Manning hosted the All Blacks on July 28 1920

A combined Manning side took on the might of the New Zealand All Blacks on July 28 1920 at Taree Park (now Johnny Martin Oval). Geoff Richardson, the Taree boy who was capped nine times for the Wallabies in between 1971 and 1973, has some information on the game.

Richardson is now retired on the Gold Coast.

A report in the Northern Champion in July 1920 noted that the game 'would provide a good opportunity for country football enthusiasts to see good football without having to go to Sydney for the purpose.'

It's understood the local side was a Manning/Hastings combination, although this hasn't been confirmed. The team was fullback J O'Neill, three-quarters B Maher, O Quinlivan, R McBroom, S Carle. five-eighth F Quinlivan, halfback Keith McLennan, forwards G Anderson, B Richardson, R McLennan, D Wynter, G Cannon, J P Mooney, N Toms, C Chapman. Reserves J Schneider, H Dargan (backs), W Swan, P Nixon, C Everingham (forwards). The referee was FJ Herlihy.

Records indicate the All Blacks won 70-9 after leading 37-3 at the break.

Winger Percy Storey scored four tries for the All Blacks while loose forward Harry Jacob ran in three. Halfback Keith McLennan scored the Manning's try.

Oscar Quinlivan, from Cundletown, who was in the Manning team, went onto become a top rugby league player with South Sydney in the 1920s. His brothers Jack, Clinton and Leon also played with Souths. Oscar represented NSW on five occasions and City once.

This was the ninth tour to Australia by an All Black side. In all the team played 10 games, however three were in New Zealand against provincial sides. The match in Taree was the only one in Australia played outside of Sydney. All other games in Australia were against NSW or Metropolitan Union teams. After World War I rugby union in Australia only resumed in NSW as many players had switched to rugby league.

This was the only time an international side of any football code played in Taree. The game went into recess here in the 1920s and wasn't revived until 1976. In 1981 a touring New Zealand provincial side, Bay of Plenty, thrashed a Mid North Coast team in a game at the Jack Neal Oval.

For many years touring international rugby league sides played matches against divisional sides in country areas. However, Taree was never selected as a venue for games involving North Coast teams.

If anyone has any further information about the 1920 rugby clash, please contest Mick McDonald on 0447 048 776. We're especially interested to find out why the match was played here.