Old rugby rivals to meet for championship trophy

Press, 9 August 1985, Page 19

Old rugby rivals to meet for championship trophy

By

KEVIN McMENAMIN

Around 1950 the big match of the Christchurch

senior rugby season was almost invariably between Marist and Technical Old Boys.

they were the two strongest sides, and apart from wins by Sydenham in 1947 and 1948 they shared the championships between 1945 and 1952.

In those days the senior title was decided over two full rounds and one year, 1950, Marist scored a surprise win over Technical in the final game to draw level on the table.

A play-off was. decided by the Canterbury Rugby Union, but neither club accepted it willingly. It was made the curtain-raiser to Canterbury’s Ranfurly Shield match against Wairarapa and both sides had players in the Canterbury team. But the game went ahead and was won by Marist 6-3. In the early 1950 s Technical’s powers waned and it was High School Old Boys which became Marist’s arch foe.

However, those MaristTechnical games of the late 1940 s were something special. There were a number of reasons, and religion may have had some bearing, but it was largely because both sides had players who appealed to the crowds. In the Technical scrum

wc-e such rugged customers as Doug Herman, Neville Teague and Alan Couling, while Marist could always turn to George Lindstrom and John Mullins when the going got tough. Dennis Young, Johnny Roach, Murray Logan, Jackie Waine, Dave Taylor and Tommy Jackson were other prominent players for Technical in this period, while Marist had the likes of Peter Kearney, Des Hickey, Tom Lynch, Kevin Stuart and Barry Simpson. Those days are long gone, but they might well be recalled by older rugby followers when Marist and Shirley face each other in Sunday’s senior rugby grand final at Lancaster Park for the championship Trophy. Shirley is, of course, the old Technical club. The name change was made in 1962 and befits Shirley’s position as very much a district club. Its main feeder school is now Shirley Boys’ High School.

Still, it has been a long time between drinks for both clubs. Shirley has had a middle-of-the-table senior side for many years and its last big success was under the Technical banner back in 1949. It did win the bottom eight D.C.L. shield in 1981.

Marist, on the other hand, has consistently been a

championship contender, but despite being in or close to finals just about every year in the last 10, it has to go back to 1952 since it last reigned supreme. Both teams are putting big efforts into ensuring that their teams lack nothing in the way of support and, for Shirley followers, the thrill is probably greater. Its place in the final was largely unexpected.

Marist fans have been out in force at three of the last four finals, and each time they have been disappointed. Last year Marist failed when favoured against New Brighton. It will get another chance to end the drought on Sunday.

Footnote: If Marist should win it would complete a great double for Marist this year. The Marist rugby and cricket clubs share the same rooms in Mandeville Street, and Marist was the winner of last summer’ssenior championship pennant.