1986-1987 ANECDOTES

1986-1987 ANECDOTES

At age 25, Scrum-half Richard Hill was appointed to skipper the Club. It was an appropriate accolade, for a young man who had been persuaded to join Bath after an impressive performance for Exeter University some three years previously. He was no stranger to captaincy, having led at Exeter, English Universities and English Students games. He made an early appeal for a more adventurous style of play, whilst acknowledging that individuals could not be expected to maintain the vital edge for every game; rather that there should be a conditioning process, so that players could peak for targeted fixtures. In the previous season, Bath had started with a bang, but many players were feeling burnt out by the time the Divisional games arrived.
Nevertheless, Richard Hill spared nothing in his personal preparation. Arguably to the detriment of his teaching career, he spent every available hour ‘down the Rec.’ All he needed was someone to receive and retrieve his passes and time his sprints. Perhaps his helpers warrant equal praise for their efforts.
Hill epitomised the inevitability of the professional game. Richard gave all of his time in the pursuit of excellence, and was deservedly rewarded with International recognition and the England Captaincy. It was a commitment that few could match within amateur status.
He earned the nickname ‘Duracell,’ as he kept going, on and on, after all others had burnt out!

MANCOM 5/8/1986
Amended programme price to be 30p.
Meeting was informed that John Davies was conducting fitness training, with assistance from Mike Bees and Geoff Pillinger.

MANCOM 2/9/1986
Arrangements made for a Doctor and a Physio to attend all matches. It proved to be a providential step just eleven days later.
Hippies were still camped on Lambridge, and if necessary, legal steps would be taken to evict.

MANCOM 3/11/1986 re MABEL REDWOOD
It was agreed that the Club Flag be flown at half-mast prior to the Wasps game, as a mark of respect to the late Mabel Redwood who had been involved with the Club for thirty years.
She had been a splendid servant, and helped with the players’ teas in her earlier days, but she was best remembered for her individual efforts in running a raffle most weeks on the Rec.
Mabel had her own particularly individualistic style and was sadly missed.

Wales v England 7th March 1987. An almighty punch-up following a line-out led to the arguably unfair dropping of Chilcott. Richard Hill, powerless in the spontaneous mayhem, also lost his place and Captaincy for alleged “lack of control”.

OVERDOSE OF GOODWILL
Some considered that Clive Norling refereed with an excess of holiday spirit. He ignored a stream of technical offences. In fact, he did not award a penalty until four minutes into injury time.
It may have been a public holiday, but Norling’s contribution to the ‘entertainment,’ was quite extraordinary.
MANCOM 8/2/1987
Meeting outlined the City Council’s plan to develop Lambridge for Tesco. From the money raised from the sale, the Club would seek to purchase an alternative ground.
CHILCOTT – OMNIPRESENT
Bath ‘toughed it out’ with some of the best of the Welsh. England discards Chilcott and Dawe were outstanding, once again disrupting the long time nursery of Principality front rows. Dawe got two tries to Chilcott’s one, but this last named was here there and everywhere, dispensing line-out instructions, giving unsolicited advice to replacement scrum-half Phil Cue, acting as chief negotiator in front row flare-ups, pushing his considerable weight in the scrum, popping up in the wing position to lay on a score, and contributing a try of his own to crown an exceptional performance.
Also in attendance were try scorers Trevaskis, Simpson and Swift. Barnes converted two.

Bath were second to Neath in the Sunday Telegraph English-Welsh table, Winners of the John Smith’s Merit Table A, and South West Merit Table.
There were just 7 games lost out of 44. Of these, only two were lost by a representative 1st XV. viz. Neath and Gloucester.
The results were even more commendable, considering the International calls on so many major players. Significantly, Bath were obliged to utilise 59 players to fulfil their Club commitments.
Bath scored 184 tries. Tony Swift was top try scorer with 23, and also notched up most appearances, playing in 36 of the 44 games.

Player of the Year – Graham Dawe.
The points tally of 1167, was the second highest in their history to date.
Top points scorers:- Stuart Barnes 6 Tries, 64 Conversions, 36 Penalties, and 3 Drop goals in 26 games, totalling –269 points. Phil Cue amassed 149 points, Tony Swift 92, Simon Halliday 48, and Jeremy Guscott 47.

MANCOM 9/6/1987
Tesco offered to purchase Lambridge for a £7.25 million, subject to certain conditions.
An alternative site at Bathampton was available to the Club.

MINUTES of the July AGM were in the hands of Assistant Secretary, Mike Dowding.
A search was made, following his sudden death – but his Minute notes were never recovered.