Choice Cuts 13

An' Then There Was A Time. Newsletter No. 79, Oct 1979

The Recollections of Scrumcap

Easter Tour to Merthyr 1965

The first ever tour organised by Fitz for the R.F.C. was to the home of good fellowship, good beer, good singing and, not inconsiderately good rugby that is of course, to Merthyr in South Wales. Up to the day of the tour the club, in its first season had notched up a playing record as follows:-

P W D L Points For Points Against

29 27 - 2* 909 107

*Against Centymca and Old Citizens

It was therefore a supremely confident if motley band that set off at 7.00 am from the Norwich Road entrance under the leadership of Alf Harris.

On arrival at Merthyr lodgings were obtained at the New Inn, an unpretentious dwelling on the main street, famed for its 'haystack ale' and its flexible opening hours - in fact there is no record of its bar having closed during the ensuing weekend.

Having refreshed themselves on several pints of the said beverage the tour party made their way to the Merthyr ground where an evening kick-off was planned. Once in the club house, the sight of not a few Welsh International jerseys decorating the walls led several weaker hearts to the bar but in the main the Northwood enthusiasts were undaunted.

On a fine, sunny if breezy evening the game was fast and open. Marred by injuries, of which more later, the match went against the OB's by 11 points to 8. Back in the club house refreshments flowed generously. The singing and carousing was of the highest order. Lew's 'Allouette' brought the house down, when did it not. Keith Withers' 'Gazumba' nearly led to the furniture floating out of the door and after Bob Jackson's 'Old Shep' there was hardly 'a dry eye in the house'. In fact Bob was affected so much by his own singing that he maintained, or was it acquired that night .... the memory fades, his reputation and epithet of 'Honkers'.

Saturday morning was spent recovering and visiting John Samways who had been consigned to hospital following his injury during the previous evening's match. After the inevitable liquid lunch the party moved off to Rhymney where, cradled between slag heaps, was the arena for the second game. The excesses of the previous evening took their toll and the visitors were able to field only fifteen walking wounded. The wind blew the rain horizontally across the field, conditions unheard of at Hillingdon Court Park. Our opponents thrived as the OB's wilted and in no time some 30 points were notched up against us in reply to just 5.

Notwithstanding the match the Rhymney club made us most welcome. During the evening singing and dancing to the sound of a young Tom Jones whose 'The Green Green Grass of Home' was topping the charts at the time, was enjoyed by all. Cardinal Puffs were initiated according to due and ancient ceremony and 'Bottles' was played for 'two window' forfeits.

On returning to the New Inn, Scrumcap, his chum and 'Thompo' decided to pay a midnight visit on John Samways to deliver a supply of liquid refreshment. The journey to the hospital across fields and the local cemetary is an epic in itself. The entry over the curtain wall and into the building is best left for another time. Suffice it to say, several bottled versions of 'haystack' were left in the corridor outside what at least looked like John's room, but as it was dark and the hour late the intruders were never sure.

Sunday was a 'rest' day. This meant that whilst some members of the party took the opportunity of visiting Cardiff castle and/or going to the cinema more rowdier brethren attempted a beer drinking marathon. By the close of play that night or rather Monday morning the leading contestants had consumed 30 odd pints each, Messrs. Lewis, Bulgin and Harris leading the way.

Monday saw the visitors arriving at the Nelson ground. Home of Alwyn Williams. Given that the game was the third of the trio and allowing for the terrible strain under which some players had been placed following a weekend of debauchery the result at 19 points to 14 in favour of the home side was a creditable one.

The journey home was uneventful, livened only by Richard Snowden's running commentary over the coaches public address of the performances each time the coach had to stop.

Summing up the results of the weekend in the bar of the Ship the following Wednesday after 'keep fit', Scrumcap was heard to remark where can we go next year lads - what about Cheltenham?