Beric John Croome (by St Andrews school friend John Standbridge)
February 26, 2020
Beric was a year ahead of me at St Andrews. In fact in 1974 (if I can count properly) I was in Std 6 and Beric in Std 7. He was the captain of and a prop in the U14B rugby team. I was the scrumhalf. It would be fair to say we did not have a great season. Our best loss was 7 - 0. After that the margin was over 50 or more.....even heading into 3 figures on occasions. English boys playing rugby against Afrikaans schools in Bloemfontein was an experience in those days!
Through all those dire games...and very dire they were...Beric worked hard to keep us motivated. Not an easy role!
In the last match of the season we had a game away against one of the Afrikaans schools. With only a minute or two to go we were down 7 - 0 and got a penalty right in front of their posts. As the goal kicker (this would have been my first for the season), Beric and I had a discussion about what to do to possibly score our first points for the season. I wanted to attempt the kick so we could at least have a chance of getting our first points. Beric was insistent though that we take not take the penalty kick and go for the try. His thinking was that we should go out in a no guts no glory situation.
Sadly we didn't score that try. Looking at my form while practicing kicking, Beric had worked out I had no chance of getting it over, even from right in front! We finished that season not scoring a point but giving away hundreds. Through all that he kept us going. A strong leader indeed!"
Through all those dire games...and very dire they were...Beric worked hard to keep us motivated. Not an easy role!
In the last match of the season we had a game away against one of the Afrikaans schools. With only a minute or two to go we were down 7 - 0 and got a penalty right in front of their posts. As the goal kicker (this would have been my first for the season), Beric and I had a discussion about what to do to possibly score our first points for the season. I wanted to attempt the kick so we could at least have a chance of getting our first points. Beric was insistent though that we take not take the penalty kick and go for the try. His thinking was that we should go out in a no guts no glory situation.
Sadly we didn't score that try. Looking at my form while practicing kicking, Beric had worked out I had no chance of getting it over, even from right in front! We finished that season not scoring a point but giving away hundreds. Through all that he kept us going. A strong leader indeed!"