Members of the Eugowra 'All Blacks 'old boys rugby league club of the 1963 to 1967 Premiership teams, along with wives/partners, and including a number of the 67 Juniors and 68 Reserve grade Premiers, gathered for their yearly reunion last month.
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This year also included the unveiling of the plaque honouring those first-grade players who set that record-breaking five-year sequence of Premierships in the Group 11 First Division.
David Greenhalgh was emcee for the occasion and thanked everyone for coming especially the family members of the late Bill Adams who travelled from as far as Harvey Bay and Brisbane. Gary Welsh also made the trip from Perth in WA.
David extended sincere appreciation to Col Morris of Central West Granite Supplies for the donation of the granite and to Jodie & Ben Greenhalgh for their expertise in the design and making of the plaque. The donation of their time and work is much appreciated. This was due to be unveiled at this time last year, and of course along with the reunion wasn't held because of the COVID lockdown.
The reunion luncheon was held at the Eugowra Community Bowls and Recreation Club where Barry Beath was the emcee. He welcomed everyone and asked Vince Toohey to say Grace before attendees enjoyed a beautiful lunch prepared by Kenny Chu.
Basil Toohey read segments of the local rugby league history which he has written. These two volumes are available at the local Museum where people are invited to sit and read them, but not to be taken out of the building. This history goes from the start of rugby league in Eugowra from 1921 up to 1953. David Greenhalgh then continued on from 1953, to the 60's and up to 1974 when the Golden Eagles colours took over from the All Blacks. During the 60's John Hobby was the successful c/c from 1963 to 1965. He had taken over from Ian Walsh in 1962.
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Vince Toohey also talked about the 50's era and of when Ian Walsh came here in 1956, also covered by Barry and David. Ian was c/c in 1957 when Eugowra won the Second Division Premiership.
Barry asked Ken Smith, c/c in 1966, to say a few words followed by Colin Pritchard who took over coaching from Ken. That brought to an end that wonderful five years winning sequence in Group 11 First Division.
A great day was enjoyed by all, tackling, scoring tries and kicking goals and of some of the very funny stories of their rugby league days. They will all be back next year to do it all over again.
Eugowra history from Basil Toohey
Forbes and Parkes started playing Rugby League in 1920. Prior to 1921 Rugby Union was the prominent football winter sport in Eugowra. The majority of those playing Rugby Union for Eugowra in the five years prior to 1921 were the pioneers that blazed the trail for this new form of football called Rugby Union.
Names of some of these players were George Crampton, Eric Gillett, Jack Dwyer, Fred, Roy, Norm and Ruben Thorncraft, Ted & Tom Toohey, W Irvine, Murray Wolstenholme, Viv Hoswell, Arthur Woodgate, Bob Sutton, Neil Gosper, Col Armstrong, Jim Locke, Edward, Col and Dave Greenhalgh, Ken Douglas, Stan Hayden Jim Woodgate and Arthur Chatman.
April 1921 a meeting of those interested in the formation of a Rugby League Competition for the year and it was agreed to run a Second Grade League and to communicate with Alectown, Bogan Gate, Parkes, Grenfell, Eugowra, Trundle, Welcome, Calare and Bedgerabong.
Forbes Advocate on the 24th of May in 1921 said Forbes played Eugowra at Eugowra where Eugowra won 8-3. In the report it said Eugowra's win should put heart into that team and encourage them to still greater efforts. At present they look likely winners of the competition, their forwards being weighty and fast. The match at Eugowra on Sunday was fast and towards the end some heavier players were breathing like pigs with asthma. But most of them are getting into better condition now. A few weeks ago, a fast match like that would have had them labouring like elephants bogged in porridge.
- 1922: It was decided to form the Eugowra Rugby Football League and that all local teams be invited to join except the 'Promised Land Team". The teams were 'Magpies', 'Goolagong', 'Promised Land', and 'Eugowra Blues'. Aug 1922 a team from Eugowra played at Forbes and won 29-1 with the prize being the Ellercamp Cup. Forbes Advocate Aug 22 1922.
- 1923: Back to the Forbes Rugby League Competition and Eugowra lost to Canowindra 16-6 in the final match of the year.
- 1924: Eugowra played in the Parkes Football competition. At Gooloogong Eugowra won 8-0.
- 1925: Eugowra again formed and joined the Parkes football league. On 20th September Eugowra defeated Parkes 15-11. The Forbes Advocate wrote the inclusion of the veteran Dave Greenhalgh who has been playing football for more years than we can remember and whose presence at the head of his team has always been a big match winning factor for Eugowra.
- 1926: Jack Downey is the new Coach for Eugowra. June 1926 Eugowra played Parkes for the Lager Cup . Parkes won 26-14. Eugowra teams included that year L Niven, George Crampton, W Langford, Clarrie Toohey, Joe Elbourne, Jack Downey Capt, Dave Greenhalgh, Tom Toohey, E Hunter, Ted Toohey, Roy Gunn, Herb Little, Norm Thorn craft, Frank Toohey and Rex Irvine. That was probably Dave Greenhalgh's last year.
- 1927: Eugowra formed a team. Clarrie Toohey was the Captain. They played teams such as Forbes, Cudal, Parkes, Cowra and Canowindra.
- 1928: There was football meeting in Goodacre's 'Royal Café' and it was decided to reform for 1928 and to engage Sec Maunder as coach for the coming season. 6th July Clarrie Toohey and Herb Little have another tryout in the Group Match. 17th Aug Eugowra played Waverley Tramway footballers winning 17-10. 20th Aug Clarrie, Tom and Frank Toohey played with Forbes Old Boys to defeat West Wyalong Half Moons 24-18.
- 1929: Intertown football matches between Eugowra, Forbes, Parkes, and Grenfell were decided upon at a meeting of delegates at Tinman's Hotel Forbes. Sec Maunder was the Eugowra coach again. June 29th five Tooheys play for Eugowra- Clarrie, Ted, Jim, Tom and Frank against Parkes. Others in the team Verdi Collits, Reg Cutcliffe, Rex Irvine, Gundy Lee, Ron Cameron, Ron Maher, Ben Newell and Merv McKay
- 1930/31: Eugowra didn't field teams for 2 years maybe because of the depression. Clarrie, Frank & Tom Tooohey and Herb and Bill Little, Hutchison and Jack Kelly and others from Eugowra played with Forbes,
- 1932: Frank Toohey accepts an offer to play with Parkes for 2/10/0 a week, board and a job.
- 1933: Jim Toohey breaks a leg in a game against Gooloogong and never plays football again.
- 1934-1936: Eugowra formed a team and played in Group X1
- 1939: Eugowra had a team and joined the Parkes second grade comp
- 1941, 42, 43, 43 and 44 were war years and no football.
- 1945: Eugowra entered Group 11 Second Grade Comp. Some of the players that year- J Hayes, John & Pat Barnes, R Cutcliffe, Kevin O'Dea, Kelvin Cheney, Pike Greenhalgh, Jack Rawsthorne, W Morton, Max Herbert, Angus Black, John Townsend, A Thorncraft, W Saltmarsh, Eric Cheney, Frank Toohey and M Pound.
- 1946: Played in the Group Second Division
- 1947: Looking for a coach. Eugowra field 2 teams
- 1948: A Clyburn new coach- 2 teams
- 1949: Back to one team.
- 1950: Eugowra and Goolagong combine- 1st and 2nd grades.
- 1951: Eugowra and Goolagong combine again with 2 teams. Pike Greenhalgh plays Rugby Union for Forbes.
- 1952: Pike Greenhalgh again plays for Forbes Rugby Union.
- 1953: Rugby League up and running with 2 teams and Juniors.
- 1954: Second Division with 2 teams
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