Page 16 - 1979 News Clippings

Ngaruawahia High

First XV in Australia

23rd August, 1979 the season, they’ll do very helping to mount the attacks.
After an extraordinarily well.” Particularly against Fairfield,
successful start to the season, So far, Ngaruawahia Mark Houghton was pick
the Ngaruawahia High have kept it up, alright. Six of the loose forwards, and
School first XV are wins in seven games, 176 Bruce Haultain fine in the
spending this week in points to 38, and a try count tight stuff.
Australia, aiming to add to that rivals the All Blacks’ Then there are the
their remarkably early effort in Britain last year - adults. This year’s team
collection of scalps. 32 to 4! coach is Chris Grinter, still

Generally, rugby Their most recent win in himself an active player with
struggles in Ngaruawahia. the Waikato was 29-3 over Hamilton Old Boys. Bruce
League is the number one Fairfield College, a Stephens, the former New
winter sport there, as indeed Hamilton co-ed school with Zealand Universities and
it is throughout the lower more than double Waikato midfield back, has
Waikato. The local high Ngaruawahia’s roll and a now left the school for the
school also has fewer boys pretty respectable recent King Country, but his
than almost any other state sporting reputation. A clue to coaching in earlier years
school in the whole Waikato. the boys’ success: it was 4-3 helped bring a number of
these boys on - there are 14
It was therefore interest- at half-time, then 25 points backs who played first XV
ing enough when, for the were added without reply in football last season. One
first time in the seventies, the second half. That’s right, should never overlook
Ngaruawahia entered its top they’re pretty fit. Neville Murphy, the long
team in the Waikato The only loss to date serving Ngaruawahia staff
Secondary School Rugby was against Melville High member who’s now the
Union first division this School (who lost to Boy’s school principal. In
season. First up, they met High, showing again how Ngaruawahia’s lean rugby
Hamilton Boys’ High unreliable a guide form can years, he was still working
School, holder last year of be). there, not only at his own
the Moascar cup and And who have achieved school but as a Waikato
traditionally one of New all this? Ivan Thackray has Secondary School Rugby
Zealand schoolboy rugby’s contributed 11 tries, and Union office-holder and
strong-holds. Ngaruawahia goalkicker Glen Solomon selector.
hadn’t even played them also had 44 points before the
And by no means least,
since 1967. team headed to Australia, for there are a fair few local

The outcome: two games in Sydney and league coaches who started
Ngaruawahia 14 points to one in Brisbane. Bruce many of the Ngaruawahia
six, three tries to none. Wilson (18) and Dean boys off in their football.

“Their backs were Haggie (18) have been other They’ll no doubt be
excellent,” says boys high major points scorers. competing with rugby union
coach Harry Sydney. “If they Manaia Te Wiata at half for the future services of
can retain that team through and centre Garland Vercoe such a successful bunch too!
have been prominent in