Bowral Blacks host third annual Bruce Alexander Memorial Day

Since it began, the event has grown from six to 36 teams, with teams coming from the South Coast, Illawarra, Sydney and the Southern Highlands.

This year the day expanded and games were played at both Eridge Park and Chevalier College.

The annual event has been held in honour of Bruce Alexander, who was involved with the Bowral Blacks but passed away after a battle with cancer.

His widow Emma said since it began, the day had raised funds for the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

The Chris O’Brien Lifehouse is a specialist cancer hospital which supports cancer patients from rural and regional NSW.

“Bruce had all his treatment at Lifehouse and they were amazing. Bruce was one of the first patients in the intensive care unit and was one of 63 patients in there on Christmas Day 2015,” she said. 

Bowral Blacks junior president Michael Leahy said the 2018 event was another terrific day with several thousand dollars raised for the charity.

He said the club would also donate some money to the Lifehouse as well.

As well as some great rugby on display, Leahy said there were “amazing moments of rugby” displayed on the day.

ALSO READ: 

The Hills District side, which won the under-10 division, ensured a Bowral player who has Williams Syndrome scored a couple of tries in the matches against them.

Leahy said it was “a beautiful expression of sportsmanship.”

Hunters Hill won the under-11, under-9 and under-8 competitions while Petersham took out the under-7 division.

There is plenty of interest already for next year’s event and Leahy said they would look at making it a two-day tournament.