Scone Rugby Club
Back Row L to R: Jack Holmes, Paul Chapman, Ken Bowditch, John McDonald, Ken McConville, Bill Rose, Peter MacCallum, Bruce McRae, Garry Davies, Warwick Judge, Neville Halliday (back), Ned Kater
Front Row L to R: David Bath, Ken Warner, Neil Moxham, Mick Bayes, Phil Britton, Derry McLoughlin, Rod ???? (Teacher)
Ken McConville (Captain/Coach) and Bill Rose 1967 were the ‘movers and shakers’ in the renaissance of the Club.
This year (2017) the Scone Rugby Club in the modern era celebrates its 50th birthday. I am proud to relate that the Scone Veterinary Practice was at one time its most fecund provider of talent. Regrettably the author is placed well down the list. His one day of captaincy (1972) produced a ‘worst ever’ result against Murrurundi . The strategy of enlisting some ‘Thoroughbred’ League talent at the last moment to fill some gaps backfired badly! Two were sent off and two walked off in sympathy! The fact that the two ‘send offs’ were cajoled out of the Golden Fleece Hotel having downed 11 schooners each (and counting) did not help! Rules; what rules? Head butting in the scrum? Why not? Tragically the referee that day later took his own life! We all survived and at least we turned up and did not forfeit. That’s my only defence. It was a club nadir at the time.
Scone Rugby Club was formed in 1967 when rugby was reintroduced to the Upper Hunter where it had been absent for 47 years. The club was driven by a few passionate players who missed the fellowship and camaraderie they had so recently enjoyed in their schoolboy rugby days. The thrust into the big bad world out there needs some mollifying moments. For many Rugby was the answer. In 1967 Ken McConville was teaching at the one teacher Isis River School at Waverley Station; about an hour out of town. Bill Rose had only arrived from his Muttama (Cootamundra) home the year before to join AML & F Agency. Between then they managed by sheer force of personality and will power to ‘stitch together’ a playing group representing Scone in the brand new Upper Hunter Zone competition initially between four clubs: Muswellbrook, Singleton, Singleton Army Base and Scone. Paul Chapman of Dalgetys’ was another tireless tyro.
The club has a proud tradition having been a founding member of the Upper Hunter Zone and winning numerous premierships. In 1996 Upper Hunter was merged with Newcastle Hunter Zone where it competed until 2009. Scone joined the CNRU in 2009 where it has continued to grow in strength reaching the semi-finals for the first time in 2013. The club is based at Brumby Park which offers many facilities including the popular Tooheys bar. The club currently competes in 4 grades being Seniors Reserves U18’s and U16. Our club colors are Blue and Gold & and we are known as the Brumbies. New members and players are always welcome and can contact the club by calling Michael O’Brien on 0409455622. Training starts in February each year and runs throughout the season on every Tuesday and Thursday (Wednesday during summer touch football) evening at 6.00pm
See also: https://www.sconeadvocate.com.au/story/5429178/dad-would-be-so-chuffed-photos-video/?cs=1911