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Old fashioned rivalry continues Print E-mail
Laharum FCDoes everyone remember the rivalry between Sydney and West Coast? As much as it seems eons ago, given that the Eagles would now struggle to beat Swifts Creek, there was a period a few years ago when West Coast and Sydney had half a dozen games in which they were separated by less than a goal.

Well, there’s a similar rivalry in the Horsham and District league, where Laharum and Noradjuha-Quantong (both of which would beat West Coast) were last year separated by a point, with Laharum the victor. Early this year they were again separated by a point, with Noradjuha-Quantong earning the saveloys.

On Saturday, at Laharum’s ground at the northern tip of the Grampians, the two rivals once more had a close match. But even the game’s tightness was secondary to the feature of the day, Laharum’s 1958 premiership reunion. Of the 20 players from that team, only three failed to make the reunion: the two who had died plus Bill Tucker, the playing-coach of the 1958 team, who woke up on Saturday and thought he was about to die.

The oldest former player at the reunion was 86 and the youngest was 67. The effect of 50 years of shrinkage was evident when former ruckman Laurie Gross turned up with his grandson wearing his premiership guernsey. The boy was no older than 10 (he’s playing for West Coast next week) and the jumper fitted him perfectly.

Gross also had the story of the day when he told about his recruitment. In 1958, he was a stock-and-station agent when he agreed to a sale of sheep with a Laharum farmer. When Gross brought out his paperwork, the farmer brought out some paperwork of his own. It was a clearance form to enable Gross to become a Laharum player. The farmer said both forms would be signed or neither. The deal was made.

On Saturday the 1958 players enjoyed a buffet lunch supplied by the Laharum ladies’ auxiliary. Then at half-time of the senior game Graeme Combe, a back pocket in 1958, introduced his premiership teammates as they shuffled on to the ground to take the applause of the spectators.

With two minutes to go in the senior match, Laharum led by two goals and a home win seemed likely. Noradjuha-Quantong coaches and trainers were so eager to escape the bitter nor-westerly that was howling straight into their coach’s box that they conceded defeat and began packing up their gear.

Then Noradjuha-Quantong booted a goal. Then, with just seconds to go, Laharum rover Jye Smith grabbed the ball in defence and tried to dodge his way out of trouble, only to get pinged. Noradjuha-Quantong midfielder Ted Brennan was paid a free kick for holding the ball. He took his shot from the top of the goalsquare. It sailed through. The siren went. After two matches decided by a point, this one was a draw.

Laharum and Noradjuha-Quantong are likely to again meet in the finals. Old premiership players should check their pacemakers before they head get to the game.

By Paul Daffey
 
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