Rugby Memorabilia Society

Harry Packer’s selection & letter

Pre Match Luncheon Ticket

The Scotland Team (Evening Express)

The Wales Team (Evening Express)

In front of over 20,000 Wales won this encounter at Cardiff Arms Park 6-0 thanks to two second half tries. Cliff Bowen scored the first after Parfitt and then Biggs got possession, the latter slung out a long pass right on to the wing where Cliff Bowen picked it up off the ground and made a fine sprint along the touchline to score in the extreme corner to huge applause. (Bancrofts conversion attempt did not manage to get the ball anywhere near the post). Arthur Gould scored after a scrum on the halfway line where Parfitt sent the ball out to Biggs, who in turn sent it on its journey along the three-quarters. Everyone with the exception of Cliff Bowen handled the ball, and Dauncey who received a fine pass from Gould sailed down the touchline, outpacing everyone but the full back. Arriving at Smith he passed back to Gould, who went over without the slightest opposition. It was a grand bit of passing. (Bancroft missed the conversion).

EE - 1896 Wales v Scotland match cartoon 1

EE - 1896 Wales v Scotland match cartoon 2

Match Illustrations (Evening Express)

Arthur Gould (Wales Captain) was exclaiming to everybody after the match “Cymru am byth” and directly after he said it, he would exclaim “I don’t know what it means, but I’ve been told to say it”. There was a great deal of chuckling when Gavin Henry ‘A Scotsman of the Llanelli club’ came to Arthur’s rescue and said it meant “Wales forever” adding that it was rather good on such an occasion as that for a Scotsman to teach a Welshman his own language.

Arthur Gould admitted how pleased he was on this the occasion of his 25th appearance in an international match, that Wales should of pulled off a win. He said further: I think our forwards showed fine form, and the result today will serve to teach the public that our display at Blackheath was not Wales’s true form. The display of the forwards plainly showed, I think that the recent changes in the team were thoroughly justified. Taking the team all through, I think that everybody must have worked well for the Scottish team is undoubtedly a very strong one. This applies to the pack, for I think after today’s display that we can agree that their idea of combined three-quarters play is very crude.

EE - 1896 Wales v Scotland match cartoon 3

Match Illustrations (Evening Express)

EE - 1896 Wales v Scotland cartoon 'Wales Rejoiceth'

Wales Rejoiceth (Evening Express)

EE - 1896 Wales v Scotland match cartoon (after the match)

Queens Hotel ‘after the match’

Immediately after the game an immense crowd assembled at the Royal and Queen’s Hotels. The latter was, of course the favourite on this occasion, as it is the headquarters of the Welsh team, and although special arrangements had been made by Mr Hunt to accommodate the customers there was a considerable amount of difficulty in getting refreshments. The members of the Welsh team, as they came up bespattered with mud, and almost unrecognisable, admitted that had ad a gruelling game. This was especially the case as regards the forwards and half backs.

1896 Wales v Scotland (4) Rugby Memorabilia Society - post match dinner invite

1896 Wales v Scotland (5) Rugby Memorabilia Society - Menu (a)

1896 Wales v Scotland (6) Rugby Memorabilia Society - Menu (b)

Post Match Dinner Ticket & Menu

References:
Evening Express
Newport RFC
Peter Douglas-Davies
Rugby Memorabilia Society

Peter Douglas-Davies
06/03/2019