Sorry mate, I posted a reply before seeing your reply. I reckon you're spot on. My Dad took me to that game. I was 11. I remember Kenny Irvine lining up the conversion. He lined it up and then went back and changed the angle of the ball slightly. The story was the referee, Darcy Lawler, told him it would miss and that's why he realigned it. Don't know if that part was true or a good story. But he kicked it from the sideline and he wasn't a noted kicker.
Rugby league history
- Thread starter innsaneink
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fibrodreaming
Well-known member
I'm jealous. I was desperate to go to that game but my father said it would be a big crowd and I was too young to stand on the hill. I was 12.
I reckon you are right about Lawler. Irvine didn't kick for Norths and the report is that when he lined up the kick from the sideline, Lawler spoke to him and he walked back and re-aligned the ball and then kicked the goal. Lawler was a dodgy ref, so I would believe it of him.
My Dad didn't follow rugby league so I'm not sure why he took me to that game. I know I played junior RL for five or six years and he only ever went to one game and sat there reading the paper while I played. I played in the Wests junior league so travelled to all my games either on foot to Pratten Park or Henley Park or by train or bus to the other games.
You couldn't get two players more unalike than these two. Barnes an absolute gentleman and Dimond a rough, tough player who took no prisoners. Off the field a really nice guy, though.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
Attacking intent and continual backing up.
Hope our guys can show both those qualities this year.
Halbrowne61
Well-known member
I can see physical similarities between Dimond and Bradman Best !
Barnes not just a gentleman but my childhood hero. Did just about everything for the Tigers except win a comp. Retired in 68 and we came out and won in 69.
innsaneink
Well-known member
I played many games at Henley Pk, was our home ground
Champion @innsaneink, I often played cricket there - one day, I chased a ball. it went on and on down the road and as I finally got to it, a man in a sling came out of his house to throw it back to me (apparently he'd been watching the game) - it was Bob Simpson, Western Suburbs and Australian captain, who at that time had a broken arm. I was shocked and overcome - next thing I threw the ball back but stayed with Mr. Simpson for about 1/2 an hour - it is a magic memory!
So yes, Henley Park has great memories for me too.
Were you an Enfield Fed?
I lived not far from Henley Park and most summers would hang around there and Enfield pool. One day a kid pointed out a house at the park and said Bobby Simpson lived there. He was my all-time hero and my bat was a Bob Simpson signature bat. I was about 10 or 11 and went up and knocked on the door. A woman answered (I assume his wife) and I asked if Bobby was there. She would have guessed I was an awe-struck kid and told me he wasn't home but was really nice and had a little chat with me.
A couple of years later I was at Pratten Park and saw him score a whirlwind century against Cumberland. Richie Benaud opened the bowling that day for Cumberland so he could bowl against Simpson. Nearly got him early too.
innsaneink
Well-known member
Holman Jnrs
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
That's a coincidence - I was at that game too. There was quite a big crowd for a club game because Richie and John Benaud were playing for Cumberland and Simmo and Davo were playing for Wests (at least I think Davo was playing). Davo retired around then.
I'll just share this little story I recently was told 1st hand by a former opening bat with the Manly club years ago, about a game that Manly were playing against Wests, and on a day when Alan Davidson. was opening the bowling for Wests (remembering this is the "Manly" version":
Just before play was to start for the day, and where Manly were to bat, the Manly opening bat, a youngster still at that time, was being encouraged by senior Manly players how to deal with the Wests opening bowler (and Australian rep) Alan D: "He only bowls 1 in 8 on the stumps so just wait for that ball and leave the rest."
Sure enough, it sort of worked, and lunch came with the young Manly player still not out, albeit not having scored many runs either.
Davo approached him and said:"That bat is made for a batsman to hit the ball with."
To which the Manly bat replied cheekily "Only if I can reach it... "
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Wow, amazing. You're right about the crowd, it was big for a grade game. Memory is a funny thing isn't it. Sometimes when I log on to Google I can't remember what I was going to search for and yet I remember quite clearly being at that game, around 60 years ago. Simpson was well under way in his innings and scoring very quickly when he broke his bat. He ran off to exchange it and all us young blokes lined up to see if we could get the broken bat off him. Sadly, he ran straight past and up to the dressing room for the new bat and we got nothing. Davo did play in that game. Great days with almost no cares.
Davo was a total champion bloke, outstanding bowler and not a bad bat either. I'll bet that young Manly kid cherished that memory. You could watch Test players playing grade cricket back in those days. Nowadays you're lucky to see a Test player playing Shield. I'm not sure the game is better for it.
It definitely is not the better - just feel the passion in these memories - never to be easily found in years to come sadly.
fibrodreaming
Well-known member
You'r right, Davo was outstanding. He took 186 test wickets @ 20.5. He is clearly one of the all time greats. He's not really spoken about much these days which is a pity.
innsaneink
Well-known member
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Are there sweeter words in the English language than 'Bit of a kicking duel developing here'? As far as we're concerned, the only problem with kicking...
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