed training and conditioning programme. Since pre-season 1961, such a plan has been built up over the years in the preparation of the Hawke’s Bay team.
Before this, such a programme did not exist and the “dark ages” of Hawke’s Bay Rugby were rather unfortunately experienced by players, many of whom had as much ability as many of the players of today.
Based on modern and personal principles at athletic training, but adapted specifically for the requirements of Rugby, such a training plan gradually evolved.
However, no such plan could have been effective without the co-operation, support and dedication of the players of whom Tom Johnson, Bill Davis and Neil Thimbleby were there from the outset.
I well remember the problems experienced at the beginning from the disbelief of some players in the face of criticism by various officials and supporters. But much of this changed after the 1961 challenge against Auckland when the side was edged out by five points to three.
Fifteen fit and dedicated Hawke’s Bay players spent 80 minutes: putting up an epic defensive set-up which is still remembered by those present.
From that moment players, supporters and officials alike began to understand the effectiveness of such a programme and from there the confidence (which previously had been at a low ebb), the tactical knowledge, skills and experience and team spirit began to develop.
It was to take another three such shield preparations before the coveted trophy was gained, but, during that time, the standard of representative Rugby in Hawke’s Bay had started to make its mark throughout the country.
During this time, by the use of a simple time and motion study, a greater understanding of movement in the game was gained, and the training programme adapted to suit.
Also a basic series of physiological tests were carried out on many of the players and this assisted considerably in gaining further knowledge in preparing the team and understanding the effect of training.
Films were taken of the various skills such as kicking, lineout jumping, swerving, side-stepping, etc., to analyse and evaluate in an attempt to understand and assist the skills more fully.
Promising young players were introduced
Bryan Wilson is a former Hawke’s Bay and Counties three-quarter, an All Black trialist and national sprint champion. Now Rothmans Sports Foundation coach in Hawke’s Bay, Mr Wilson has been the training instructor to the Hawke’s Bay Rugby team during its emergence and rise to supremacy in the 1960s.
Page FORTY-FIVE
Training (continued):
early to the training programme along with acquisitions such as Kel Tremain, Rod Abel and Ian MacRae – players who had already reached first-class level before their arrival, but who all pitched in to the new routine.
So over the years a prescribed running programme of hill training, flat running, interval, speed play and repetition running was implemented along with supplementary conditioners such as calisthenics, weight and circuit training.
Much of this has been done at Redclyffe, a training area in the hills behind Taradale, and at various parks, where players have gathered to train both individually and as a team.
It is to the players’ everlasting credit that they have not only dedicated themselves to their training, but also fully understood the need for supreme fitness in the modern game of Rugby.
Not outlasted
It is because of this that more than 20 shield challenges, plus numerous other matches including the four challenges since 1961 for the shield, have been encountered and Hawke’s Bay have yet to be outlasted.
The now famous “last 20 minutes” became not only a physical factor the opposition had to contend with, but a psychological one.
We are all aware of the games that have been won in the closing stages of the match.
It has always been a personal contention that the best tactics, the best skills, the best natural ability is of little lasting value unless it is backed by an effective training programme.
At first-class level, players usually have these qualities or they would not be in the team for a start, but I have seen skills, tactics, experience, confidence and most important, team spirit, improve through such physical approach.
Space does not allow the printing of the various schedules, nor the principles underlying them, which have been used over the years, but the basic aim of the programme was to equip the players to give of their best for 80 minutes.
This was done by attempting to cut down the recovery time required of each player after a piece of play thus equipping him to move to any given point on the field at full pace, when called on.
Time study
To achieve this the length of the field (i.e. 110 yards) became the basic unit of distance to condition over (not the sprinting methods used in past years and by balancing this with runs of from three to 10 miles (depending on the individual’s position in the team) and shorter, faster work, an all-round running programme evolved.
Such a programme had been guided by the time and motion study taken over 27 games ranging from club fixtures up to Test matches, before the existing rule changes were made.
Some of the results may be of interest. It was shown that only 26 minutes 54 seconds play was actually achieved in an average match.
There were 155.2 pieces of play averaging 10.4 seconds in duration and the average recovery time between each play was 20.5 seconds.
Lineouts (14.2 secs), scrums (17.1 secs), penalty goal kicks (43.5 secs), penalty kicks (8.1 secs), tries (78 secs), marks (12.6 secs), made up the time allowed in the recovery.
With running being the basic movement in the game all 15 players must, therefore, be able to run efficiently and for a continued time.
I feel that this is one of the differences between Hawke’s Bay and many of the challengers that have been experienced, for whereas backs may be able to stop the running of an opposing backline, it is a more difficult proposition to have to stop the running of their forward pack as well. Forwards can become just as adept at the art and, because of their physical qualities, potentially a greater scoring force.
Many of the challenging teams have had players who simply could not run effectively simply because they had not been trained to, and thus their Rugby effectiveness was lessened.
So I feel topline Rugby players of the future are, therefore, going to have to prepare themselves more along athletic lines by learning how to train correctly so that they can apply their skills more effectively on the field of play.
Personally, I regard a team as 15 physical links in a chain with the chain being only as strong as its weakest link, so everyone needs to play his part to the full.
Tributes paid
Perhaps I can reflect on the amount of sweat that has been lost, the number of soakings gained from the weather, the number of aches and pains that were run out, the sheer mental fatigue of pulling on the gear again, the number of hours spent, the number of miles run, and, firstly, pay a tribute to the most important people of all – the players.
To the administrators, supporters and my personal backroom boys may I also pay a tribute for all the assistance given.
Whether Hawke’s Bay could regain the record of shield defences or not does not matter – this team can always be described as – a mighty side.
Page FORTY-SIX
RUNNING OVER THE HILLS behind Taradale has been part of the strenuous preparation for Hawke’s Bay Rugby teams for several seasons now. Pictured making the ascent on a Sunday morning after a shield match are (from left): Mike O’Malley, John Dougan and Hepa Paewai. In the distant background is Cape Kidnappers.
Page FORTY-SEVEN
Hawke’s Bay captain, Kel Tremain, ponders the roles of spectator and player in the world of Ranfurly Shield Rugby as he talks in his characteristic manner to The Daily Telegraph’s Rugby writer …
Spare a thought for the puppets …
“YOU 25,000 spectators, who, for three years, have crowded the stand and banks each week to see the deeds of the 15 puppets in the black and white as they perform against the best the whole of the country can come up with …
“YOU who have to go to the local at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning to get primed for the game and then complain that if it wasn’t for the shield we wouldn’t have to go until ll.30 to have a couple before lunch …
“YOU, who can’t get lawns mown on Saturday and so have ruined Sunday …
“YOU, who have to do the housework on Sunday morning because you’ve spent the whole of Saturday morning carting Mum and the kids to the procession, so that Saturday is out for you also …
YOU, who, if you should see one of the squad passing on the street, tell him personally what he did wrong the previous Saturday and how he should go about things this Saturday …
YOU, who eagerly await the announcement of the team on Wednesday evening and go straight to the local to seek out support for your selection as against those who have the say …
YOU, who can’t be done without and make up such a big part of the shield fever and, if you didn’t realise, make shield Rugby what it really is, …
… have you thought of the puppets who perform the deeds, whom you all admire because their chests haven’t slipped, who have to mow their lawns on Monday or Wednesday nights because that is the only time they have to spare?
“For six months of the year, they see more of each other than they do of their wives and who, for the remaining six months of the year, have their wives asking why they have to see so much of each other when they really could be at home – mowing lawns.
“You complain of Saturdays written off, while we talk about weekends.
“Think of us from Friday night until one o’clock on Sunday afternoon.
“Our thoughts and actions are nothing but Rugby.
“Where you can sleep off Saturday night on Sunday morning, we require Sunday afternoon.
“Alas, another weekend totally written off.
“Those who arrange the fixtures for us each season think of you and your family. They send us away every now and again,
KELVIN TREMAIN, Hawke’s Bay captain in every shield defence during the past three years, has been rated for almost a decade as one of the world’s greatest flankers. He came to Hawke’s Bay in 1962, already a seasoned international and in attaining further personal heights he inspired the Hawke’s Bay team to Ranfurly Shield greatness. After having represented New Zealand from 1959, he announced his retirement from international Rugby in 1969.
Page FORTY-SEVEN
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Page FORTY-NINE
Spare a Thought (cont.)
perhaps every third Saturday, to pastures new. You take a break.
“What, another weekend without the lawns mown!
“Oh, well, the head of the house might soon get the hang of pulling on the starter handle. That reminds me, must remember to get it sharpened for her.
“How lucky you are.
“For 22 games you have basked in the sun, quenching your thirst in spite of legal action taken against you while we labour under the excessive heat of another gloriously fine Hawke’s Bay day.
“We hear your lubricated good wishes floating over the ground and we long for a pull from the brown paper parcel, cunningly concealed.
“When it is all over we know that the maximum intake allowed will be two bottles of orange and a smell of the empty bottles lying about the park.
“It’s hard”
“You think it is hard for yourselves. We think it is hard for us.
“Spare a thought, too, for the 10 or so reserves who, week after week, watch the deeds on the field of play in another light altogether.
“They can’t enjoy it like you. They can’t forget it all like us.
“They never know when they will be called on to fill the gap yet they must train, give up family commitments and their only reward is to sit it out for 1½ hours. No joy for them.
“Sorry about the midweek challenge this year. I guess the boss didn’t mind just this once – if he was still in the office for you to ask permission.
“He is lucky he employs you and not one of us.
“What do our bosses say? Two days here for a trial match, a day here because the local team has to get away on a Friday and this Monday because you are still too sore from Saturday to try to get into harness again.
“Your familiar face appears at his doorway …
“Go away,” you hear him grunt. “In fact, go away and don’t bother to ask again.
“I read in the papers where you’ve got to,” he says.
“Thanks!
Heart attacks
“We’re sorry about the heart attacks, but we’ve tried to be pretty good about things, really.
“No, we haven’t got a commission from the undertakers.
“But we can’t wait for Summer. Just a chance to walk down the street and not talk Rugby.
“Perhaps we could slip into the local and have a beer and nobody will stare.
“You shouldn’t be here, a fellow says. You shouldn’t be drinking a beer. You’re in training – hell, you’ve got to play on Saturday.
“He says; ‘Don’t suppose you smoke – you’ll be out of breath on Saturday!’
“He comes closer. ‘Say, have a beer and (just a quick aside) – how’s it going to go on Saturday? What about …’
“I suppose what I look forward to most is a quiet afternoon with the family at some secluded beach. Just to lie on the sand and listen to the waves rolling in.
“But then round the corner will come a member of the squad. He’s looking for a secluded corner of beach to lie on the sand and listen to the waves roll in.
“ ‘Hey,’ says the wife, ‘do you have to see each other all the time?’
The administrators
“But spare a thought for the chaps who try to administer the game – the blokes who get abused from the bank because the people in the front are standing up.
“The blokes who get abused from those standing up because the people on the bank are sitting down.
“I suppose we’re all part of the team: you, the other bloke, us, and those who organise things. We’ve all been in this together.
“Even the one’s who don’t think our team is as good as theirs 20 – 30 – 40 years ago.
“But I suppose one day we will be the same. Your team a few years hence won’t be as good as ours. Heaven forbid!
“We couldn’t do without you and, we hope, you can’t do without us.
“What about the lawns?
“What the heck. To blazes with the lawns.
“Anyway, we can all sow a new one next year”
Page FIFTY-ONE
THE NAME WAS THE SAME …
The name was the same … the style was there … but Mrs Cathy Furlong couldn’t match her husband’s prowess as a goal kicker …
Yet Mrs Furlong – wife of Hawke’s Bay dropped goal expert, Blair Furlong – lent plenty of glamour to a novel women’s goal-kicking contest on Napier’s Marine Parade on the Wednesday of the North Auckland challenge.
Thirty women competed in the event, one of many successful ventures arranged by the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Supporters Club during the ’69 season. A crowd of about 2000 spectators saw Mrs Judith Blair, of Napier, win the $25 first prize by landing six of seven attempts at goal all from 25 yards or further.
Picture shows Mrs Furlong’s copy-book goal-kicking style, watched by her fellow contestant, Mrs Marilyn MacRae, wife of Hawke’s Bay All Black, Ian MacRae.
Page FIFTY-TWO
65 years of shield fixtures
The Ranfurly Shield was presented in 1902. It was first played for in 1904, and has been challenged for each year since then, with the exception of the war years (1915-18 and 1940-45).
The following is a complete record of all matches.
1904. – Wellington beat Auckland, 6-3; Canterbury, 6-3; Otago, 15-13.
1905. – Wellington drew with Wairarapa, 3-3; beat Hawke’s Bay, 11-3. Auckland beat Wellington, 10-6.
1906. – Auckland beat Canterbury, 29-6: Taranaki, 18-5; Southland, 48-12; Wellington,
1907. – Auckland beat Buller, 21-0; Hawke’s Bay, 12-3; Wanganui, 6-5.
1908. – Auckland beat Marlborough, 32-0; Wellington, 24-3; Taranaki, 9-0; Otago, 11-5.
1909. – Auckland beat Taranaki, 18-5.
1910. – Auckland beat Hawke’s Bay, 11-3; drew with Wellington, 3-3; beat Taranaki, 16-9; Canterbury, 6-4.
1911. – Auckland beat South Auckland, 21-5; Poverty Bay, 29-10.
1912. – Auckland beat Taranaki, 6-5; Wellington, 12-0; drew with Otago, 5-5.
1913. – Auckland beat Wellington, 6-5; Poverty Bay, 27-3. Taranaki beat Auckland, 14-11.
1914. – Taranaki beat Wanganui, 17-3; Manawatu, 11-3; Horowhenua, 14-3; Wairarapa, 22-3; Canterbury, 6-5; Southland, 6-0. Wellington beat Taranaki, 12-6.
1919. – Wellington beat Canterbury, 21-8; Taranaki, 18-10; Canterbury, 23-9; Auckland, 24-3; Wanganui, 30-3.
1920.- Wellington beat Canterbury, 15-3; Bay of Plenty, 22-3; Taranaki, 20-9; Hawke’s Bay, 20-5; Auckland, 23-20; Taranaki, 16-5; Wanganui, 20-14; Auckland, 20-3; South Canterbury, 32-16; Otago, 16-5. Southland beat Wellington, 17-6.
1921. – Southland beat Otago, 10-8. Wellington beat Southland, 28-13; Auckland, 27-19; Otago, 13-8.
1922. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wellington, 19-9; Bay of Plenty, 17-16; King Country, 42-8.
1923. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 6-0; Wellington, 10-6; Poverty Bay, 15-0; Canterbury, 9-8; Horowhenua, 38-11; Auckland, 20-5.
1924. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 30-14; Poverty Bay, 46-10; Nelson, 35-3; Auckland, 23-6; Manawatu, 31-5.
1925. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 22-3, Canterbury, 24-18; Southland, 31-12; Taranaki, 28-3; Wellington, 20-11; Otago, 34-14.
1926. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 77-14; Wanganui, 36-3; Wellington, 58-8; Auckland, 41-11; Canterbury, 17-15.
1927. – Wairarapa beat Hawke’s Bay, 15-11; Bush, 53-3. Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 21-10 (subsequently lost by protest). Manawhenua beat Wairarapa, 18-16; Taranaki, 9-3; Wanganui, 25-6. Canterbury beat Manawhenua, 17-6.
1928. – Canterbury beat South Canterbury, 29-9. Wairarapa beat Canterbury, 8-7; Bush, 57-11; Marlborough, 26-8; Wellington, 9-3; Manawhenua, 31-10.
1929. – Wairarapa beat Hawke’s Bay, 10-6; Auckland, 17-14; Manawhenua, 37-16; Canterbury 17-12. Southland beat Wairarapa, 19-16.
1930. – Southland beat Wanganui, 19-0; Otago, 37-5; Hawke’s Bay, 9-6. Wellington beat Southland, 12-3.
1931. – Wellington beat Southland, 36-13, Canterbury beat Wellington, 8-6; Otago, 17-6.
1932. – Canterbury beat South Canterbury, 11-5; Auckland, 14-0; West Coast, 5-3; Wellington 9-8; Buller, 13-0; Waikato, 17-6.
1933. – Canterbury beat Ashburton, 31-7; Southland, 21-3; Otago, 8-5; West Coast, 23-14; Buller, 13-3; drew with Taranaki, 15-15; beat South Canterbury, 6-3; King Country, 36-0.
1934. – Hawke’s Bay beat Canterbury, 9-0; Wanganui, 39-16; Taranaki, 23-8. Auckland beat Hawke’s Bay, 18-14.
1935. – Auckland beat North Auckland, 29-8, Canterbury beat Auckland, 16-13; Wairarapa, 27-16; Southland, 8-3; West Coast, 16-11; South Canterbury, 12-11. Otago beat Canterbury, 15-6.
1936. – Otago beat Southland, 16-3; Auckland, 14-5; Manawatu, 11-5; South Canterbury, 26-3; Canterbury, 16-0; North Auckland, 30-0; Wellington, 16-3; West Coast, 30-0.
1937. – Southland beat Otago, 12-7.
1938. – Otago beat Southland, 7-6; Canterbury, 16-7; South Canterbury, 27-16; North Otago, 12-0; Hawke’s Bay, 4-0; Taranaki, 24- 3. Southland beat Otago, 10-5; Wellington, 10-3; Ashburton County, 20-16.
1939. – Southland beat Otago, 23-4; Manawatu, 17-3; Bush, 38-0; Ashburton County, 50-0.
Page FIFTY-THREE
1946. – Southland beat Otago, 3-0; Canterbury, 11-3; South Canterbury, 35-9; Wairarapa, 12-3; North Otago, 15-3.
1947. – Otago beat Southland, 17-11; North Auckland, 31-12; Auckland, 18-12; Southland, 8-0; North Otago, 42-3.
1948. – Otago beat Southland, 25-0; Canterbury, 31-0; Wanganui, 20-3; Hawke’s Bay, 12-6; Poverty Bay, 40-0; South Canterbury, 36-6; Wellington, 11-0.
1949. – Otago drew with Buller, 6-6; beat Manawatu, 22-3; Southland, 6-3; Waikato, 27-5; Taranaki, 6-5; Auckland, 16-5.
1950. – Otago beat Southland, 22-3. Canterbury beat Otago, 8-0. Wairarapa beat Canterbury 3-0. South Canterbury beat Wairarapa, 17-14. North Auckland beat South Canterbury, 20-9.
1951. – North Auckland beat Bay of Plenty, 16-12; Thames Valley 19-6. Waikato beat North Auckland, 6-3; Auckland 14-6; Bay of Plenty, 32-10; Taranaki, 21-12; Wanganui, 14–0.
1952. – Waikato beat Thames Valley, 17-3; Wairarapa, 14-0. Auckland beat Waikato, 9-0. Waikato beat Auckland, 6-3; King Country, 18-8; Manawatu, 12-3; West Coast, 20-6.
1953. – Waikato beat Bay of Plenty, 19-3; North Auckland, 24-5; drew with Taranaki, 3-3. Wellington beat Waikato, 9-6; Southland, 22-6; East Coast, 42-0; Otago, 9-3; Taranaki, 26-3; Auckland, 23-6. Canterbury beat Wellington, 24-3; Buller, 19-3.
1954. – Canterbury beat Southland, 18-10; Wairarapa, 16-3; South Canterbury, 24-11; drew with Waikato, 6-6; beat Taranaki, 11-6; West Coast, 8-0; drew with Otago, 9-9; beat Wanganui, 17-13; Buller, 22-0.
1955. – Canterbury beat Auckland, 12-6; South Canterbury, 19-6; Wellington, 30-11; North Auckland, 39-11; Otago, 15-8; West Coast, 20-11; Thames Valley, 24-11.
1956. – Canterbury beat Mid-Canterbury, 14-6; Hawke’s Bay, 21-9; Wanganui, 19-6; West Coast, 38-17; South Canterbury, 32-17; Southland, 17-3. Wellington beat Canterbury, 8-0; Auckland. 9-6.
1957. – Wellington beat Bush, 22-9; Poverty Bay, 15-3; Wanganui, 34-5. Otago beat Wellington 19-11; South Canterbury, 6-3. Taranaki beat Otago, 11-9.
1958. – Taranaki beat G.B.-Motueka, 56-8; Mid-Canterbury, 16-0; King Country, 15-11; Manawatu, 9-8; Wanganui, 22-9; drew with Wellington, 6-6; beat Waikato, 15-3; North Auckland, 14-3; Counties, 11-5.
1959. – Taranaki beat Nelson, 31-14; Wanganui, 17-11; Wellington, 22-6; Otago, 23-3. Southland beat Taranaki, 23-6. Auckland beat Southland, 13-9.
1960. – Auckland beat Thames Valley, 22-6; Counties, 14-3. North Auckland beat Auckland, 17-11; Poverty Bay, 24-3. Auckland beat North Auckland, 6-3; Manawatu, 31-8; Bay of Plenty, 9-6; Wellington, 22-9; Taranaki, 25-6; Canterbury, 19-18.
1961. – Auckland beat Hawke’s Bay, 5-3; King Country, 17-3; Counties, 17-12; Otago, 14-9; Southland, 9-6; Wellington, 13-8; Waikato, 10-0; North Auckland, 26-11.
1962. – Auckland beat Thames Valley, 24-9; Bay of Plenty, 19-6; North Auckland, 8-3; West Coast, 52-6; Waikato, 15-11; Taranaki, 27-3; Canterbury, 15-6; Bush, 46-6; Wellington, 20-8.
1963. – Auckland beat Wairarapa, 22-8; Wanganui, 41-18; drew with Hawke’s Bay, 3-3. Wellington beat Auckland, 8-3. Taranaki beat Wellington, 17-3; Wanganui, 14-12.
1964. – Taranaki beat Buller, 11-0; drew with Wanganui, 15-15; beat Wellington, 3-0; King Country, 21-0; Canterbury, 12-9; Wairarapa, 32-8; Waikato, 14-9; Manawatu, 6-3; North Auckland, 12-8.
1965. – Taranaki beat Bush, 33-6; Wanganui, 23-9; Wellington, 11-3; drew with Southland, 6-6; beat Hawke’s Bay, 21-17. Auckland beat Taranaki, 16-11; Waikato, 14-6.
1966. – Auckland beat King Country, 14-6; drew with Canterbury, 11-11. Waikato beat Auckland, 15-11. Hawke’s Bay beat Waikato, 6-0.
1967. – Hawke’s Bay beat Manawatu, 11-6; Waikato, 35-9; Wairarapa, 27-6; Southland, 29-6; Taranaki, 16-3; Otago, 9-8; Wellington, 12-12.
1968. – Hawke’s Bay beat Bush, 36-6; East Coast, 31-0; Poverty, 21-5; Marlborough, 30-3; Counties, 18-3; Bay of Plenty, 14-0; Auckland, 9-9.
1969. – Hawke’s Bay beat Wairarapa, 18-11; Manawatu, 22-6; King Country, 19-16; Waikato, 27-13; Wellington, 14-6; North Auckland, 10-8; Taranaki, 24-8; Canterbury beat Hawke’s Bay, 18-11.
The complete shield record
P. W. D. L. F. A.
Auckland 84 56 5 23 1267 776
Bay of Plenty 8 – – 8 56 158
Buller 7 – 1 6 12 105
Bush 7 – – 7 41 285
Canterbury 73 46 4 23 1030 697
Counties 4 – – 4 23 60
East Coast 2 – – 2 0 73
G.B.-Motueka 1 – – 1 8 56
Hawke’s Bay 64 49 3 14 1359 581
Horowhenua 2 – – 2 14 52
King Country 8 – – 8 52 182
Manawatu 11 – – 11 47 183
Manawhenua 6 3 – 3 84 110
Marlborough 3 – – 3 11 88
Mid-Canterbury 5 – – 29 131
Nelson 2 – – 2 17 66
Auckland 17 5 – 12 171 276
Otago 3 – – 3 6 69
Otago 58 35 3 20 824 466
Poverty Bay 8 – – 8 34 217
Sth. Canterbury 15 1 – 14 141 329
Southland 42 20 1 21 521 508
Taranaki 62 34 5 23 761 662
Thames Valley 5 – – 5 35 106
Waikato 29 14 2 13 314 301
Wairarapa 30 12 1 17 431 504
Wanganui 19 – 1 18 151 428
Wellington 68 37 4 27 887 719
West Coast 9 – – 9 68 212
Page FIFTY-FIVE
CHALLENGE EIGHT:
Canterbury’s power pack lifts shield
Hawke’s Bay’s 22-match tenure of the Ranfurly Shield came to an end at McLean Park, Napier, at the end of the season when a mighty Canterbury forward pack paved the way for a deserved 18-11 victory.
As some of the players exchanged jerseys, a tired band of Hawke’s Bay players moved towards the stand, defeated but treasuring memories of a great era in shield Rugby and Hawke’s Bay Rugby.
But after the trophy went from Kel Tremain’s hands to those of the Canterbury skipper, Ian Penrose, the Hawke’s Bay spectators began a chant for Ian Bishop for, if other records had eluded the Hawke’s Bay team, then they shared in the joy of Bishop’s 178 points in shield Rugby – a record in the trophy’s history.
Canterbury was given the advantage of a strong wind in the first half – a wind which for three days before had swept in from the sea and threatened to mar the final defence of the shield for 1969.
But the rain clouds cleared and the park was in beautiful order as the same Hawke’s Bay team which had defeated Taranaki a week earlier lined out as Canterbury kicked off.
And for the first half Canterbury hammered the Hawke’s Bay line as first this player and then another made a dab for the line, but the instinctive defence mechanism of the Hawke’s Bay team held out.
Then in the 14th, 18th and 35th minutes Fergie McCormick landed penalty goals and at the turn round Hawke’s Bay trailed by nine points.
The task did not seem insurmountable, but the Canterbury forwards resumed where they left off with magnificent line – out play, quick and mobile work in the loose and superb rucking of the ball.
After five minutes of the second half Lyn Davis dashed wide and Wyllie took the infield pass to score.
Then it seemed as if Hawke’s Bay were within striking distance after 14 minutes when Blair Furlong pushed through to score near the posts for Bishop to convert.
Only seven points separated the two teams, but with 10 minutes to go Bacon crashed through for a try from a lineout.
Bishop missed an attempt at goal from a penalty but almost immediately he received a handier opportunity and with customary calm, he landed the goal.
He was applauded by the crowd and the Hawke’s Bay team and as a finale to it all, Hawke’s Bay swept downfield from near their own goal-line. Magnificent stuff this. Furlong scored but it was too late for the result to be altered.
Two tries each, some fine goal-kicking by McCormick and an impressive match by flanker Ian Kirkpatrick for Canterbury will linger as the highlights of this final shield match of ’69 in Hawke’s Bay.
Hawke’s Bay: I. R. Bishop; D. B. Smith, M. G. Duncan, D. G. Curtis; I. R. MacRae, B. D. M. Furlong; H. J. Paewai; G. A. Condon; J. P. Rumball, K. K. Crawford, R. S. Abel, K. R. Tremain (captain); G. T. Wiig, A. Meech, N. W. Thimbleby.
Canterbury: W. F. McCormick; R. J. Woolhouse, H. T. Joseph, M. Moore; D. A. Arnold, W. D. Cottrell; L. J. Davis; I. H. Penrose (captain); I. A. Kirkpatrick, J. F. Burns, H. MacDonald, A. J. Wyllie; K. J. Tanner (replaced by A. McLellan), C. J. Bacon, A. J. Hopkinson.
Canterbury 18
Hawke’s Bay 11
Half-time: 0-9.
Canterbury: A. J. Wyllie, C. J. Bacon (tries); W. F. McCormick (4 penalties).
Hawke’s Bay: B. D. M. Furlong (2 tries); I. R. Bishop (penalty and conversion).
Referee: Mr J. P. Murphy (North Auckland).
Crowd: 24,017. Date: September 2
Page FIFTY-SIX
IAN BISHOP, hero of Hawke’s Bay in its last day of the 1966-69 shield tenure, thanks an admiring crowd for acclaiming his shield points record set in the Canterbury match. Watching is the captain of the victorious Canterbury side, Ian Penrose, after receiving the shield from the Hawke’s Bay captain, Kel Tremain.
Printed and published by The Daily Telegraph Co. Ltd., Napier.
GLAMOROUS American beauty queen, Miss Marchand Archuletta, was a guest at the Hawke’s Bay Rugby Union’s after match function when North Auckland challenged. She delighted the players and guests with her charming comments about her first sight of Rugby and her admiration of “those very brave men in their shorts”.
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