By Mark Cashman

Around The Traps is lucky to have operatives all over the rugby world and we are pleased to report that one of them, Theo Clark, brings news from the central west of NSW on the re-staging of the famous “Up The Jumper” try at the weekend.

It was all part of the Warren Rugby Club’s 70th anniversary celebrations at the picturesque Victoria Oval.

The club was founded in 1954 and part of the weekend of excess and shenanigans was an Old Boys match was staged against the second grade side.

I’ll let Clark take the story on from here:

“Rarely in its 70 seasons has the club witnessed a more wily display of law-defying forward play or scintillating subterfuge from a backline.

“First there was the Dead Ant lineout manoeuvre popularised by 14E Riverview rugby coach ‘Doc’ Haines in the 1990s, requiring the forwards to collapse to the ground on the hooker’s signal and writhe like Mortein-effected ants.

“Then there was the the Mexican Wave lineout manoeuvre, involving a similar ploy of distraction.

“But the piece de resistance came in the second half with the return of the most famous country rugby ploy of them all: the “Up the Jumper” tap.

“An account of the original Up the Jumper tap is given in the Warren Rugby history documentary “From an Ace to a Puma” that I recorded for the Club’s 60th anniversary back in 2014.

“In the film, the Warren Club’s one and only Wallaby Glenn Eisenhauer, along with club stalwart Rob Leslie, a Waratah, tell the tale of that day at TG Millner Field, back in 1975, when Country beat Sydney by means of this most elaborate rugby ruse.

“Nevertheless, for the unsuspecting 20-somethings of second grade, the site of a forward pack huddling backwards in a tight line mid-field for a penalty tap seemed harmless enough – that is, until all eight Old Boys came charging at them like freight trains clutching what appeared to be footballs up their jumpers.

“The defence temporarily floundered until high flying lineout specialist Ben Egan revealed himself as the true ball carrier hurtling up the sideline to offload to Andrew Cosgrove who carried on over half way. The crowd roared its approval, while the referee wisely disregarded a slew of regulations.”

“After that,  it was time for the Old Boys to unleash their secret weapon from the bench: 1954 Warren original Bomber Moxham, now 93, discarded his walking frame, to seize the ball from behind the scrum and dash up the sideline.

While seagulling out wide, he conferred briefly with fellow 1954 original Ian McKay (now 90), before receiving again mid field and crashing over the line (Bomber quite literally crashed over, but came up smiling).

“We should start a team again,” he suggested while counting out his fellow nonagenarian survivors of that original ’54 season, including McKay, who still lives in Warren and Barry Beach in nearby Dubbo.”
Later in the evening, nearly 500 club members and supporters continued celebrations in the Sports Hall for the 70th anniversary ball, MC’d by club president Tom Noonan.

Former Wallaby Warwick Waugh was the guest speaker, and a “team of the decade” was announced to an appreciative crowd who ended the night looking forward to the club’s 80th.

How good is rugby!

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It’s always wise to pay attention to proper procedure and paperwork.

Gordon got themselves into some strife when it was discovered at the SRU that Ola Tauelangi, a member of the 2020 premiership side, hadn’t been cleared to take the field against Northern Suburbs in round 11.

Taulelangi was with Moana Pasifika through the Super Rugby Pacific season and was on the field at North Sydney Oval in the battle of the north from the 52nd minute onwards a couple of weeks back.

The Highlanders coaches had been told that he had been cleared but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

Another clearance issue I am told bobbed up at Rat Park in the lower grades with a France based player earlier this year but this is the first time something like this has happened in the Shute Shield for some time.

Gordon were docked two points for their misdemeanour as SRU officials felt that a “line in the sand” had to be drawn.

In a statement Gordon president Matt Glasscott said: “Despite pleading our case to the NSWRU and requests for leniency Gordon Rugby Club has been penalised two First Grade points, 30 Club Championship points, and a $100 fine.

“We are disappointed by this ruling given the facts of the matter and the technical nature of SRU’s finding but nevertheless we accept its penalty.

“Publicly the Club has recognised it was in the wrong and that this mistake should not reflect on Ola, the coaches and managers who were unaware that Ola had not received the necessary clearance.”

I don’t think it will affect their premiership chances (which are quite buoyant) but the coaches were severely embarrassed by error.

All the senior grade and colts system operate under a points system that many find confusing and after talking to my people there seems to be some appetite for some change to that system.

Stay tuned as this one will bubble away!

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The boys on the Shute Cast podcast, Anthony Bergelin, Andrew Swain and your humble columnist, reckon you’re going to have to come up with a goodie to beat Albert Alcock screamer for Shute Shield try of the year.

While most front rowers can only dream about running 75m, beating defenders left, right and centre close to the touchline to score out wide with a Reece Walsh style dive, Alcock has done it.

‘Bertie’ got the ball on the 22m line and proceeded to outpace Eastwood No.9 Tom Goddard, rolled through fullback Lucas Bass and then held off winger JL Bacon for a game breaking “meat pie” in the Pirates 31-19 victory.

All in all it was a bit of day out for the young rake, scoring a try from close earlier and then being the ball player one off the rick in another Wests’ try.

Wests coach Cameron Treloar rates the youngster highly and don’t be surprised if we see him spend a bit of time at the Brumbies in the coming off season now that ‘Tree’ is there.

“Bertie’s got the work ethic for it, absolutely, and he’s got the desire,” Treloar told Rugby News last year.

“He’s really pushing himself hard and he’s hard on himself when he trains. And that is the part that sort of makes or breaks players.”

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The rise and rise of Eastwood’s Charlie Cale to the Wallabies match day 23 this weekend against Wales at Allianz Stadium says something about the relevance of the Shute Shield.

Cale worked his way through the Eastwood junior system, debuted for the first grade Woodies a little over 12 months ago and then got his chance at the ACT Brumbies.

He would have played in the junior State Championships and I notice from the Eastwood’s social feeds that he has done his time as the water boy for third grade at different times during this season when he’s not required elsewhere.

Big things are ahead for this one!

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If you’re driving past Rat Park on a Thursday evening and hear something that sounds like a bad version of Australia’s Got Talent don’t worry.

It’s just one of the many bonding rituals that Rats coach Josh Holmes has set up this season.

The singing solo in front of the entire club on wintery Thursdays is punishment for anyone who does not turn up to game day properly dressed.

“They have to dress the part and look professional,” coach Holmes told colleague Jon Geddes in his informative Rats Tales newsletter.

S&C boss James ‘J Train’ Brodie isn’t what you would describe as a fashion plate and has been listed to release the vocal cords.

“He keeps going missing every time he is supposed to sing,” Holmes added.

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Those Warringah Hillbillies have got a robust sense of humour after seeing Rugby News rubbing shoulders with Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh last weekend at the Rats v Sydney Uni match.

Colleague Jon Geddes spoke to Waugh at the game as he watched his Shute Shield side (Uni) get dusted by his local club (Rats)

The Hillbillies suggested that as a trade the Warringah Hillbillies were going to sit in on a board meeting at RA head office this week!

“‘Daz’ Hawthorne please wear your best flanno!”