Ranfurly Shield
McLean Park, Napier
``Sorry Hika but there's no advice from us.'' That's the message from three of seven
Hawke's Bay players in the Counties side which challenged the Hawke's Bay Magpies for the Ranfurly Shield 45 years ago (to the day) and lost 18-3 at Napier's McLean Park.
One would
have thought Graham Lewis, Mel Gudgeon and Greg Fuller might have had some tips for former Magpie Hika Elliot and his Steelers teammates who challenge the Hawke's Bay side today for the Log o' Wood considering the Steelers haven't won it in 24 challenges since 1958.
``We're staunch Hawke's Bay Magpies supporters now,'' Fuller said. ``I was back in the 1960s until I moved up to Counties. It's funny ... in 1967 I was at McLean Park
cheering the Magpies on in every challenge and the following year I was at the park with a team trying to win the shield off them.''
Like Gudgeon and Lewis, Fuller, went to Ardmore Teachers' Training College and made the Counties team while studying there. Fuller was halfback Lewis' deputy and never got on the park in the challenge and Gudgeon played lock.
``Back in those days there was a great relationship between Hawke's Bay and the college and Counties rugby benefited,'' Lewis said.
``Back then you didn't have to pay to go to university. Ardmore was a huge contributor to Counties rugby, so was the army and the engineering college,'' Gudgeon said.
Other Hawke's Bay members of the 1968 Counties side were the late Bill Hardgrave, who kicked a penalty goal, Gordon Barbara, who is now Australian-based, and former All Blacks Bruce McLeod and Michael Knight.
Lewis was originally expecting to play first five-eighth in the shield challenge but a couple of injuries in their final challenge rehearsal resulted in his positional switch and Fuller's promotion from the third string halfback role.
Lewis, now 64 and a teacher at Kowhai Special School, remembers doing a lot of tackling in the 68 game. ``I spent most of the game tackling the Magpies' big forwards.''
``Yes, we weren't a huge threat to the Magpies but the try Furlong [Magpies first five-eighth Blair Furlong] scored was a bit dubious,'' Fuller, now 64 and a relief teacher
at Napier Boys' High School remarked.
The trio pointed out neutral referees were a big plus in shield games during the 1960s.
``Most first-class games in those days had home province referees. If you had a half decent team you won most of your home games,'' Gudgeon said.
Gudgeon, now 65 and a security officer with First Security Guard Services, recalled how prominent players virtually told the referees what to do similar to how former
All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick did in the late 1980s and early 90s.
``Canterbury had Alex Wyllie, King Country had Colin and Stan Meads and the Magpies had Kel Tremain.''
Fuller, Lewis and Gudgeon all represented Hawke's Bay after returning to their home province from Counties.
In their secondary school days, Lewis and Gudgeon were opposing captains at Gisborne Boys' High School and Napier Boys' High School respectively.
They later became clubmates at Taradale while Fuller played his club rugby for Tech. Lewis has won nine Maddison Trophy winners' medals, six as a player and three as
a coach. His son, Ryan, who also represented the Magpies, has also played shield rugby.
Fuller, who also represented Nelson Bays, was quick to remind Lewis about one of his best ``hospital passes''.
``I think Lewey was injured so I made my debut for Counties ... it was against Northland and I had to mark Sid Going,'' Fuller said, referring to the All Black legend.
Gudgeon said that assignment was just as tough as one of his own.
``I was playing loosie one day for Counties against Auckland and the coach gave me one job ... to stop Mac Herewini. I'm still chasing him,'' Gudgeon quipped, referring
to one of the more talented All Black first five-eighths and fullbacks of the 60s era.
We couldn't leave the trio without getting their predictions.
They are:
Fuller: Magpies 22-16.
Gudgeon: 35-26.
Lewis: 28-15.
