Remembering Port Hunter in the early 70s - by William Stibbard
By William Stibbard | 22 March 2018
Newcastle Griffins have its origins in Tech College and Port Hunter. We recently asked one of our Port Hunter Rugby Club alumni William "Drabditz" Stibbard to share his memories from Port Hunter Rugby Club in the early 1970s....
I was 17 when I played first grade in 1972, still in year 12. My late brother Lindsay Stibbard also played first 15. I was a fan of rugby when I played my first game in Reserve Grade.The game finally clicked with me and I played two seasons at first grade at number 10. In those days most of the club were Stockton boys. We had grown up with each other, played cricket and surf club in the summer and rugby in the winter.
We had a heap of guys that were in their late teens and early 20's. A few of us were selected in a Newcastle under 19 representative side which was fantastic for a relatively small club.
I remember a funny story. Port were playing Waratahs that in those days had two Australian Players, John Hipwell and Peter Horton. Before we headed off for the game, we sold raffle tickets at the George Washington Hotel at Stockton. Unfortunately alcohol was introduced and the five of us flogging of the raffle tickets fell to the temptation.We then set off to play the Waratahs in a players vehicle. Before we even left Stockon, some were vomiting outside the window. We got to the game. Coach says "F*@k me you guys are pissed". We got changed, ran on and with extreme violence kept the top team to a similar score. After sweating bullets we ran out of puff and eventually got beaten.
Port Hunter Rugby Club was an incredible club - just battlers that loved their rugby.
I left in 1974 to join the Police in Queensland. I came back for 8 weeks in 1976 and played 7 weeks in A Grade. I loved it.
The only few wins we had in those days were against Tech College but we did challenge the top teams. We didn't win many but it never stopped us turning up game by game, season by season. I loved the club.
If you are an old boy with a story or two to share from Port Hunter, Tech College, The Veterans or The Griffins, send us an email at [email protected] or message us on Facebook.