IT was one of the rare moments in Moree’s deep 1970s rugby league history that saw the scoresheet tarnished.

The 1970s was an incredible decade for The Big M, with 16 grand-final wins across four grades.

Moree swept to an A-grade premiership win in 1972, ahead of a hat-trick of grand-finals in 1977, 1978 and 1979.

But on Sunday, September 14, 1975 at Inverell Showground, Moree suffered a one-point grand-final defeat when referee Noel Blewitt blasted the full-time whistle in front of 5000 roaring fans.

It was edge-of-the-seat stuff and a game that’s been described as one for the ages.

Inverell defeated Moree 9-8 in an end-of-season showdown that will be celebrated and replayed minute by crucial minute when Inverell RSM Hawks cut the cake on 50 years at Inverell Old Boys’ Day at Varley Oval on April 25.

Inverell Rugby League Football Club will celebrate Swans and Hawks players, coaches, administrators and supporters while out on the paddock, the Hawks take on Glen Innes Magpies in A-grade, 18s and ladies league tag.

Hawks A-grade players will wear replica jerseys from the 1975 premiership-winning team, with all jumpers auctioned after the game.

This year also marks 10 years since Inverell defeated Moree Boomerangs 26-14 in the Group 19 grand-final and 25 years since the Hawks put Glen Innes to bed, 24-12 in the Year 2000 Group 19 grand-final.

Inverell’s 1975 A-grade team: (back row from left) Ron Bath, Robert McCormack, , Les McIlwain, Max Skaines and Jon Sutherland; (centre from left) Alan MacDonald, Graeme Emerson, Gary Cook, Kevin Clancy and John Saban; (bottom row from left) Wayne Bourke, Reg McCulla, Ray Fairweather and Ray McIlwain (absent: Terry Winwill).

Much of the 1970s belonged to Moree, but 1975 belonged wholly and solely to Inverell, and thousands turned up to watch them win a nail-biter.

A Group 5 grand-final on home ground was a first for the club, led by captain-coach, five-eighth Reg McCulla, and club president Allan Wratten.

“The Inverell Rugby League Club has endeavoured to do everything possible to make this a most enjoyable and memorable day for all patrons,” Wratten said at the time.

McCulla, a former St George Dragons player, enjoyed an outstanding season with Inverell.

He was described as “a tactician whose astute leadership has been an inspiration to his side”.

McCulla was having his second season with Inverell. Along with second-rowers Gary Cook, Les McIlwain and Wayne Bourke, centres Jon Sutherland and Ray Fairweather, wingers Graeme Emerson and Kevin Clancy, front-rowers Robert McCormack and Ray McIlwain, half-back Alan MacDonald, hooker Terry Winwill, full-back Max Skaines, hooker Ron Bath, lock John Saban and utility players Doug Goldman, Ian Gaukroger, Des Cox and Paul Muldoon, the team was simply too strong for a gun Moree side on the verge of calling the 1970s their own.

MacDonald won the Group 5 Best and Fairest Award for A-Grade and Paul Muldoon collected the same award for reserve-grade.

Media at the time said McCulla “has lifted the team’s morale greatly this season. After losing the first two matches of the competition, Inverell has not looked back”.

Winger Graeme Emerson was leading Group 5 try-scorer for the season and he scored Inverell’s only try in the grand-final against Moree.

Gary Cook, who earlier in the season switched from the centres to the forwards, kicked three penalty goals.

Moree boasted such names as captain-coach, forward Jim Coleman, full-back Garry Maidens, three-quarters’ Laurie Roberts, Graham Farrell, Bernie Briggs and Richard Chapman, halves Godfrey Swan and Jimmy Bassos, and forwards Peter Munn, Bruce Livet, Alan Jenkins, Bruce Girard and Leon Shearer.

Inverell led 6-4 at half-time in a game that went from “end-to-end” according to good judges, with both sides bombing vital chances.

A missed penalty goal from halfway late in the game and a decision to take a tap rather than attempt a penalty goal in front of the uprights has haunted Moree players ever since.

“We were a bit unlucky, and they were the better side on the day,” full-back Garry Maidens said.

Richard Chapman scored Moree’s only try, with 17-year-old Bernie Briggs kicking three goals.

Earlier, Moree beat Armidale 4-3 in the reserve-grade grand-final and in juniors, Moree and Glen Innes were declared joint premiers after 20 minutes extra time saw the score locked at 12-all.

The years 1975 and 1976 produced frustrating A-grade grand-finals for Moree.

They were beaten one point by Inverell in 1975 and the following year were nudged out 12-11 by Armidale – one point separated Moree from grand-final glory two years in a row.

But Moree exacted revenge on Inverell in 1977 at Taylor Oval, winning the A-Grade grand-final 18-13.

Tries went to Tony Dean, Mike Hadfield, Jimmy Bassos and Shane Matthews, and Bernie Briggs kicked three goals.

Moree made it a hat-trick of Group 5 grand-finals with wins against Glen Innes in 1978 and 1979.

On Anzac Day at Inverell’s Varley Oval, stories from the halcyon 1970s will be revived, largely unfiltered – maybe even remastered.

For details go to Inverell Hawks Old Boys Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057286098317 or email [email protected].