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ANNIVERSARY The game they play in heaven...
Success from very social beginnings Records indicate that in June 1887 Cooma played a game of Rugby football against Bega at Bega. The team members were: E. Halliday, T. Goodwin, G. Miller, J. Sullivan, B&H. Edwards, W. Russell and L. Solomon. In 1893, GTC Miller owner of the Cooma Express and a Member of Parliament was secretary of the Cooma Football Club. In 1903 he donated a cup, which still holds pride of place with the Cooma Rugby Club today. Rugby football had a strong following in the Cooma area until 1924, when Rugby League started in Cooma and took over. The new game of rugby league was popular because it was played on a Sunday, whereas Rugby was played on a Saturday, which was a working day for most people. In 1957 a group of enthusiastic graziers, with some help from the Snowy Mountains Authority personnel and league players, played six social games of Rugby Union for Cooma winning five and drawing one. The chief instigators were D. Hickson, J. Keegan, T. Shorrock, and D. Howard. The team disbanded in 1958. Evolution of the Club In 1961/62 Jock and Patrick Litchfield, Peter Martin-Smith, Ian and Michael Litchfield and Jock Mitchell were playing for the Eastern Suburbs in the ACT Rugby competition. At that time the ACT was regarded as a NSW Country Region that participated in Country Week held in Sydney every year, playing against all other country regions. In 1961 Jock Litchfield was selected to captain the NSW Country Rugby team to tour NZ. The rugby officials could see that there was a wealth of rugby talent on the Monaro; Jock was approached concerning the possibility of forming a rugby club to represent the district in the ACT competition. This proposed 10-team competition covered a good-sized area of southern NSW. A meeting was held in Cooma where it was decided to form a club to commence playing in the 1963 season. Bruce McDonald, a Snowy employee, was elected President. In 1963 the club reformed as the Harlequins Rugby Association later to be called the Cooma Rugby Club.
In its first season only a first grade side entered the original three-grade Canberra competition. The man to whom rugby owes its existence in Cooma in the early days is the original secretary John Sharman. It is almost certain that the Rugby club would not have officially got off the ground without him. Other members who gave enormous support to the secretary was: Jock, Patrick and Ian Litchfield, Peter Martin-Smith and Jock Mitchell. Another long serving player and administrator of the club during the 1960s and 70s was Bill Priest who both as player, coach, secretary and president has done much for the development of the club. During the same period members such as Bruce McDonald, Bob Dorman, Dave Lambert and Brian Kaufline were closely involved in the running of the club. In 1969 Peter Payten was selected to play for Australia against Fiji in a test match. The middle 60s to 1972 saw Cooma in a fourgrade Canberra competition, Cooma fielding first and third grade, Yass had second and fourth grade teams. 1970 was a big year for Cooma Rugby, the first grade side reached the semi finals of the ACT competition for the first time in its history but ended up losing by two points to Norths. This was played on the Cooma showground and was the first time any finals were played outside the ACT. This was also the year that the juniors were formed. Michael Fitzgerald was selected to play for Australia in the 1975/76 Wallaby team touring England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. In 1975 Cooma had their first success when the reserves won the premiership, the prestigious Eibe cup in Canberra, coached by Graeme Bell. The 70s and 80s saw Cooma men’s and ladies boat race teams undefeated, Cooma may not have won on the field but were unbeatable back in the pub. Continued on P2...
Pictured top: a very early rugby team from the Monaro. Middle: this year’s Red Devils reserve grade team. Bottom: the 2013 first grade team.
Ideal location, unreal meals and accommodation. The award-winning Alpine Hotel is serving quality food without the sky high resort price tag. Come and enjoy fine Australian wines and boutique beers alongside a roaring log fire all winter long.
Look for us right in the heart of Cooma, 170 Sharp Street, Cooma. Ph 6452 1466
www.alpinehotel.com.au