Collegiate win the 1965 Galbraith Shield - Invercargill

Collegiate won the 1965 Galbraith Shield, but not without a hiccup,  they lost a couple of games in a row, and were posed a threat from Star and Old Boys.  Back in 1965 the Galbraith Shield was won by the top of the ladder with no finals played as it is today.   Star caused an upset when they beat Collegiate 5-3 in round 6 of the competition.

Star were the inferior team in the first half and it was against the run of play that saw them strike first with a try by P. Savage just before half time.  This came about when Savage along with B. Fordyce caught the Collegiate defence napping and ran 55 metres downfield just short of the line. 
M. Lane for Collegiate could not beat the loose trio of Star, and their defence also held up just before half time when Collegiate threw everything at them.  
Star J. Pawhau (1) H. Harris (1 Con)
​Collegiate 


For the third consecutive week, Collegiate lost again and were looking to give away the Galbraith Shield lead.
The only consolation left for them was the fact that only two games remained for the 1965 season and that was against Bluff and Marist, two weaker teams.
Current standings after this round was:  Collegiate (15), Star (14), Invercargill (12), Old Boys (11).
It would have been a catastrophe if this team did not get up to win the Shield as it would be only the second time in the club premiership that they would be able to claim it.  The other year was in 1953.
It was to Collegiate's demise that their opponents, Blues, just happened to peak in their forwards, and were the catalyst for their win.
Player of the day was H. Townsend, Blues full back.  who managed to kick too good penalties in the slushy conditions.  The other three points came from John Phillips in the forwards.
Changing tactics saw Collegiate score their 6 points.  They decided that because the forwards could not compete with the Blue's forwards, they would run the ball instead.