Yes I was there and remember that ... though I was not sure if Eales was cpatain of Ashgrove (but I am sure you would know) ... Cannon was a wonderful schoolboy player of course and that was a very good St Laurences team ...
I also remember in 1989 (I checked - as per my previous post) when Ashgrove defeated St Laurences 12-6 to win the GF at Ashgrove. St Laurences had beaten them twice during the year (in the Rounds & in the Major Semi) but Ashgrove defended like demons in a tryless game. I think it was their flyhalf it kicked an incredible 45m field goal to put them in front. That win was popular with the Ashgrove crown but not so much with anyone else ...
Just to confirm, John Eales wasn't captain. That was Chris Kennedy, who played in second row or lock with Eales. Great win by Lauries on that day, I watched the game and congrats to St Peters for their win today. Eddies and Ash put up a good fight. The coach for Ash in 87 was a religious person who didn't know alot about rugby, so it was very frustrating for the side with such talent to be coached by someone like that I think.
I can also confirm that Ashgrove did play and beat many GPS schools in the late 70's. I remember the 79 side, including players like Steve Healey, Mick Cook (brother of origin player Terry Cook of Gatton) beat Grammar about 36-0 at Grammar. We thought it was normal for that to happen. All the boarders would go to every game in those days. So I basically saw every game the ash 1st XV played between 77 and 81.
In 77 Columbans beat us. I think it was 6-3, and I won't say the name of the player who missed the kick in front, even though I remember it. I was devastated. My first year as a boarder. Tha team included Mick Cronk amongst others, who has been involved in club rugby for some time.
78 we won, but I don't remember much about it. 79 we won. 1980 we lost at Ash to Lauries I think. It wasn't a bad Ash side so Lauries must have been a fair side. In the Ash side were Mick McLean (origin for qld), Tim Dwyer, very good alround athlete. (Came back to this .. It was De La Salle who beat us that year of course.. sorry De La. Ya Ya here we are, De La Salle from Scarborough - always loved that warcry. Standout player for De La was Bob Ubaije - sorry if I have that name spelt incorrectly), who also played 1sts cricket and basketball I think?)
81 we won but there were some good stoushes, most noticeably with Rosalie. Rosa usually went the biff just for the fun of it and that year was no exception. I think Jimmy Mee and Dox were grade 11 boys in that side, and that's who Rosa went for.
In that year I knew someone who played in the fourths. As an example of the strength in those days, we played Terrace thirds at Nudgee and won 24-10. That Terrace side was the only side to score a try against us all year...trials and comp.
There were two boys in our year who had repeated gr 12 to get better marks. Neither played football in their second year. The word around was that many GPS schools had their players stay back so they could play two years of rugby, or more.
It was in our year of 81 that Ashgrove began to go to GPS for club rugby. Before then it was Brothers. Players like Boof Taylor and Vid Burke etc dragged a lot of their mates along, and when Herby went there, that was the end of it. I have to say it wasn't viewed well when Ealesy went to the Filth, but he had good reasons for doing that.
Herbie's son played for ash a few years ago, in the seconds. Actually a bloody good little number 9 or 10. Someone has also mentioned Dan Early in that year, but there was a player from CQ called Ben Brecken who played in the 2nd as flyhalf that year who was probably up there with Herbie as one of the most gifted players I've seen. The seconds that year scored about 280 points to 20 I think. That was a cracker side and I suppose that gives you an idea that selections are sometimes contentious issues.. when the first lose the premiership and the seconds win by that amount. It's not completely that, but in my opinion, it is a reason for what might be seen as a slide in Ash rugby. Just my opinion.
For those still reading this long winded reply, Ash is not what it was for a lot of other reasons also. Boarders are relatively fewer, and it was the boarders who were often the backbone of many forward packs. Other issues have assumed more importance. Music, dance etc etc.I preferred it the way it was, but that's change.
I should also point out that the Ash 6ths this year, who have won only one game, but have competed very well, mostly against other school's 3rds, 4ths and 5ths, have taken to calling themselves the Last XV. They're very proud of their team, and I believe there was even some jostling to get dropped to the 6ths. They are printing up a jersey for themselves. This morning they played Ash 5ths and it was as good a game of rugby as I have seen for a good while. (Ash 5ths beat the lasts 24-10 I think). Standout players number 4 Tim Venger and number 6 Liam Kenny.
Sorry to bore your pants off. Just saw some comments that I had to reply to in order to set the record straight.
BTW, we were always told it was Terrace and Nudgee that blocked Ash from entering GPS. May have been just a story but has been about for over thirty years.
