Penguins v Belgrano 1967
Match of the year at Crescent Farm

Penguins 23 - Belgrano 26

This was a match and a half, which left probably the largest crowd ever to have watched a rugby match at Crescent Farm, estimated at over 1,200, gasping with delight and excitement.

On a very windy afternoon, Penguins kicked off with the wind behind them and quickly went into the lead with a try from Joliffe converted by Allan. Before half-time Joliffe and D’Arcy had scored two further first-class tries from exciting three-quarter movements, and Allan added two penalty goals. Belgrano’s only reply to this was a penalty goal from Rosati, which made the score 17-3 to the Penguins. At this point, it was quite discernible why Belgrano is the champion club of the Argentine because of their well-drilled line-out work and their excellent tackling. The crowd enjoyed the Argentineans’’ incessant chatter and the spirit in which they played the game.

The second half opened with the Penguins playing against the wind, but, nevertheless, in true Barbarian fashion, they continued to keep the game open from the outset, and scored a further excellent try through Taylor, the Welsh open- side wing forward: 20-3 to the Penguins.

Belgrano’s disappointment was short lived, for, at this stage, a transformation swept over the game when Jurado, an Argentinean international and an excellent centre, made a fine straight break and scored a try. This was unconverted, as were four further tries scored by Forrester, Martin, Iparraguirre and J.C. Anderson: 20-18 with approximately ten minutes remaining.

Shortly afterwards the Penguins were awarded a penalty, plum in front of the posts. Had they elected to kick, the three points would have equalised the score, and drawn the game for them. Disdained to do so, the Penguins favoured a short kick in an attempt to score a try, and secure the opportunity to win the game outright. In a desperate last two minutes Belgrano kept their line intact and won what was probably the most thrilling match that will be seen this year at Crescent Farm.

The full 80 minutes of the game was played at a tremendous pace and in a fine spirit. The Penguins, not managing to close up the game up at any time, even with their large early lead, no doubtedly contributed considerably to the success of the afternoon.

Teams

Penguins

C.J. Allan (Richmond and Scottish trial); R.K.L. Jolliffee (Richmond and England trial); W.H. Raybould (London Welsh and Wales}; D.M.B. Skinner (Rosslyn Park and Herts.); P.J. Thorne (Blackheath and England trial); C. D’Arcy (Saracens and Middlesex); V.J.Lewis (Rosslyn Park and Surrey); R.B. Wrench (Harlequins and England); B.I.Rees (London Welsh and Wales); R. Britton (Rosslyn Park and Oxford University); J.R.W. Harvey (Richmond and Ireland trial); A.J. Hendrickse (Rosslyn Park and England trial) Captain); A.M. Davies (Harlequins and England); J. Taylor (London Welsh and Wales).

Belgrano

F. Badia; H. Rosati; A.R. Jurado (Argentine); L. Esteras; R. Martini; F.A. Forrester; ;A.H. Gomez Aparicio; G.V. Luchetti; F. Gradin (Captain); L.M. Garcia Yanez (Argentina); M.J. Cole; J.C. Anderson; R.S. Schmitt; J.M. Ipparraguirre: W. Anderson.

Referee

M. F. Turner (England & London Society)