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The Early Years - The 1950's |
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The first Janus reports as follows :
'While
we are proud of the match records of our three school teams, the school
as a whole is to be commended on the way in which it has entered into
the spirit of rugby football. The game demands skill, stamina, determination
and courage, and it has been gratifying to see these qualities displayed
in form, house and school matches. In the sphere of rugby football, we
have already made our mark locally, and it is up to each boy in the school
to help lay the foundation of a rugby-playing tradition of which future
pupils will be proud'.
1951/52:
It appears, quite understandably, to have been difficult to obtain fixtures
in the early years but the foundations were indeed set, with most games
won as the tables set out in the appendices will bear out. The most senior
side in the first season 1951/52 was a Colts XV with players mentioned
as having played well being Fitzhardy, Mogford, Lewis, Benavente, Robjohns.
The U13 XV for that year won 9 of their 10 games with names mentioned
of Lamb, Day, Davies, Workman, and Gilbert. The third school team for
that season was an U 12XV which actually won the 3 games they played.
1952/53:
In season 1952/53 the most senior side with Day, Kuptz, Davies, Gilbert,
Warren and Workman, was the U14 XV which won 8 of its 10 matches and indeed
amongst a 'total of 30 school games between the U14 XV and U12 XV 24 were
victorious, thus further cementing that rugby playing foundation. The
U12 XV again had a good year winning 5 of its 6 games.
1953/54:
The
winning ways were continued in season 1953/54 with the senior side Colts
XV winning 9 of its 10 games with the 'stars' of the show being Scarbrow,
Day, Boyce and Workman in the back division and Lamb, McCulloch, George
and Corbett in the pack. The U14 XV enjoyed a similar success winning
9 of its 10 games : the sole loss being a narrow defeat to Northgate.
This was actually bettered by the U13 XV which managed to win all its
10 games scoring 327 points with only 3 conceded. The U12 XV won 2 of
its 4 games.
1955/56:
Steady progress was made in season 1955/56 at junior level although the
1" XV had a relatively poor season (don't forget we were still younger
than the opposition!!) winning 12 of its 18 games. Colours were awarded,
it appears for the first time this year, to Hunton, Cox, and Begg (and
three others who were not mentioned for some reason). The Colts this year
won all its 10 games and the U14 XV was also undefeated, winning 9 of
its 10 games with 1 drawn.
1955/56:
Steady progress was made in season 1955/56 at junior level although the
1st XV had a relatively poor season (don't forget we were still younger
than the opposition!!) winning 12 of its 18 games. Colours were awarded,
it appears for the first time this year, to Hunton, Cox, and Begg (and
three others who were not mentioned for some reason). The Colts this year
won all its 10 games and the U14 XV was also undefeated, winning 9 of
its 10 games with 1 drawn.
Mention has to be made here of 'Iron-Man Hunton'. This name is one I know.
I played for the Old Boys when I left Woolverstone and Andy Hunton was
an established OB in the team. A great player and a very nice guy indeed
(seemingly incongruous with the 'Iron-Man image').
1956/57:
In 1956/57, the year my brother Charles went to Woolverstone, the 1st
XV came of age with 15 wins in 19 games with I drawn and 3 narrow defeats
(by 2, 3 and 4 points) so these were an excellent return for all the promise
shown in the formative years. Colours were awarded to Warren, House, Glass,
George and Coutts.
1957/58:
The first undefeated 1st XV emerged in the season 1957/58 when the team
won 14 of its 15 games with 1 drawn. This is even more impressive as the
side played three club sides this year. Stars of this team awarded colours
were Marriott, Bauer, Clark, Wilds, Stevens, Brown G, Smith G and Tweddle.
1958/59:
The following season 1958/59 was also successful with 15 wins from 16
games, the only defeat, a close one at the hands of Streatham RFC, a club
side. Players awarded colours this year were Brobbel, Poyntz, Blake, Alden,
Baranyai. I gather the captain this season was Bill Coutts who had a trial
for England at U19 level, playing for the probables against the possibles,
yet, alas, did not make the full side.
1959/60: Season 1959/60 ended the decade with a slightly less successful year for
the 1st XV - 13 games played and 9 won although 3 defeats were at the
hands of club sides with only 1 defeat against a school side. Colours
awarded this year went to Walmsley, Stone, Gentry and Blair-Hickman.
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