Juniors' History

In the Minutes of the Committee Meeting held at St. Peters College Mission on Friday 18th May (1957):
"There was some discussion on the matter of the forming of a junior team to be affiliated with OCRC from which it was decided that the Secretary is to write to the Colleges stating our intentions and asking if they had any boys 14-16 years of age who would care to be a part of this proposed team"
At the following meeting of the 9th July 1957 "A letter had been sent to eight private high schools to which 3 replies had been received.  Two offered no support for the game; the other thought that some assistance might be possible. .... On the strength of the support offered to us there appears to be little we can do to introduce Rugby to college boys and to form a Junior team'"

The idea was not abandoned so easily.   At a meeting held on the 12th August 1957 there was a lengthy discussion on the matter - coaches were seen as coming from the associate members, the players to be under 16 years of age but if any number of boys "of say 11, 12, 13 were in the team, ie. a majority, it would probably be possible to enter the team in PSRU Competition - note" Juniors play Sat. pm; PSRU Sat. am"  The jerseys would be provided by the club but thought was given to "modifying windcheaters" for the purpose.  Several resolutions followed: "that the forming of a junior team to play competition games in 1957 be abandoned (Callaghan/Clay)" and "that an endeavour be made to lead as many players as possible into Rugby by means of a film evening (Clay/Callaghan)"
It was agreed that they would try to create some interest in 1957 with the idea of getting a junior team going the following year.  The film night was subsequently abandoned due to a lack of films.

John Graham & Jamie Perkins started the U18s team in 1977 but this wasn't continued in 1978.

The President writes in issue No.5 76/77 of the Old Collegians Rugby News of 20/4/77:      

"For the first time in the Club's history we have an under 18 team.   The encouragement that these lads were given by the Committee, the work of John Graham & Jamie Perkins in organising them, the expense of providing them with jumpers, and mostly, the enthusiasm of the players themselves seems to have been lost on a great many members.

We have been trying to get these lads a team manager and the reply we received from three people approached was 'if it looks like being a goer, we will think about it'.  I, as President, deplore this attitude. Make something work.   Standing off and only being associated with a success is a most negative attitude.   If we have not approached you, the under 18s are desperate for a team manager.   They are a goer and are a first class bunch of blokes who need somebody to look after them.  .

....... We are the largest Rugby Club south of NSW ......  "

The 1st U18 game:

"First blood went to Collegians with Hannaford going in wide, however Woodville came back to make it 4-7 at the turn (4-7?).
A spirited piece of play saw Perkins receiving from Short and going in between the posts.   Szuster converted and followed it up with a penalty to make it 13-7.  Easing off, the Colts allowed Woodville in for a try and a penalty to make the final score 13-14.
The Colts showed great enthusiasm and promise and if they get the support from the Club they deserve, they will be a considerable asset to the Club.
Nicholls, Perkins & Wilkinson were best, though they all deserve recognition."
... M.McQueen

In the May 1978 edition of the "Old Collegians Rugby News", the Club failed to field an under 18 team and were thinking of establishing an under 10 team.

Bob Stafford-Lee started with an under 18's team in 1978/79 and Bob and Grant Grace took over for the years 1979 to 1981 to be followed by Howard Clay who developed the Juniors further into additional ages other than the under 18's. 

From the Tregenza Times of 21st March 1988:

  The Club is attempting to form an Under 19 Team to play in the S.A.J.R.U. competition this season. We would like any players in this age group who are already playing for Old Collegians to join this team rather than playing in a senior side. Individual skills training will be provided under a programme organised by our junior coaching co-ordinator, Terry Jenkings.  Any potential players should give their names to Dave Turner (phone 79-6586 - home). New players in this age group will also be welcome. Any person interested in coaching this team should phone Dave Turner. A team manager is also required. Training will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 - 7:30 p.m. at Tregenza Oval. Matches will be played on Saturday afternoons.

Howard Clay

The Under 18 Story - 1981
Bob Stafford-Lee
From the Collegians' Newsletter of ? 1981, from the Mortlock Library

Players: Shaun Matthews, Nicholas Reiger, John Fowler, Brett Matthews, Richard Quin, Sandy Murray, Kevin Jones, James Boorman, Martin Murray, Mark Auricht, Mike Berry, Simon Clay, Sam Harrison, Mat Sherry, John Barker, George Mocatta, David Piper, Mike Windsor, Craig Brownrigg, Giles Firstbrook, Chris Kreiger.

The team started with 21 players of whom only Chris Kreiger had not played before. In pre-season games (which do not count for competition points) the lads were undefeated and picked up a couple of half centuries. We were not heavily tested at this point as no pre-season games were played against Brighton or Elizabeth. The squad was depleted at the commencement of the major round due to the loss of John Barker (to play with Pulteney), Mat Sherry (to Sacred Heart) Craig Brownrigg (to Saints team). Despite these losses and the usual run of minor injuries, we were only forced to forfeit on one occasion and in the final home game, were displaced to fifth position. The side had wins against all teams in the competition except Brighton and Elizabeth and gave an excellent account of themselves against both those sides. Mark Auricht as Captain and Simon Clay as Vice-Captain were most capable leaders - congratulations on a. job well done. Special mention of the weekly performance of Kevin Jones, Best Back and Jim Boorman, Best Forward, both of whom graduate to senior football in 1982. Other special mention of Mike Berry as the most improved player and Chris Kreiger for his first season ever - he never gave up. The boys all appreciated the dedicated efforts of Coach, John Graham and Howard Clay in reaching the standard achieved in this, only the second year of O.C. Junior Rugby Union.

In 1985 Howard Clay started junior rugby with an announcement in the Tregenza Times of the 27th May.  By March the juniors were run with the expectation of having teams in U/8, U/10 and U/18s. 
Match reports & history 1985 & 1986.