Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday dear Northern Transvaal
The Northern Transvaal team turns 70
Northern Transvaal first played as a Union today, exactly 70 years ago, when they went head-to-head with Transvaal in a friendly match in Johannesburg on April 18, 1938.
The loose forward Ferdie Bergh captained Northern Transvaal in their first match but unfortunately his team lost 9-22 after the halftime score was 0 all.
The legendary Danie Craven, who played for the Springboks in the 1930's and later served as the President of the SA Rugby Board, played scrumhalf for the team and Lucas Strachan, who become a well known figure in Northern Transvaal rugby in later years played in a loose trio with Bergh.
Northern Transvaal only played friendly matches in 1938 because the Currie Cup competition did not took place in that year.
In 1939 the Currie Cup was contested again and in this year WP lifted the Cup, however, after the war (there were no Currie Cup games between 1940 and 1945) Northern Transvaal won the Currie Cup for the first time when the beat WP 11-9 in the final.
The only living member of the 1938 team that the Blue Bulls are aware of is LM Smit who is currently living in Middelburg.
Smit said he received the first ever Northern Transvaal blazer because he was number 1 on the team list and he is very proud to say that he still wears that same blazer from time to time.
"Those were good days. I can't remember much of our first game against Transvaal but I do remember that we played in light blue jerseys and my task was to keep the opponents' forwards busy in order to create space for our backs."
The first Northern Transvaal team: DJ Schoeman; Tallie Broodryk, Bags Cilliers, Willie Taylor, Abel Venter; Daantjie du Toit, Danie Craven; Ferdie Bergh (kaptein), Nic Bierman, Lucas Strachan, Coronation Slabbert, Roger Sheriff, Piet de Wet, JT Krynauw, LM Smit. Reserves: Jimmy Giles, Kalfie Martin, P Theron, GT van Onselen.
Die Noord-Transvaal span word 70
Noord-Transvaal het vandag presies 70 jaar gelede op 18 April 1938 die eerste keer as 'n Unie 'n wedstryd gespeel toe hulle in Johannesburg teen Transvaal kragte gemeet het.
Die losvoorspeler Ferdie Bergh was op die dag Noord-Transvaal se kaptein, maar ongelukkig het sy span 9-22 teen die Transvalers vasgeval nadat die rustydtelling nog 0-elk was.
Die legendariese Danie Craven, wat vir die Springbokke in 1930's gespeel het en later lank as President van die SA Rugbyraad gedien het, was die span se skrumskakel en Lucas Strachan, wat 'n groot gees in Noord-Transvaal rugby geword het, het saam met Bergh in 'n lostrio gesak.
Noord-Transvaal het in hul eerste bestaansjaar in 1938 net vriendskaplike wedstryde gespeel omrede die Curriebeker-kompetisie eers weer in 1939 plaasgevind het.
In 1939 was die WP baas in die Curriebeker, maar weens die Tweede Wêreldoorlog het dié kompetisie eers weer in 1946 hervat en dit was die jaar waarin Noord-Transvaal die eerste keer die Curriebeker-kampioen geword het.
Die enigste oorblywende lid van die span wat op 18 April 1938 gespeel het waarvan die Unie bewus is oom LM Smit wat tans in Middelburg woonagtig is.
Smit sê hy het destyds die heel eerste Noord-Transvaalse kleurbaadjie ontvang omrede hy nommer 1 op die spanlys was en hy het dié baadjie steeds in sy kas.
"Dit was goeie jare. Ek onthou nie veel meer van die wedstryd teen Transvaal nie, maar ek onthou ons het in ligblou-truie gespeel en my taak was om die opponente voorlangs besig te hou, sodat daar ruimte vir die agterspelers kon wees."
Die eerste Noord-Transvaal span: DJ Schoeman; Tallie Broodryk, Bags Cilliers, Willie Taylor, Abel Venter; Daantjie du Toit, Danie Craven; Ferdie Bergh (kaptein), Nic Bierman, Lucas Strachan, Coronation Slabbert, Roger Sheriff, Piet de Wet, JT Krynauw, LM Smit. Reserwes: Jimmy Giles, Kalfie Martin, P Theron, GT van Onselen.
