Douai Crest


DOUAI Rugby 1930 to 1939

1930-1931

P 16 W 11 D 0 L 5 F 269 A 155
Comparison of the results of the season 30-31 will show that the School has been more successful than for some years past. The fact that most of the matches against other Schools had been won, demonstrated that inter-school games were the only real criteria to judge oneself on. The success of the side was not so much as to individual brilliance, but on good teamwork and team spirit. L D Foster and O G Horrigan were always quick to seize an opportunity, and W F Meynell (Capt) and P O Plunkett got their sides out of difficulty with astute passes. G C Strickland has greatly improved at scrum half. G O Porter, J F Godsall and E Hinsberger provided the basis for a good hard working pack. D J Brabin was outstanding in his following up on loose balls, but the team overall lost too many points by not getting the ball between the posts.
Colours were awarded to W F Meynell, J F Godsall, L D Foster, O G Horrigan, F Martens, E Hinsberger and G O Porter.

The match against the Old Dowegians ended with a loss - 12-16, against a strong side. The weight of the Old Boys scrum was telling, and although it was an even first half, the second went the way of the vistors.
Old Dowegian: J O'Byrne; P Skivington, A Garces, E Gryspeerdt, C Williams; G E Strickland, H McMurtrie; P Fletcher, J Milnes, D McCoy, B Allen, J Webb, J Hurley, D Robson, J Bond.

School team: F Martens; P Plunkett, O Horrigan, L Foster, W Meynell; R Fletcher, G Strickland; E Hinsberger, G Porter, J Godsall, W Briscoe, D Brabin, J Hinsberger, N Cristiani, M Moffatt.

1931-1932

P 12 W 8 D 1 L 3 F 146 A 73
The past season of 1931-32 has been a disappointing one in one respect, as the School had some difficult times with sickness, which caused several matches to be scratched. On the other hand the team was also very inconsistent, which caused more problems after a promising start. Captain, D Brabin, (latterly a Judge), was reduced to only picking his best side on two occasions, and he is to be congratulated on leading the team successfully throughout the season in the face of difficulties and disappointments.
J Godsall was a great leader of the pack, with back up from Hinsberger, Cristiani and Thomson-Jack. Strickland at scrum half improved consistently, and R Pooley at fly half, showed good signs for the future.
However, six Schools matches remained unplayed!
Colours were awarded to D Brabin, G Strickland, A Cristiani, and J F Hinsberger.
The match against the Old Dowegians ended up as a Draw 8 - 8. On the run of play, the Old Boys were rather unfortunate not to win, but all credit is due to the School for holding out against such a strong combination.
Old Dowegians; C Anderson; W Meynell, L J O'Reilly, R J Fletcher, J Cunningham; E R Gryspeerdt, G E Strickland; E N Rabbit, P J Fletcher, A J Littledale, J Brady, D S Murray, J Apthorpe-Webb, J Bond, L Gunter.

School team: F C Martens; J Polglase, D Brabin, L Foster, E Pilley; R Pooley, G Strickland; F Putnam, J Hinsberger, J Watkin, T Deane (later Fr Vincent), A Cristiani, V Bill (later Fr Norbert), J Godsall, R Thomson-Jack.

1932-1933

P 11 W 6 D 0 L 5 F 143 A 127
The results compare unfavourably with the last two years, but out of the last 10 matches played, the School won 6 and lost 4. The results therefore showed some sort of balance, until illness struck, and we were decimated against Emmanuel School and Eton College. M Derrick was a distinct success as hooker, while D Norton shone in the line outs. F Putnam, the Captain, led the forwards well, was a good scrummager and was also conspicuous in the lineout.
Behind the scrum, R Pooley was outstanding. His defensive work was invaluable to the team, and if at times he held on for too long, it often seemed to produce tries.
Colours were awarded to E Pilley, V Bill and R Pooley.
The game against the Old Dowegians ended with a loss of 8 - 28, played on a frozen pitch, and for only twenty minutes in the second half. The Old Boys were too strong on this occasion, and if Pooley hadn't used the boot well, the score would have been even greater.

Old Dowegian: F C Martens; C M Davey, L J O'Reilly, R J Fletcher, E R Gryspeerdt; G E Strickland, M H McMurtrie; J Hinsberger, J Mertens, D J Brabin, C N Smith, J Bond, P J Fletcher, B J Milnes, A J Littledale.

School team: F Haydock; J Polglase, V Meynell, A Devine (Fr Laurence), L Conoley; R Pooley, F Griffith; F Putnam, M Derrick, D Longstaff, L Gunter, V Bill, J Cunningham, D Norton, E Pippet.

Unfortunately there is no photograph of the team on this occasion, as there hadn't been one taken at the time of going to Press.

1933-1934

P 12 W 10 D 0 L 2 F 213 A 59
1933-34 has been a great year for the School. Out of 11 matches left we won 10, lost 1. The end has been achieved by the brilliance of R Pooley at outside half. Credit is also been given to Fr Bruno, who has made a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Pooley has wonderful hands, his touch finding and defensive kicking frequently saved a difficult situation, and he is a great fly half. In the forwards, D Norton and J Cunningham have been outstanding, and they were backed up by L Gunter and D Longstaff.
Behind the scrum, D N Smith played with any amount of pluck; J S Polglase and V J Meynell not only had speed and thrust, but were good in defence. W P Long, who can adapt himself to many positions, was moved to full back, and his touch finding was always safe, even though at times lacking in length.
Colours were awarded to J S Polglase, D Norton and L Gunter.

1934-1935

P 14 W 5 D 1 L 8 F 98 A 181
Last September, Fr Bruno had to find a new full back, a scrum half and some heavy forwards. This year he found a full back in J E Ryan, he tried a new scrum half in A Nicol, but found him too slow, and transferred J G Cunningham to that position, but he never found any large forwards!
Captain R Pooley was the mainstay of this team, and without him, they were scuppered, but the team upheld the traditions of the game, although it never achieved the brilliance of previous teams.

School team: D J Devitt; A J Nicol, W O'Brien, J E Ryan, P Gartrell; R B Pooley, J G Cunningham; H E Watkin, M J Barry, G F Lonsdale, K Keelan, C C Tremlett, M Stretton, W Longstaff, M Arathoon.

1935-1936

P 10 W 4 D 1 L 5 F 152 A 78
The School has not been at its best in this season, but one has to judge whether the team is just lazy, or does it also play the game in the true spirit. To this team, there has been a showing of excellent team spirit, accepting victory equally as defeat, which is, after all, the normal thing.
The forwards were always good, with a fine young hooker in J Rowley, who made up for lack of weight by his skill in actual hooking. G Lonsdale was a fine leader in 'word and deed', and it was greatly through his leadership that the pack acquitted itself so well. Their strength lay in solid scrummaging rather than in speed in the loose.
Behind the scrum, R McNair, the scrum half, improved with every match. His liaison with R M Cooper did not always come off, but Cooper is a fly-half of promise. In the backs, P Gartrell was the mainstay of attack, whilst W O'Brien, Capt, was the soundest man in defence. His tackling was an object lesson to the rest of the team. C Nicol, and M Williams were both strong runners, and E Hughes at full back was safer than he appeared!
Colours were awarded to W O'Brien, G Lonsdale, R McNair, P Gartrell, K Keelan and W Longstaff.

In the match against the Old Dowegians, the School lost 6-20.
Old Dowegians: D Smith; R Calmon, W Long, D Brabin, J Findley; R Fletcher, G C Strickland; F Putnam, D Norton, P Cormac, C Smith, A Smith, G Allan, W Devitt, J Brady.

School team: E Hughes; C Nicoll, W O'Brien, Capt, P Gartrell, M Williams; R Cooper, R McNair; G Lonsdale, K Keelan, W Longstaff, M Stretton, P Cundy, T Walsh, H Sweeney, M Arathoon.


1936-1937

P 11 W 5 D 0 L 6 F 175 A 103
This year, your spectator gave vent to his views on wing-forwards, or in Douai's case, - the lack of them. What could we have done with them? The team, as a whole has been a good one, has often played brilliantly, and has upheld the tradition of Douai rugger at its very best.
W A Guterres found his way to full back, and has improved with each game. T J Walsh, a small but speedy player went to the wing, and despite an indifferent showing by P C Gartrell, Capt., the backs all acquitted themselves well. C A J Nicol was the pick of the line, and he fully merited a call up to the Middlesex Public Schools side at Christmas. M H Williams ran well, and D Ryan also played well, having displaced the scrum half after the Pangbourne match. R M Cooper, the fly half, was, however, caught too often as he ran across the field, but he did many useful things as well.
The forwards were first class, although they were looked at somewhat sideways at the start of the Season, and Fr Bruno had the utmost difficulty in getting the right combination together. However, from the very first game it was obvious that this pack would emerge into one of the finest that Douai produced. J Rowley was an excellent hooker, and he secured the ball on numerous occasions, which made referees look at his technique with renewed interest. W Longstaff led his men with zest and dash,
A particular mention of G Keogh, whose job it was, to kick the goals - while he was far from being a Dunne or Jennings, he has reminded us of better days.
Colours were awarded to H J Sweeney, C A Nicoll, J M Rowley, and R M Cooper, P V Cundy and M A Smith later on, after the Emmanuel match.
The match against a strong Old Dowegians team was, again, lost 8 -16.
Old Dowegians; W B Long; F E Hughes, P Findley, W O'Brien, A N Other; D Brabin, D N Smith; C N Smith, D A Norton, O S Thompson, G P Burnham, F Putnam, J Brady, J Godsall, W Devitt.

School team: W A Guterres; M H Williams, C A J Nicoll, P C Gartrell, Capt. T J Walsh; R M Cooper, D Ryan; W B Longstaff, H J Sweeney, M A Smith, J M Rowley, G Keogh, F Verstraeten, R Vasquez.


1937-1938

P 10 W 9 D 0 L 1 F 163 A 76
The School XV has just closed a most successful season, and the results are there to be seen. However, your Spectator goes at considerable lengths to minimise the situation - a much inferior list of fixtures, no teams, such as 'A' teams from Blackheath, Rosslyn Park, and Harlequins, and several schools withdrawn, such as KCS, Denstone, Brighton and Taunton, to name but a few. So, although a few games against local teams were cancelled owing to sickness at Douai, and a couple of others for similar reasons at the other Schools, the fixture list was looking decidedly inferior to the previous best teams. However, that was more than made up for in the only loss the side suffered, when W B Long's team came to visit, comprising a plethora of regular Mosely players, including the England Captain, Peter Cranmer. The team went down 14 - 21.
All this having been said, the 1937-1938 team needs to be put in the right perspective. A team that can put out approximately 10 of the previous year's team, will inevitably do well, and so this team did.
M H Williams and D O Duncan ran particularly well on the wings, but J A Stickland and T J Walsh lost innumerable chances by loose passing in the centre. The pack, ably led by H J Sweeney, gave a grand exhibition in forward play. J A Rowley, now in his third year at hooker, gave a wonderful exhibition of hooking, and achieved the ball from numerous positions. D Ryan has developed into a wonderful scrum half, and he made sure that R M Cooper took the ball at full stretch, and was forced to take the ball on the run.
Memories took us all back to the Sullivan and Coope pairing and the great early days of Rugby. Nevertheless R M Cooper was a great Captain, and 'kept the team together' in a manner which few outside the XV will know'.
Equally, your Spectator was unstinting in his praise for J A Rowley who will go down to posterity as one of the School's greatest hookers. But he also exercised the rare power of arousing his forwards to the highest pitch of what can only be called frenzy, and of keeping them there - though he was not the official leader!
It was also the time when Fr Bruno called time on himself, and Fr Dunstan Cammack took over the reins of the team. He continued to coach the team with the same unflagging energy, - but let no one forget Fr Bruno.

In the match against the Old Dowegians, the School came out on top, 9 - 8, against a solid Old Boys effort.

Old Dowegians: W P Long; P C Gartrell, O G Horrigan, R J Fletcher, F E Hughes; L Foster, D N Smith; J Brady, M A Smith, J E Marshall, D A Norton, F P Putnam, E Rabbit, W Devitt, C N Smith.
School team: P C Carey; M H Williams, M G Gibbons, T J Walsh, D O Duncan; R M Cooper, Capt., D P Ryan; H J Sweeney, J A Rowley, G M Keogh, M F Polimeni, K A Vasquez, M Stretton, A M Arathoon, G R Eagles.

Colours were awarded to D P Ryan, and R A Vasquez.

PS. Raymond Cooper went on to Oxford University, and was the first Rugby Blue that the School had received.

1938-1939

P 13 W 8 D 0 L 5 F 127 A 112
With as many as nine of last year's team available, for the new season, it was anticipated that the School would again enjoy a very successful run. However, the outside half, and a few more critical players were no longer there, and the team was actually less successful than it was hoped. Trying to get D P Ryan, an excellent scrum half, to move to the fly half, was disastrous, and thus the hope that last year's record, when Douai was one of only three schools in the country unbeaten in School matches, faded quickly.
Nevertheless, the School settled down, and the pack was bolstered by G R Eagles, in company with G M Keogh, A M Arathoon, and M F Polimeni, who kept it alive. But the machine-like hooking of J A Rowley was missed, although on the occasions when the ball emerged, D P Ryan used it well. D O Duncan found his way to the fly half position and it all came together from then on. T J Walsh, Capt., was far better than last year, but his passing had not improved, and with M H Williams in full cry beside him, either cast the ball at his feet, or anywhere but into his waiting arms.
B H Richardson, M G Gibbons and F J Williams all played their part, in the partial success that this side gave us.
Colours were awarded to T J Walsh, M H Williams and A M Arathoon. G M Keogh, with the latter two playing with the Public Schools teams during the holidays.

In the match against the Old Dowegians, the School lost 12 - 22, to a strong team.
F E Hughes; Rev V Deane, W O'Brien, W P Long, J A Bunker; P C Gartrell, R J McNair; P V Cundy, Rev N Bill, J A Rowley, D A Carter, C N Smith, G R Eagles, M F Polimeni, W H Devitt.

School: F J Williams; A T Kelly, M H Williams, T J Walsh, Capt., B H Richardson; M G Gibbons, D P Ryan; T A Dunphy, D A Wynter, P A Cunningham, J P Cunningham, M F Coombes, J T Rochford, D E Flood, H Richardson.


1939-1940


P 11 W 8 D 0 L 3 F 162 A 59
We look back on the 1939-40 season with satisfaction and pride. There seemed every probability that war-time conditions would seriously affect the fixture list, and in the ranks of last seasons team, there were many and wide gaps to be filled.
The ultimate success must be largely attributed to F J Williams, Capt., who played brilliantly himself and led his team admirably. The forwards, whose hooking by P Moyes was a tremendous asset, always played well, and for the loose ball, there was the ever present J P Cunningham.
F J Williams was the outstanding player, and it must be considered as to whether he has been the best fly half for the School over time. He was ably supported by B H Richardson, as the backs improved, and D S Scratton, at scrum half, when he emerged as a substitute.
Colours were awarded to F J Williams, P D Moyes, J P Cunningham, B H Richardson, M J Cuddon and T A Dunphy.
The game against the Old Boys was lost 8 -12. This game was noted for two tries score by
Rev V Deane, but the School exerted all the pressure during the second half.

School: N Carey; A Kelly, R Gerard-Smith, B Richardson, A Titterton; F Williams, B Sullivan;
P Moyes, J Cunningham, T Dunphy, P Cunningham, J Flood, M Cuddon, J Carey, P Kernan.

We entered for, the second time, the Public Schools Seven-a-Side Competition at Richmond, but we were not a great success on this occasion. We were beaten by St Dunstan's in the first round.
Sevens team: B H Richardson, A Kelly, J P Cunningham, F J Williams Capt., P Moyes, T Dunphy, P A Cunningham.