Bill Whitmore (top) tackles Easts’ Tony Elliott in a 1984 encounter. Dave Moffatt is the other defender
The lights went out at Purtell Park, but prospects were bright for a solid season for the home side, Wests Panthers after their 10-6 win over Easts Tigers in a Brisbane Rugby League Premiership match.
With the score favouring Wests 4-2 in the 38th minute, the floodlights died and the Bardon ground was plunged into darkness. The announcement that halftime would be taken prompted Easts’ president, Ted Verrenkamp to fire in a protest to BRL officials at the ground.
When the lights returned 22 minutes later, Verrenkamp; referee, Eddie Ward and Wests’ president, Gordon Treichel decided the remaining two minutes of the first half would be played.
The big feature of Wests’ win was their magnificent defence with prop, Bill Whitmore and second rower, Steve Davis leading the way. Halves, Kevin Langer and Adam Chapman provided the spark for Wests’ attack, with Langer proving elusive around the scrum base.
Former Wallaby skipper, Andrew Slack, who covered the game for ‘the Courier-Mail’, described Easts as ‘atrocious’. Brett Le Man was their sole try scorer with Trevor Cook converting. Wests’ try scorers were Wayne Reis and Mark Trimble.
Slack gave his three points Best and Fairest to Wests’ prop, Bill Ross, a signing from Tweed Heads Seagulls. The match doubled as a Woolies pre-season fixture.
Norths’ coach, John Barber was fined $250 by the BRL for abusing a touch judge during the Devils’ Round 1 game against Souths at Davies Park. Barber, a former New South Wales prop, was found not guilty of a second charge of abusing a touch judge.
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A rare win by the Panthers in 1985. They had a horrific time between 82 and 87, but they did somehow jag the 1983 Woolies pre-season comp with a win over Souths in the final at Lang Park.