Preamble: The 1st XV season for Waratahs commenced on the 2nd May and concluded on the 29th of August. Of the thirty-two players listed in the 1st XV register, only 19 players donned the 1st XV jersey, which also included several players from the 19 registered 2nd XV players. Players who played all 14 rounds were Justin O’Brien, Rick Martin, Chris Gooden, Ian Lamont, Geoff Hobbs, John Rodham, Bill Hayes, Vernon Kurrle, Peter Cripps, John Fowler, Austin Kurrle and Bill Beatty. According to Club records the 1st XV competition included Army, Cootamundra, Teachers College, Wagga Agricultural College, Wagga City, Wagga Waratahs. Cootamundra won the 1st XV premiership and Temora claimed the 2nd XV David Jones Shield. Featured from the 2008 50th celebrations: Standing: Di Brockhouse, Lloyd Ryan, Vernon Kurrle, Trish Kurrle, Fred Horsley, Lindy Purcell, Ben Purcell. Front: Marion Cook, Sally Ryan, John Brockhouse, Noela Horsley.

1970 was a very lean year with fourteen losses from fourteen games. Whilst ‘Tahs retained a skeleton team of players from the halcyon days – such as Michael Millard, Vern Kurrle and John Stewart – many players who were to become the backbone of the club either made their debut or played in their second season.

The 70’s contained a vivid recollection of tough times on the field for Tahs in the early 70’s to be followed by success in the late 70’s.

A glance down the list of players in 1969 saw the likes of Beres Ellwood, Mark Gooden, David Dosser, Bill Heffernan, John O’Brien and Luxton Walker all retire at the end of that season leaving Waratahs without the muscle and experience it so much missed in the early 70’s.

Those players had made a fantastic contribution to the success of Waratahs over many years with 100 games or more each to Beres Ellwood, Mark Gooden and Mick Millard. Fortunately for Tahs, Mick Millard played a couple of more years to add to our depleted ranks.

The results for 1970 were not pretty reading. We lost every game with a 60-nil drubbing by Wagga City on 15 July 1970, badly hurting our pride. There was a rumour that Lenehan, Ellwood, Walker were thinking about dragging their boots out to help. The possible divorces option ruled that out.

Notable this year was Mick Millard clocking up 135 games as the most games for any player, whereas many of his teammates had played fewer than 10.

Players with the highest number of points scored 1970: Bill Beatty, lan Kendall, Justin O’Brien, Rick Martin, lan Lamont, Bill Hayes, Austin Kurrle, Geoff Hobbs and Mick Millard.

Seconds won only one game during the season, due to a forfeit.

The 1970 committee meeting was finished by joining ‘John O’Brien in a few beers prior to his match into wedlock.’ 

1st XV played 14 games; won 0; lost 14 games.

Source: A History of the Wagga Waratahs Rugby Club 1959-2015

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