TWIN brothers Anthony and Tim Partridge came though school together, have coached side by side, shared opinions on rugby and played opposite each other.
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But before Saturday, in 42 years they had never played a game of rugby together.
The pair packed down in the second-row for Singleton in a 41-17 loss to Maitland in seconds.
Anthony played first grade straight out of school. He then had a year playing colts for the Newcastle Wildfires in 1996. When he returned a year later, Tim had already moved to Newcastle and joined Merewether.
They had since been rivals until Tim moved back to Singleton this year to assist first grade coach Steve Merrick.
"It was good fun," Anthony said. "We played the first half and then Tim had to go prep first grade. He pulled rank on the bind and went in over the top. I played a couple of trials early in the year to scratch an itch. As the injury toll at the club increased so did the need for bodies."
* Westfield Sports High made a clean sweep of the NSW CHS girls sevens championships played at Waratah Oval on Wednesday. In the under-18s final, Westfield were too powerful for Wauchope 32-0. In the play-off for third place, Callaghan College beat Nyngan 42-5. In the under-16s, Westfield accounted for Matraville 28-12. The play-off for third place went to Warialda 22-7 over Hunter Sports High.
* Phil Bancroft had the honour of being named on the wing in the Boolaroo and Lake Macquarie teams of the century. The club revealed both teams at its 90th anniversary dinner at Souths Leagues club on Saturday. For both teams go to @theherald.com.au.
Prop George Little was named captain of the Roos, which included Justin Drinkwater, Mark Engert, Bob Brenton and Peter Jaques.
Boolaroo: 1 George Little, 2 Justin Drinkwater, 3 Fella Wetini, 4 Peter Jaques, 5 Henry Jones, 6 Ken Mitchell, 7 Kevin Green, 8 Bob Brenton, 9 Mark Engert, 10 Merv Sherring, 11 Geoff Petterson, 12 John Fibbins, 13 Bernie Pilgrim, 14 Phil Bancroft, 15 Briab Frazer, 16 Johnson Savage, 17 Terry Hill, 18 Tony Hunt, 19 Chris Jennison, 20 Frank Botham, 21 Phil Duncan, 22 Paul McNamara, 23 George Hamilton, 24 Keith Duggan, 25 Brian Scott.
Lake Macquarie: 1 Scott Thompson, 2 Dave McBlane, 3 Danny Maiava, 4 Mark Burman, 5 Junior Osasa, 6 Blake Patterson, 7 Callum Menzies, 8 Junior To'o, 9 Scott Montgomery, 10 Brendan Holliday, 12 Ray Alo, 13 Mark Sheridan, 14 Phil Bancroft, 15 Matt Clarke, 16 Barcelona Lupematasila, 17 Lachlan Hornsby, 18 Ken Viliamu, 19 Mila Iopa, 20 Nathan Walker, 21 Mika Taufao, 22 Willie Fraser, 23 Matt Bartley.
* Here's one for the trainspotters. Singleton, after entering the NHRU in 1990, won 27 straight first grade encounters with Merewether until 2005, including the 1996 grand final. Since 2005, Merewether have won 28 straight. They meet again in a fortnight.
