ANDREWS, Reg

BORN IN 1926, Reg Andrews played for St George Reserves in the mid-40s and joined Western Suburbs firsts in the New South Wales league with players such as Gordon Kent, Geoff Thorne, Len Greer, Ray Bourke, Martin Neilson and the Peat brothers, Melvyn and Ray. In his early twenties, he played inter-rink hockey for the Glaciarium team with Ken Kennedy, Jim McLauchlain and Harry Cameron.

In 1950, Wests rebranded as Tigers skating at the Ice Palais with the Monarchs. The rink discontinued hockey the next year and closed in 1952, forcing all four clubs to the Glaciarium. Tigers reverted to Wests and won the Premiership in 1951.

Andrews represented his state on the wing and in defence in the 1951 Brown Trophy. Goodall and Brown squads were often the same, although Brown was for aspirants to the Goodall Cup squad with a sprinkling of state players. Both Andrews and Ivo Vesely fell heavily to the ice in the 1955 Goodall Cup in Melbourne. The visitor came from behind to bring Vesely down during a Victoria attack, and Vesely's skate slashed across his face cutting chin and lips, and damaging his jaw.

Later that year, the 2-way forward played with Jim McLauchlain, Percy Wendt and others in the Australians v Internationals match. Dick Groenteman founded the core of the Bombers club from The Internationals the following season.

Andrews and Groenteman were rival Captains when Wests met the Bombers on 26 June 1953. It was an undisciplined year for state hockey, and the argument that erupted between them led both teams to fight with sticks, skates and fists.

Andrews represented NSW in the Goodall Cup in 1951, 52, 53, 55 and possibly others, but it was an era dominated by Victoria, and he never won the trophy.

Reg Andrews competed in other ice sports, and his sporting prowess extended to road and track cycling, rugby league, tennis and squash. He died in Sydney in early November 2020 at the age of 94. Despite competition disruptions and rink closures, the all-rounder played top-level hockey in local and state teams for 15 years or more.