In the third article marking the centenary of Cranleigh rugby, we look back at the first full inter-school match
Since the School opened in 1865, football had been the only sport played over both winter terms but in the summer of 1915 a decision was made to play rugby in the following Lent term. Ahead of the three scratch games which were arranged for that term, boys were given rudimentary training in the basics of rugby. It proved hugely popular, and although the authorities insisted “it is merely being given a trial”, by the summer it had been decided to abandon football altogether.
“Such was its immediate popularity, at least among those boys old enough to have a say in the matter, that the change was proposed at a Games Committee meeting and loudly acclaimed,” wrote journalist and broadcaster Jim Swanton. The Cranleighan even offered tips to aspiring players. “Training is essential,” it stated, “and visits to the Tuck Shop before a match are not advised.”
Under the coaching of Charles Gower, a brusque Welshman who had arrived in the January after being invalided out of the war, the first scratch trained relentlessly, often including a half-hour session before lunch. HP Jacob, Cranleigh’s first rugby international and someone who played under Gower, said: “The zeal and success with which the game was taken up, and the prominence which it brought to the School in the games world, owed themselves entirely to him.”
Within a fortnight of the start of the Michaelmas term the 1st XV played and won their opening match against a side raised by John Fawcus, a master at the Junior School who was one of the driving forces behind the switch of codes.
On Saturday, October 21the first representative school match took place on St Andrew’s against Epsom. Cranleigh won 27-8, running in seven tries after going behind to a try almost from the kick-off. However, the Cranleighan report was far from flattering about the play of the backs. “They lobbed their passes and what little tackling that had to be done was done badly … Kemp at fullback was far from sound while Stachwell , while good as an individual player, was detrimental to the three-quarter combination.” The Epsomian was no less complimentary about their players, the pack singled out as being “useless … they went to pieces and never heeled the ball once”.
Four days later Cranleigh were brought back down to earth when they were thumped 43-3 by a strong Mill Hill XV, their only loss to a school side all season.