I remember that Bay game. It was a miserable afternoon for me as I listened to it in my bedroom in Tauranga. Rollerson kicked everything that day including our butts.
Manuwatu let us Bay Of Plenty supporters down badly in 1976. BOP was playing Southland at Whakatane and we were watching with one ear on the Ranfurly Shield game at Eden Park - Auckland defending the Log against Manuwatu. The ground announcer kept us up to date with the score and a big cheer from the crowd any time that Auckland got ahead - BOP had a Shield challenge the following weekend, see? Anyway, BOP beat Southland and Manuwatu took the Shield off Auckland. Bugger, because, next weekend, BOP played Auckland at Eden Park, and beat them!
Not good growing up in Palmerston North in those days. You got used to beating everyone, and thinking it was normal. It was just a special time in Manawatu rugby with some great players. Watching that footage, I seriously question whether the modern game has improved at all. Lots of good open running rugby back then, and more space by the look of it.
I remember sitting next to Mark Shaw in the Goerge St barber shop before the Argentina tour. he asked the lady to cut his hair really short so those "foreign fullas" couldn't pull it 😀
Awesome time for the Green & Whites, only missed one home game in the late 70's - the infamous North Auckland Shield match, got caught sneaking out of school!
Russell, my mate and I got caught sneaking 'in' to the game against the 1981 Springboks. Amid all the barbed wire, tension and chaos we just told the overly officious 'white coat' that we'd lost our father and that he was inside the ground. It was potentially safer inside that outside, with two 'lost kids, who could argue with that?
With Kent Lambert playing (who retired around 1978) that game against Wellington at the Oval has to be the 1978 Ranfurly Shield challenge? Not sure there'd be a crowd that large for any other game. If so, it was won 13-6 by Manawatu.
Superb Manawatu team in the late 70s. They played great rugby...and I'm a Wellington Lions supporter but you beat us fair and square that RS day.
I remember that Bay game. It was a miserable afternoon for me as I listened to it in my bedroom in Tauranga. Rollerson kicked everything that day including our butts.
No need to import players from the islands in those days home bred boys
Manuwatu let us Bay Of Plenty supporters down badly in 1976. BOP was playing Southland at Whakatane and we were watching with one ear on the Ranfurly Shield game at Eden Park - Auckland defending the Log against Manuwatu. The ground announcer kept us up to date with the score and a big cheer from the crowd any time that Auckland got ahead - BOP had a Shield challenge the following weekend, see?
Anyway, BOP beat Southland and Manuwatu took the Shield off Auckland. Bugger, because, next weekend, BOP played Auckland at Eden Park, and beat them!
Not good growing up in Palmerston North in those days. You got used to beating everyone, and thinking it was normal. It was just a special time in Manawatu rugby with some great players. Watching that footage, I seriously question whether the modern game has improved at all. Lots of good open running rugby back then, and more space by the look of it.
The modern game an improvement? Definitely not.
Quality rugby at its best. Great area for Manawatu. Spoilt by the North Auckland ranfurly shield challenge
I remember sitting next to Mark Shaw in the Goerge St barber shop before the Argentina tour. he asked the lady to cut his hair really short so those "foreign fullas" couldn't pull it 😀
Bullet was the quickest passing halfback ever!
This is awesome. Have you got anymore Manawatu rugby from the 70's and 80's?
Awesome time for the Green & Whites, only missed one home game in the late 70's - the infamous North Auckland Shield match, got caught sneaking out of school!
Mick O'callaghan played for All Blacks and Australia
Gringo, you are a fucking legend!
Russell, my mate and I got caught sneaking 'in' to the game against the 1981 Springboks.
Amid all the barbed wire, tension and chaos we just told the overly officious 'white coat' that we'd lost our father and that he was inside the ground. It was potentially safer inside that outside, with two 'lost kids, who could argue with that?
YEAR ???
With Kent Lambert playing (who retired around 1978) that game against Wellington at the Oval has to be the 1978 Ranfurly Shield challenge?
Not sure there'd be a crowd that large for any other game.
If so, it was won 13-6 by Manawatu.
Doug Rollerson RIP