Preamble: The 1968 season commenced with Round 1 on 20 April 1968. There were 16 Rounds for the season proper followed by the semi-finals, finals and the grand final on the 21 August 1968. According to the Waratahs Rugby Club Player Register, nine clubs fielded teams in the 1st XV: Army, Cootamundra, Teacher’s College, Temora, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Waratahs, West Wyalong and Yanco. Ten clubs participated in the 2nd XV competition: Albury, Army, Cootamundra, Griffith, R.A.A.F., Teacher’s College, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Waratahs and Yanco. 1968 would be Dud Taylor’s last year as President, a position he held since the formation of the Club in 1959. His passion for rugby was formed as a student at Scots College where he played in the 1st XV for three years. Together with Dr John Story and Dick Doman, Principal, Wagga Agricultural College, Dud fostered the growth of rugby in the district and was President of the former Wagga District as well as being a selector. He was also a selector for NSW Country Rugby. A man with a wonderful understanding of the game and principles of sportsmanship who was a mentor to many. Edward Dudley Taylor died in 2003. The photo of former players was taken at the 2018 60th Diamond Anniversary – from left Fred Horsley, Bob Stewart, Colin Wood, Beres Ellwood and Tate Heggaton. 2018 60th Anniversary photos: Rachael Lenehan Photography

Edward Dudley Taylor

This year turned out to have a nightmarish beginning with Waratahs suffering four consecutive losses. In the first game of the season Waratahs were lucky to have a victory. Their saving grace was their strength and experience although the team was lacking in fitness.

Several players were involved in farm work and Waratahs played with only 13 men in their second loss of the season to West Wyalong-Temora. Jim Lenehan, Beres Ellwood, Bob Stewart, Mick Montague and several forwards were missing from the side.

Yanco were under strength, so David Pyke, Frank Maloney and lan Schirmer were borrowed from the Waratahs. Unfortunately, they all gave outstanding performances and contributed to Yanco’s success! It looked as though Waratahs had the game sewn up but Yanco snatched a one-point lead in the final minutes of play.

Army retained their undefeated status in defeating Waratahs and proved themselves the side to beat this year. Waratahs lost their fullback Mick Montague with a leg injury.

After losing the last three games Waratahs defeated Wagga City in a close and hard-fought game. By now they were in the unfamiliar position of being second last on the ladder.

After their defeat by Cootamundra Waratahs chances of reaching the final four were almost nil.

This was their fifth loss of the season with only one win.

Beres Ellwood’s return after eight weeks lifted the ‘Tahs performance against Yanco. All points came from penalties, with Ellwood kicking all three for Tahs.

At last, a win against Teachers College. Waratahs defended well against the Teachers’ strong finish. Bob Stewart averted a loss by kicking a field goal.

Surprisingly, Waratahs moved a step closer to their ninth premiership with an important win over Cootamundra. Once again their strength and experience served them well. This win placed them equal fourth on the ladder. To improve their position, they needed to win their next five matches before the finals.

The following week, Cootamundra defeated Waratahs and assured their place in the semi finals.

Unfortunately for the Tahs Jim Lenehan injured his leg in the opening stages and left the field. Waratahs led well into the second half but a try by Cootamundra put them behind and they couldn’t recover.

Waratahs recovered their form and outplayed City 17-6 to ensure their position in the semi-finals. Waratahs were now serious contenders for the premiership. Although there was another round to be played the final four was decided. The Walker brothers, Luxton and John, David Dosser and John O’Brien had excellent games in the forwards. Beres Ellwood and Bob Stewart had particularly good games and were major factors in Waratahs’ win. ⁵³

Army again overcame Waratahs with a 15-9 defeat. Their speed, passing and handling were the factors in their win, although Waratahs had their measure in the rucks and scrums. Waratahs were now equal fourth on the ladder.

Waratahs finally defeated Cootamundra 12-6 but it was only in the final minutes that they were able to assert their superiority. In spite of dominating the rucks, scrums and lineouts Waratahs did not score one try. David Meldrum’s return was fortuitous.

The preliminary final against Wagga City was not a brilliant match but Waratahs needed this win to contest the grand final. At one point Jim Lenehan was held up just short of the try line. Mick Millard sized up the situation and tackled Lenehan and the City defenders. As they all sprawled over the try line, Millard grabbed the ball and touched down for a try. ⁵⁴ Bob Stewart twisted his knee and left the field. It was doubtful that he would play in the grand final. Mark Gooden also left the field with a head injury but was expected to recover for the grand final. Popular opinion had it that Army would easily win the premiership against Waratahs.

In June Waratahs had been second last on the ladder and were thought to have little chance of reaching the finals. However, they did qualify for the grand final but were narrowly defeated by Army in an exciting match. One disadvantage was that several of the Waratahs players had attended the Jerilderie B&S the previous night and were probably not in as good a condition to play as they might have been. Probably not the best of choices.

Bob Stewart was unfit to play, lessening their chances of success, and neither David Dosser nor Luxton Walker were fully fit. Waratahs held the territorial advantage for a lot of the game. Only minutes before full time Beres Ellwood set up Dosser for a try and Waratahs trailed 8-6. Ellwood took the difficult conversion but the ball went to the side of the upright. This denied Waratahs a draw which would have given them extra time, and Army were victorious.

This was the second time Army broke Waratahs grip on the finals flag, firstly in the semi-final in 1963 and now in a grand final in 1968. This was the end of an era for the Waratahs, the club which had dominated rugby in the Riverina over the ten years of the 1960’s.

At the end of this year Jim Lenehan retired from playing. He also joined by John and Luxton Walker, although Luxton Walker was persuaded to play a few more games when players were scarce. With a large turnover of players, it is bound to have profound effect on the team’s composition.

Players with the highest number of points in 1968: Beres Ellwood, Jim Lenehan, Mark Gooden, Bob Stewart, David Dosser, Luxton Walker 

The 1st XV comprised Mark Chittick, David Dosser, Robin Ellerman, Beres Elwood, Rel Heckendorf, Bill Heffernan, Alan Holziemher, Mick Millard, David Meldrum, Mark Gooden, Peter Hunt, Jim Lenehan, Frank Moloney, Mick Montague, John O’Brien, David Pyke, lan Schirmer, Bob Stewart, John Stewart, John Walker and Luxton Walker.

David Heckendorf Remembers – 1968 Premiership v Army

We did not win the 1968 Premiership as Waratahs were run over by Army in their semi-finals. We had all been down to the Jerilderie Round Up and ironed ourselves out, playing up until the band went home Next morning half the team were still in the local cafe having breakfast at about 11 o’clock, looking very seedy. We then had to drive back to Wagga in time for the game. I recall finally getting out to the field feeling like I should be in bed and looking at all the super keen Army fellows running up and down behind the goal posts in their all black gear, boots, socks and jerseys. God they looked fit! Turned out they it was during the period of two months National Service and they had fluked, for this week, a couple of professional league players from Sydney, doing their stint. Normally, we would still have done them over but lack of sleep and too much booze was a bit of a downer.

RESERVE GRADE

Few results were available for Reserve Grade and the team had little success.

Ag College 20 d Waratahs 6
Teachers College 9 d Waratahs 6
Griffith 17 d Waratahs 3
Wagga City 21 d Waratahs 11

lan Lamont joined Waratahs in 1968 and shared the following memorable moment: I remember a period of play against Cootamundra on the Wagga Cricket Ground when I fielded an up and under in our attacking half. Stumbling, nearly over-balancing, towards the bulk of Gerald Bassingthwaighte who uncharacteristically didn’t tackle me (looking back, I think he knew the damage he could have done to me if he had stood in my way – I give him credit for that). Onwards I ran in foreign territory, not knowing what to do next as more Coota players loomed up in front. Suddenly the ball was snatched out of my hands by someone who could play the game in team-mate, John ‘Bags’ Moloney, who, after a short duck and weave, put the ball down for a try.

Annual subscription was $4 for players and $2 for members.

The committee made the ground-breaking decision that women would be invited to the annual dinner.

Source: A History of the Wagga Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club 1959 – 2015
^{53 & 54 The Daily Advertiser, 26 August and 16 September.}

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