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Two years off did little to cool the friendly rivalry between the Silverdale Snails and Hibiscus Coast Raiders Masters when the two “old boys” teams met again for the Jock Rudolph Memorial Trophy.
The annual 50/50 rugby union and rugby league match returned to Silverdale Rugby Club on Saturday, September 12, after a two-year hiatus.
The trophy honours Jock Rudolph, who played for both clubs before his death in a workplace accident.
Players must be aged over 35, with some now well into their 60s, although a few concessions are made for advancing years. Raiders players wear different coloured shorts according to age, with those aged 50 and over wearing red shorts and tagged rather than tackled.
Raiders went into the match a little wary of the Snails, who play in a more competitive grade and had won the previous encounter.
The first half was played under rugby union rules, giving the Snails the advantage on familiar territory.
But when the teams switched codes for the second half, the Raiders found their stride.
Under rugby league rules, the Raiders began scoring and eventually ran out 4-2 winners, reclaiming the memorial trophy and, as one supporter put it, restoring “normal service”.
