Smith John Burns Kaikohe 1922 1974

edmondsallan - Hello . I only knew this Rugby international by his nick name ( ' JB ' ) I can sense you asking the question - " Knew Him ? " Well that isn't exactly correct . I played against him when he was on his last legs of his great rugby career. Mind you , later on I also played for the " Blue's of Northland " beside a couple of other provinces . Made the All Black trials 2 years in a row & the got dropped like a hot potatoe . I wasn't good enough !! to cut the cake . The first time I played against " Smith " he was at second five . I can still see him to day with those fat strong hips that gave him the power, the speed off the mark and that beautiful balance & with twinkling foot work .. I think you can let me rave a bit ! A-A- ! ) He taught me a hell of a football lesson the first time we met and he was long in the tooth then . My fellow team mates , warned me of his capabilities along with the words --
( " and it is your job to nail the B ~#&~! " ) In those days I was silly enough to tackle a " Bull " if I had to . Team pride & all that . Coach said to me before the match " You got a handful to stop today-- Forget about tackling a bit high to stop " JB " from Passing . Go low - you ground him every time !!! or else . !!!!!!. Of course I knew best I mean I had a " rep' " to up keep which was pretty good !!. The first time JB got the ball he ran slightly sideways at me with damn clever forward lean he had ( just about impossible to get your arms around any body in that position . )and I took him high . I felt like I had put my arms around a huge huge pig . Solid as blazes and he passed the ball on . The next time I knew what to expect and I went in for the Kill . He ran the same line , My arms couldn't hold him and he passed on the ball . The third time I went in ,Hard !!!! -- JB sped up, hit me with a fend in the face and that dangerous hip he had . I went down in a mess & he scored . Shortly after 1/2 time I was taken off and taken to the doctor to have my face stitched up and a broken nose reset . Not long after that , my replacement was along side of me at the Doc's getting his face fixed up . What a mess we were . And at that stage of his career he was -- dare I say it " an old man " Needless to say we lost the Game . NO !! No !! No !! I won't tell you the score . It would have looked good at cricket . Gosh -- sorry for the rave . however as you can read " boy-- do I remember JB Smith " I'll have to write another journal on " JB " He didn't come to the doctors or hotel to see if we were alright . If you died for your team in those days they drank to your spirit . If you didn't die , they just took it for granted , " You'd be Back " My Team mates came to my room and had a drink or two . I wish they hadn't . They kept saying for all to hear " Whats wrong with Him ? ? / Oh him - he got drunk and charged a brick wall "
" Team mates ?????? "
Till we meet again -Regards - edmondsallan .