Interviews

Lyn Crowley

has taken the time to look back... in particular the 1956 game against Nudgee College...

1956 was a great year for Terrace Rugby.

Brave & Game has tracked down the members of the 1956 premiership winning team and been able to interview a number of those great players to record their memories of that year and to get their thoughts on what it means to play rugby for Terrace.
Following last week’s interview with Laurie Petrie, this week, we catch up with Lyn Crowley, a member of the 1956 team, who has taken the time to look back on the 1956 season and in particular the 1956 game against Nudgee College...

B & G: So Lyn, was there much competition to make it into the 1956 1st XV?
Lyn: Well there were some pretty good players who were unlucky not to make the side. I remember there was a front-rower named Jack Tully who I thought was fairly unlucky not to make it.

B & G: Were you expecting to be selected yourself?
Lyn: Actually, I didn’t play in the first three matches, I captained the 2nd XV instead. Barry Smith was the hooker in the first three matches and then I played the rest of the season as hooker.
I remember I played one game in the 1st XV the previous year in 1955 against Grammar. So in 1956, my senior year, I was disappointed not to be selected at first, having played that game for the team the year before.

B & G: As the hooker, who did you think really led the forward pack that year?
Lyn: Well John Barry wasn’t just the captain, he led the forward pack as well. He was an excellent player.
I played grade football until I was 30 and he, everything being relative of course, was one of the best prop forwards I ever played with. He really led by example.

B & G: Lyn, this round Terrace plays Nudgee College. Was the Nudgee rivalry as strong back in 1956 as it is today?
Lyn: Very much so yes. I remember playing Nudgee half a dozen times throughout my school career and that really was the big match-up of the year. Nudgee is a wonderful rugby school and the games we played against them were always close, hard-fought games. The Nudgee round is definitely the round of the competition for both teams.

B & G: What do you remember about the game you played against Nudgee in 1956?
Lyn: Well actually that was one of the games where I didn’t play in the 1st XV which was really disappointing. I do remember watching the 1st XV however and seeing John Riley, who was a centre, scoring a crucial try nearing the end of the game. The poor guy copped a boot in the head after he scored it!

B & G: Was the Nudgee game the highlight of the season? Or was there another moment?
Lyn: I’d say beating Churchie in the last game was probably the highlight of the season. We played so well in the second half to win the game, after we were down 13-3 at half-time.

B & G: And what game do you think you played your best personally?
Lyn: Well I’m not sure but I suppose the high-point of the season for me personally was scoring a try against Churchie that day.
I had to run 200 yards for it you know (laughs). No, I fell over the line but it was still a great feeling scoring the team’s only try on such a big occasion.

B & G: Now I understand that you played cricket for the 1st XI as well. What memories do you have of Terrace cricket?
Lyn: Well we didn’t do so well in 1956 but my brother played in the 1952 team that was the first Terrace cricket team to win the premiership. I remember watching some of their games. They had some excellent cricketers that year.

B & G: You mentioned earlier that you played a lot of rugby after Terrace. Who did you play for?
Lyn: I played first grade for Brothers and then for Wests. I played with some excellent footballers like Stan Pilecki, Roger Gould and Bob Wood.

B & G: And finally, Lyn, what advice would you give to the 1st XV before they run on against Nudgee this weekend?
Lyn: My main advice would just be to concentrate. Enjoy yourself, but stay focused on what you’re doing all the time.

Lyn Crowley completed Senior at Terrace in 1956. He was admitted as a Solicitor in 1964 and has practiced Law for more than 40 years (Crowley and Greenhalgh, previously Simmonds Crowley and Galvin).
He is a Life Member of the QRU.
Lyn contributed significantly to the development of Ballymore and during the 1970’s created the ‘small box’ advertising campaign in the sports pages of the Courier Mail. Lyn coined “Boo a Blue”.