Old Scores
Encyclopedia
Old Scores is a 1991 film jointly produced by New Zealand
and Wales
, based around the two countries' mutual national sport of rugby union
. It is notable for the appearance of a large number of legendary Welsh
and New Zealand
international rugby players in supporting roles. Old Scores was primarily intended as theatrical release in New Zealand but was shown a television movie in Wales.
Old Scores was directed by Alan Clayton, and the screenplay was by New Zealanders Dean Parker
and Greg McGee
. McGee has a strong history of dramatic works revolving around rugby, most notably his play Foreskin's Lament
.
confesses to failing to disallow the winning try for an infringement by the Welsh scorer. The Welsh Rugby Union President announces that in order to set the record straight, there should be a rematch between the two teams - using the same players who had played the match 25 years earlier.
The teams are forced to re-assemble, each bringing along not only their 25 years of unfitness, but also various skeletons in the closet - most notably the major falling-out between two of Wales's star players, Bleddyn Morgan and David Llewellyn, whose friendship had ended acrimoniously many years earlier. Morgan, had since moved to New Zealand, and initially refuses to play the match. It is later revealed that this is because of a love triangle which had developed between the two and Llewellyn's fiancée Bronwen. He is persuaded to play, for the sake of his country, but there is considerable acrimony between the two players which threatens to disrupt the team's performance.
The film is a blend of drama and comedy - the latter especially revolving around the efforts of the players to come to grips with both their middle-aged bodies and the changes in rugby since their time as international players (rugby was a totally amateur sport in 1966; by 1991 it had become big business). The New Zealand team are a rag-tag bunch whose later lives have taken them in different directions: the team's "hard man" has become a peace-loving Salvation Army
officer, one of the team has become a vote-grabbing politician, yet another has become a homeless drunk. All are reassembled and put through their paces by their 1970s coach, "Acid" (a biting caricature by Martyn Sanderson
of fabled All Blacks coach Fred Allen). The film culminates in the replayed game, played at Cardiff Arms Park
.
According to the Helen Martin and Sam Edwards' book New Zealand Film 1912 - 1996: "The dialogue is witty and characterisations are fine, if deliberately overplayed, but the ending turns the film into a shaggy-dog story." The match ball is replaced by Wales's "lucky ball", an antique taken from the Welsh Rugby Museum by Price. With the scores tied, a shot is taken at goal, but the ancient leather of the ball is not strong enough and it deflates, landing limply on the crossbar where it remains. The final scene of the film shows an official review into the match deciding that it should be replayed again.
The cast mixes a number of experienced NZ actors (including John Bach
and the late Martyn Sanderson
), with many rugby players from the 1960s and 70s taking supporting roles as members of the Welsh and New Zealand teams — the latter mostly in non-speaking parts. The players included New Zealand's Ian Kirkpatrick
, Waka Nathan
, Grahame Thorne
, and Alex "Grizz" Wyllie
, and Wales's Phil Bennett
, Gerald Davies
, Mervyn Davies
, Gareth Edwards
, Tony Faulkner, Dennis Hughes
, Barry John
, Allan Martin
, David Morris, David Price, Mike Roberts, J.J. Williams
, and Bobby Windsor
. Despite the film's plot indicating that these were the teams from 1966, many of these players did not play international rugby until after this time.
1990s All Black Steve McDowell also appears (and acted as choreographer for the rugby match scenes), as does New Zealand rugby commentator Keith Quinn
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, based around the two countries' mutual national sport of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
. It is notable for the appearance of a large number of legendary Welsh
Wales national rugby union team
The Wales national rugby union team represent Wales in international rugby union tournaments. They compete annually in the Six Nations Championship with England, France, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. Wales have won the Six Nations and its predecessors 24 times outright, second only to England with...
and New Zealand
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
international rugby players in supporting roles. Old Scores was primarily intended as theatrical release in New Zealand but was shown a television movie in Wales.
Old Scores was directed by Alan Clayton, and the screenplay was by New Zealanders Dean Parker
Dean Parker
Dean Parker is a screenwriter, playwright, journalist and political commentator based in Auckland, New Zealand.Parker has worked as a writer for much of his life and been prominent in his union, the NZ Writer's Guild...
and Greg McGee
Greg McGee
-Biography:McGee was born in 1950 in the South Island town of Oamaru. In his early 20s McGee was a Junior All Black and an All Black trialist. He graduated from the University of Otago with a law degree in 1972....
. McGee has a strong history of dramatic works revolving around rugby, most notably his play Foreskin's Lament
Foreskin's Lament
Foreskin's Lament is a landmark play in the history of New Zealand theatre. It was the breakthrough play for its writer, Greg McGee, and was initially workshopped at the New Zealand Playwrights' Conference in Wellington in 1980, and has since become a staple of New Zealand theatre...
.
Plot
Old Scores revolves around a controversial (fictional) rugby match between Wales and New Zealand which was won by Wales. On his death-bed, the touch judgeTouch judge
The touch judge is an official who monitors the touch-line in a game of rugby union or rugby league and raises a flag if the ball goes into touch. Touch judges also stand behind the posts to confirm that a goal has been scored following a penalty kick or conversion of a try...
confesses to failing to disallow the winning try for an infringement by the Welsh scorer. The Welsh Rugby Union President announces that in order to set the record straight, there should be a rematch between the two teams - using the same players who had played the match 25 years earlier.
The teams are forced to re-assemble, each bringing along not only their 25 years of unfitness, but also various skeletons in the closet - most notably the major falling-out between two of Wales's star players, Bleddyn Morgan and David Llewellyn, whose friendship had ended acrimoniously many years earlier. Morgan, had since moved to New Zealand, and initially refuses to play the match. It is later revealed that this is because of a love triangle which had developed between the two and Llewellyn's fiancée Bronwen. He is persuaded to play, for the sake of his country, but there is considerable acrimony between the two players which threatens to disrupt the team's performance.
The film is a blend of drama and comedy - the latter especially revolving around the efforts of the players to come to grips with both their middle-aged bodies and the changes in rugby since their time as international players (rugby was a totally amateur sport in 1966; by 1991 it had become big business). The New Zealand team are a rag-tag bunch whose later lives have taken them in different directions: the team's "hard man" has become a peace-loving Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
officer, one of the team has become a vote-grabbing politician, yet another has become a homeless drunk. All are reassembled and put through their paces by their 1970s coach, "Acid" (a biting caricature by Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue...
of fabled All Blacks coach Fred Allen). The film culminates in the replayed game, played at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
.
According to the Helen Martin and Sam Edwards' book New Zealand Film 1912 - 1996: "The dialogue is witty and characterisations are fine, if deliberately overplayed, but the ending turns the film into a shaggy-dog story." The match ball is replaced by Wales's "lucky ball", an antique taken from the Welsh Rugby Museum by Price. With the scores tied, a shot is taken at goal, but the ancient leather of the ball is not strong enough and it deflates, landing limply on the crossbar where it remains. The final scene of the film shows an official review into the match deciding that it should be replayed again.
Cast
| Cast | Role |
| John Bach John Bach John Bach is a Welsh-born actor who has spent most of his career working in New Zealand.His best known role internationally is Madril in the two last movies of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , but he has substantial television credits in New Zealand, including the title role of Detective... |
Ewen Murray |
| Tony Barry Tony Barry Tony Barry is an Australian actor who has performed in 55 feature films and 45 television series, across a four-decade career.-Filmography:He is known for his roles in the 2008 film Australia, Return to Snowy River, Never Say Die, the 1988 film Surfer and The Coca-Cola Kid.After acting in... |
Barry Brown |
| Roy Billing Roy Billing Roy Billing is a New Zealand television actor, now based in Sydney, Australia.-Career:Billing has starred in many television shows and had main roles on Bad Cop, Bad Cop, Dossa and Joe and Hell Has Harbour Views... |
Frank O'Riordan |
| Alison Bruce Alison Bruce Alison Bruce is a New Zealand television and movie actress, best known for her role as Queen Melosa in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess.- Filmography :-Awards:... |
Ngaire Morgan |
| Robert Bruce Robert Bruce (wrestler) Robert Bruce , born John Charles Young, was a Scottish-born professional wrestler and talent agent in Auckland, New Zealand.-Biography:... |
Jock McBane |
| Terence Cooper Terence Cooper Terence Cooper was a film actor.Born in 1933 at Carnmoney, today an area within the borough of Newtownabbey near Belfast, Northern Ireland, Cooper is most famous for appearing in the 1967 film, Casino Royale, a James Bond satire based on Ian Fleming's first Bond novel of the same name... |
Eric Hogg |
| Windsor Davies Windsor Davies Windsor Davies is a British actor, well known for playing the part of Battery Sergeant Major Williams in the 1970s/1980s British sitcom It Ain't Half Hot Mum.-Early life and career:... |
Evan Price |
| Dafydd Emyr | Owen Llewellyn |
| Howell Evans | Lloyd Thomas |
| John Francis | David Llewellyn |
| Peter Gwynne | Winston Macatamney |
| Glyn Houston Glyn Houston Glyn Houston , is an actor best known for his television work. He is the brother of the late film actor Donald Houston.-Early life:... |
Aneurin Morgan |
| John Moreno John Moreno John Moreno a.k.a. Juan Moreno is a British actor, probably best known for his role as Luigi Ferrara in the 1981 James Bond feature film For Your Eyes Only.... |
Referee |
| Beth Morris Beth Morris Bethany Morris is a British actress.She is probably best known for her performance as Drusilla in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius... |
Bronwyn Llewellyn |
| Robert Pugh Robert Pugh Robert Pugh is a Welsh film and television actor.Pugh was born in Cilfynydd and graduated from Rose Bruford College in 1976. In 2007, he co-starred alongside Genevieve O'Reilly and Geraldine James in ITV1 drama The Time of Your Life, where he played a parent whose 36-year-old daughter was... |
Bleddyn Morgan |
| Martyn Sanderson Martyn Sanderson Martyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue... |
"Acid" Aitken |
| Stephen Tozer | Jim Farquhar |
| Jack Walters | Clifford |
The cast mixes a number of experienced NZ actors (including John Bach
John Bach
John Bach is a Welsh-born actor who has spent most of his career working in New Zealand.His best known role internationally is Madril in the two last movies of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , but he has substantial television credits in New Zealand, including the title role of Detective...
and the late Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson
Martyn Sanderson was a New Zealand actor, filmmaker and poet.Sanderson was one of the founders of Downstage Theatre in 1964 in Wellington, with a vision of a small professional company performing challenging works in an intimate venue...
), with many rugby players from the 1960s and 70s taking supporting roles as members of the Welsh and New Zealand teams — the latter mostly in non-speaking parts. The players included New Zealand's Ian Kirkpatrick
Ian Kirkpatrick
Ian Andrew Kirkpatrick is a former New Zealand rugby union player, who was captain of the All Blacks.Kirkpatrick began his first-class career in 1966 at the age of 20 playing for Poverty Bay. One year later in he moved to Canterbury and established himself in the local provincial team...
, Waka Nathan
Waka Nathan
Waka Joseph Nathan is a New Zealand Rugby Union player.He was born in Auckland and was educated in Otahuhu College and was a member of the school's first fifteen....
, Grahame Thorne
Grahame Thorne
Grahame Stuart Thorne in Auckland) is a former All Black rugby player, rugby union commentator and politician.-All Black:First selected in 1967, he played 39 games for the All Blacks, including 10 test matches....
, and Alex "Grizz" Wyllie
Alex Wyllie
Alex "Grizz" Wyllie is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach.Wyllie began his first-class career with Canterbury in 1964 and played 210 matches for the province until 1979, serving as captain on over one hundred occasions...
, and Wales's Phil Bennett
Phil Bennett
Phillip Bennett was a Welsh international rugby union fly half from 1969 to 1978. His flair and range of tricks, including his famous sidestep and swerve, meant he was a firm favourite with crowds.-Rugby career:...
, Gerald Davies
Gerald Davies
Thomas Gerald Reames Davies CBE is one of the acknowledged greats of Welsh rugby, playing for the side between 1966 and 1978.-Biography:...
, Mervyn Davies
Mervyn Davies
Thomas Mervyn "Merv the Swerve" Davies , is a former Welsh rugby union player who won 38 caps for Wales as a No. 8.Davies was born in Swansea, where he attended Penlan County School....
, Gareth Edwards
Gareth Edwards
Gareth Owen Edwards CBE is a former Welsh rugby union footballer who played scrum-half and has been described by the BBC as "arguably the greatest player ever to don a Welsh jersey"....
, Tony Faulkner, Dennis Hughes
Dennis Hughes (rugby player)
Dennis Hughes is a former Welsh rugby union international player. Hughes was born at Argoed, Caerphilly. He played as a flanker for Newbridge RFC, and won six caps for Wales during the period 1967-1970. He later worked as a sales manager for Biomet at Bridgend.-References:...
, Barry John
Barry John
Barry John is a former Welsh rugby union fly-half who played, during the amateur era of the sport, in the 1960s and early 1970s. John began his rugby career as a schoolboy playing for his local team Cefneithin RFC before switching to first-class west Wales team Llanelli RFC in 1964...
, Allan Martin
Allan Martin
Allan Jeffery Martin is a former Aberavon RFC and Welsh international rugby union player. He was noted for his long distance goal-kicking.-Biography:...
, David Morris, David Price, Mike Roberts, J.J. Williams
J.J. Williams
John James Williams , known universally as J.J. Williams, is a former Welsh rugby union player who gained thirty caps for Wales as a winger....
, and Bobby Windsor
Bobby Windsor
Robert William Windsor , known as Bobby and nicknamed "The Duke", is a former rugby union player who gained 28 rugby union caps for Wales as a hooker between 1973 and 1979...
. Despite the film's plot indicating that these were the teams from 1966, many of these players did not play international rugby until after this time.
1990s All Black Steve McDowell also appears (and acted as choreographer for the rugby match scenes), as does New Zealand rugby commentator Keith Quinn
Keith Quinn (broadcaster)
Keith Quinn , is an author, and one of New Zealand's most experienced television sports commentators.A sports fan from an early age, Quinn was educated at Wellington College, before joining state broadcaster the NZBC as a cadet in 1965...
.