1912 to 1913

1912-1913

TRIAL XV’S – 7th September, Kensington Meadows 3-15.

Probables from:- W Porch, A Blanchard, N Coates, E C MacBryan, Rev. R St. John Dickson, H Burt, W Fear, F Jefferis, S Head, A Carpenter, A West, S Harris, F Cashnella, E Russell, J O’Connor and D Fisher.

Possibles from:- E C Hartell, J Hall, S Pratt, T Pyatt, W Lewis, G Keen, H Vowles, R Bussell, G Chivers, F Burgess, F Froude, J Isaacs, L Hatherill, G Griffith, S Locke, G Royal, P H Wheeler, S Holman, and C Gibbs. The Probables won 36-0.

14/9/1912

v Torquay, Away. Lost 3-6. Team:- Lewis, V Coates, N Coates, MacBryan, Blanchard, Vowles, Ascott, Head, Carpenter, Allen, Harris, West, Russell, Fisher and Porch.

Bath departed with an incomplete team on the 5am excursion. They arrived at 10.5 after a pleasant journey, breakfast being partaken on the way. Glorious weather prevailed. Prior to the game, the party split up, one part visiting Paignton and the other part Babbacombe. A splendid lunch was partaken of at 10.30, and then more trips. Blanchard scored Bath’s try.

The Torquay crowd spent some time “baiting” the referee and were summarily condemned by the match reporter: “He occupies a delicate, thankless position, and as a general rule, it may be assumed that he does his best, without favour and without fear. He cannot see everything which occurs, and, being human, he is apt to err. A referee needs support and encouragement, not hot-headed recrimination and partisanic condemnation.”

21/9/1912

v Bridgwater, Home. Won 20-9. Team:- C W Walwin, V H S Coates, N H Coates, A F Kitching, J Evans, T J Cronshaw, F Hill, S Head, A Carpenter, S Harris, F Cashnella, A Ford, A West, E Russell, and D Fisher.

Tries by Kitching, Evans, and Vincent Coates (4). The last try was converted by Norman Coates.

“Bath got the best try of the day now, through Vincent Coates. All the backs handled, and the wing man went over in his usual style, fairly bullocking the opposition aside.”

“The game was a typical Somerset match, plenty of exciting incidents, heaps of scrambling, but not an overdose of science.”

28/9/1912

v Penylan. Home, Won 15-3. Team:– V Whittaker (Combe Down), V Coates, N Coates, A F Kitching, Jack Evans, W Fear, A Blanchard, S Head, A Ford, A West, A Carpenter, F Cashnella, E Russell, S Harris and D Fisher.

Tries:- Vincent Coates 4 times for the second week running, and one from Ford. Bath owed much to the brothers Coates, both in attack and defence.

5/10/1912

v Exeter, Home. Won 33-5. Team:- C Whittaker, V H S Coates, N H Coates, A F Kitching, H Burt, W Fear, A Blanchard, A Ford, S Harris, S Head, A Carpenter, E Russell, D Fisher, F Cashnella, and W Royal (His first match for Bath).

Tries from V Coates (3), Head, Cashnella, Royal, and Kitching. Blanchard ‘majored’ 3, and Norman Coates kicked a Penalty. Exeter were outclassed, encountering the Bath backs at the peak of their form.

12/10/1912

v Penarth, Away. Lost 3-8. Team:- F C Whittaker, H Burt, T Pyatt, J Johnson, H Jones, Fear, Blanchard, S Head (Capt.), S Harris, W Royal, H Harding, F Cashnella, A Carpenter, E Russell, and D Fisher.

Bath suffered a reversal at the hands of the Cardiff suburban seasiders. Penarth crossed the Bath rut twice, converting one, while Pyatt scored a fine consolation try late in the second moiety.

19/10/1912

v Abertillery, Home. Won 24-3. Team:- E C Hartell, V Coates, N Coates, A Blanchard, A F Kitching, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, S Harris, S Head, A Carpenter, W Royal, E Russell, F Cashnella, and D Fisher.

Tries N Coates (4), Blanchard, V Coates. Conversions by Blanchard (2) and N Coates.

A goodly win ‘gainst the “Aber” people: “All tries were such as to rouse enthusiasm and worked for with a bustle and a dash which swept the Abertillery defence off their legs.”

The gate was £23.

26/10/1912

v Bridgwater Albion, Home. Won 22-0 Team:- C Walwin, V H S Coates, N H Coates, J Johnson, A Blanchard, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, A Carpenter, S Harris, E Russell, W Royal and D Fisher.

In far from ideal weather, Head kicked off for Bath towards the Skating Rink. Tries followed from Parsons, Blanchard, N Coates (2), and Johnson. Penalty Norman Coates. Blanchard, and N Coates scored conversions.

What fresh can I say about the Brothers Coates? They have exhausted all my stock phrases, for they utilise the who gamut of Rugby proficiency. Norman, both in running, kicking and tactics generally is quite on a par now with Vincent, and if there is a better all round pair in the South I don’t know them.”

2/11/1912

v Penylan, Home. Won 3-0. Team:- C J Whittaker, J Johnson, A Blanchard, W Porch, T Pyatt, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, A Carpenter, W Royal, D Fisher, B Harding, and J Froude.

Fear got his first try of the season and thereafter, Bath kept the ball tight for a narrow lead to the end.

NO COMMENT!

“The game can be summed up in a phrase as a good ‘old fashioned rag.’ Very exciting to watch, but not lending itself either to much comment, or extravagant laudation.”

9/11/1912

v Cheltenham, Away. Lost 5-6. Team:- F C Whittaker, V H Coates, N H Coates, A Blanchard, A F Kitching, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, A Carpenter, S Harris, W Royal, E Russell, and D Fisher.

A fine try by Kitching, converted by Blanchard, Bath were leading by a goal to a penalty goal at half time. Then, after pressing hotly, Cheltenham were again awarded a penalty, which was designated ‘no charge’ and Davy made no mistake, to maintain Cheltenham’s unbeaten run, in winning by one point.

“The spectators were wildly excited, and were rushing over the ground before time was up.”.

16/11/1912

v Llanelly, Away. Lost 0-12. Team:- C Whittaker, S Pratt, R Skym, A Blanchard, T Pyatt, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, F Cashnella, E Russell, D Fisher, J Froude, W Royal, B Hurst, and R Harding.

Bath departed for Wales without a single three-quarter on board. The ‘tin-platers’ won by a penalty goal and three tries to nil.

23/11/1912

v Bristol, Home. Won 8-0. Team:- F C Whittaker, V H Coates, N H Coates, A Blanchard, A F Kitching, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, A Carpenter, F Cashnella, W Royal, E Russell, S Harris and D Fisher.

V Coates ran around Brown and scored a lovely try in the corner amid tumultuous cheering.

Then Head scored after Cashnella and Hatherill worked a short line-out, Blanchard adding the points. “The game was very keenly contested and the tackling was not of the drawing-room order. Bath made no mistake about getting two tries when the opportunity offered, and it is just as well they did, for after ‘lemons’ the light failed, and in the concluding portion it was impossible to distinguish the players from the touch line.”

There was a large gate of enthusiastic supporters, some £46 being taken.

7/12/1912

v Clifton, Away. Won 8-3. Team:- C Whittaker, A Kitching, J Johnson, N Coates, A Blanchard, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Carpenter, S Harris, E Russell, W Royal, D Fisher, F Cashnella, and B Harding.

Tries Kitching (2). Conversion Norman Coates. It was a good win against ‘the lavender brigade,’ and the first away from home.

Seventeen Years Ago

“A paragraph has been going the rounds-it had its origin in a Bristol contemporary-that 17 years ago last Saturday, Cashnella and Fear made their first appearance for Bath 1st against Clifton on the Clifton ground. Happening to see Cashnella this week I asked him if this was true. He said it was incorrect. He added ‘Fear and I certainly first played for Bath 1st 17 years ago, but it was at Exeter not Clifton. We were both attached to junior local clubs, and Mr. Piper fetched me from work and I went directly to the station. Hardly one of the regular Bath forwards travelled away that day, some alleging they suffered from ‘train sickness!’ Bath were well beaten in that match.” (i.e.1895)

14/12/1912

v Pontypool, Home. Lost 0-3. Team:- C Whittaker, A Blanchard, E C MacBryan (Torquay), R L Taylor (Kingswood School), J Johnson, A Hatherill, H Vowels, S Head, F Cashnella, A Ford, E Russell, A Carpenter, D Fisher, B Harding, and J Froude. Bath were weakened by County calls, and did well to concede just one try to the Monmouthshire side. “The struggle for supremacy was indeed a dour one, and it was only the splendid defence of the homesters that kept the Welshmen from getting several scores.” This proved to be Bath’s only home defeat.

21/12/1912

v Bristol, Away. Won 12-0. Team:- C Whittaker, J Johnson, N Coates, A Blanchard, T Pyatt, W Fear, J C W MacBryan, F Head, A Carpenter, F Cashnella, W Royal, D Fisher, J Froude, L Hatherill, and S Harris.

Tries Norman Coates, and Pyatt. Conversion from Norman Coates and drop goal by MacBryan. It was Bath’s first win at Bristol since the 20th March 1897.

26/12/1912

v Clifton, Home. Won 19-3. Team:- C Whittaker, A Blanchard, N Coates, J W C MacBryan, C Walwin, W Fear, D R Gent*, S Head, F Cashnella, A Carpenter, S Harris, D Fisher, W Royal, B Harding, and E Russell.

(* Gloucester and England 1905-1910)

The referee awarded a penalty try, although Dai Gent was actually seen to score. Blanchard converted with a nice kick. Blanchard crossed near half time and the sides changed over with Bath leading by 8-3. At the restart Royal went over from a scrum. It was impossible to attribute Bath’s next try, as three ‘homesters’ fell on the ball. Walwin got the final try after two ‘clinking’ runs by Coates, and it was Coates who converted for a comfortable win.

28/12/1912

v Mountain Ash, Home. Won 6-0. Team:- C Whittaker, A Blanchard, N H Coates, F W C MacBryan, J Johnson, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, F Cashnella, S Harris, A Carpenter, E Russell, W Royal, D Fisher, and B Harding.

Cashnella and Blanchard got the tries. “Despite the slushy conditions and the rain, the teams played with a wonderful amount of vigour, and one of the hardest and fiercest struggles for supremacy over seen on the ground took place.”

11/1/1913

v Clifton, Home. Won 24-0. Team:- A Beck-Cluckie, V Coates, N Coates, J W C MacBryan, J Johnson, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, S Harris, E Russell, D Fisher, W Royal, F Cashnella, E Cambridge, and B Harding.

Played in pouring rain, Cashnella scored within three minutes. Russell, V Coates, Head, MacBryan and Hatherill followed with tries. Norman Coates converted three.

Clifton were out-played, out-weighted and out-paced.

18/1/1913

v Portsmouth, Away. Won 9-3. Team:- A Beck-Cluckie, A Blanchard, N Coates, A E Cleall, C Allen, W Fear, J W C MacBryan, S Head, S Harris, A Carpenter, E Russell, D Fisher, W Royal, W Archard (ex Stothert & Pitt), and J Froude.

There was loud applause for Norman Coates, as he landed a penalty from the half-way line. In the second half, Coates was again in the action with two unconverted tries.

“It was a poor game to watch, there being too many free kicks.

The best part of the Portsmouth team was their forwards. Their outside men were no good at all.”

25/1/1913

v Bristol, Home. Drawn 0-0. Team:- A Beck Cluckie, A F Kitching, J Moffatt (Kingswood School), N Coates, A Blanchard, W Fear, J W C MacBryan, S Head, S Harris, F Cashnella, D Fisher, A Carpenter, W Royal, E Fisher and F Froude.

“The fact was that the Bath machinery was all ‘at sixes and sevens’ owing to the absence of Hatherill, and the backs with a stranger on the line in a Kingswood Collegian, never made much headway. Bristol were also minus Hall, but in Wring, they found a good substitute.

I freely admit that Bristol had a pull forward, and at one time I thought they would just give the visitors the victory, but Bath rallied well and after lemons and in the closing stages worked up a most exiting attack, but the finishing touch never came.”

1/2/1913

v Bridgwater, Away. Won 6-0. Team:- C J Whittaker, J Johnson, N Coates, J C W MacBryan, A Blanchard, H Vowles, A Hatherill, S Head, S Harris, F Cashnella, D Fisher, E Russell, F Froude, W Royal and A Carpenter.

The Malt Shovel ground was in its worst ever condition. Following heavy rain, the area in front of the stand was ankle deep in mud, and as is often the case – this is where most of the play took place.

“Before they went on the field Coates told his forwards that it must be a forward game, and right well did they carry out his orders. They all dribbled and wheeled splendidly.”

As to the scoring –

“Vowles threw the ball out to Alby Hatherill, who threw it out wide over the head of MacBryan to Coates, who took the ball beautifully and rounding the Bridgwater right wing scored a fine try behind the posts. His kick, however, went wide. In the later stages, it was again Coates, who scrambled over for a second unconverted try.

8/2/1913

v Coventry, Away. Lost 0-23. (4g 1t) Team:- C J Whittaker, A Blanchard, N Coates, J C W MacBryan, S Head, W Fear, A Hatherill, Holloway, S Harris, D Fisher, E Russell, W Royal, C Allen, A Ford and A Carpenter. “There was no doubt Coventry were a good team, and Bath were beaten on all points.” Attendance 1300.

15/2/1913

v Stroud, Home. Won 27-0. Team:- C J Whittaker, A Blanchard, N H Coates, J C W MacBryan, A F Kitching, W Fear, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, S Harris, E Russell, D Fisher, W Royal, F Cashnella, and A Carpenter.

Early on Russell scrambled in a try after a forward rush, and at the restart, Kitching scored in fine style, and Coates ‘majored’ with a magnificent kick from the touch-line. After lemons, Coates went over, after gathering a high ball and beating all opponents. Kitching was the next to score after a good run; then again the Monkton Combe man was sent away to set down under the posts, and Coates converted easily. As if this was not enough, this last duo provided a repeat score in almost identical style. Finally, Coates cut through all opposition and handed to Blanchard, who simply had to flop over the line. Kitching’s final tally was 4 tries: “Those tries of his this afternoon were gems of artistic merit, and it is no wonder the crowd rose at him in enthusiasm.”

“Bath’s front rank were better in the loose than in the scrummages, but they are healing(sic) better. At the same time let them remember to pack tight, 3-2-3, and with method. It is scientific scrummaging that they have got to do, not rag timing! All of them did well in dashing dribbles, and the old war- horses, Ford and Cashnella, still keep their places on their merits, while Carpenter was fast for his weight. Royal is also consistently good, and Head, Fisher, Harris and Russell were always well up.”

22/2/1913

v Cheltenham, Home. Won 19-3. Team:- C J Whittaker, A F Kitching, A Blanchard, N H Coates, V H M Coates, W Fear, A Hatherill, S head, A Ford, F Cashnella, D Fisher, S Harris, E Russell, W J Royal and A Carpenter.

Tries:- Kitching(3), V Coates and Cashnella

“Vincent Coates then got a brilliant try. Ford slung the ball wide out to the International, and he made off, handing off several Cheltonians, and got over in dashing style.” Blanchard converted two.

“It was a splendid afternoon’s sport and the Bath team gave of their best.”

“Towards the end there was a little spirit shown but nothing very wrong happened. It would be a poor game without a little vim and it was only the keenness of the players which accounted for any rough methods.”

1/3/1913

v Old Edwardians, Home. Won 16-12. Team:- C J Whittaker, T Pyatt, N Coates, A Blanchard, A Kitching, H Vowles, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, W Royal, E Russell, D Fisher, A Carpenter, and S Harris.

Kitching(2), Coates, and Pyatt got Bath’s tries, and Blanchard majored two of them.

The visitors fielded seven reserves and Bath’s Loo Hatherill helped them out. The Old Boys produced a wonderfully exciting struggle, and Bath had a hard job to contain them.

8/3/1913

v Penarth, Home. Won 8-3. Team:- C J Whittaker, A F Kitching, A Blanchard, N Coates, J Johnson, H Vowles, A Hatherill, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, E Russell, A Carpenter, W Royal, D Fisher, and J Froude.

In a somewhat over-robust game, Head and Blanchard got the tries, and Blanchard converted one.

13/3/1913

v Middlesex Hospital, Home. Won 34-8. Team:- C Walwin, Wally Lewis, A Blanchard, N Coates, R V Knight, H Vowles, P Hope, S Head, A Ford, F Cashnella, W Royal, R Hamilton, J Froude, A Carpenter and G Wilkins.

Try scorers:- Knight (2), N Coates, Cashnella, Hamilton, Head, Knight and Hope.

Conversions:- Blanchard (4), and Knight

Walwin was developing into a fine player, but he normally had to work on Saturdays.

“His speed, his tackling, his gathering, and his kicking all tell of the really great player.”

“Harry Vowles is in every way a trier, and the club have a very useful scrum-half

moulding on in the ex-Twerton School footballer.”

15/3/1913

v Exeter, Away. Lost 3-17. Team:- C Whittaker, J Johnson, N Coates, E C MacBryan, A Beck Cluckie, A Hatherill, A Blanchard, S Head, E Russell,

F Cashnella, A Carpenter, R Hamilton, W Royal, A Ford, and J Froude.

Blanchard Penalty.

“It was about the worst display Bath have given this season. Their backs never looked like scoring and their forwards seldom got the ball.”

19/3/1913

v Bristol, Away. Lost 0-8. Team:- C Whittaker, H Burt, E C MacBryan, P Hope, A Blanchard, D S Cook (Clifton), A Hatherill, A Ford, F J Cashnella,

A Carpenter, D Fisher, A Hamilton, W J Royal, Hardy and Cambridge.

Fielding a very weak side, Bath lost by 1 goal, 1 try to nil.

22/3/1913

v Coventry, Home. Won 15-0. Team:- C Whittaker, V Coates, N Coates, J Johnson, A F Kitching, A Hatherill, P Hope, S Head, A Ford, F J Cashnella, S Harris, W H Royal, A Carpenter, E Russell and D Fisher. Wretched weather for a game billed as the match of the season.

Tries:- Fisher, Russell, and Alby Hatherill. (1st try of season) Norman Coates majored all three.

“Kitching put in several beautiful runs, and kept his feet marvellous, while Vincent

Coates did not spare himself, some of his kicking being great. Norman Coates also

showed up well.”

“The gate was £23 all but a few shillings, the stand yielding £7, a record.”

24//3/1913

v Kersal, Home. Won 28-12. Team:- C Whittaker, V H M Coates, N Coates, C Walwin, A F Kitching, W Fear, A Hatherill, A Ford, S Head,

F Cashnella, A Carpenter, S Harris, E Russell, W H Royal and D Fisher.

Tries:- N Coates, Kitching (3), Ford(3), and V Coates. Norman Coates added two conversions.

Vincent Coates was in top form and made a number of ‘hurricane’ runs.

The gate was a big one, over £45 being taken.

25/3/1913

v Mountain Ash, Away. Lost 0-8. Team:- C Whittaker, V Coates, N Coates, W Lewis, L F Burt, W Fear, P Hope, A Ford, F J Cashnella, A Carpenter,

W Royal, E Cambridge, E Russell, D Fisher, and F Froude.

THE LAST TIME!

“The Bath XV travelled to Mountain Ash yesterday, and it will probably be the last time they will do so. They started at 12.14 from Bath and arrived at Mountain Ash at just after 4. This was thought bad enough, but the return journey beat all the club’s records for travelling. In the first place the match was not over until 5.58, yet some half a dozen managed to catch the 6 o’clock out of Mountain Ash, due to arrive at Bath somewhere about 9. This was extraordinary sharp work. The other part of the team caught the 7.35 out of Mountain Ash, and if trains had been running to time would have reached Bath at 12.35. As it was the train to which their saloon was attached was late leaving Cardiff, and consequently was late for the mail out of Bristol. When the party arrived here they were told they had missed the connection. A well known forward who travels a great deal between Bath and Bristol asked for the next train to Bath and was informed that there was not one before 3.45. This was almost true, for the party left Bristol about 4.20,** arriving at Bath at 4.45, leaving just time for some to get home, change their clothes, and give in their checks at work at 6.

The game needs little description. The ground is almost as sloping as the road leading to the Recreation ground, while it was full of ruts”

** Known locally as ‘the waker.’

5/4/1913

v Bridgwater, Away. Lost 3-11. Team:- C J Whittaker, E Blanchard, G C MacBryan, N Coates, W Lewis, F Ascott, E Russell, A Ford, F Cashnella, D Fisher, S Head, A Carpenter, E Cambridge, L Archard, and W Royal.

For the depleted Bath side, Norman Coates scored a solitary try, after an Ascott break away.

“Towards the end the game got rough among the forwards and the referee had to caution several.”

12/4/1913

v Pontypool, Away. Lost 3-18. Team:- C J Whittaker, Fudge, Blanchard, Johnson, Escott, T Russell, J Russell, F Cashnella, S Head, W Warde, E Russell, D Fisher, E Hodges, W Royal and E Cambridge. Bath fielded a woefully weak side for such an important encounter; they paid the penalty by going down, six tries to one.

19/4/1913

v Abertillery, Away. Lost 0-8. Selected team:- C J Whittaker, W Porch, A Blanchard, J Johnson, G Skyn, F Russell, J Russell, S Head, S Harris, F Cashnella, W Royal, E Russell, D Fisher, W F Warde, and Ford.

V Coates was a prominent absentee, but Bath gave a magnificent display, especially in the forwards, where Warde, Head and Ford were conspicuous in the loose

Abertillery were offered a ‘substantial’ guarantee to appear at Bath, in order to avoid more tiring travel to South Wales. Abertillery refused. Kick off timed for 4-30pm. Team to catch 12.14 G.W.R. out of Bath Spa.

There is no report as to whether they enjoyed the journey!