Don Clarke
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| Player information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Donald Barry Clarke | |
| birthday | November 10, 1933 | |
| place of birth | Pihama , New Zealand | |
| Nickname | The boat | |
| society | ||
| society | deceased | |
| position | Goalkeeper | |
| Clubs as active | ||
| Years | society | Games (points) |
| 1951-1964 | Waikato RU | 98 (737) |
| Teams in youth | ||
| Years | team | |
| Kereone U18 Morrinsville Te Aroha College XV |
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| National team | ||
| Years | National team | Games (points) |
| 1956-1964 | New Zealand | 31 (207) |
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Status: December 14, 2009 |
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Donald Barry Clarke (born November 10, 1933 in Pihama , New Zealand ; † December 29, 2002 in Johannesburg , South Africa ) was from 1956 to 1964 a 31-time New Zealand national rugby union player in the position of goalkeeper . In New Zealand's provincial rugby he played for Waikato RU . He was best known for his phenomenal kick game, which earned him the nickname The Boot . He was also an active cricketer .
Clarke had four brothers named Ian, Douglas, Brian and Graeme who also all played rugby for Waikato. In a single game in 1961, all the brothers played together for Waikato. Ian and Douglas also played active cricket.
Clarke emigrated to South Africa in the 1970s, where he was a trainer at King David Victory Park High School in Johannesburg. Later he founded a logging business there.
In March 2001 he was diagnosed with black skin cancer, of which he died just under a year later.
Rugby career
Clarke was appointed to the Waikatos provincial squad in 1951 at the age of 17 . In 1956 he helped the Waikato team to a completely surprising 14:10 victory over the South African national team , which organized a tour to New Zealand that year. Due to his good performance in this game, he was included in the squad of New Zealand ( All Blacks ) for the last two internationals against South Africa . He made his debut in the third game against South Africa on August 18, which the New Zealanders won with 17:10. As the All Blacks also won the fourth and final test, the New Zealanders won the test series 3-1. Thus, Clarke was one of the first New Zealand national rugby team that could defeat South Africa in a test series.
In his entire national team career he ran 89 times and scored 781 points, a New Zealand record that was only broken in 1988 by Grant Fox . Of his total national team appearances, 31 were full internationals in which he scored 207 points.
After retiring, he coached Waikato's school selection teams in the 1960s.
Cricket career
Clarke played 27 first-class cricket games as a near-medium bowler , most of them for Auckland and Northern Districts . In total, he achieved 5 or more wickets in one innings four times in his first-class career . He had his most successful game in January 1963 for Northern Districts against Central Districts, when he reached 8-37 in the 2nd innings, ie 8 wickets for only 37 opposing runs . This was a new record for Northern Districts, but only two months later it was improved by Gren Alabaster (8-30).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Most wickets in an innings for Northern Districts . CricketArchives. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
- ^ Central Districts v Northern Districts in 1962/63 . CricketArchives. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
Web links
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Clarke, Don |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Clarke, Donald Barry (real name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | New Zealand rugby union player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 10, 1933 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Pihama , New Zealand |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 29, 2002 |
| Place of death | Johannesburg , South Africa |