100 years rugby rivalry
It’s been a long 42 years but Max Carroll cannot quite erase the heartbreaking image from his razor sharp rugby mind.
The former New Plymouth Boys’ High School 1st XV rugby coach vividly remembers a match-winning try against traditional rivals, Auckland Grammar School, cancelled out in the dying minutes.
The Moascar Cup clash in 1976 against holders Grammar was played on Eden Park as a curtain raiser to an Auckland Ranfurly Shield defence against Manawatu.
Manawatu won the Shield for the first time but it was the early game which Carroll recalls more clearly.
Grammar led 6-3 with minutes to go when NPBHS winger Craig Howan swooped on a loose ball and took off towards the line.
A converted try would have brought the coveted Moascar Cup back to the Gully Ground until Grammar speedster, Gary Henley Smith, a national sprint champion, tackled Howan metres short.
It was an excruciating moment for Carroll, who shakes his head on what could have been a memorable win.
‘‘It still rated as the finest 1st XV match I have ever seen,’’ the
86-year-old said.
The redoubtable coach, who succeeded JJ Stewart to guide the Boys’ High 1st XV to 58 wins over
15 years, will be back at the Boys’ High Gully ground for the centennial match between the two sides tomorrow.
The 1st XV game will be the
95th played between the two schools with Grammar holding the advantage with 55 wins, including 53-10 in the first game in 1918. Boys’ High have 32 wins – among them a
35-6 victory in 1973 – though recent results are firmly in Grammar’s favour.
Many of the of the games contain special moments similar to what Carroll witnessed in 1976.
The annual fixture has been a breeding ground for 80 future All Blacks – 52 from AGS, and 28 from NPBHS, including captains Reuben Thorne, Sir John Graham and Graham Mourie – and innumerable provincial reps.
‘‘Anytime you get 100 years of games between two long standing rivals it is a milestone,’’ NPBHS principal Paul Veric said.
‘‘Our boys still considered the game one of the highlights of the season to play against a premier rugby school with a proud tradition like ourselves.
‘‘We’re incredibly proud of them and they have worked incredibly hard to get where they are.’’
The match promised to be closely contested with Boys’ High coming off a four-match winning streak, and Grammar beaten in their last encounter against Sacred Heart.
Boys’ High coach Sam Moore is hoping for a dry field in spite of a wet weather forecast .
‘‘Grammar are pretty formidable,’’ he said.
‘‘It will be a massive game for us, they never seem to have a weak year and we enjoy the challenge of testing ourselves against the best of the best in the country.’’
Boys’ High captain Corrigan Millar hoped the Gully Ground and home side haka would help spur the team to a win.
‘‘It’s awesome to run out on to the Gully for ‘hoop’ (school) matches and there is nothing better playing on the school ground.’’
The game kicks off at 12.40pm with old boys from both schools invited to attend.
‘‘Anytime you get 100 years of games between two long standing rivals it is a milestone.’’ NPBHS principal Paul Veric