By Carol Elliott
This match report, published in the Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Telegraph on 28 September 1910, offers a vivid glimpse into the early rugby life of Neyland. It describes a fiercely contested and highly entertaining encounter between Neyland and Pembroke Dock Harlequins, played before a good crowd and marked by fast running, powerful forward play, and a dramatic finish. The closing stages, with relentless scrummaging on the Neyland line and mounting pressure from the Dock side, are recalled as particularly exciting, capturing the intensity and spirit of rugby in the town at the beginning of the twentieth century.
A full transcription of the newspaper cutting is below:
RUGBY - NEYLAND OPEN THE SEASON AND BEAT PEMBROKE DOCK “QUINS.”
Favoured with an ideal day for football, Neyland “All Blacks,” the West Wales League champions, played their opening game at home on Saturday, when they entertained the Pembroke Dock Harlequins. Time was when the latter were small fry, but now they are a force to be reckoned with and have a sterling pack of forwards. There were several old faces missing from the champions, notably Bobbie Harries, E John, H Phillips, Lillycrop, Folland, Jolly and others, some of whom have retired. On the other hand, there are no lack of aspirants for places. W Caisley, of Milford, finds a place amongst the backs, he has plenty of speed and in such good company will soon learn the more polished phases of rugger. The pack on Saturday was light compared with Neyland’s standard, but Griffiths and Evans of the recruit species distinguished themselves. The game was a good opening stretcher and although in the first half Neyland were together a winning team, in the next they were sorely pressed to save the game, though it must be remembered they played one-man short owing to Perkins’ injury. The teams were:—
Neyland—Back, E Bryant; threequarters, G Jenkins, E Perkins, A Jones, W Caisley; halfbacks, W Evans, T Phillips; forwards, A Richardson (captain), S Webb, Hancock, H Llewellyn, A Jenkins, S Evans, W Griffiths, H Young.
Pembroke Dock Harlequins—Back, W Leighton; threequarters, Thompson, Jim Denzys, Hicks (captain), P Thomas; halfbacks, Grout and Parry; forwards, V Phoenix, Roberts, S Davies, Jack Denzys, T Phillips, V Mathias, G Gillies, A Morris.
Referee—Mr J Oliver, W F.U., Whitland.
Winning the toss, Neyland elected to attack the town end and lost precious little time in getting to business, Leighton having to punt into touch.
After a series of scrums in mid field, A Jones burst through a crowd in the style, but was collared. Griffiths made a clever mark, but Richardson’s kick was a poor one. G Jenkins took a pass in good position, but Thomas had little in and then Perkins was hurt but resumed.
Sid Davies led the ‘Quins’ forwards away, but Phillips kicked well up the field. A bit of passing by the Neyland backs was spoiled by Caisley knocking on. Nothing daunted Webb made a determined rush and was badly tripped, but play was kept on the ’Quins line, the ball was sent across, with several men off-side, Sid Evans snapped up a chance and was over in a flash, thus gaining the first try of the season. A Jones made a good but unsuccessful attempt to convert.
From the re-start the ’Quins attacked and Bryant had to make his mark. Jenkins was thrown into touch, after which there was an amusing scrimmage incident the Docks pushing their opponents flat on the ground. Tom Phillips got his backs going in style and Caisley was only bowled over on the flag, a minute later the town with a similar idea. A scrum was formed on the goal line while men, where some were taking and the alert Ginger relieved danger and A Jenkins came away at the rare pace. Caisley meeting with his fate again at the moment flag.
A rank bad miss by Leighton brought disaster; he failed to gather and the ball rebounded from the post and G Jenkins ran in under the bar. Jones’ kick struck the top of the upright. The Quins now showed better form and there was a series of scrums on the Neyland line but the defence was impregnable and held out till half-time was called. Perkins had retired hurt and an injury to his collar bone had on resuming Neyland took S Evans out of the pack into the threequarter line. From Richardson’s kick, Leighton returned to Davies carried play well up. Phoenix by good play getting into the home twenty-five and Bryant twice smartly returned.
The Quins’ forwards again made an awful changed the venue, but the irrepressible Phoenix had secured one more and Bryant had to touch down. The Quins with eight against seven in the scrums were wheeling finely. A Jones made a mark at half way but Leighton relieved. Neyland ran down and a clever kick by Griffiths placed the Quins’ line in danger for a time. Hicks got nicely away and gave to Davies who was collared in the home twenty-five. The Docks’ forwards were now playing a great game. Hicks ran on cleverly and gave to Perry Thomas, the sprinter, who outdistanced his opponents and ran in with a fine try. Leighton made a poor attempt to convert. Even played followed.
Hicks had his pass intercepted by Evans who put his side on the attack, but only for a moment as Davies made a grand run and gave up to Phillips who scored but was called back for an infringement.
The last minutes were exciting by reason of endless scrummaging on the home line, and men on both sides were deliberately falling on the ball, yet the referee would not penalise and finally blew his whistle for no side. The referee did not give umbrage satisfaction and he was certainly blind to the off-side play of the Quins’ forwards in the second half.
Nothing could be finer than the Irish-like rushes of these forwards but they were too impetuous, unlike Neyland who were disciplined to the commands of Richardson. It is method, with Neyland, that is the key to their success.
It was an enjoyable game and was witnessed by a good crowd.
Final:
Neyland, 2 tries; Pembroke Dock Harlequins, 1 try.