1990-1991 ANECDOTES

1990-1991 ANECDOTES

The Club was in its 125th year and there were events to commemorate this anniversary.
A booklet – ‘A celebration of 125 years of Rugby History,’ was produced, with the profits going to the Stephen Roberts Trust Fund.

LAWS:- The International Board permitted earnings from certain ancillary activities, including advertisements and non-rugby related endorsements.

9th June 1990. Bath referee Tony Spreadbury controlled his first senior international at age 29.
Australia v France at Sydney. This was the highest level of attainment by a Somerset Society referee. He was due to referee France v Rumania, but at short notice, was asked to pack his bags for Australia.

ON TOUR 4th to 25th August 1990
Bath took a large party for a three-week’s tour of Australia, uniquely, sponsored by Admiral Sports UK Ltd. Unfortunately, six of Bath’s Internationals were required for England training prior to the Argentina Tour. The outward journey included a stop-off at Bangkok, where Stuart Barnes insisted that only Training was on the itinerary! David Brown was the very efficient Tour Manager and he was accompanied by Club President Alec Lewis.

Tour Itinerary:-
Aug 9 – North Queensland (Cairns) ; 12 – Queensland South (Toowoomba) ; 15 – Queensland (Brisbane) ; 20 – Northern Suburbs (Sydney); and 22nd – Randwick (Sydney).

In uncomfortably hot weather, there was a 27-24 win against Cairns Barbarians. Tries by Swift Bamsey, Steve Knight and Stuart Barnes, who also converted all four and added a penalty goal for good measure.
On Sunday 12th August Bath played a combined side under the banner of Darling Downs and drew 19-19. Tries by Adebayo, Chilcott (2) and Barnes, who added a drop goal. Then on to Brisbane where they lost to Queensland 19-21. Tries:- Steve Knight (2) and Victor Ubogu. Barnes contributed another penalty. The final game was against Randwick, where with an under-strength side, Bath lost 3-19. Barnes dropped a goal.
It was a very successful and constructive tour, and provided valuable experience for several youngsters, putting the whole side in good spirits for the oncoming domestic programme.

PLAYERS DEPART
Stuart Barnes’s post tour comment included: “It is that feeling of fun and togetherness that has sustained Bath over the years and makes the club special. That is what made the departure of several tourists to clubs not so distant so sad. To many it has felt as if the club had been used, and without doubt the element of poaching and avarice represents the gravest threat to the game we all love. Bath have been able to thrive both on and off the pitch for many years due to ability and fraternity. Let us hope that for the future
Bath clubs never forget that lesson, no matter how the game evolves.”

There were a distressing number of player movements – some firmed up before the season start.
The major shock was the departure of Cup Finalist, Kevin Withey to Newport in search of more first team games. Winger Sagoe and reserves, Sparkes, Westcott and Plummer also tried their luck with the Gwent Club.
Second row stalwart John Morrison moved over to Bristol. Ben Cundy, Phil Cue and Barry Trevaskis moved to Clifton.
On the positive side, Plymouth second row forward Andy Reed had joined Bath’s Australian Tour party, and continued his rugby career with the Club.

A DUST UP IN COMMITTEE!
Further drama was to follow, with the resignation of Rowell’s fellow coaches Dave Robson and Tom Hudson. With hindsight, there must be sympathy with both sides in this short and sharp flare up – particularly as a compromise solution was soon found.
Pontypool was the scheduled and confirmed fixture. Robson and Hudson had been working to broaden Bath’s playing horizons and had negotiated , with R.F.U. approval, to play the Rumanian National side on the same date, before they moved on tour to Leicester. The Bath Committee did not feel they were in a position to cancel on Pontypool at such short notice and refused the Romania fixture. Jack Rowell was appraised of the situation and following his intervention, the decision was reversed and the games were played on successive days.

An historic encounter in that it was the first occasion when a Romanian National side had played against an English club XV. Links had been established as long ago as 4th October 1978, when, under Mike Beese captaincy, Bath entertained a Bucharest Select XV, winning 18-6. John Palmer had toured with England B and later Jeremy Guscott figured prominently on his England debut in Bucharest, scoring three tries. Bath hosted Steaua the previous season and it is with deep sadness, we record the death of that day’s skipper – Florica Murariu, and coach Radu Durbac in the Bucharest fighting.
It is appropriate to pay tribute to the local travel agent and ex schoolmaster, Glyn Maddocks, who maintained strong links with Romanian rugby over many years. He was influential in generating the England v Romania match on 22nd April 1990, and organising considerable practical help for a rugby fraternity caught up in turmoil.
“An inventory of equipment, made in January this year, revealed that there were 150 pairs of rugby boots and 40 new rugby balls left in Romania. There is no scrummaging machine, no tackle bags, no maul sacks – the cupboard is bare, but thanks to genuine rugby people in this country, not for much longer.”
“Today’s match is very significant because this is the first occasion in which a freely elected Romanian Rugby Union has sent a team to this country. There are no ‘Security’ men this time, just a team of dedicated players and officials who have survived one of the most repressive regimes ever known and whose devotion to the game we all love has carried them through to a new era.”
Glyn Maddocks – U.K. Representative F.R.R.

THE COACHING CHANGES
It was astonishing to see Tom Hudson and Dave Robson so soon back on the Rec., this time as advisors to the Romanian Union. They later departed to coach in Romania. Former players John Palmer and Simon Jones stepped in to assist Jack Rowell, John Kimberley and Co.

It must be fairly recorded the Hudson and Robson contribution to Bath Rugby had been immeasurable. Director of Sport at Bath University, Tom Hudson had revolutionised Bath’s training methods, and former player Robson, had implemented much of Jack Rowell’s outward looking policy, in scouting for and attracting a large number of exciting player prospects to Bath.
With a solution found – it remains a shame their departures were so precipitous, but Bath’s loss was Romania’s gain.

JOHN STEVENS
Daily Telegraph Journalist, John Mason paid warm tribute to Chronicle Sports Editor
John Stevens, in the 5/9/1990 Match Programme and three extracts are penned hereunder.
Referring to Bath’s matches, through good and bad days: “John Stevens has chronicled these events with care and considerable pride. He is a journalist of the old school in that he prefers to report-accurately of course-what people say. You would be surprised how many luminaries do not enjoy reading what they have said. Not surprisingly, John does have opinions (very firm ones at times) but he is not in the habit of ramming them down throats. He allows devoted readers to make up their own minds- and when you are reporting the day-to-day affairs of the most successful rugby club in the United Kingdom, the path remarkably, is not always as rosy as it might be.
Not the least of John’s virtues, which includes a gloriously sardonic view of events, past and present, is that he is not easily impressed.”
LATER: “This week after years of faithful service to the Bath & Wilts Chronicle as copy boy, trainee, reporter, sub-editor, rugby and cricket correspondent and, until recently, Sports Editor, John is retiring. Indifferent health has prompted the decision to break the bond with the paper, which has employed him since he left school. Somehow, that crowded, cramped Press Box at the Rec. will seem empty without the comfortable figure of J Stevens, cigarette precariously perched, still guarding that Press Association ‘phone. It was moved finally, though, claims John, not before the old stand was demolished and the building of the clubhouse began.”

LATER: “Where on earth is Clive Howard, Bath’s inestimable secretary, going to get his post-match cigarettes in future?”

A FEW MORE WORDS ABOUT WILLIAM JOHN STEVENS
John was Sports Editor at the Bath Chronicle and followed his father Bill Stevens, who also reported Rugby for the local paper for many years. John retired from the paper in 1990, and it is estimated that he had covered well over 2000 Bath 1st XV games. He was to continue to support Bath, and was very much part of the Bath ‘family.’ He was affectionately known as “Scoop.”
John was later honoured as a Patron Member of the Bath Old Players’ Association. After a long illness, he was to pass away peacefully on January 8th 2000.

DONATION TO SOCCER
The Bath Club were not exactly awash with money, but the Committee readily agreed to a donation of £1000 to aid Bath City Football Club, who were seeking to restore their recently burnt out stand.

GUSCOTT FOR GRIDIRON?
There were rumours that the organisers of the American Gridiron League were targeting Jeremy Guscott. He had already ignored on offer of £300,000 from a Rugby League source.

TESCO BID FAILS
13th October 1990 News that Tesco’s bid for a superstore on the Club’s Lambridge ground had been vetoed after referral to the Whitehall inspector. The Council would not approve and there had been persistent objections from the London Road Residents’ Association. In a written decision the inspector ruled that the construction of a supermarket: “would have an unacceptable effect on the local planning authority’s transport and parking strategy.”

TAKE THE STRAIN!
HTV asked Gareth Chilcott to join their match commentary team. Problem was, that his broken shoulder inhibited him from climbing the ladder. Not to be outdone, a commercial hoist was hired to lift the 17 stone forward to the Press gantry. It was typical of Chilcott to provide pre-match entertainment!

TRICK MISS – MARVELLOUS!
“With the final kick of the match David Trick, apparently taking leave of his senses, booted a conversion attempt wildly into the main stand to deprive Bath yesterday of a narrow victory over Courage League champions Wasps at the Rec.
The crowd roared their approval at the wayward miss, a deliberate gesture which was spot on the mark for such a fabulous rugby spectacle.” (Bath Chronicle)

This was a special Sunday all-pay game versus Wasps, in aid of the Stephen Roberts Trust Fund and the Raphael Tsagane Memorial Fund. A sum in excess of £7000 was raised.

Raphael Tsagane, a young Wasps winger, had been fatally injured in a car crash during the previous season’s Easter Tour. Team-mate Sean O’Leary, also in the crash, was making his first appearance since the accident.
Stephen Roberts aged 18, King Edward’s School, had suffered paralysing spinal injuries playing for Bath Youth at Nottingham the previous April.
The Bath Club’s Fund Raising events included this match with Wasps, a Fashion Show, a Sponsored Walk, and a Celebrity Golf Day. By February 1991, the Stephen Robert’s Fund was exceeding £50,000.

PROGRAMME NOTES
“This game today is a way for both clubs to pay their debts to Stephen and to Raphael’s family. It is also a way for us in the wider community to make our own special contribution.”

BATH ‘SPARTANS’ v RUSSIA!
29/11/1990 With the large proportion of the 1st XV players tied up with Divisional Rugby, a combined United and Spartans Squad beat a Russia representative side 13-7 in Toulouse.
Steve Knight captained the side, aided and abetted by ‘Coochie’ Chilcott. Audley Lumsden scored a try and Tim Reeman landed three penalties.
They lost 60-19 to Fiji and 23-6 to Toulouse. The games were part of the Toulouse Club’s Centenary Celebrations.
A Bath XV v Russia:- J Webb, J Fallon, L Heatherley, J Bamsey, A Lumsden, N Redman, I Sanders, G Chilcott, G Dawe, R Lee, M Haag, M Crane, N Maslen, S Ojomoh and G Adams.
No caps were awarded!!
Some of the intensely partisan crowd expressed their displeasure at the under-strength nature of the Bath teams, but given the demands on their players elsewhere, the makeshift squad acquitted themselves handsomely.

BATH ‘SPARTANS’ v RUSSIA!
29/11/1990 With the large proportion of the 1st XV players tied up with Divisional Rugby, a combined United and Spartans Squad beat a Russia representative side 13-7 in Toulouse.
Steve Knight captained the side, aided and abetted by ‘Coochie’ Chilcott. Audley Lumsden scored a try and Tim Reeman landed three penalties.
They lost 60-19 to Fiji and 23-6 to Toulouse. The games were part of the Toulouse Club’s Centenary Celebrations.
A Bath XV v Russia:- J Webb, J Fallon, L Heatherley, J Bamsey, A Lumsden, N Redman, I Sanders, G Chilcott, G Dawe, R Lee, M Haag, M Crane, N Maslen, S Ojomoh and G Adams.
No caps were awarded!!
Some of the intensely partisan crowd expressed their displeasure at the under-strength nature of the Bath teams, but given the demands on their players elsewhere, the makeshift squad acquitted themselves handsomely.

SPIN DOCTORS ?
Bath kept on course for the Courage League Championship, but there was fair amount of gamesmanship on both sides. Honorary Team Secretary, Richard Seaman, although not the perpetrator, admitted that there had been an attempt to ‘con’ Nottingham with the team selection announcement. Damian Cronin was listed in the second row in apparent preference to Nigel Redman. All along, they had intended to play the English international – and Redman knew it! However, there was a leak of information and Nottingham ‘got wind’ of the tactics.
After a pretty torrid game, Stuart Barnes voiced his objections against what he saw as ‘orchestrated verbal intimidation.’ “It was quite obvious that some Bath players had been targeted in a clinical attempt to wind them up. It was a concerted effort to provoke individuals and disrupt our rhythm. It didn’t work because we kept our discipline and eventually controlled the game. Rugby is becoming more and more professional but this is the sort of professionalism we can do without.”

Nigel Redman was added to the England Squad for a Summer tour of Australia and Fiji.
PERCIPIENT ROWELL
Immediately after securing the title, Jack Rowell was already planning for the coming season. “Of most concern to Rowell at the moment us that his club may be priced out of the market when it comes to recruiting talent, especially if rugby becomes an open sport.” (Kevin Coughlan)

Sunday, 28th April 1991 Winners of WORTHINGTON NATIONAL SEVENS TOURNEMENT on the Recreation Ground. The Trophy presented to Bath by Captain Michael Pearey R.N., President of the Rugby Football Union in front of a 5000 crowd.
Interestingly, he was the father of Alan Pearey, journalist, who reported for the Bath Chronicle for several seasons.
At the photo call, ‘beer shampoo,’ Worthington of course, was liberally dispensed!
The successful Sevens squad was:- Fallon, de Glanville, Lumsden, Ojomoh, Lewis, Haag, Adams and
Callard (Captain). They beat London Irish, Rosslyn Park and Harlequins in their path to the Final. They won the Trophy after beating Leicester 24-10. Hero of the hour was Gareth Adams, who scored two tries in the Final. Audley Lumsden’s pace was a deciding factor and Martin Haag’s speed around the pitch and general work-rate, was phenomenal.

Bath topped the Courage League Championship Table.
Courage League:- Points For 280 Against 104

Overall Fixture list (excluding Toulouse Tournament):-
Points For 984 Against 392

Top Scorers:-
A new points leader in Jonathan Webb with 11 Tries, 38 Conversions, 25 Penalties for 195 points in 20 games, followed by Stuart Barnes with 10 Tries, 28 Conversions, 14 Penalties and 2 Drop Goals for 144 points in 20 games.

Audley Lumsden was chosen to join the England Students’ party, for a Summer tour of Canada.