"They pushed us all over the paddock," 82-year-old Bob Robertson recalls of North Otago's unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago in 1947.
Mr Robertson was a member of the team which lost 3-42 in its last game of the season at Carisbrook.
Speaking from the Rannerdale War Veterans Home in Christchurch this week, he remembered a hard, difficult game.
"They were tough."
Mr Robertson played lock that day because the regular lock had been hurt.
He usually wore the number 7 or 8 jersey and played about eight games for North Otago.
That Ranfurly Shield challenge was definitely the highlight of his representative playing career.
"You don't get that opportunity every day of your life."
The North Otago team drew with New Zealand Maoris the week before and thought it had a "fair shot" against Otago.
But the team was an experienced line-up, which included legendary prop Kevin Skinner, and it was too tough for the North Otago boys.
At the time, Mr Robertson was farming in the Hakataramea Valley -"Richie McCaw country", he quipped - where he played his club rugby for Kurow, captaining the country team for about four years.
The Kurow players were recognised as "tough nuts" and games played there were often played on a half frozen ground.
Mr Robertson started playing rugby at school and was in the first XV at Otago Boys High School for two years.
After leaving school, he played in Christchurch and Wellington for air force teams before joining the Kurow club.
He has maintained a keen interest in rugby.
