Something to cheer us up
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– There’s Something About a Magpie
Here is something to cheer up Hawkes Bay diehard supporters. The day we took on and cleaned up the might of the British Lions. There were a number of famous HB names from over the years out there that day like Davis, Tremain, Weber, Paewai, Falcon, Cunningham etc
In those days we were still in the Second Division (much like today) but all rugby was played in the afternoon and boy were there some memorable away trips to places like Taumaranui (where we, accidentally, walked into the King Country team’s pre-match luncheon), Whakatane (where Hawkeye took flight and went over a bank on the journey back home), Levin (where the Cossy Club always made us feel most welcome) and many others! A number of games in those days were mid week affairs so the annual leave budget took a bit of a hit, no point in taking a sickie as the boss was not dumb!!!!! Hell coaches even sat in the stand amongst the supporters and were not surrounded by a bank of computers. There was no need as the fans round them were able to supply plenty of accurate advice, especially if you were the away coach. What a delightful smile from coach GK around the 40 minute mark followed up by a bit of old fashioned rucking and a response from Orcades Crawford! Norm Hewitt was a colossus that day, leading his team from the front like a good general does to a famous victory.The local bars were packed that night and no doubt Norm and his team were out there celebrating as well. Arrrrrggggghhhhh the good old days.
Anyway enjoy it guys as we prepare for the All Blacks v Argies game. -
Thanks Higgins. Much like yourself and Nepia, I was at this game with my 2 brothers. A fantastic afternoon in the sun.
A couple of years later, I was working in Tokyo and I bumped into the Magpies coach for that Lions game, Graeme Taylor on the streets - he was coaching a Japanese club side at the time. Actually, it was he who initiated the conversation, as I was wearing my Magpies jersey at the time. We talked for about 5 minutes about rugby, and this game in particular
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@number-10 said in Something to cheer us up:
Yes, a great day - I was there too.
In 1993 we were in First Division.
Yeah, that was our yoyo years or it would have been if the NZRFU didn't screw us with the top the table go to the opposition's ground for the final.
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Yeah, 1994 Second Division final remains a sore point.
Go through the round-robin winning all games, inflict Southland's only loss 43-10 in Napier on the way, smash BOP 65-7 in the semi, have to play the final in Invercargill because the rules at the time were all playoff matches were played on the reverse venue from the round-robin venue, and lose 18-20 in a gale where the rain was coming in horizontally. Back in HB it was a beautiful day ....
Then four months later in Feb 1995, the NZRU announce a change to the playoff structure to what it is now - where the higher ranked team gets home advantage ... and it took us another 11 years to get into the top division.
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@number-10 Damn, now I've gone and ruined our cheer ourselves up thread. Idiot.
Speaking of 1994 we took the French apart that year too - that was a good one to be at as well!
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@nepia said in Something to cheer us up:
@number-10 Damn, now I've gone and ruined our cheer ourselves up thread. Idiot.
Speaking of 1994 we took the French apart that year too - that was a good one to be at as well!
Indeed - after missing out on tickets, they put up some temporary seating in front of Harris stand, so got to go after all. Great game, and thanks for the penalty try Colin Hawke (s Bay)
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