'Beach dogies’ snatch rugby draw

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 40

'Beach dogies’ snatch rugby draw

By

JOHN BROOKS

A group of perspiring Americans squatted under the goal-posts at Fendalton Park yesterday afternoon and, considering their advanced state of breathlessness, gave a passable rendition of “Yankee Doodle.” The cause of their fatigue was 80 minutes of rugby in bright sunshine on a flinthard ground at Fendalton Park, and the reason for their jubilation was the lastminute draw they gained with the High School Old

Boys seniors. The Americans were members of the Old Puget Sound Beach Rugby Football Club, and they were as much a mouthful for Old Boys as the pronunciation of their title. This maroon-jersied, Seat-tle-based team entered the final minute of the match trailing Old Boys by 3-7. But then Bill “The Body” Hicks, a string flanker and the lady killer of the party, pulled down a punt from his fly-half, lan Gunn, and surged 30m to the goal-line

to score under a pile of defenders. It was a fitting end to a closely-contested game played in good spirit. It was also the inaugural contest for the Continental Airlines Cup, so the organisers will have a problem working out which club will house the trophy. The “beach dogies” played with vigour in the forwards, but found Old Boys too good for them in the rucks. Despite some clever running by Simon Brown in mid-field, however, the home side

failed to make the most of its second phase opportunities as their rivals covered the field zealously on defence. Gary Cookson caught an infield pass from the right wing, Grant Elsom, to score Old Boys’ try, and he kicked an easy penalty goal in the second half. Robert Howie responded with a dropped goal for the Beach, before the Hicks try. The Seattle club's second team, bolstered by the inclusion of two tourists from

Milwaukee and three Old Boys, lost only 6-8, to the host club’s counterparts. In the early match the Old Boys under-19 team beat Overlake High School, of Seattle, 27-7. The Americans were greatly impressed by the smooth organisation and friendly reception at the Old Boys club. "We don’t get this sort of treatment at home,” said one of the “dogies.” “It is worth travelling this far to enjoy it.” ’