1909 to 1910

1909-1910

11/9/1909

TRIAL MATCH

Probables:- G Green, G Johnson, R Meister, G Parsons, H Cross, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford (Capt.), F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E J Hodges, E S Cambridge, H Lye, S Jones, and H Jenkins.

Possibles:- E C Hartell, P Brooke, J Olds, J Phipps, W Toon, G Fisher, A E Cleall (Capt.), E Clark, A Brinkworth, B Wakefield, Loo Hatherill, G Chivers, E Holvey, A B Wood, C Parsons, L Mullen, B Pearce, and P Harding.

18/9/1909

v Stroud, Away. Won 8-0. Team: G Green, G Johnson, J T Timmins, G Parsons, R Meister, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, * G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, J Dainton, J Bushnell, E J Hodges, and W Clissold. F Johnstone was full back for Stroud.

*“A postcard sent from Nottingham addressed to ‘The Silver King, Trowbridge,’ was duly delivered to the Bath forward next morning. Such is the fame, plus the intelligence of up to date postal officials.”

Pessimists were said to have rubbed their eyes at this result. It was a distinctly encouraging result for Bath; the halves of Fear and Hatherill were particularly effective. “Johnson, Johnston and Johnstone were all engaged in the match last Saturday-rather unique. And they were all three very much in the picture.”

Cashnella and Hatherill scored the tries and Green converted one of them.

25/9/1909

v Cardiff Harlequins, Home. Won 29-0. Team:- G Green, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, R Meister, G Johnson, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, E J Hodges, W H Thomas, B Wakefield, W Jenkins.

Spectators were delighted at another show of open play, against a weak Cardiff district side.

Tries were scored by J Johnson (2), Kitching (2), Cashnella, Jenkins and Timmins. Hatherill converted two and Green dropped a goal.

 2/10/1909

v Lydney, Home. Drew 0-0. Team:- G Green, A F Kitchen, J T Timmins, R Meister, G Johnson, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E Hodges, J Lye, E S Cambridge, J Dainton, and G Donaldson.

An unsatisfactory game in many respects, following a kick-off delayed by Lydney’s late arrival. The Walcot Band did much to keep the crowd amused during their long wait.

Bath forwards were reported to have taken a gruelling from a strong Lydney eight. “The tackling all the way round was of the hard and resolute type. Yet although there was no resemblance of parlour football in the game, roughness was absent; the only incidents which should not have occurred, were men being tackled heavily when they had made their marks. Both sides offended in this respect.

7/10/1909

v Taunton, Home. Drew 0-0. Team:- E C Hartell, L Barnes J T Timmins, R Meister, A W Keeley, A Hatherill, W Fear, H G Atkin, , A Ford, F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, B Hurst, W Jenkins and J Lye.

“With such rain pouring down and such a wind howling, anything might have happened. The Bath forwards deserve credit for their fine display under miserable circumstances. They used their feet judiciously, wheeled the scrums cleverly, and tackled like Trojans. Several feared with the stiff front rank they had against them that Bath might go down, As it was, they had much the better of the play, and were unlucky not to win. In fine weather there can be no question as to who would have come out on top.” “Hartell played finely for the homesters.”

9/10/1909

v Bridgwater, Home. Won 11-8. Team:- G Green, A F Kitchen, J T Timmins, R Meister, G Johnson, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, B Hurst, J Dainton and J Lye.

“It was a rousing game, and should boon the game. If anyone wanted better value for sixpence, he must be a carper.” Kitching scored two tries and Cambridge another. Hatherill converted one.

16/10/1909

v Bristol, Away. Lost 11-13. Team:- G Green, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, H G Atkin, G Johnson, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G Donaldson, E S Cambridge, G St. Clair Johnston, B Hurst, J Dainton and J Lye.

Bath had much the better of the game, but Bristol managed a try two minutes from time. There was much dissatisfaction with the referee in allowing extra time. Bath were grateful to the Headmaster of Trowbridge High School in allowing Atkin to get away early. The former Kingswood boy, initiated two Bath tries. Alby Hatherill had an outstanding game.

BRISTOL ECHO: “It was quite the most exciting game ever seen between these teams, and to do Bath justice they deserved to leave the field victorious instead of a defeated team.”

Kitching and Hurst got Bath’s tries. Hatherill converted one and kicked a penalty.

23/10/1909

v Wellington, Home. Won 3-0.

Bath won by Atkin’s dropped penalty goal. The ground was soft and muddy, and more suited to the lightweight, wiry visitors, who tackled valiantly to keep Bath’s margin to “narrow dimensions.”

The ‘Sergemen’ defended so well, that it came as no surprise Bath could only scrape through with a penalty.

30/10/1909

v Bridgwater Albion, Away. Drawn 3-3. Team:- E C Hartell, G Johnson, J T Timmins, W Lewis, R Meister, W Fear, T Lempriere, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, B Hurst, E Arnold, and J Lye.

Bath tackling kept the home team at bay. “Ford stuck to Dibble in most gallant fashion, and the Albion captain never moved far, while he was brought to the ground so often that he must have been glad when the game was over.” Bath kept the home side to a draw, with a try by Lempriere.

6/11/1909

v Plymouth, Away. Lost 6-8. Team:- E C Hartell, R Ascott, G Johnson, W Emery, W Lewis, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, B Hurst, G Donaldson, E J Hodges, J Lye and Gerrish.

Billy Fear scored his first try of the season. Bath put up a good performance, with Hatherill in fine fettle. “He played magnificently and won applause time after time with his lovely kicking and touch-finding. He always had the best of the exchanges in kicking to touch.” They were somewhat unfortunate to lose by two points. Owing to the County Championship match, both sides fielded a number of reserve players. Fear and Gerrish scored the losers’ tries.

13/11/ 1909

v Abertillery, Home. Won 5-3. Team:- E C Hartell, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, R Ascott, W W Naish, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F Cashnella, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, B Hurst, J Lye and W H Thomas.

Unusually, Timmins missed a catch to let Abertillery’s Bowen in for a try, but the game was saved when late replacement Ascott (Oldfield Park -Captain) just beat the Welsh back in a race for the ball. It fell to Hatherill to win the match. He did so in grand style, converting with a brilliant kick from near the touchline.

“Cashnella tells me it was the warmest club forward side he has ever played against, and ‘Cash’ has met a few. To beat such a brigade in the close scrums, and also in the loose, as Bath most plainly did, was an achievement that adds confirmation to the opinion that Bath have the finest front rank they have mustered for long years.”

“W H Thomas is another capture. He played for Penarth for three seasons, and is a tall, strong, vigorous forward, just the stamp we want. It was his first game this season, but he stood the pace well. He will be a regular performer for Bath now, and Bath are to be congratulated on the fact.

Twas a glorious victory, and Bath’s supporters are in high feather. They expected to see the colours lowered to-day, but the flag is still flying.”

20/11/1909

v Wellington, Away. Won 9-5. Team:- E C Hartell, G Cross, G Olds, C Percy, Barnes, W Fear, T C Lempriere, A Ford, F J Cashnella, G Donaldson, St. G Clair Johnstone, B Hurst, J Lye, W H Thomas, Midgley (Post Office) and Job.

Barnes and Cross filled team vacancies. Job, a Bridgwater man substituted in the front row, and scored Bath’s try with Percy converting. Bath did well to clinch the game with Hartell’s (four pointer) drop goal. “Bath speak in no unmeasured terms of the roughness of the game at Wellington. They received more kicks and bruises last Saturday than against any of the class sides they have met.” Thomas played especially well and outside – Lempriere made many dashes.

27/11/1909

v Penarth, Home. Won 16-0. (2 goals, 2 tries) Team:- E C Hartell, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, P Cox, R Meister, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, B Hurst, G St. Clair Johnston, W H Thomas and J Lye. Tries by Kitching, Timmins, Cashnella and Cambridge, with two conversions by Hatherill.

South Wales news writers were loud in praise of Bath’s performance.

“Those who remember Bath forward displays of former days declared that they had seen nothing finer in bygone years when Soane was at the head of the front rank.

There is every evidence that the revival is complete.”

“I never remember to have seen a good class Welsh side so much outplayed in cleverness. The local boys, in the words of an old Bath three quarter, ‘were a livelier lot than for many seasons,’ and it may be added this liveliness served them in good stead, for they lasted right up to the last tootle of the whistle, and were progressing well for another three points.”

“Forward play is again blooming locally. Long may it continue to do so.”

4/12/1909

v Taunton, Away. Lost 0-16. Team:- E C Hartell, J Johnson, R Meister, J Olds, P Cox, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, G St. Clair Johnston, G Donaldson, B Hurst, Hodges (Stothert’s) and Archard (Stothert’s). “Bath came the usual cropper and were beaten pointless by two goals and two tries.”

Dick Meister was injured at the end of the first half. Hartell was very badly mauled and left the field for some time.

“Bath will long remember their match at Taunton. The weather, the ground, the referee, the roughness of the home team, and the result, all conspired to render it the most wretched experience this season.”

11/12/1909

v Penylan, Home. Drawn 0-0. Team:- E C Hartell, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, R Meister, G Johnson, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, E S Cambridge, W H Thomas, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston, B Hurst and J Lye.

“It was one of those days when anything might have happened. Penylan were generally an unknown quantity, and the conditions were such that a slip might have easily occurred, which would have spelt defeat.

And, indeed, there were some anxious moments for Bath. These occurred in the second half, when the untiring, bustling Penylan forwards often became troublesome with those sustained dribbles.

Indeed it must be admitted that the Taffies were happier mudlarks than the Bath men, who made the old mistake of trying to pick up, when footwork was the game. They want that familiar cry of ‘Feet, feet,’ to ring in their ears again.

There can be no question that a firm footing and a dry ball are the conditions which Bath prefer. Still, they made quite a creditable display in the frightful muck which soon covered them head to foot.

Occasionally, there was a stoppage while a clot of liquid Recreation Ground was picked from the optic of a player, who had been laid low in the quagmire. It amused the spectators but the blinded man did not relish the joke.”

18/12/1909

v Bridgwater, Away. Lost 6-11. Team:- E C Hartell, G Johnson, J Olds, J T Timmins, A Cross, Lempriere, W Fear, A Ford, E S Cambridge, G St. Clair Johnston, W H Thomas, G Donaldson, B Hurst, Facey and Gillingham.

Bath fielded a weak side and were grateful for the small points margin. The team travelled two short; Cashnella had been expected to play, but could not get away from his Stotherts workplace. Lye also dropped out at the last minute. Again, there was a reluctance to play in out of town games. Hartell played an extremely plucky game, despite injury. In the forwards, G St. Clair Johnston was in ‘dashing form.”

Johnson and Lempriere scored Bath’s tries. Bridgwater’s V and N Coates took a great deal of stopping. In this respect, Timmins tackled in his usual deadly fashion. All the forwards did well and it was a good performance for an under-strength side.

25/12/1909

v Rest of Bath, played on Odd Down. £15 5s.0d was taken for the benefit of Sydney Duck’s widow.

Bath Team:- Dixon, Davies, Rummings, Johnson, Shute, Fear, Russell, Ascott, Carpenter, Padfield, Neate, Porch, Cambridge, Waring and Chivers.

Rest of Bath team:- W Porch (St. Stephen’s, Capt.), R Ascott (Oldfield), W Stephens (Oldfield), E Smith (Stothert’s), C Brinkworth (Combe Down), E Clarke (Bath ‘A’), Archard (Stothert’s), Wyer (Oldfield), Blackmore (Oldfield), Williams (Combe Down), G Russell (St. Stephen’s), S Head (Bath ‘A’), L Hatherell (Bath ‘A’), Blanchard (Batheaston). Reserves:- Emery (Oldfield), G R Williams (Stothert’s), J Old (St Stephen’s), W Rumming (Stothert’s), W Gerrish (Oldfield), J Davies (Oldfield), R Dolman (Batheaston), H Porch (St. Stephen’s), F Jordan (Combe Down), S Harris (Stothert’s), H Wearing (Stothert’s).

Blanchard, Ascott scored for the Rest, and Shute for Bath. The Rest winning by two tries to one.

27/12/1909

v Mountain Ash, Home. Drawn 0-0. Team:- E C Hartell, G Johnson, J T Timmins, R Meister, E Smith, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, G St. Clair Johnston, C Moss, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, and B Hurst.

There was splendid gate for this Boxing Day match, but a poor game resulted in a pointless draw.

“It was too close and hard a game to be agreeable, and the referee had to intervene in some hot ‘disputes,’ but happily nobody had to be ordered off.”

28/12/1909

v Old Edwardians, Home Drawn 5-5. Team:- E C Hartell, G Johnson, J T Timmins, R Meister, E Smith, W Fear, T Lempriere, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, G St. Clair Johnston, E S Cambridge, B Hurst, C Moss and G Donaldson.

“There was another absentee from the Bath team in this match today, as Alby Hatherill had to be at work. So Lempriere came over from Bristol to partner Fear at half. P D Waller was expected, but the Newport and Welsh forward is debarred from playing because of the Wales and France match next Saturday, it being an unwritten rule of the Welsh Union that all selected men shall desert from footer a week prior to an International.” ‘Whacker’ Smith again featured in the three-quarter line.

“St. Clair Johnston ran grandly on the left, and the ball went through several hands, Moss scoring near the posts. Hartell put on the goal points, and made maters level.”

8/1/1910

v Clifton, Away. Won 16-0. Team: E C Hartell, J T Timmins, W Rummings (Stotherts), H Lewis, E.‘Whacker’ Smith (Stotherts), A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston, B Hurst, E S Cambridge and E Arnold.

Debuts for H (Bert) Lewis (2 tries), W Rummings and E Arnold. Other tries from Fear and St. Clair Johnston, with Hatherill adding two conversions.

“Billy Fear was immense, and ran through the Clifton defence with delicious ease with the first try. I was delighted to see the scrum half score as he had put in such magnificent games for the Citizens.” The Bath forwards were in great form, none more so than Thomas, who showed in brilliant play. ‘Whacker’ Smith had a fine game at centre.

15/1/1910

v Stroud, Home. Won 8-0. Team: E C Hartell, H Lewis, J T Timmins, ‘Georgie’ Parsons, F Cashnella, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, G Donaldson, E Cambridge, G St Clair Johnston, B Hurst, E Arnold, R Hamilton and Watts. Due to shortages, Watts sportingly played in the forwards, which released Cashnella to play on the wing. For the visit of the “Gothamites,” “………the going was ponderously heavy and it was difficult to raise a gallop in the mire.” “……..there was a lot of rough and tumble in the mud.”

A first half try by Parsons, converted Hatherill, and a later try by Lewis after another good sprint. “Hartell was tested rather severely now and then, and was always safe.”

22/1/1910

v Stothert and Pitt’s, Home. Won 14-0 in Somerset Cup. Team:- A Warren, H Lewis, J T Timmins, G Parsons, P Brooke, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W Thomas, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnson, B Hurst, H Arnold and L Hatherill. Tries by Cashnella (2), Fear and Timmins, with Hatherill converting Cashnella’s first try.

Not wishing to disparage the ‘Cranes,’ who were having a good season. Nevertheless, Bath felt somewhat relieved to draw the local club in the first round. Cashnella was frequently the thorn in the visitors’ side.

“Stothert’s played a plucky game, and were quite content to be beaten by no more than 14 points. They were singing ‘Are we downhearted? No, No,’ most cheerily after the match, despite the fact that the water pipes in the pavilion were frozen, and nobody could get a bath.”

29/1/1910

v Lydney, Away. Lost 3-10. Selected Team: Green, Rummings, Smith, Timmins, Lewis, Fear, Hatherill, Ford, Cashnella, Cambridge, Johnston, Thomas, Donaldson, Hurst, and Hamilton.

Bath arrived one player short from the selected team and Lydney graciously provided a substitute. What is more – the substitute, a certain Mr. Grail, scored Bath’s solitary try. The Lydney locals again proved too good for Bath.

‘MIDST LYDNEY MUD

“Never did Bath need a bath more than after the game at Lydney. It was difficult to identify the players as they came off the field, so plastered and besmeared were they with the peculiarly adhesive mud of the tin-plate town.

West, the trainer, declared that he was carrying home to Bath a quarter of a hundred-weight of Lydney soil in the bags that contained the dirty kits of the team; and it seemed a modest calculation.

Not even the most ardent Radical in the team desired to troll forth the ‘Land Song’ after the match, on the tedious journey back to Bath, when the time was whiled away with vocal entertainment – he had had quite enough of the land for one day, a little too much; some of the men must have swallowed a bit of it.”

“There was a rather natural disinclination on the part of the players to go down on the ball, and the handling of the slippery oval being very precarious, the game deteriorated into a kind of bastard Soccer; a man booted the ball and there was a scramble through the slough to reach it.”

W (Billy) Fear belied his surname, and his unbounded pluck saved the line time after time. He sustained a nasty kick in the ribs for his trouble, but managed to stay on the field to complete a particularly gritty performance.

5/2/1910

v Taunton Albion, Home. Won 36-0. Team: Hartell, Kitching, Timmins, Atkin, Lewis, Hatherill, Fear, Ford, Cashnella, Thomas, Cambridge, Hurst, Watts, Hamilton and Abraham.

Bath crossed the Taunton line no less than ten times, with Kitching scoring four tries and Cashnella three. Other tries by Hatherill, Bert Lewis and Hartell. Conversions by Hatherill (2) and Hartell.

“Bath celebrated their introduction to Taunton Albion in true pic-nic fashion. They had a real gay time at the expense of the visitors, who will remember their first debut at Bath.

They told me they were calling in at Bristol Pantomime on their way back. Probably they will find the show at the Prince’s Theatre more enjoyable than the football on the Recreation Ground.”

“It was a delight to see Kitching’s return to his true form.”

12/2/1910

v Clifton, Home. Won 13-10. Team: Hartell, Kitching, Timmins, Atkin, Lewis, Brinkworth, Hatherill, Ford, Cashnella, Thomas, Cambridge, Hurst, Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnstone, and Hodges. Bath soon realised they had a tough fight on their hands and found themselves 8-10 down at the interval. Hartell sustained a nasty blow to the head early in the second half, and took a long time to recover. At one stage the referee stopped the game because a section of the crowd was: “so persistent in their adverse comments and Messrs. R.R. Stephenson and T. B. Timmins lent him the assistance that officials should afford on such occasions.”

“The Cliftonians once more proved themselves splendid footballers and capital sportsmen. When Hartell was knocked out, and the ball lay at the Cliftonian’s mercy, they pulled up and made no attempt to profit from the occurrence, thus exemplifying the real spirit of ‘rugger”

Tries by Kitching (2) and Lewis, with 2 conversions by Hatherill.

19/2/1910  – THE SOMERSET CUP v WESTON saga

(Saturday) v Weston-Super-Mare, Home. Drawn 0-0. Team: E C Hartell, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, H G Atkin, B Lewis, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, B Hurst, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston, and J Lye.

“The wind was so high that it was impossible to erect the canvas screens around the ground, and those who congregated on the Grand Parade had an uninterrupted view of the game.” The County Committee invoked the ‘all pay’ rule and the takings amounted to £49. “It is an argument for Bath abstaining from the Cup Competition in future.” “The wind harassed and perplexed the back men in most annoying fashion and it was a factor which acted more against the home side than the visitors.”

“There were remarkably few scenes in the match which remain in the eye, and a week hence we shall have been glad to have forgotten all about it.”

Bath did not like the seasider’s ‘kick and rush’ spoiling game, and were unhappy that referee Mr. Lawes did not whistle up for Weston’s palpable knocks-on in the line out.

The verdict was that although the excitement ran high, the football was deplorably poor. There was very little open play.

24/2/1910

v Weston-Super-Mare, Away, Drawn 0-0. Team; G Green, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, R Meister, H Lewis, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F Cashnella, W H Thomas, E S Cambridge, B Hurst, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston and J Lye. Beautiful sunshine, but unfortunately the Weston ground was in a terrible state with water still standing on the pitches. As the players arrived, men were bailing away bucket-fulls of water in a late and frantic effort to improve playing conditions. The majority of players had experience of the seaside mud, but after the heavy rain, this was described as the worst conditions for forty years. There was still the pressing need to play, as a postponement would further delay the Cup programme.

Another pointless draw!

A FRIGHTFUL GAME

“There was complaining enough after the match in Bath about the wretched display the game yielded, but it was infinitely superior to what happened at Weston. The home team did not regret the swampy state of the field. They realised rightly that it would aid them in their avowed object of making the game a forward scramble. And it did.” “Kick and rush and hard tackling monopolized nearly the whole eighty minutes.” After the game: “many players bore traces of rough usage…”

A FRIGHTFUL PITCH !

“There were large pools of water all over the enclosure and men were dipping it up in buckets and cans and throwing it away on to the lower part of the field.”

 26/2/1910

v Plymouth, Home. Lost 0-5. Plymouth took Bath’s Unbeaten Ground Record. Team: E C Hartell, J T Timmins, R Meister, B Lewis, H G Atkin, W Fear, A Ford, F Cashnella, W H Thomas, E S Cambridge, B Hurst, G Head, G St. Clair Johnston and J Lye. Bath forwards were still ‘done up’ from their gruelling clashes with Weston, and could barely raise a gallop. The visitors played attractive rugby, and the result was not too greatly deplored by an appreciative crowd.

Bath lost their home ground record to a thoroughly well balanced side. “Not only are the forwards all workers and triers, but the halves are splendid, the three quarters powerful runners, fine kicks and resolute tacklers, while their full back gave one of the finest expositions of finished gathering and kicking to be wished for from any player.”

 5/3/1910

v Bristol, Home. Lost 6-11. Team: G Green, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, H G Atkin, H J Lewis, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, F Cashnella, W H Thomas, E S Cambridge, G Donaldson, G St. Clair Johnston, B Hurst and L Lye.

There was a large attendance in fine weather. Many Bristolians took advantage of railway excursion tickets. Bath tries by Cambridge and Hatherill, came in the first quarter of an hour, but after that there were few chances, as the home side was beaten by arguably: “….. the best set of club backs in England, if not in the United Kingdom.” Bath’s pack were rated better than Bristol: “The dashing play of Thomas, Cambridge, and Cashnella was a valuable asset to the Bath side, and it was a pity that their efforts were not better rewarded.” Kitching was the best of the backs; the Bath three-quarters defended well enough, but their passing was too mechanical to be effective.

Bath try scorers were Cambridge and Hatherill.

“Cambridge’s try, the outcome of keen following up and rattling pace, put the home crowd on good terms with themselves, and their delight knew no bounds when a few minutes afterwards Cashnella’s quickness in and from the line-out sent Hatherill in with another try.”

10/3/1910

v Weston-Super-Mare, Home. Drawn 3-3. (one penalty each)

Team:- E G Green, A F Kitching, R Meister, J T Timmins, H Lewis, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, F J Cashnella, W H Thomas, F S Cambridge, B Hurst, G. St. Clair Johnson, G Donaldson and J Lye. Attendance 3000.

Bath raised objections to Weston’s team selection, when a former player (P C) W. Hawkins, a potential match-winner, was brought down from London. With some justification, Bath maintained that selection should only be from players who had appeared for a club in the current season. To add to the friction, the seasiders would not agree to the playing of extra time.

Hawkins scored a first half penalty for Weston and Hatherill countered with a similar effort in the second spell.

Bath could so easily have won, but Cashnella’s refusal to ‘part with the leather’ cost Bath a certain try when he was closely backed up by St. Clair Johnston. Cashnella thought he could brush aside Weston’s full back, but he was brought down manfully, and the opportunity was lost. Uncharacteristically, Timmins gave away a penalty when off-side near his own line, for Weston’s three points.

Yet another draw after 240 minutes of rugby, and players had had enough of Cup rugby, which had: “not produced anything but unscientific scrambles.”

Gate money from the first home encounter on 19th February, had been £49, £28 at Weston, and £57 from the Thursday game at Bath. A total of £134 for three games. However, Bath had to pay the Recreation Ground Company from their share of the takings, which had the effect of making away games more profitable.

12/3/1910

v Weston-Super-Mare, Away. Lost 3-17. Team: G Green, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, R Meister, B Lewis, W Fear, T Lempriere, A Ford, G St. Clair Johnstone, G Donaldson, B Hurst, J Lye, J Jenkins, G Head and F Russell.

The previous games had taken their toll, and many important players were ‘hors de combat’:-

Cashnella (bad knee injury), Cambridge (strained sinew), Thomas (dislocated thumb). Watts did not put in an appearance and Bert Lewis asked to be stood down.

Gate money was £59.

It was felt that Weston included another unqualified player in J H C Johnson, but equally Bath’s Fred Russell was requisitioned, with somewhat doubtful qualification, owing to our own shortage of fit players.

“Under the circumstances, the prospects of Bath were by no means gay, especially as the weather was so unfavourable, a steady persistent rain, which showed no inclination to stop, with the wind in the east, and the Weston ground was likely to be in the same terrible state as on February 24th.”

Kitching scored Bath’s solitary try, after good handling by Meister and Timmins.

“There was a feeling of thankfulness among the Bath players-those that were left sound and fit-that there has come an end to cup ties.”

After three tedious draws, Weston were through to the semi-final, and the talk was that Bath’s future participation seemed rather improbable!

19/3/1910

v Mountain Ash, away. Lost 0-14. Team: W Porch, G Johnson, , J T Timmins, Dickson, Brooks, J Olds, F Toop, A Ford (Capt.), E S Cambridge, G St. Clair Johnstone, G Donaldson, B Hurst, H Porch, G Russell and J Thomas.

There had been many changes from the regular side, and to add to their problems, Cambridge went off with a twisted his ankle ten minutes into the game and did not re-appear. The Welsh side crossed the Bath line four times, converting one of their tries.

CHRONICLE COMMENT

“Ford was again in his place. As the season is drawing to an end it would not be out of place to pay tribute, richly deserved, to the keenness and loyalty of the Bath captain. He has not missed a single game in all this arduous campaign and his devotion is greatly to be admired. His cheeriness and optimism have kept the side together in a happy manner and everyone hopes that he will be able to hold an unbroken record for 1909-10. It was rather an ordeal to get a team for Saturday, but it was achieved.”

26/3/1910

v Bristol, Away. Lost 3-21. Team: E C Hartell, A F Kitching, J T Timmins, G Johnson, H J Lewis, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, W H Thomas, G St. Clair Johnstone, G Donaldson, B Hurst, Moss, J Lye and E J Hodges.

Both clubs had been knocked out of their respective County Cups, so arranged this extra game on gate sharing terms. Unfortunately Cashnella and Cambridge were still injured, and although there was some resolute tackling, Bath’s weakened side failed to keep out the Bristol ‘threes’: “Superiority in combined effort as well as individual brilliance behind the scrum won Bristol their match against Bath on Saturday.”

Bristol scored 3 goals and 2 tries. Moss scored Bath’s second half try.

28/3/1910

v London Welsh, Home. Won 11-6. Team: Hartell, Lewis, Timmins, Johnson, Ascott, Hatherill, Fear, Ford, Thomas, Donaldson, St. Clair Johnstone, Hurst, Lye, Hodges and Russell.

CHRONICLE COMMENT

“ Hatherill then got away cleverly from the scrum, and passed to Lewis, who kicked across, but nothing came of it. However, the ball was taken to the Welsh 25, were it was thrown out to Timmins. The centre slung the leather out wide, Johnson got the ball and passed to Ascott, and the left winger scored a smart try.

Bath’s second try came in sensational fashion. The Londoners were attacking, and one of their backs kicked. Thomas got the ball smartly, came round on the right and cross punted. Fear took the leather on with his feet, and booted it past the Welsh full back very cleverly. Hatherill raced on, picked up the ball, and running half the length of the field, scored behind the posts. He converted his own try.”

This fast and open game was crowned with Ford’s ‘captain’s try’ in the final minutes.

2/4/1910

v Pontypool, Home. Won 6-0. Team: Hartell, Kitching, Timmins, Johnson, Ascott, Fear, Hatherill, Ford, Donaldson, Johnston, Hurst, Thomas, Hodges, Lye and Russell. After eight encounters, Bath had never beaten Pontypool, but this time Bath took the ‘scalp.’ “After 15 minute’s play Kitching, starting with a pass quite 30 yards from the line, scored one of his very best tries. He ran round and evaded all the opposition as neatly as could be, and finished with a score not far from the flag, so that Hatherill could not goal. This was one of the best tries of the season, and having tasted blood Bath showed a lovely round of passing, in which Kitching, Timmins, Johnson and Ascott all handled, and which took play almost to the line.”

At the conclusion of an ill-tempered second half, Ascott scored Bath’s second try, just after the sending off of ‘Ponty’ forward Andrews, for fighting.

9/4/1910

v Bridgwater Albion, Home. Won 3-0. Team:- E C Hartell, H J Lewis, J T Timmins, E Smith, W Rummings, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, G. St. Clair Johnston, W H Thomas, B Hurst, G Donaldson, F Cashnella, E J Hodges and G Archard.

After a drop out: “Bath improved the tempers of their supporters by securing a really smart try. The ball was sent out to the right wing, and Lewis accepting this transfer from Timmins, sprinted for the line. He made a clever run, and then handed back to Timmins, who went over in the corner. Hodges made a capital shot at goal, but the leather dropped a trifle short.” This was a satisfying win against the Somerset Cup holders, and was engineered by Bath’s superiority at forward. There were fine games at half-back: “Fear was irresistible, and Hatherill ubiquitous, though inclined to hold to long to the leather, an old failing.”

Hurst fell awkwardly after a heavy tackle and dislocated his shoulder.

 16/4/1910

v Abertillery, Away. Lost 0-17. Team: D Dixon, W Rummings, J T Timmins, E F Gooding, E Smith, A Hatherill, W Fear, A Ford, W H Thomas, F J Cashnella, A Williams (Combe Down), R Hamilton (ex Monkton Combe), G St. Clair Johnstone, G Archard (Stothert’s) and Carpenter (Oldfield Park).

This was Bath’s first visit to ‘Tillery, a Monmouthshire mining town. There were several who prayed it would be their last! “It was beautiful weather, but Bath had never played on such a ground before. The field was perfectly level, but not a blade of grass was to be seen, in fact the ground had the appearance of a dust heap although it must have been harder.” Bath’s weakened side were no match for the wiry Welshmen, who scuttled in with a goal and 4 tries. It was nevertheless an enjoyable game to watch and the Bath men were applauded for their plucky play. The visitors were severely handicapped by having only thirteen men on the field for much of the second half.

ABERTIL-AIRY!

CHRONICLE COMMENT

“Bath footballers have given up all attempts at endeavouring to learn the route by which they reach certain Welsh towns. They board the train and trust to the G.W.R. officials. There is such a bewildering network of sinuous circuitous lines traversing the valleys of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire that to endeavour to understand where they run and how they connect is almost as hopeless as endeavouring to pronounce the appalling names placarded on the stations.”

Marvelling at the profusion of rugby posts, our intrepid travellers were encouraged that their particular pitch was indeed – flat.

“This being such a rarity it looks as if all the clubs for miles around were playing on it every day in the week.

For the whole area is almost completely innocent of grass, Sand evidently has been strewn on the wettest spots in times of flood; subsequent rains have suffused this over the bare earth and the ground on Saturday bore a strange likeness to seashore.

And this resemblance was intensified by the gale that raged. It did not blow in from the sea, but howled down the bleak mountainsides from the North with an iciness that made players and spectators shiver. Even touch-judging with an overcoat on it was so freezing that you could scarcely hold the flag with your numbed fingers.

Well, the idea may strike someone that the fringe is growing too long and it is about time they were given an idea of what the game was like. To tell the truth, it was such a miserable display that the topographical and climatogrical preface has been lengthened to avoid the necessity of occupying much space in attempting to comment on the football, which was a farce.

That poet who described ‘The wind in a frolic’ never thought of the havoc it could play with a Rugby match or assuredly he would have added a verse or two. No man could gauge where the ball would go when kicked or passed. The player who punted high against the hurricane saw the leather carried back over his head; the half-back who flung in from touch had to throw forward to allow the oval to be blown back to the line-out. So scientific and accurate football was an impossibility. Still there was one thing Bath should have done- kicked to touch more frequently when they had Boreas behind them in the first half. It was a curious omission, just as it was in the two matches they played with Weston-super-Mare when the stormy winds did blow.”

When Bath, with the advantage of the cyclone, had failed to score at lemons, and had allowed a goal to be registered against them, it was only a question of how many points they would have put across them when they faced the Norwester. All things considered, they did well to escape with only twelve more added to the home team’s total.”

“The natives pronounce it Abertil-airy. It was very airy on Saturday, too much so to be pleasant.”

23/4/1910

v Pontypool, Away. Lost 0-12. Team: E C Hartell, W Lewis, G J Johnson, P Brooke, W Rummings, A Hatherill, W Fear, W H Thomas, R Hamilton, G St. Clair Johnstone, A Archard, J Lye, F Holvey, A Ford and Carpenter.

Not so bad as the Abertillery ‘ravine’, but it still bucketed down with rain: “and the ground was in a frightful state of slush.” “It was practically useless to pick up the leather, so bad was the ground, and the Bath men seemed to find it even more difficult to keep their feet than Pontypool.”

“On the return home to Bath, the captain, A Ford, thanked the players for their loyal support they had given him during the season at out of town fixtures, and his health was heartily drunk, As the train was nearing Bath, the company in the saloon sang ‘Auld Land Syne’ in approved fashion, and rousing cheers were given.”

30/4/1910

Bath and District v Bristol District XV, on the Recreation Ground. Bath District Team: W Emery (Oldfield Park), R Ascott (Oldfield Park), W Lewis (Bath ‘A’), E Smith and W Rummings (Stothert and Pitt’s), E Clarke (Bath ‘A’), A Brinkworth (Combe Down), S Head (Bath ‘A’), E Hodges and S Harris (Stothert and Pitt’s), A Williams (Combe Down), E and S Blanchard (Batheaston and District), G Russell (St. Stephens), and C Wyer (Oldfield Park).

Reserves: Wilkinson (Combe Down), T Harris (Batheaston and District), A E Cleall (Bath ‘A’), G Russell (Combe Down), W Gerrish and C Hales(Oldfield Park), R Dolman (Batheaston and District), C Blackmore and F Cook (Oldfield Park), B Rowsell (Combe Down), G Chivers and L Hatherill (Bath ‘A’), G Archard (Stothert and Pitt’s), and H Porch (St Stephens).

Organised and refereed by W Dolman, this game was in aid of sufferers from the Bathford Paper Mill fire. It was a pity that only £9 was taken. Add to this the fact that Mr Dolman had been under the impression the Bristolians were coming free of cost; he was dismayed to received a telegram that they would not come unless expenses were paid.

The game was followed by a ‘Smoker’ at the New Inn, Southgate Street.

A full list of players is recorded, as it serves to identify a large number of District players, who had appeared in the Bath senior XV colours over the years.

FOR THE RECORD 1909-1910

APPEARANCES:-

Full backs: E C Hartell 22, G Green 10, D Dixon 2, W Porch, and V Warren once.

Three-quarters: J T Timmins 32, A F Kitching 18, G Johnson 17, H J Lewis 15, R Meister 12, H G Atkin 8, E Smith 6, R Ascott, W Rummings and J Olds 4, P Cox, W Lewis and G Parsons 3, H Cross, L Barnes, S Brooks 2, E F Gooding, E Holvey, P Brooke, W Gerrish, W Emery, Rev. H Naish, A W Keeley, E C Hartell and F Cashnella 1.

Half-backs: W Fear 33, A Hatherill28, T C Lempriere 5, H G Atkin, W Rummings, D Dixon, A S Harries and A Brinkworth 1.

Forwards: A Ford 36, G St. Clair Johnstone 33, B Hurst 32, G Donaldson 31, F Cashnella 28, E S Cambridge 25, W H Thomas 23, J Lye 20, E J Hodges 10, W Dainton 6, E Arnold, A Archard, R Hamilton 4, E Jenkins and C Moss 3, F Russell, T Head, W Watts, Carpenter and J Job 2, W Clissold, J B Wakefield, A Williams, J Blackmore, A Porch, D Russell, R Thomas, G Chivers, E Abraham, Grail (substitute at Lydney), L Hatherill, Facey and Gillingham (substitutes at Bridgwater), G Russell and E Holvey 1 each.

TRY GETTERS

A F Kitching 13, Cashnella 8, H J Lewis and J T Timmins 5, A Hatherill 4, R Ascott, W Fear E S Cambridge and G Johnson 3, C Moss, T C Lempriere 2, and A Ford, E C Hartell, W Gerrish, B Hurst, E Jenkins, J Job, G St. Clair Johnston, G Parsons and Grail 1 each.

GOAL KICKERS

A Hatherill 20 gaols, 18 of these converted tries and two were penalty kicks.

Hartell goaled one try as did Percy Cox. G Green and Hartell each dropped a goal and a penalty goal was dropped by H G Atkin.