1977 a memorable Rangers’ year
RUGBY UNION: The majority of people who play sport never experience playing in a grand final, let alone winning one.
That’s what makes them so special.
And today past players will meet to relive their special day when Toowoomba Rangers Rugby Union Club celebrates its Old Boys Day at Gold Park.
The gala weekend of Old Boy activities is marked this year by the 40th anniversary of the club’s first Risdon Cup premiership win.
The landmark day for the historic club arrived in 1977 — 13 years after the introduction of the Risdon Cup — with a 9-6 win over Dalby at Gold Park.
Rangers’ 1977 centre and vice-captain Bruce Tannock will be one of those recounting the day at Gold Park this afternoon.
Tannock recalls the euphoria surrounding the win which followed Rangers’ heart-breaking grand final loss to Past Grammar in 1973.
Rangers dominated that match scoring four-tries-to-one before being denied victory by a missed late conversion kick from in front of goal.
“My best memories of 1977 was the core of spirited players and good blokes we had as a team,” Tannock said.
“We may not have been the most talented side but we played for each other.
“I later had two sons (David and Andrew) who played in Rangers’ 2006 Risdon Cup win and that same spirit existed then.
“It’s the people, blokes like Danny Wiedman, who was president during that era that made Rangers such a great and successful club to play with.”