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From: "Becky Horne" <>
Subject: [ZA-EC] Newspaper cuttings from the Eastern Cape - Rugby
Date: Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:16:40 +0200


Hi Folks

Please join me in welcoming Helen Dell to the List. Hope you going to be
very happy with us. Here is a snippet of news from an Eastern Cape
Newspaper, which I hope makes you feel right at home.

Herald, 7 September 2007
100 Years Ago by Ivor Markman
A selection of interesting century-old snippets from The Herald of
yesteryear.
News from week ending September 7, 1907.
Old crocks show can still play rugby

There was a large gathering of spectators on the Olympic ground on Saturday
afternoon when two matches were played on behalf of local charities. Most
interest, of course, was centred in the game between the 'Old Crocks' of
Port Elizabeth and the 'Old Crocks' of Uitenhage, and although play
commenced at 3 o'clock sharp, the pavilion was by that time almost full.

Most of the spectators had evidently come with the idea of having a hearty
laugh, but although the game was not without its amusing incidents, play, on
the whole, was of a very high order, and so far as combination and passing
went, was surprisingly good, considering the fact that none of the players
had practiced together. The Bay Crocks especially shone in this direction
and it was by this means that nearly all their tries were scored.

The Uitenhage men, on the other hand, displayed very little combination,
and, although their forwards generally carried the scrums, the backs failed
to take the opportunities offered them. Not the least noticeable feature of
the game was the surprising form exhibited by such old veterans as SHERMAN,
CARDEN, PIKE, and Dykie LYONS.

The first mentioned player's grizzled head was always first down in the
scrums, while the popular Springboks manager showed that he had not entirely
lost his former dash and speed. Amongst the younger crocks, OLVER was the
most prominent, while HAZELL, HUNT, BUCHANAN and WHITE also did well.

On the Uitenhage side STACK, MILLS and BASSON showed up prominently, but, as
we said before, the weakness of the team lay in their want of combination.
It was not until near the end of the second 15 minutes that the first score
was registered. WHITE, breaking away from a loose scrum, dribbled nicely
down the field and then kicked across to BUCHANAN, who neatly gathered the
leather and ran over. The kick at goal failed and the teams changed over
with a score of three points in favour of the local men.

On resuming after the interval, the Port Elizabeth Crocks dashed off with
great speed and soon invaded their opponents 25, in which a fine passing
bout resulted in HUNT threading his way his way through all opposition and
scoring near the posts amidst lots of applause, which was renewed when
CARDEN neatly converted. Almost immediately afterwards, HAZELL received and
finished a great run by transferring to PIKE who romped over with the third
try.

In the last 15 minutes of play, the homesters had all the best of the game
and CRUIKSHANKS dribbled over and scored a fine try. After LYONS was called
upon to save a scrum ensued near the visitors goal and CRAIG scored. HUNT
punted up the field and WALTON, following up well, tackled HAYWARD on
possession and robbing him of the ball, crossed over and scored between the
posts. The try was unconverted and the game ended amidst great enthusiasm in
a well-deserved victory for Port Elizabeth Crocks, the final score being 20
points to nil.

Best wishes
Becky

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