DO YOU REMEMBER?

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

DO YOU REMEMBER?

[By Hooker.]

A day in September, 1912, provided Otago Rugby enthusiasts with their greatest thrill until the Ranfurly Shield was actually brought home by the provincial side in 1935. At Alexandra Park, Auckland, 27 years ago, Otago put up one of its most formidable challenges for the shield, and little work was done in Dunedin that afternoon when the half-time score came through, showing Otago 5-0. The way for this try was paved by the Otago centre three-quarter,’ Eric Cockcroft, ■ who afterwards played for South Canterbury. He shifted play to Auckland’s end. and l after a scramble near the line, Paddy Sheehan, the Otago skipper, dashed over, Jimmy Douglas (1913 All Black) converting. The wind had favoured! Auckland in the first spell, so that Otago’s hopes rose high. However, Auckland fought desperately to retain possession of the shield, and Webb (half-back) gaining possession, started a passing rush which ended in Macky (wing) scoring a try which was converted. In an effort to regain the lead, Cockroft tried to kidk a penalty goal from halfway, but a splendid kick went wide. The final score was: Otago 5, Auckland 5; and the shield remained in the north The game was described as one of the keenest and most exciting ever played between the tvyo.provinces. The Otago team was E’. Watson, W. Alexander, E. Cockroft, A. Chambers, J. E. Cuthill, A. E. Eckhold, W. Dryden, S. Casey, W. Russell, G. M'Kellar, J. Irvine, J. Douglas, P. Sheehan, J. ■Graham, and T. Smith. Of these, Cockroft, Cuthill, Eckhold, Casey, Irvine, Douglas, and Graham all wore the All Black livery.

$ Great Moments in Rugby INCIDENTS FROM THE PAST First Recorded Game m Dunedin

It was a great moment in the history of Otago Rugby when he captained the school team in the first recorded match against a team of University players, though it was years after before the University Club came into existence. This match has gone down on record as one of the longest ever played in Dunedin, lasting from 2.30 till 6 p.m. It appears to have been played under a mixture of Rugby and Association rules, though it was. not long before the game developed along its present

Jim Bee, famous Union three-quar-ter of the ’Bo’s, was the man responsible for the inauguration of the close place-kick near the goal, and it has been told by another famous old Union oldl-timer, Mr Jack Hope, that the incident happened in a match Union was playing. The Union scored between the posts, and Bee. (who afterwards became head master of Scots College, Sydney) took the ball 10yds out, and the opposing players all laughed! at him. They lined up to charge, expecting Bee to run back a couple of yards before taking his kick. However, the wilj Bee did not move a yard and kicked a goal amid a surprised silence!

There is little doubt that the hoys attending the Otago Boys’ High School kicked a ball about the ground before the ’seventies, but it was not till 1871 that any recognised club came into existence. ■ So, it seems that the oldest club in Dunedin is the Otago Boys’ High School Football Club, and the late G. M. Thomson was undoubtedly its founder.