Pirates First Visit To Scotland
By Phil Westren
January 7 2013
As we look forward to the visit of Dundee High to the Mennaye Field on Sunday, we can mention not just our first game against a Scottish side, but also our first ever visit to Scotland.
It was back in September, 1954, that Jed-Forest became the first Scottish club to play here on the Mennaye Field.
They visited again two years later, which prompted us with the idea of arranging a Scottish tour.
In those days it was quite an undertaking to even venture across the Tamar, but plans were soon put in hand with our secretary Geoff Mabbott leading the effort.
Indeed, it was not long before an itinerary was put together with the following names listed to tour – Players: J. Jenkin (capt), S. Richards (v-capt), G. Paul, G. Nicholas, A. Williams, T. Care, M. Chadwick, J. Hosking, J. Edgecombe, G. Vingoe, C. May, P. Michell, J. Glover, J. Thomas, H. Jose, J. Matthews, O. Barnes, M. Dowell, C. Kelynack, L. E. Williams, T. Williams, K. Weeks, P. Dugdale, A. Strowger, R. Williams; Officials/committee: Dr. G. Hall (Chairman), C. Ladner, A. Nicholls, J. R. Williams, G. James, J. Rosewall, J. Collins, J. H. Matthews, P. Batten, R. Tonkin, E. L. Hichens, K. Williams, J. Curnow, J. Green, J. E. Glover.
The tour party gathered at our 'Westholme' clubhouse on the evening of Friday, 30th. August, 1957, and eventually left at 11.30pm, with the first 'p' stop at the Hayle causeway threatening it to flood!
Onward to Gloucester and then a night's stay at Wolverhampton where Alvin (Williams) arrived in the early hours.
He had travelled direct from an important water polo match and was desperate for sleep, which at 4 am came quickly enough.
However, his slumber was broken at 6pm when Alfie Nicholls politely disturbed him to check on his welfare – Alvin's response was succinctly curt, to say the least!
On Sunday morning the journey continued, a photo-call was made at the Scottish border and by early evening the tour party had arrived at the Spread Eagle and Royal Hotels hotel in Jed-Burgh.
The first match on Monday evening was against Jed-Forest, who won 6-0, but although beaten we were not disgraced as we endeavoured to play open rugby despite the rain, with Peter Michell, Graham Paul and Johnny Thomas having impressed.
The following evening we would lose again, this time 15-6, against a strong Hawick side. Charlie May scored a try and Owen Barnes landed a penalty, and the following morning the tour party departed Scotland to play West Cheshire club New Brighton.
A third defeat ensued (13-5), but the team played especially well in a rousing second half. Stan Richards and Graham Nicholas were dangerous three-quarters, whilst Jimmy Jenkin, Jimmy Hosking and Peter Dugdale shone among the forwards, as did Colin Kelynack whose try was converted by Peter Michell.
A night followed at the Belgravia Hotel, New Brighton, before making our way back home on Thursday to end a tour that was deemed a great success, despite the results.
And when did we last visit Scotland? Well, it will likely surprise many to learn that we didn't return until October this season, when we won 32-6 away to today's visitors from Dundee High.
We were also due to play Currie away in December, 2010, but that British & Irish Cup game was ultimately switched to here after it was decided that there was no prospect of Currie's frozen pitch near Edinburgh being playable. We won that encounter 54-31.
Some supporters may question the importance of the British & Irish Cup, but in general terms it does see clubs expand their horizons and make new acquaintances when playing teams they perhaps have not met before. We will no doubt return to Scotland soon, as a break from 1954 to 2012 was perhaps extraordinarily long!