THE Oberon Tigers are looking to get plenty of support for their upcoming Round 14 match on Saturday, July 19 against Bathurst St Pat’s at home.
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The day will be in honour of those players who, 50 years ago, played for the Oberon Tigers and were the 1964 Group 10 Premiers, Clayton Cup champions and took the title of the Best Rugby League Club in Country NSW.
It had been Norm Brown’s best year – he played copybook football, and was the driving force behind Oberon’s success. It was a proud day for Oberon when he was selected to captain the Country Firsts in the Country versus Sydney.
During the 1964 Group 10 competition, Oberon’s line was only crossed eight times.
That year Oberon played the grand final against Lithgow Workmen’s Club in Bathurst.
Oberon was happy to play in Bathurst because in the past they had been forced to meet the opposition on their home ground – Oberon was always robbed of the home town advantage.
The Oberon Tigers, with a great team effort, led from the start and never looked like being beaten.
One of the many highlights of the game was when Gordon Rawlings leapt high into the air, intercepted then ran 50 metres to score a brilliant try, his second of the day.
Jock Schrader, Peter Richards, John Rush and Brian Harvey also scored.
Don Elwin kicked five goals and Norm Brown one.
It was a triumph for Oberon, the easiest victory, defeating Lithgow 30-2. From 1958 to 1971, Oberon contested an unprecedented 14 consecutive Group 10 grand finals without ever having the luxury of one home ground advantage.
They won 10 of those grand finals.
John Brien said the success of the club was due to a good size pack of forwards and a great coach in Rolf Trudgett who came to Oberon from the Paramatta Eels.
“The secret to Oberon’s success was that all players were physically fit. Most players worked on farms or were farmers’ sons. There was a lot of manual work and this kept players fit and strong.”
John said his father employed players on his farm.
“If you’re carting bags of spuds, hay bales or mustering sheep you are bound to stay in top physical condition,” he said.
“I think it’s great that the current committee are organising a day in recognition of the past success of the Oberon Tigers. I am a member of the Old Tiges Club and a keen supporter of league in Oberon.
Oberon’s reserve side also played Workmen’s Club in their 1964 Group 10 grand final but went down 7-5. The team included Paul Casey, Doug Cole, Kevin Hawken, Bruce Ryan, Tony Slattery, Tony Booth, Ray Rodwell, Chris Casey, Gil Schrader, John Brien and under 18s player Gary Harvey.
With so many first grade players in representative football, the Tigers relied on these players to step up and play first grade football most weeks.
The Clayton Cup will be on display on the day and local legends of 1964, and their families, will be presented with a shirt with the same emblem of the 1964 Clayton Cup jackets.
The Clayton Cup was voted on by its peers and was awarded to the best team in Country Rugby League with talented representatives and the best records including for and against.
This will be a big day for Oberon Tigers Rugby League Club, and it’s a day not to be missed. President Ian Christie Johnston said they are looking for local support from sponsors and fans to make this a great day to honour past players of the Oberon club.
THE Oberon Tigers dominated Group 10 football, and the 1964 team are considered Oberon’s best ever.
During a 14-year period, the Oberon Football Club produced more that its quota of Group, Western District and Country representatives – but this is not about champions, it is an account of a champion team.
However, it is on record and worth mentioning that John Rush played in 13 first grade grand finals for Oberon, and John Harvey and Norm Brown played 10.
The reasons for the club’s success is no doubt due to many variables – not least to excellent management, inspirational coaching, a seemingly unfathomable depth of football talent, and of course total support from an Oberon community prepared, if necessary, to go to war for their heroes.
Those Oberon lads did not sleep or received remuneration for their effort. They played for their town and district. In the process they carved a niche for themselves in annuals of rugby league football.
Oberon’s unique record will always be the yardstick against which other clubs are measured. It’s unlikely we will see the likes of that team again.
Oberon players to gain country representation between 1958-71 were Norm Brown who captained Country First 1964, Vince Everingham 1962, Tony Paskins 1962, Garry Harvey 1968 and Jock Schrader 1965, 1966 and 1968.
– Western Advocate’s Buddy Burke