Harry Townsend plays for Collegiate against Invercargill in 1957........rugby...

The Collegiate - Invercargill game in 1957 was a thriller with the most exciting grandstand finish seen on Rugby Park for many years.   With three minutes to go Collegiate scored a try to make it a draw 9-9 

It was B. Rodger for Collegiate that started the points with a swerving run up the terrace touch, he was supported by A. Wright who kicked the ball ahead from a ruck on the Invercargill 25.
Collegiate got their fair share of ball but just could not penetrate the tight defence.
The Invercargill backs came alive when G. Barrett, raced through a gap but mistimed his pass to winger, R. Smith who was caught. 
Harry Townsend missed two penalties and it was Barrett who was first to get a penalty goal.
P. Lyons stood in for half back for Collegiate and tried a few cross kicks but L. Brandon just could not get the right bounce.
He was in the picture soon after that though when A. Brandon secured a break and off loaded to Brandon to score in the corner to make the score 6-6.
Collegiate looked as though they could score again when a penalty kick by Barrett missed and was taken by McMillan under his posts.  He ran and fed Rodger who cut in handing on to J. Fitzgerald, whose kick was fielded over half way by F. Whelan who kicked for touch.

Invercargill then threw everything at Collegiate and after many failed attempts the backs got the ball moving and R. Smith raced through, beat the full back and passed on to Townsend who dived over in the corner.

With only three minutes left it looked like it was going to be all Invercargill's but the rest is history.