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M A R I T Z B U R G C O L L E G E
SKONK NICHOLSON TRIBUTE BANQUET JAMES Mervyn "Skonk" Nicholson named his Maritzburg College Dream Team (1948-1982) at a glittering tribute banquet held in his honour at the school last night. The legendary rugby coach of the Maritzburg College first XV from 1948 to 1982 selected loosehead prop Dave Anderson, of the 1963 year, as captain of the dream team with scrumhalf Craig Jamieson (1979) as his vice-captain. In the 1963 edition of the school magazine, Nicholson wrote of Anderson: "One cannot speak too highly of Anderson's leadership. His example and constant encouragement meant much to the team." Of Jamieson, Nicholson wrote in 1980: "The whole side rallied behind Jamieson's inspired leadership and never-say-die attitude." Dream team members who must have come close to selection for the leadership roles are flank Brian Dennison (1973 captain) and tighthead prop Paul Lindsay (1977 skipper). It is important to note that Nicholson rightly chose his dream team based on the abilities and skills the players displayed while still at school and the form they showed then. That players might or might not have excelled after school was inconsequential to the selection criteria. Nevertheless, there are some big names in the side who carried their brilliant schoolboy form into the senior ranks, namely, the dream halfback combination of Jamieson (inaugural Natal Currie Cup-winning captain in 1990) and flyhalf Keith Oxlee (1952), who is remembered for his exhilarating performances in the Natal and Springbok number 10 jersey. Of interest is that two sets of brothers, Toffee Sharp (1964) and Laurie (1972), and Dave and Jimmy Anderson (1971) are included in the side. Of course, there was no place for some players who were favoured by the Old Collegians of their era who were present at the huge gathering in the school's Alan Paton Memorial Hall last night. Oxlee's inclusion meant that flyhalf and centre Henry Coxwell (1981 year), among other quality pivots, was left out, but disappointment at not having one's personal favourite in the side was soon replaced by the joy of mixing with College Old Boys young and a little more mature. The event, which was also attended by a healthy proportion of non-Old Collegians who had also come to pay their respects to the great man, continued long into the night with reminiscences and debate about the dream team and a further Dream Team Touring Squad (1948-1982) that purposely did not include members of the dream first XV, thick in the air. A huge disappointment to this writer was that no place could be found in either line-up for even one of the members of the unbeaten 1981 first XV. COLLEGE DREAM TEAM (1948-1982) Fullback: Ian Smith (1948 year). Wings: Toffee Sharp (1964), Laurie Sharp (1972). Centres: Ormond Taylor (1954), Andy van der Watt (1965). Flyhalf: Keith Oxlee (1952). Scrumhalf: Craig Jamieson (vice-capt, 1979). Props: Dave Anderson (capt, 1963), Paul Lindsay (1977). Hooker: Jimmy Anderson (1971). Locks: Jeb McIntosh (1963), Glen Adam (1972). Flanks: Jack Eliot (1955), Brian Dennison (1973). Eighthman: Glen de Graaf (1978). COLLEGE DREAM TEAM SQUAD (1948-1982) Fullbacks: Mark Hedley (1972), Howie Miller (1963), Mike Mordaunt (1957). Wings: Seaton Holmes (1970), Haydn Thomson (1953), Vic Solms (1961), Clive Halse (1952), John Grice (1958), Roger Gallagher (1959). Centres: Ronnie Davel (1954), Peter Timm (1964), Daryl Bestall (1970), Ian Healey (1970), Geoff Birchall (1968), Fawcett Bestall (1949). Flyhalves: Tony Egner (1964), Kelvin McIllrath (1959), Neville Daniels (1973). Scrumhalves: Roy Davidson (1972), Ian McKay (1968), Neville Johnson (1976). Props: JC Strauss (1971), Peter Theron (1960), Bruce White (1974), Wally Downs (1956), Dave Mills (1978), Cliffy Torlage (1982). Hookers: Mike Kempe (1979), Paul Harris (1967), Seymour Harley (1966). Locks: Don Watson (1954), Steve Glendinning (1978), Peter Catterall (1961), Dave Walker (1982), Andre Grobler (1972), Ian Drummond (1965). Flanks: Tony Balmer (1964), Aussie Furniss (1969), Hollings Norton (1965), Guy Pickering (1978), Bash Kyle (1976), Mally Thompson (1974). Eighthmen: Lofty O'Connor (1966), Doc O'Connor (1964), Graham Whitelaw (1972). Skonk Nicholson's Maritzburg College Dream Team (1948-1982) and Dream Touring Squad of the same era were revealed exclusively to Weekend Witness prior to the tribute banquet. THE SKONK NICHOLSON DREAM TEAM Back: PJ Lindsay (1977), LM Sharp (1972), K Oxlee (1952) Centre: JF Eliot (1955), JGM Anderson (1971), OB Taylor (1954), GD Adam (1972), JD McIntosh (1963) , IL Smith (1948) Front: BL Dennison (1973), A van der Watt (1965), DM Anderson (c) (1963), Mr JM Nicholson, CM Jamieson (vc) (1979), BA Sharp (1964), GC de Graaf (1978)
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