The entry of South Auckland Counties, as the Union was known then, into New Zealand provincial rugby took place with much fanfare on Saturday 25 June 1955 at Rugby Park in Waiuku.
After much lobbying and work to break away from Auckland and form their own Union and significant opposition from the likes of Wellington and Manawatu, South Auckland Counties Rugby Union was born in the weeks and months leading up to that famous date in our history.
Wearing borrowed uniforms from Auckland’s Mt Roskill club, South Auckland Counties took on Thames Valley in front of a full house, complete with brass band and marching girls in their very first game.
While a decision on the now iconic red, white and black hoops had been made months earlier, the supplier had been unable to get the uniforms ready on time and so a decision was made to approach the Mt Roskill club, who had identical colours.
The first half was a scrappy contest while the visitors were ready to play party spoilers and took a decisive 11-0 lead by halftime.
Legendary Counties and All Black figure Pat Walsh brought the home fans alive with a couple of superb runs, but they ultimately came to nothing.
After a stern talking to by coach Wally Knight at halftime, Counties clicked into gear in the second half and their forward pack gained ascendancy.
Fullback Frank Fruin made a break that would set up Walsh to score the Union’s first ever points – a fitting achievement for one of the early pioneers of the Union.
Winger Brian Wilson scored a try off a Neil Watene kick and Dick Honey’s conversion set up a thrilling finish.
Fruin set up Walsh with a perfectly timed pass that put the young star in for his second try, near the sideline.
With Counties trailing 13-14 and Honey lining up the sideline conversion attempt, Rugby Park was eerily silent. As if scripted by a Hollywood writer, Honey’s conversion sailed between the uprights and the crowd erupted.
Those 4,000-strong fans had nervously wait as Thames Valley attempted a long-range penalty goal attempt in the dying seconds.
The kick missed and South Auckland Counties celebrated their birth in appropriate fashion.
