The glory days when Blackall fielded six rugby league teams and its own competition between the Whitehorse and Colts were recreated for the sesquicentenary celebrations on Sunday afternoon.
Way back before State of Origin footy had been thought of, Blackall footy teams were running round in maroon and blue jerseys and competing for the honour of representing the town in the intertown competition.
Members of the 2018 premiership winning Blackall Magpies, plus a few extras, pulled commemorative jerseys on, on Sunday afternoon, to play before a packed grandstand reminiscent of the glory days of the 1950s and 60s.
In the end it was a solid win to the Whitehorse but not before some solid tackles were encountered from both sides.
In a curtain raiser, the Mares and Fillies played out a hard fought nine-a-side game.
As guest coach, Shane Webke said after listening in to the halftime pep talk, “they’re taking no prisoners out there”.
With rugby league defining Blackall’s character for a century or more, it was a fitting way to celebrate the town’s 150th anniversary.