Once Glorious Highlanders Call Up The Troops To Avoid Sinking Into The Lowland
Sydney Morning Herald
Saturday May 31, 2003
Fame is a fragile twig. In five years, the victory lap by Mark Hartill's Gordon premiers with the Shute Shield has almost faded from memory, to the point that the Highlanders have become the ``lowlanders".
Eight rounds into the reduced 11-round shield competition, Gordon have yet to win a game while their opponents at Chatswood Oval this afternoon, the Penrith Emus, who are likewise winless, lead them by a single bonus point.
Desperate straits warranted desperate measures so that when Gordon's coach, John Quinn, received advice from former NSW coach Chris Hawkins about the qualities of the club's first grade colts fullback, he promoted Mark Preston on the spot.
Eighteen years of age and fresh out of Newington College last year, Preston represented NSW Schools, proving to have excellent acceleration on to the pass and a long clearing kick.
Likewise, Quinn promoted from third grade the long, lean winger Peter Simpson, a speedster whose swing-high, swing-low performances have earned him the nickname ``Planet".
Long gone are the glory days when Gordon was represented by the beautiful players such as Trevor Allan , the Phipps brothers and Arthur Summons, and the less beautiful Bob Davidson, Brian Johnson, Ken Yanz and ``Bomber" Miles.
With Stirling Mortlock recovering from surgery, only tight-head Michael Spalding, centre Epi Wakaniyaro and fullback Mitch Hardy remain of their last premiership team. Tighthead Spalding will have his 351st game for Gordon today.
Quinn is rebuilding the team, optimistically starting a new era at the club. It will take time and it will not occur overnight, certainly not this afternoon.
Unbeaten leaders Eastern Suburbs have had disruptions for their North Sydney Oval game, coach Michael Doyle losing Fijian World Cup squad prop Hermani Levaka and young replacement James Holtsbaum .
Into the front row as replacement tighthead came occasional first grade hooker Dave Adams.
Norths coach Kevin Horan was disturbed to receive an email from Doyle alerting him to the possibility that Easts may have to adopt uncontested scrums in the event of injury. He believes it is a ruse.
Norths five-eighth Josh Staniforth will miss the clash, John Turner moving to pivot with Roy Hawker joining Craig Olofinsky in midfield.
Eastwood's coach Chris Hickey made the difficult mid-week decision of omitting outside-centre Alan McDonald, strong-tackling hero of the club's premierships in 1999 and again last year. Talented utility James Hilgendorf replaces him against Southern Districts at T G Millner Field.
In other games, Manly play Warringah at Manly Oval, Randwick meet Parramatta at Coogee Oval, and Sydney University play West Harbour at University Oval.
© 2003 Sydney Morning Herald
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