Rival Club's Clean Sweep

The Rival Rugby Club has had its share of success in senior competitions in the past, but never in its history has it made such a clean sweep of senior competitions as it has done this year. As well as winning the Moller Cup for the senior championship, it also won the Crawley Cup, the Riwaka Cup (most games won by senior team in the Nelson district, including Golden Bay-Motueka), the Charity * Cup and the Mace Rosebowl for the 7-a-side.

In the championship, Rival played 12 games, won 9, lost 2, drew 1, scoring 192 pts and conceding 88. In the Crawley Cup the team was unbeaten.

The team (above) was, back row: A. Edwards, J. Pannell, J. Wright, J. Cooper, A. Brady, D. Edwards. Second row: N. Doreen (club captain), B. Miller, B. Fletcher, B. McGrath, T. Brophy, R. Adams, D. Goodman, G. Romano, A. Bond (coach). Third row, R. Brebde (manager), D. Thorn, J. Chadwick (vice-capt), B. Quirk (patron), N. Fitzsimmons (capt), A. Jennings, C. McNabb, P. Hawke (secretary). Front row: R. Stobie, B. Taylor, J. Healey. (Peter Cooper Studio colour negative print).

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The three men who spear-headed Rival's successful senior season loaded down with the spoils of the season. Neil Fitzsimmons, coach Alvin Bond and vice-captain, John Chadwick. John also won the cup for tackling.