DOES everyone remember the rivalry between Sydney and West Coast? As much as it seems eons ago, given that the Eagles would now struggle to beat Swifts Creek, there was a period quite recently when West Coast and Sydney had half a dozen games in which they were separated by less than a goal.

Well, there is a similar rivalry in the Horsham and District league, where Laharum and Noradjuha-Quantong (both of which would beat West Coast) were last year separated by a point, with Laharum the victor. Early this year they were again separated by a point, with Noradjuha-Quantong earning the saveloys.

On Saturday, at Laharum's ground at the northern tip of the Grampians, the two rivals once more had a close match. But even the game's tightness was secondary to the feature of the day, Laharum's 1958 premiership reunion.

The oldest former player at the reunion was 86 and the youngest was 67. The effect of 50 years of shrinkage was evident when former ruckman Laurie Gross turned up with his grandson wearing his premiership guernsey. The boy was no older than 10 (he's playing for West Coast next week) and the jumper fitted him perfectly.

Gross also had the story of the day when he told about his recruitment. In 1958, he was a stock-and-station agent when he agreed to a sale of sheep with a Laharum farmer. When Gross brought out his paperwork, the farmer brought out some paperwork of his own. It was a clearance form to enable Gross to become a Laharum player. The farmer said both forms would be signed or neither. The deal was made.

On Saturday, the 1958 players enjoyed a buffet lunch supplied by the Laharum ladies' auxiliary. Then at half-time of the senior game, Graeme Combe, a back pocket in 1958, introduced his premiership teammates as they shuffled on to the ground to take the applause.

With two minutes to go in the senior match, Laharum led by two goals and a home win seemed likely. Noradjuha-Quantong coaches and trainers were so eager to escape the bitter nor'-westerly howling straight into their coach's box that they conceded defeat and began packing up their gear.

Then Noradjuha-Quantong booted a goal. Then, with seconds to go, Laharum rover Jye Smith grabbed the ball in defence and tried to dodge his way out of trouble, only to get pinged. Noradjuha-Quantong midfielder Ted Brennan was paid a free kick for holding the ball. He took his shot from the top of the goal square. It sailed through. The siren went. After two matches decided by a point, this one was a draw.

Laharum and Noradjuha-Quantong are likely to again meet in the finals. Old premiership players should check their pacemakers before they go to the game.