1961-1962 ANECDOTES

1961-1962 ANECDOTES
BATH CHRONICLE 26th August 1961
Bath were full of optimism as they rang up the curtain on another season. The aid was to surmount the previous difficulties of mediocrity and unpredictability. The immediate aim was a good start with the September fixtures. It is a matter of record, that they certainly achieved that aim!
News that Alan Howard-Baker had decided to throw in his lot with Harlequins. He was already working in London, and had found the extra travelling too much of a strain.

Gossip that Gordon Drewett’s “guided-missile” kicking had impressed in a West of England versus Taunton game earlier in the week. Peter Parfitt had also had also interested the selectors.

Congratulations extended to Lance and Bob Clark and Brendan Perry upon their selection for Somerset’s experimental side.
Eighteen year old Brendan Perry, was continuing to impress with his “Bank of England” safe hands and cool head. However, he was only available to Bath when St Brendan’s College were willing to release him. Bath were keen to maximise on the youngster’s undoubted potential, and although loyalty to one’s school was important, experts thought that he should graduate from the ‘kindergarten’ of schoolboy rugby and apply his talents to the Senior game.
DAUNTSEY DELAY
By courtesy of the home captain and the referee, the kick off was delayed for 10 minutes, to enable Laurie Rimmer to complete his 100-mile car dash from Dauntsey School.

MORE HOSPITALITY!
Before the game, Bath’s Frank Harrison had a pain killing injection at St. Mary’s Hospital. Two hours later, he took the field against his Hospital hosts.

All the backs, except Margesson, scored tries! It was a debut senior appearance for South Wales born John Donovan. He also celebrated with a try. Bath brushed aside St. Mary’s Hospital, leading 6-0 at the interval and finally running in tries by Frankcom, Harrison, Farnham, Hawgood, Frankcom, Drewett and Jacob, with Drewett converting two of them.

MANCOM 25/9/1961Mr. P H Brown gave a report on the proposed letting of a playing pitch at Lambridge to Walcot RFC for a rental of £50 per season.

Mr. Eskell reviewed the hospitality arrangements in the Clubhouse and said he had seen a lady visitor refused a meal. It was agreed to ask the Social Committee to ask the Lady Helpers to exercise a little more desecration and if necessary, consult the Secretary if in any doubt.
PLAYER PERKS?
Cheltenham Sevens. Following a suggestion from the Club Captain, it was agreed to waive the Club ruling that ladies should not travel with the team, for this occasion.

Skipper Farnham was now faced with re-organisation of the back division. Geoff Frankcom was on his way to Cambridge, and he had the news that Saint Brendan’s had invoked their first call on schoolboy Brendan Perry.
MANCOM 9/10/1961
Mr. F H Ledbury suggested the production of a Centenary Tie.
Agreed England v Wales Youth to be staged on the Recreation Ground 24th March 1962.
Agreed to provide Car Park passes for Officials and Committeemen.
Consideration to be given to the running of a Fourth XV. (The possibility of a Colts XV considered)
MANCOM 20/11/1961
After it had been reported that the scoreboard numbers had disappeared, it was resolved to write to Cwmbran RFC asking them if they could throw any light on that mystery. (It was later agreed, not to accept any payment from Pontnewydd RFC towards replacement of the scoreboard numbers.)
After a review of the number of balls lost during the season, it was decided that Mr. ‘Curlie’ Halse fix a new lock on the Broadcasting Room door, in order to keep the balls in safe custody. At a later meeting, Mr John Roberts proposed that a pole and net be made available, to retrieve balls from the river.
JOHN STEVENS TALKS RUGBY- 25TH NOVEMBER 1961. (Extract)

FARNHAM’S MEN CAN LOOK BACK WITH PRIDE
“Other Bath captains on taking office for the first time, have publicly pronounced that they intended to play the open game, but few have succeeded in doing so to quite the extent which Roy Farnham and his colleagues are at the moment.
There may be weaknesses in the system, and in the men who perform it, but Farnham’s attitude is to be given the highest praise.”

DREWETT OUT – SPENCER IN
The Selection Committee’s decision to drop Drewett in favour of Spencer caused quite a stir. He was Bath’s longest serving player and had been top scorer over the previous four seasons. His match-winning capabilities were legend, but at this juncture it was decided to plump for the new scrum half’s attacking potential, rather than Drewett’s largely defensive stance. It was indeed a gamble, as Spencer, an ex Quins player, was still something of an unknown quantity. Against this, Drewett had already amassed 89 points in 16 first team games. At Leicester, with his four penalties he had virtually won the match on his own. In Drewett’s absence, Bath would have an urgent need for a reliable goal kicker.

Bath paid the penalty for poor finishing. Gloucester took the lead, when weak tackling conceded a try to Smith after just three minutes. “Bath found it hard going, and played none too certainly in defence.”
Lively play by Gloucester’s Ford and Gilbert-Smith upset Bath’s equilibrium. There was one bright spot after the interval, when a loose ball was fly-kicked towards Hawgood, who picked up to drop a fine 35 yard drop goal to level the scores.
Then disaster for Bath as Meadows swept past Harrison for an unconverted try, and their troubles were compounded when, Roger Ford gathered a high kick, ran behind the Bath posts, only to muddle his exchange, and gift Meadows a simple, opportunist try.
“Now is the winter of our discontent.”
“Heindorff has probably earned the title of being the most improved forward in the club this season and his handling prowess -gained while playing as a back in junior football-could serve Bath as well in the back row as it has in the second.”

“In the past few weeks strongly-built sprinter, winger John Cousins, has alternated between the 1st XV and the United. From the point of view of scoring, though, it does not seem to make a great deal of difference to him. He has touched down in each of his last four appearances in Bath colours.”

“A great number of former Bath players have asked to be remembered to their old colleagues at Christmas. They include Ken Miners, Mike Jones, Paddy Mc Govan, Johnny Thomas, Robin Owen, Ian Beer, Alan Howard-Baker, John Clark and Mike Terry.
HALF BACK PAIRINGS
“It is interesting to note that when Perry played with John Spencer today, it was the sixth half-back combination Bath have tried this season. Firstly, it was Perry and Drewett, then Farnham and Drewett. Next it was Farnham and Millman, followed by Ford and Spencer, and Ford and Drewett.”

THE UNITED
In parallel with the senior side’s activities, the United XV, skippered by Dave Robson, were having
an amazingly successful run. Old Edwardian’s Bruce Farrer and hooker Brian Davis had been part of his regular ‘corps.’ The forwards had often been reinforced by the likes of Pete Heindorff, Tony Jacob and Ray Woolford. Robson commented: “No matter who had come into the side, they have always settled down well and no one has complained if they have been played right out of position. It all helps to make a happy team.”

Letter from R.F.U. March 1962. – instructing that Sunday rugby was to be discouraged, and in any case, a charge for admission should not be made.

The R.F.U. felt that the growth of Seven-a- side rugby might be to the detriment of Rugby football.
It was therefore decreed that:-
(1) Competitions be confined to the first half of September, the whole of April, and to ‘Eastertide.’
(2) No admission charge to be made on Sundays,
(3) Permission, when gate money taken, must be obtained through Constituency Bodies,
(4) Any revenue shall be devoted to recognised charities or to Schools’ Rugby Union Football.
MANCOM 2/4/1962
A complaint was aired regarding the conduct of certain 1st XV players on away trips. The Club Captains were instructed to pass on the Committee’s views to the players.
Mr. Brendan Perry to be congratulated on again being selected for the England 19 age group XV.
Complaint that some Committeemen not fulfilling their away match duties.
THE SCORERS
TRIES (101): Roy Farnham 13, Paddy Hillyard 9, Nick Bruford, Geoff Frankcom and Phil Hall 7, Kevin Andrews, John Donovan, John Keeps and Brendan O’Mara 5, Frank Harrison and John Lacey 4, John Cousins, John Hawgood, and Tony Jacob 3, Phil Beck, Gordon Drewett, John Evans, Peter Heindorff, Paul Venn and Ray Woolford 2, Ian Balding, Ian Beer, Bill Burly, Lance Clark, Clive Elliot, Roger Ford, Peter Parfitt 1. Penalty tries 2 (London Irish and Birkenhead Park).

CONVERSIONS (46) :- Drewett 28, Jacob 8, Hawgood 7, Andrews, Burley, and Frankcom 1 each.

PENALTY GOALS (18):- Drewett 14, Hawgood and Jacob 2 each.

DROPPED GOALS (7):- Drewett and Ford 2 each, Farnham, Hawgood and Perry 1 each.