March 3 - 1945 NZ Services travel to Paris

NZ Services took a full strength team to Paris for what was probably a season highlight, a match with Paris University.

The result was not what the New Zealanders wanted, an 11 – 12 loss but it was a memorable trip to a major city that six months previously had been under German occupation.

For this match and trip the team’s leading personalities were mostly available. Eric Grant (captain), Morrie Goddard, Roy Roper, Clive Geary in the backs, Frank Crist, Ray Dalton and Rod McKenzie in the forwards were key contributors during the season and all made the trip to Paris.

Score:

NZ Services 11: R A Roper try, W F Crist 2 pen., conversion.

Paris University 12.

1944-45 was very much a “win some, lose some” sort of season for NZ Services. They played 20 matches, winning nine and drawing one. The season started badly, losing the first five games but results improved markedly in the second half of the season.