A DIVE, A TRY, AND A KAURI UPRIGHT

Press, 15 July 1978, Page 12

A DIVE, A TRY, AND A KAURI UPRIGHT

Not all the great rugby players in New Zealand are the metropolitan gladiators performing in a vast concrete arena befoe huge crowds. GRAHAM HUTCHINS writes of his trilogy of rugbv heroes: illustrations bv PAIL CLARKSON. I: CEDRIC HEAD, part three.

. . . five minutes to ploy, Past and Present level ... a leggy young wing heading for the corner . Cedric heading for the wing. . . . The young wing did not appear to to be aware of the fact that Cedric was steadily gaining on him and with no more than 15m to go, it seemed a safe bet that the ageing full-back would scythe him down as he had so many other hopeful aspirants that afternoon. A lot of things were racing through Cedric’s mind as he zeroed in on his quarry: he realised that this would be his final appearance in any form of rugby match: that this would be the deciding tackle in the game: that more than any other this would be the tackle of his career. Accordingly, he launched into a spectacular dive which if it had connected, would surely have led to a collision of purest savage beauty. However, the young wing, who later played for his province, had certainly been aware of Cedric’s wheezing presence and at the psychological moment when Cedric left the ground, he effortlessly lengthened his stride, leaving Cedric grasping at air. Such was Cedric’s momentum he travelled through the air for what must have been 5m before disappearing headfirst into the rubbish tins and crates of empties awaiting collection outside the clubrooms. Very few people 5 a w i the wing touch down for

the try for their attention was occupied in following the arc of Cedric’s dive and as the cheering died an instant death it was replaced by the sound of breaking glass, clattering rubbish tins and an agonising series of thuds as Cedric became submerged and wedged beneath a hail of potato peelings and bottle tops. The silence that swept around the ground was probably the most moving tribute ever paid a local player.

Within a minute or two, with strenuous assistance from the touch judge, Cedric had emerged from his early grave and was limping back onto the field, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead, his number obliterated by discarded mashed potatoes and lettuce leaves dangling from his shin pads. Somehow no-one really doubted that he would return. Because of Cedric’s diversionary- swallow dive, there were only two or three minutes of the game remaining, but in spite of this, the Past payers entered the next scrum with renewed gusto. In fact, due entirely to Cedric’s example, the entire

team were galvanised beyond their average age of 37 and immediately an attack was mounted which spluttered and faultered down the field until the possibility of a match-sav-ing try could not be ruled out. The Past players lifted their rubbery legs as if some unseen force was driving them onward. As one player fell in a convulsing heap, there would always be another in the breach to carry the movement on. All members of

the team must have figured in the movement which swept almost the length. of the field. And Cedric must have handled the ball six times, each time attracting tacklers like flies to a rubbish tin and each time managing to smuggle the ball to his apoplectic cohorts. Finally Cedric had the ball again and now there remained only 5m to cover to the supreme sanctity of the goal posts. As ever the tacklers converged and it did appear at first that Cedric would be halted a metre or two short of his objective. However, in a moment of total inspiration, and in a manner we could scarcely remember tn

something like 500 club matches, Cedric suddenly effected a rather primitive sidestep which succeeded in throwing off at least two tacklers, but which now, because of his altered trajectory, set him on a collision course with the left hand upright. As he collided sickeningly with the post, the crowd went characteristically silent, and as the tacklers piled in on top of Cedric the crowd, to a man, rose to their feet. As the tacklers continued to

arrive the upright began swaying alarmingly and in no time the flag at the top of the post had broken free and fluttered down on the heaving maul. Once again the St John men did their dash to the changing sheds and indeed a cattle truck was already being driven onto the field preparatory to undertaking a mercy das.’j to the local hospital. One by one. the tacklers unravelled themselves and immediately walked away from the scene as if they could not bear to witness the injuries they had helped inflict. Eventually Cedric was uncovered and he was seen to be rammed up against the base of the upright with the ball,

which was now as flat as my father’s home brew, tucked firmly in the pit of his stomach. The referee had been observing the unravelling at close quarters and on satisfying himself that the ball was in contact with the upright, immediately declared that Cedric had scored a try. No-one had really considered this possibility, for we were far more concerned with Cedric’s welfare and he did appear rather grey about the gills for some minutes. However, on hearing the referee’s verdict he tore himself clear of the upright, dragging with him several metres of sacking, and like a phoenix from the ashes, rose stoically .to his feet which were now bereft of boots. After spitting out a good few teeth he allowed himself the luxury of a startled smile and .began rhe long journey back to his position. Of course, the Past players had now drawn level and they only needed the conversion to achieve a totally remarkable upset victory. History' would like to record that the conversion was successful, but unforunately the upright that had re* Jived such a buffeting only moments before, snapped off halfway up and began falling in rhe direction of the goal kicker who had commenced his run up. On seeing the large kauri post topoling towards him, the kicker hurriedly leapt aside and the Present players, taking advantage of this godsend, charged out from ’the goal line and

rendered the ball dead, thereby ending the game. And so, Cedric Head limped off the playing field forever and despite the physical hardship and myriad injuries, not to mention burnt dinners incurred in the cause of rugby, he managed to return with considerable interest the advantages he had received from the game. Cedric limps off: and on limps ALLISTER McALLISTER. Messiah in an M.Sc gown. His story starts on Wednesday.