By Jon Geddes  

FIVE years on from his tragic death whilst playing in a fifth grade game, Lachie Ward’s impact is still being felt at the Warringah Rats.

The first grade side evoked the spirit of their late former clubmate as they pulled off a thrilling 33-32 win over West Harbour at Rat Park last Saturday.

It was appropriate that the team had to dig deep to defeat a tenacious Wests team in the annual game that honours the memory of Lachie, who collapsed during a match against Gordon on June 10 2017, aged just 24.

As long-serving Rats’ official Dick Harris said in a moving address before kick-off: “Lachie Ward changed our club forever- but in a lovely way.”

The game demonstrated how emotion can be such a powerful weapon in rugby, which so often involves a lot more that chasing a ball around a paddock for 80 minutes on Saturday afternoon.

It was the long-range penalty goal by fullback Ben Woollett after 80 minutes that secured the victory in what was a seesawing contest where the lead constantly changed hands.

SKIPPER’S SPECIAL DAY

The game had double meaning for Rats’ wholehearted skipper Rory O’Connor, as he reached the fantastic personal milestone of 100^th first grade games. And he revealed that the commemoration of Lachie’s life inspired him and his teammates when the game was really on a knife’s edge in the dramatic closing stages of the second half.

“It was definitely in the back of my mind,” O’Connor told Rugby News. “It wasn’t a very pretty game but I think it was something that was helping us through there at the end.

“We showed the resilience of the Rats to come through and win.

“There are a lot of new players, but I think they understand what it means.”

Like so many people who were touched by the tragedy, the circumstances of Lachie’s death will remain with O’Connor forever.

“Someone said ‘why is there a helicopter there on the field?” he recalled. “It was quite eerie the way it all unfolded.

“They called the game off and we all sat around waiting for the news.

“There are those days when you don’t think about it and then it comes back to you.”

 O’Connor admitted that an occasion such as last Saturday takes a lot more out of him than a regular club game.

 But he should rest assured that Lachie would be giving that victory the thumbs up while probably saying “never in doubt.”

 BIG BEN CLOCKS IT

AS ice cool Warringah fullback Woollett stepped up to take the pressure penalty goal from 43m. out to secure his side’s victory, he was always confident.

“I was backing myself before I put it on the tee,” Woollett said. “To be honest I love kicks from far out, I hate the ones from in front.”

The significance of booting that winning goal was not lost on Woollett.

“There were a few memorable moments for the club and for the team, Rory with his 100 and a lot of us really close to the Ward family,” he said.

“I was chatting to a few of the boys before the game and said, ‘this is where we make things happen’.”The successful kick came after Woollett missed with a much easier penalty attempt earlier in the second half.

‘’Rory told me to miss this one from in front and then we’ll have one on the siren to win – you know what we’re like at Rat Park, we like to entertain people,” he laughed.

Watching on proudly through those tense last moments were Lachie’s parents Murray and Jill, brother Sam and sisters Anna and Beth. Also attending her first rugby game was the latest addition to the clan, Anna’s new daughter Halle, who was born last week.

DID SOMEONE SAY KFC?

DICK Harris also told the crowd before the game: “No one was ever left behind by Lachie.”

That was demonstrated by the special bond he formed with the Polynesian players at the Rats.

One evening each week Lachie would head out from home and say: “I’m going to KFC.”

With no fanfare it turned out he would buy two buckets of chicken which he took around to the Polynesian boys for a feed and a catch-up.

Lachie was held in such high regard that the day after his passing several of the Rats’ islander contingent, led by current Two Blues coach Sailolsi Tagicakibau, visited the Ward’s home to pay their respects.

 In an incredible and spontaneous gesture, they ended up singing for the family.

“It was just so moving,” dad Murray said.

And that story helps explain why Lachie Ward is held in such high esteem at the Warringah Rats.