FLASHBACK: May 1973

Brothers’ Test hooker, Brian Fitzsimmons claimed he did not know he had already been sent off, when he took the field for the second half of a Brisbane Rugby League premiership match against Souths Magpies at Lang Park.

Fitzsimmons took the field with his 12 teammates after the halftime break, but was quickly waved back to the sheds by referee, Henry Albert, who said he would be charged with using foul language to an official.

A product of Mareeba Junior Rugby League and Cairns Brothers, Fitzsimmons was a brilliant striker for the ball and was always targeted by props and second rowers in the fiercely contested scrums of the era.

In the match against Souths, he was knocked unconscious in a scrum immediately before halftime, and, after all of Souths’ team, and most of the Brothers’ players had left the field, he was still being revived by ambulancemen. Brothers’ skipper, Col Weiss was among those to stay with Fitzsimmons.

Referee Albert also remained on the field, with his touch judges, and when Fitzsimmons came-to, he had words with the controversial whistle blower as they left the field. As a result, Albert sent Fitzsimmons off. The referee’s camp claimed a steward went to the Brothers’ dressing rooms during the halftime break, to tell them Fitzsimmons had been sent off. But Fitzsimmons took the field anyway, only to have Albert send him off again.

Fitzsimmons said after the game he only remembered going down in the scrum and waking up on the dressing room seat. He did not know he had been officially dismissed. Albert had penalised Fitzsimmons five times in the first half for scrum breaches. Souths’ hooker, Wayne Linsell won the scrums for the match 20-5.

Despite playing a man short for the entire second half, Brothers’ won 18-12, after trailing 12-11 with eight minutes left. Brothers’ winger, Ian Dauth kicked an angled, 50 metre penalty goal to put Brothers in front, and then former Toowoomba centre, Ron Beauchamp scored an intercept try in the dying seconds, with Dauth converting.

Dauth landed six goals from eight shots, and also proved penetrating in attack. The Monday, long weekend crowd of 14,000 was thrilled by the second half action. Childers’ product, Col Weiss was Brothers’ best player while former Lismore Marist Brothers’ five eighth, Graeme Atherton was superb for Souths.

In the Saturday Lang Park match, Wests defeated Norths 17-13 in a thriller, with Norths playing 62 minutes with 12 men following the dismissal of fullback, Dale Graham for a high shot on lock, Peter Luppi. Centre Rob ‘Yogi’ Thompson was in fine touch for Wests while lock, Tony Trent showed tremendous skill for Norths.

Easts scored nine tries to two in a 41-12 thrashing of Wynnum-Manly at Langlands Park with centre, John Eales and halfback, Lee Hutchinson in magnificent attacking form, while wingers, Alan Currie and Jim Ward showed too much pace for their rivals. Len Brunner was Wynnum’s best.

Redcliffe captain, Ron Raper had a running duel with referee, Dale Coogan in the Dolphins’ 12-7 loss to Valleys in the Sunday Lang Park match. Raper and his teammates were particularly irate at the fact Coogan did not award a try to centre, Ron Carige, who towed the ball ahead and appeared to ground it in-goal. Centre, Bob Beatson and fullback, Alan Mills were Valleys’ best, while lightweight Redcliffe lock, Rod Halley, amazed with his work rate.

At Mackay Showgrounds, the touring New South Wales Country side defeated North Queensland 24-16 in a spectacular match, with two late tries sealing the win for Country.

Country halfback, Dennis Ward’s quick passes from the scrum base, gave five eighth, John Shea plenty of room in which to weave his magic. The first of Country’s six tries was scored by fullback, John ‘Joe Cool’ Dorahy after winger, David Waite made a break and drew NQ fullback, Ted Moseby. Country centre, Phil Howlett won the Marlborough Man of the Match award for the tourists, while lock, Bob Henly got the NQ award. Country were captained on tour by Test second rower, Alan Thompson.

North Queensland scored only two tries, but the second was a beauty, with Vern Daisey running wide from a ruck, before turning a short pass inside to Barry Dawson who scored near the posts. The North Queensland side included prop, Greg ‘Boxhead’ Jackwitz, who kicked a penalty goal for the local. He later joined Brothers in Brisbane.

Wide Bay defeated Ipswich 19-11 in a Carlton Cup match at North Ipswich Reserve with young Ipswich prop, Warren Edding outplaying Wide Bay’s experienced props, Terry Hammond and Gary Pearson. Wide Bay’s most dangerous players were Test fullback, Ray Laird and former State forward, Reg Cannon.

Footnote: Brian Fitzsimmons was banned for two matches for his abusive language charges.

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