The Year That Was – 1987
The inaugural Rugby World Cup, with 16 competing unions is held in May and June in New Zealand and Australia. South Africa is unable to compete owing to an international sporting boycott because of apartheid. The final is held in Auckland on 20 June at Eden Park and the All Blacks beat France 29-9 to win the Webb Ellis Cup. Captain David Kirk has the honour of lifting the trophy.
Unfortunately, once again the Old Golds produced a poor third division season with 10 losses.
However, twelve new players were called upon throughout the season to build the ranks.
Enthusiasm remained high with close games against Thames Valley and Horowhenua.
Despite losing to second division teams South Canterbury and Mid-Canterbury, the points differentials were 6 and 10 respectively, showing signs of promise.
O. Taylor joins the ranks of North Otago’s life members.
In Club Rugby, Excelsior triumph in both the Citizens and Burns Shields. John Tito coached the Seniors and Bob Hunt the Senior Reserve Team.
NORFU President and Chairman: R. M. Lory; Secretary: D. Cleland; Selector: Murray Watson
Match Record
Games Played: 10; Games Won: 0
Points for: 70; Points against: 217
Notable Players
The most outstanding player was new arrival Chris Wotton who impressed with his tackling and performed well at fullback. Andrew Jones, another newcomer showed speed on the wing.
Simon Bloomberg captained the side and brought his experience to the half-back position while Peter Cook served the team well as first five-eighth as did Bruce McGregor at midfield.
Amongst the forwards, flanker Alan Robins, and hooker Rod Taylor added energy and speed.
Representative Rugby
A home game on 1 July against South Canterbury opened the season and disappointingly no points came North Otago’s way. However, they did prevent the visitors from across the river from accumulating too many points. The outcome was a 0-10 loss to South Canterbury.
In the National championship, a Buller- North Otago clash ensued on 11 July. In spite of a try to Jones and a penalty goal to Bruce McGregor, a loss was recorded: 7-21.
As hosts on 22 July, the Old Golds gave Thames Valley a scare in a close contest. Jones and McGregor were again the point scorers (respectively two tries and a conversion) but the Northerners inflicted a defeat: 10-13.
On 1 August, Nelson Bays took on North Otago at home. The Jones-McGregor duo dutifully supplied the points – two tries to the former and a conversion to the latter. At full-time the Old Golds were the underlings: 10-25.
A touring side from King Country dominated at Centennial Park on 5 August to the score of 34-4. Robins scored the sole North Otago try. H. Aubrey of North Otago was the referee.
On 12 August the Waitakians travelled to Tokomaru Bay to take on the East Coast. Cook was the author of a North Otago try while McGregor and Bloomberg scored a penalty goal and a drop goal respectively. Unfortunately, the team’s efforts were insufficient to defeat the home side and North Otago posted a 10-25 loss.
A game against Poverty Bay in Gisborne quickly followed on 15 August. Again, the visitors were utterly overcome by the home side, going down 0-43.
Another encounter ensued three days later on 18 August against Horowhenua in Paraparaumu and this time North Otago showed some promise narrowly losing 14-18. Tries were scored by Cook and Jones while Mansfield kicked two penalty goals.
24 August saw the Old Golds back on home turf coming up against West Coast. Although no tries were scored by the home team, Mansfield kicked three penalty goals. Nonetheless, the tally was insufficient to win the encounter. The final score was 9-16 in favour of West Coast.
The final match of the season was another home game against Mid Canterbury on 12 September at the end of which the Old Golds were defeated 6-12. Cook scored a try which C. Gard converted. The referee was North Otago’s Dave Ovens.