Playing for Canterbury in the Early Seventies
I moved to Canterbury in October 1971, newly married and fresh out of university, to start work in the NHS. Initially my wife Julia was not with me as she was still working in Manchester, but that is another story! Wanting to continue my rugby career, not sure that career is really the operative word, I made enquiries as to how to join Canterbury Rugby Club. Go see Eddy Hardy landlord at the Nag’s Head was the response and so this I duly did. Over a few beers Eddy told me how to get to the ground and who to contact and that training, not sure if Eddy did that much, was on a Tuesday evening.
Like Eddy I was a hooker and on the next Saturday I found myself hooking for the Pilgrims hanging between Peter Stevens and Geoff Brown(??). At that time Eddy hooked for the 1st XV. If I recall correctly the Pilgrims at that time were captained by David Hallwood who graced us at fly-half; although “fly” is not an adjective that I would use to describe him. I was 24 at the time and was the youngest regular member of the Pilgrims, most of the team being at least in their early thirties. My most enduring memory is of the great sense of camaraderie that ran throughout the club. It didn’t matter if you were in the first team or the “bottom” team you were a club member and that was it, you were part of the family.
The game then was very different to the game that is played today. The scrum was strictly refed. The ball was thrown in straight down the middle and penalties were frequently given for “feeding” by the scrum-half. The hookers actually struck for the ball, but if you struck too early you were penalised. Usually there were hand signals between the scrum half and hooker to coordinate the actual put-in with the strike. The scrum-half was not allowed to dummy his put-in, which they sometimes tried to induce the opposition hooker to strike early and give away a penalty. It was in the seventies that hookers were started to be used to throw the ball into the lineout. Prior to that it was usually the winger. On a cold, wet, windy winters afternoon this might well be the only time that the winger actually got to handle the ball. The French international team used their scrum-half Pierre Berbizier
to throw the ball in, he would then run around to collect the pass from the lineout. The lineout was not the well drilled affair that it is today. Lifting/supporting was not legal and the team with the tallest player, anything over 6ft 2inches was very tall, usually would win the ball. I cannot remember exactly when direct kicking into touch was outlawed apart from within your own 25, 22 metres being a modern fad and as such should be ignored.
The try was worth four points, being increased from three in 1971. Substitutes were not allowed in club rugby and so injured players were generally moved to the wing unless bits were actually falling off their bodies. After the tackle you had to immediately release the ball and generally advised to get well clear, if not the opposition would often heel you out along with ball.
Other memories:
David Hallwood shouting ‘yours’ in a loud stentorian voice as the ball bobbled towards him closely followed by the opposing back row. David would then move with great alacrity to the side leaving our hapless fullback to gather the ball and the opposition. David also had a fantastic boot. Many the time he hooved the ball from close to our in-goal line to deep in the opposition 25.
Playing for the 1st XV away at Park House. Fifteen of us met at the Nags Head but only 11 of us arrived in Bromley. One of the cars broke down on the A2. This was before the days of mobile phones and so we took the field with 11 men and true confidently expecting the missing car to arrive. Fortunately, we had our complete front row so it was just the three of that packed down. Park House did not have the wit to just pack down with three, so we ended up winning practically all the scrums. Their pack had to hold back else they were penalised for pushing before the ball came in. In those days the ref was strict about such matters as well as crooked feeds and striking before the ball came in. We were actually winning the game and doing OK until Barry Jackson, our skipper and loose-head prop was sent off for punching his opposite number. We could manage with 11 but being down to ten was a step too far and we duly lost. After the game the missing car arrived just in time for them to buy the beer.
Local derby games were always hard-fought affairs. In the case of playing Snowdown CW (Colliery Workers) and Betteshanger CW fought is operative word. They were still working pits until the mid-eighties. The Pilgrims used to play their 1st XVs and after the match one’s body usually had bruises in strange places and stud marks on the back. There was one game when our winger was streaking down the touchline and he was tripped by a spectator. Thanet Wanderers was always a tough game particularly in the front row. Their hooker was Brian Bowler who played for the Kent County team. Brian gave no quarter but was always generous in the bar after the game.
I have a very vague recollection of drinking at the Sir Jeffery Amerhurst (near Sevenoaks) on the way back to Canterbury after an away game. As we were playing away at Dover I am totally unsure as to how we arrived at Sevenoaks. We were all very tired and emotional that night!
I also seem to recall some stag evenings at the clubhouse where we were shown some instructional videos compered by a loud and raucous comedian. All very entertaining and no doubt greatly helped our performance the following night.
I have forgotten the names of most of the people I played with. Those that come to mind: Gus MacConnachie, Tony McIntagert, Mark Jopling, Paul Charlesworth, Neil Mckinnon, Paul Charlesworth, Steve Uglow, Bill Piper, Hugh Boswell, David Hallwood, Peter Stevens, Geoff Brown, Eddy Hardcastle, Tim O’Hare, Mike Nurton, Bernard Henry,– I need to look at the team photos hanging in the clubhouse to jog the old memory cells.
I seem to recollect that for one season I was the team secretary. This involved in sending cards (yes by post) to all the players telling them which team they were selected for they coming Saturday. Thursday and Friday evenings were then spent in listening to pathetic excuses as to why they couldn’t possibly play away in such far flung places such as Bromley but could manage to squeeze in a game at home. Since when has shopping with the wife ever been a valid reason for not playing rugby? As for those who decide to get married on a Saturday during the season; well that marriage is due to fail from the off! I like to think that we managed to field four/five full teams every week but I suspect that I am deluding myself in that respect.
Post-match teas were generally sandwiches and cups of tea usually prepared by some of the wives, it really was a family affair. It was always good to play the bank teams away, usually in Copers Cope Road Beckenham where several had their grounds. They not only provided a splendid cooked meal but the beer was subsidised too.
Even in the seventies the perennial question was “How old is Dickie Ovenden?” He was old then so today (2019) he must be ancient. Dickie typifies the Canterbury ethos. Once a member you never really leave. Even though I left the club at the end of the 76/77 season to move to Bromley (work related) I still consider myself a Canterbury man. It was a great club to play for, above all it was fun.
Barry Mellish 15 October 2014
