Rugby 1st XV Tour,
Easter 1961

IFFLEY ROAD, Oxford: discordant blasts from a bugle urged on a winger bearing down upon the opposing tryline: a raspberry from the same source confirmed his failure.

The second team having been knocked out in the first round, the first in the second, the representatives from Northwood unhappily watched others struggling up and down the murderous pitch upon which the Oxfordshire Sevens were contested. With the final imminent, they departed to discover what accommodation awaited them at the Oxford Youth Hostel, and, to their consternation, found it a little removed from civilisation. Tired feet were indeed happy that night to nestle against the rough seams of their owners sheet sleeping bags.

The next morning was filled investigating the sombre streets of Oxford, a task agreeably lightened by an excellent meal at the Café de Paris. Thereafter tradition was exchanged for the open countryside that lay between Oxford and Ashton Keynes Youth Hostel where the two most pleasant days of the tour were spent. The warden and his wife seemed pleased to see us and indeed did everything in their power to help us. At the same time student endeavour had located a skittle alley and the evening hours of Sunday and Monday rolled pleasantly past.

Stroud, pervaded by the aroma of hops, received the visitors from Northwood, on Monday morning : Marling School entertained them to lunch; and the afternoon saw both engaged on the rugger pitches. The first fifteen met a harder and faster game than usual but, responding well, forced a draw. The second fifteen won, though not without Masefield breaking his collar bone a second time. The hospitality of Marling was further extended to include visits to two light-engineering factories the following day whilst diversity was ensured by a halt at the Roman Villa at Chedworth en route for the next Youth Hostel.

Wednesday found the school fifteens playing and beating the City of Bath School despite rain, wind and human errors.

After dinner with Bath, the coach headed home on the last lap of its journey but unfortunately came to a sudden halt at the top of a hill not far from the City - its sump broken. A café in the vicinity did its best to exploit the occurrence whilst Monsieur Marsh revealed his inner desires by his able control of the traffic problem created by the marooned coach. Two (or was it three ?) hours later a substitute coach arrived to take the signalling Monsieur Marsh away.

In conclusion, I should like, on behalf of the teams, to thank our hosts at Stroud and Bath, the Youth Hostels, and the three masters who contributed so much to the success of our first tour: Messrs. Cahill, Clarke and Lee (who was afterwards found to have walked off with the teams' mascot).

B. P. MADDAMS