1975-1976 ANECDOTES

1975-1976 ANECDOTES
TALKING RUGBY by John Stevens: “New skipper Jim Waterman is to be congratulated not only on the positively adventurous approach he has instilled into his side but for generating a general air of bubbling enthusiasm throughout the club.”
Bath’s pack was certainly among the lightest they had fielded in several seasons, but what they lacked in avoirdupois, they certainly made up in mobility. This was no more obvious as when Geoff Pillinger was on hand for his try. Jim Waterman commented: “Not only was he up to take it, but Robbie Lye and Lindsay Pritchard were there as well and could just as easily have scored.”
CLUBHOUSE COST
4th October 1975 There was concern that the projected cost of extending the Clubhouse had doubled.
“When the scheme was originally mooted some 18 months ago, a figure of £12,000 was mentioned. Since then it was amended to £17,000. Now the finished article may cost £24,000.”

11/10/1975 For the first time in history, the Club fielded four XV’s.

PHOTS FUN
Programme Item:- The Welsh have their own deflating sense of humour. At a Boxing Day match, a local ace photographer was covering a match at the Gnoll. “Ready for anything, he had a great Bazooka-like 640 mm. Novaflex lens mounted on a Practisex roll-film camera slung down the middle of his back. And on his chest he wore three motor drive cameras. Sizing up the best position before kick-off, he was moving discreetly along the touchline when he heard a voice from the crowd behind him ask: “And what else did you have for Christmas Dai!”
MANCOM 8/12/75
John Cousins agreed to ask Dave Robson to help with the United coaching.
Possibility of equipping a Medical Room in the North Stand considered.
MANCOM 5/1/76
Mr G S Brown agreed to ask Mrs Protheroe to help organise Mini Rugby on the Recreation Ground on Sunday mornings.

NIALL CARTER
There was concern as to the playing future of prop forward Niall Carter. After returning to full training, he was continuing to have trouble with his knee, which was first operated on in 1973. Carter had been an outstanding member of the Bath and Somerset front row, and at his best, was considered one of the finest props of the decade. He managed only five first team games in the 1974-75 season but suffered a serious set-back against London Scottish in December 1974.
BOBBY SOCKERS!
There was not very much to report in a generally sedate afternoon until: “What had been a quiet game in trying conditions suddenly erupted into a bout of punching on the touchline and the referee spoke to both captains.”
Presumably, the miscreants were let off with a caution without a blemish on their character!

MANCOM 3/2/76
Mr John Roberts reported on the formation of an Anglo-Welsh Merit Table.
HORTON’S MATCH
This is the day that John Horton played a blinder! Although it was a team triumph, he gave a superlative performance against a strong Cardiff side, which included Internationals Gareth Edwards and Barry Nelmes:
“He first toyed with Cardiff, then destroyed them with his superb kicking and running and finally thwarted them with at least three superb cover tackles which definitely nailed the lie that he is weak in defence.” (JOHN STEVENS – BATH CHRONICLE)
THEY DON’T COME MUCH TOUGHER!
Bath’s depleted selection put on a brave show at the St Helens ground. From the start, Swansea won most of the ball that mattered and Bath found it difficult to make any headway against a solid ‘All-Whites’ pack. Bath opened the scoring when John Davies kicked a penalty. This early encouragement brought more heart into their game and they were unlucky not to go further ahead.
By fair means or foul, Swansea gradually assumed ascendancy. “The home forwards reputed for their hardness, attempted to overstep the accepted level and were twice penalised for kicking opponents. Each time Pillinger was the unlucky recipient.”
Waterman had a particularly torrid time facing up to the marauding home forwards. He eventually quit the field with a badly gashed head. Bath’s depleted defence was eventually overrun and Woodward was able to get around Pillinger for a try in the corner. Rees converted from an awkward angle. Davies put Bath back on terms with a 40-yard penalty. “Almost immediately afterwards the Bath fly half was punched after he had cleared, but fortunately recovered, as Waterman returned with a bound head.” Davies vented his spleen by planting the penalty between the posts from 40 yards out. At the finish Bath forwards were caught offside and Rees landed a penalty to make it 9-9. In the second half, Swansea virtually camped on the Bath 25 yard line, and had enough chances to score half a dozen tries
J W Davies scored a try for Swansea, which was converted by Rees. Next Hones scored for Bath and Davies converted. This signalled a period when Swansea pressure was galvanised to new levels. “Bath’s brave rearguard was dogged by ill-luck, and in stopping one ferocious Swansea attack, Waterman was badly hurt and carried off on a stretcher.” Swansea executed the coup-de-grace when Davies finished a right wing move with a decisive try, which Rees again converted.
ALEC QUITS THE HOT SEAT
24th March 1976 brought the announcement that Alec Lewis had decided to relinquish his Chairmanship of the England’s Rugby Union selectors.

THE ROUGH STUFF
Pre-Match – Bath Chronicle Friday 2nd April: “Newport, a disciplined all-round team lacking any really great established stars, also have great potential in their three-quarter line, so Bath will have to be at their best to stand a chance.”
A significant win, demonstrating that Bath could tough it out with the best of them.

Philip Hall sustained a ghastly facial injury, his lower lip area being practically detached. The wounding necessitated over 30 stitches. The incident was instrumental in generating a remarkable indictment of modern- day rugby from Bath’s Honorary Team doctor David Protheroe.
Speaking to the Bristol Evening Post he commented: “There are certain injuries which in my opinion have been deliberately caused with malice aforethought. You get stud-marks with a full rotation, which means someone has put the boot on and twisted it. This is usually found on the back or buttocks area.”
It is appropriate to record that Hall had just returned to the field after having six stitches in a cut behind his ear.
John Bramall suffered a fractured cheekbone, playing for the United at Bedwas. His father took a hand, complaining directly to the Bedwas Club.
With hindsight, one might question the value of the Club continuing with these bruising Anglo-Welsh ‘friendlies.’
MANCOM 12/4/76
Agreed to employ three barmaids at 75p an hour during peak periods
MANCOM 12/4/76
Meeting informed that Mr George Brown had received the Sportsman of the Year Award from the Old Players’ Association.

WEST GERMAN TOUR – April 1976
“A Bath rugby touring team, made up of players from local clubs plus a couple of guests, brought off two crushing victories on a ten day trip to West Germany.
Skippered by Bath United full-back Roger Elliott, they hammered the 17th/21st Lancers 48-0 at Fallin Bostel near Hamburg in the opening match.
The Blau Gelb Club of Brunswick, including international fly-half Michael Kock and two other German trialists, proved a tougher nut but the Bath side eventually came through 33-7.
The tourist’s successes mainly stemmed from the superiority gained by the pack but in the second game Elliott and his clubmate Tim Lane had much to do with the margin of victory.
The playing party was: Roger Moxham (Walcot O.B.), Stephen Hanney (Civil Service), Tony Gunner ( Corsham), John Whittock (Old Edwardians), Tim Sexton (Keynsham), John Oliver (University College of Aberystwyth), Roger Elliott (Bath), Tim Lane (Bath), Stuart Wilcox (Keynsham), Harry Appleby (Oldfield O.B.), John Gravell (Oldfield O.B.), David Pearce (Oldfield O.B.), John Pedder (Oldfield O.B.), Roger Haig (Oldfield O.B.), Christopher Lilley (Bath), Andrew Wakefield (Bath), David Whitley (Old Edwardians), Tim Dines (Chippenham), and Richard Fisher (Corsham).
Officials were Glyn Maddocks, Keith Mabe and Graham Mann.”
It was Phil Hall’s last of 580 1st XV games. Thus ended a long and distinguished rugby career. He made his 1st XV debut on the 24th December 1960 under Angus Meek’s captaincy and developed into one of the most feared and respected flankers in the game. It could be said that he had taken as much punishment as he had dished out. Controversial and fiery at times, he was a ‘gent’ off it. His farming activities would now have first call, but he also intended to help out in off the pitch activities.
A great Club man who could look back on his rugby career with great pride.
MANCOM 3/5/76
The Secretary produced a letter from D G Robson suggesting certain improvements for the future.
It was agreed that players attend the Sports Centre in the close season for weight and fitness training.
MANCOM 12/5/76
Mr J P Horton proposed as Captain for the coming season.
A RECORD SEASON
There was A HEARTY VOTE OF THANKS TO Mr Jim Waterman at after a successful season, in which the 1st XV had won 32 games, won the Cheltenham Sevens, were runners-up in the County Centenary Sevens and had given a good account of themselves at Cardiff Arms Park, in defeating Pontypridd and Moseley in the Snelling Sevens.
“The most pleasing thing about all this success was not the winning, but the manner in which our boys won. Under the inspired example of Jim Waterman, they provided us all with some very entertaining Rugby Football and their style of play was surely largely responsible for the increased attendances at the Recreation Ground. The 1st XV developed a team spirit and sense of comradeship which made them a very difficult side to beat, especially at Bath.” (Official Club publication)

Looking back, the problem with the front five had never really been solved and even against modest opposition, the expectation was rarely more than 30% of the possession. They had enjoyed a run of home successes against Welsh sides, facilitated by a well organised and unflinching defence. John Horton was the master technician at fly-half and John Davies lifted the standard of place kicking to previously unachievable levels. Davies was the first player in Club history to score over 400 points in a season. Not bad, for someone originally brought in as a Horton ‘understudy!’ Waterman was a great playmaker, repeatedly coming up into the line to increase the team’s attacking options. They valued the experience of Beese and Horton and the fearless determination of Chris Perry in his first full season at scrum half. Robin Hones, an Old Sulian, made his mark at centre. Problems remained up-front with the lack of a specialist loose head prop. It was frustrating to all concerned, to see them pushed around by more efficient units. Brian Jenkins was consistently good, but the various back-row permutations were not always successful. By their own standards, Lye and Gay did not have the best of seasons.
For bruised and battered Phil Hall – it was time to call it a day.
Hard work off the field had seen completion of major modernisation of the Clubhouse and changing rooms and the benefit of floodlights was appreciated for the first time.