Great rusby for Rochfort crowd

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 35, 17 February 1987, Page 16

Great rusby for Rochfort crowd

BY FORWARD PASS Ohakune's 75th Jubilee celebrations got off to a marvellous start on Saturday when 1200 people watched two superb running games of rugby at the Rochfort Park ground in Ohakune. The first game between the King Country Foresters and the Ruapehu Golden Oldies featured many well known rugby names from the past. It was the Foresters who showed they had not lost any of their guile and speed as they ran in 1 1 tries to the Ruapehu team's three. Joe Rehu, one of two under 35 players the Foresters were allowed, scored the first try, followed by the second try from the other under 35, Peter Broderson. The Foresters then ran rampant with tries from (in order), Barry Cull, Cook Te Wano, Broderson, George Conrad, Euan McRohhic. John Morris, Jeff Ri'hble. Alan Cameron and McRohbie again. Conversions were shared between the Foresters' captain. Ross Flintoff, Cull and Wayne Manning. Former King Country representative T om Spry got on the scoring sheet for the Ruapehu side along with former Wanganui representative, Robin Pearson. The other try scorer was Ray Spry. But it was the main game with its many past and present All Blacks that the spectators had come to see.

However. in a nice touch, just before the start of the match between the OhakuneKarioi Lions XV and the Ohakune Jubilee XV, a group of midgets had a run on the park. Much to their surprise, they were joined by a number of All Blacks who played alongside them. One boy will remember for the rest of his life, how he sprinted up the sidelinefora try with Mark Shaw in hot pursuit!

The main game produced 1 2 tries of high quality which kept the spectators on their feet. The first try came after only two minutes from new All Black, John Gallagher. More tries followed from Evan Hopkins (Wellington), Bryce Robins (Taranaki), Wayne Shelford (North Harbour), Kieran Crowley (Taranaki) and Warren Bunn (Taranaki). The halftime score was 20-15 to the Lions XV.

Hopkins scored his second try shortly into the second half. The try feast continued with tries from Brett Harvey (Wairarapa), Solomon Sua (Wanganui) and a full-time effort from Marty Berry (Wairarapa), which clinched victory for the Jubilee XV. Lachlan Harding who has entertained Ohakune crowds for many years at the Park, but has sadly not gone on to show that form to national selectors on a regular basis, must have made All Black coach, Brian Lochore, sit up and watch. Harding ran with all the purpose and strength with which the Ohakune-Karioi rugby team has come to depend on. He was rightfully named player of the day for the Jubilee XV. Another less known name, but one who pushed hard for higher honours last season, Schuster, was named the player of the day for the Lions XV. There can be little doubt the match was one of the best ever played at Rochfort Park and the 'name' players played their part in contributing to a tremendous occasion. There could have been

fewer happier men than one of the organisers, Mr Ian Strachan, who admitted that an hour before the curtain raiser was due to start, he was worried no one would turn up. However, he was not disappointed and the attendance helped to defray all the costs incurred by the Lions Club and the OhakuneKarioi Rugby Club in putting on the match. Ohakune Jubilee XV 36 J. Gallagher. W. Shelford. B. Harvey. S. Pokere. S. Sua and M. Berry - tries. Gallagher - three conversions. two penalties. Ohakune-Karioi Lions XV 32 E. Hopkins 2. B. Robbins, K. Crowley. W. Bunn and J. Schuster - tries. Crowley - two conversions. Botica and Hopkins - conversions.