Page 18 - pākuViews Autumn/Winter 2013
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As we approach Tairua Rugby Club’s 125th jubilee, slated for Labour
weekend of this year, we keep unearthing more history, stories, and
faded relics. David Rushforth, who is helping to put together the
programme for the October celebrations, suggested we share
this colourful essay written by Herbert “Rugger” Hinds, from
the 100 year souvenir programme.
In those days entertainment was not plentiful.
Radio was only just starting, and TV was
non-existent. Rugby played a far larger part
in country life, and there was intense rivalry
between local townships.
The style of play has changed too. You never saw
forwards bursting through the loose scrums with
the ball at toe. Nobody dribbles the ball anymore,
but it is immediately snapped up by somebody
and passed from hand to hand. And the modern
scrums!!!
Brought up in the time of the 232 formation,
with a loose wing forward, I never really got
used to the 341 scrums – a lop-sided mess!!
And the way the half-back puts in the scrums
nowadays?? You must remember that looking
back over the years your vision becomes slightly
rose-tinted. All the same, I cannot think that the
referee of our day would have put up with the
constant talking – nay, abuse – that goes on
nowadays. In our day, only the half-back and the
captain were supposed to talk.
It is a good deal easier to get teams to the
various playing fields now. In 1925 we either
rode, walked, or went by launch. I can remember
sitting on the little hill at Tairua watching the
bar anxiously to see if the launch (usually
Curly
Steadmans
with the Mercury Bay team) was
arriving safely and on time. Mercury Bay on
one side, and Hikuai on the other, was as far
as we went. Coromandel was too far away – an
undiscovered country.
One of the early memorable players was my
boss, Harold Cory-Wright. Not only did he start
playing rugby at almost 40 years of age, and that
took courage, but he gave the football ground
to the club – the field that is still used today. He
also bought a football for us. He played in the
scrum, and more than pulled his weight. I seem
to remember a fullback we had once, getting
a bit thin on top, who always wore a cloth cap
whilst playing. And the ruffian who wrapped
himself around the ball and went rolling down
the field, head over heels, causing our rather
inexperienced referee some concern, as the rule
book didn’t mention anything about behaviour
like that.
The players might have been quieter then, but
the spectators certainly weren’t. One particularly
vocal supporter was the late Charlie Beach. He
used to follow the play up and down the field,
bellowing encouragement, his voice almost
breaking with excitement.
Then there was the ardent female supporter who,
at the height of a very exciting game, pressed her
umbrella into a friend’s hand saying, ‘Hold this
Doro, I’m afraid I’ll hit someone with it’!
Recollections:
Tairua Rugby in 1925
Written by Herbert (Rugger) Hinds for 100th Jubilee in 1988
The 1925 team which included
S. Morrison, Tony Thompson,
H. Hinds (highlighted), B. Pederson, H Cory-Wright, H. McGregor, J. McCall,
F. Knight, Teddy Morrison, V. Petley “Hop”, Innis Lopes
Right, the legacy continues...
Tairua team mates Curtis Hall, Shayne Johnson, Blake
Hill and James Hopping savour their win over Thames in the last and muddiest game of
the 2012 season in July 2012. Hill holds the Patron Trophy, a consolation prize of sorts.
16
PAKU VIEWS
ISSUE 7 AUTUMN/WINTER 2013
