BRENDAN GALLAGHER talks to JPR Williams 40 years on from the famous Sam Doble Memorial game
CHARITY matches, gala occasions and testimonials come and go, but for all sorts of reasons the Sam Doble Memorial game 40 years ago, between Moseley and a star studded Rugby Writers Invitation XV, lives on in the memory of many. So much so that next week all the participants are being rounded up to enjoy a special dinner at the club and no doubt pour over the DVD of the game.
The reason for the gathering of the clans was to mark the passing of Moseley legend Sam Doble, who had died very suddenly less than three months earlier from cancer at the age of just 33, and to raise funds for his family but what the game – an unexpectedly full on affair more of which anon – also unwittingly did was capture a moment in time.
It was British rugby in its 70s pomp. Extravagant sideburns, proper passing, big hair, spiral punts, dodgy tashes, pints and pies on the terraces with two billowing beer tents the nearest thing to corporate hospitality. Somehow 14,000 packed into the Reddings and loved every moment.
The invitation team had been organised with some alacrity by their mates in the Press with the late Terry Godwin and David Norrie to the fore. Everybody moved as one back then, although alas not for much longer.
It was also as close as we ever got in those days to a live match on TV outside of the internationals. The routine fare on Rugby Special – 5.20pm on Sunday – was highlights of three games from the previous day’s play plus a bit of chat. For the Sam Doble game though they really pushed the boat out and gave us the best part of an hour’s package from a game that had only just finished. For the Seventies that was radical, a huge unexpected bonus for the rugbystarved masses
There was a palpable feeling of nostalgia in the air that day. It was a last gathering in earnest of the greatest ever Lions era. There were 12 Lions from the recently completed 1977 tour, six survivors from 1974, four who had also toured in 1971, and even two – Gareth Edwards and Gerald Davies – from the 1968 trip to South Africa.
And for the 1977 contingent it was bitter sweet. The class of ‘77 had murdered New Zealand up front that summer but their backs had mysteriously failed to fire and a series that should have been won at a canter was inexplicably lost. At Moseley that Sunday afternoon we probably saw why. Gerald Davies, Gareth Edwards and JPR Williams had all been unavailable for the 1977 tour either through work commitments or the understandable desire to finally spend a summer with their families and their absence had been sorely felt.
At the Reddings we were treated to a tantalising glimpse of what might have been. Yes, the illustrious trio would also have been confronted by the bad weather and heavy pitches the 1977 Lions encountered, but with those three on board they would surely have been virtually unbeatable.
And it wasn’t just their individual brilliance, it was the effect they had on others. Suddenly Phil Bennett was up on his toes dancing again while Steve Fenwick – a wonderful bits and pieces player who on his own rarely shone – started popping up everywhere doing what he did best.
The game itself was a cracker that built in intensity and brilliance after a disjointed and pretty physical start with Moseley – full of confidence after a season that had included 17 straight wins up to that movement – looking to honour their old favourite with a fullon hit-out against the big-names.
It’s fascinating watching the DVD, the game is full of pretty dodgy high tackles –well that was the norm during the 70s, witness the famous Barbarians game against New Zealand – and even a couple of what we would describe today as tip-tackles which would certainly earn a red card. At one stage Bobby Windsor, annoyed at butchering what should have been a try scoring pass, enters one ruck like a rogue Exocet. All this on a quiet Sunday afternoon charity match.
And none of this turning down kicks at goal nonsense. Bennett had four ‘shots’ in the first half and landed just one penalty. Neither side were messing around. The Invitation XV asked five reserves to make the long journey – including a box office player like Andy Ripley – but used only one, Windsor coming on for Peter Wheeler when he copped a dead leg. No cheap ‘caps’.
Moseley were an ambitious team full of players on the verge of England selection. There was full-back Clive Meanwell, centre Barrie Corless, wing Peter Beddoes –who enjoyed a spectacular game which hinted at a glittering career that never quite took off internationally – and the extravagantly gifted Martin Cooper, who England had absolutely no idea how to use. He would have been a major star these days.
Chris Gifford was a class scrumhalf England managed to largely ignore while the young Nick Jeavons was just beginning to flex his muscles in the back row. Their gnarly pack generally ensured they were not a team to be trifled with, charity match or not.
“Sam was a great bloke, very popular on the circuit and an amazing goalkicker and we were there to raise some funds for his family so obviously in that respect it was a sad day,” recalls JPR. “But being a rugby occasion, nobody let it become too solomn.
“The journos who organised did a great job – there was great camaraderie between the media and players in those days – and our skipper Terry Cobner also played a big part in the whole event. Cobs had played county rugby for Staffordshire with Sam for a couple of seasons when he was doing his PE degree at Madeley College and absolutely swore by the man and was very keen we put out as strong a side as possible together. It was a three line party whip, no excuses accepted for not turning out other than a broken limb.
“I was one of the few lucky ones who hadn’t played the day before. I nipped over to the Reddings from my in-laws in Derbyshire, but just about everybody else started the game pretty battered and bruised and there were a few thick heads as well. I have no idea how we fitted it all in back then but somehow we did. Mind you it’s probably why most of us are walking round with metal knees and hips these days and need walking sticks!”
On the verge of half-time it was only 9-6 to the Invitation XV when they finally sparked up with a brilliantly worked try for Andy Irvine after slick work from Edwards and Bennett. Meanwell narrowed the scored to 13-9 soon after the break as Moseley enjoyed a purple patch, but by now the visitors’ dander was up as they erupted into a glorious flurry of rugby.
Bennett and Davies let rip as the tries came with two for Peter Squires, one for Tony Neary, two for Bennett himself and a glorious 80 yard effort right at the death from Davies which was used in the Rugby Special opening sequence for years to come. Moseley hit back with a couple of crackers themselves to send everybody home happy.
Derek Quinnell picks up the story: “It was a wonderful occasion and we had to dig deep to avoid a bit of an ambush by the Moseley lads who were having a great season. In fact when we looked to open our new floodlights at Stradey, Llanelli invited Moseley down as the opposition because we knew they were guaranteed to play some entertaining rugby and light up the occasion.
“Most of us had driven up to Birmingham from all parts after our respective club games. Andy Irvine flew down from Inverness and I’m pretty sure Gareth had been offered the use of a Rolls Royce for the occasion. Anyway we gathered at a nice hotel the organisers had arranged and need I say more? We got stuck into the beers and a very late night ensued with plenty of singing and gossip. As the night wore on we somehow convinced ourselves that the match the following day was going to be pretty gentle exhibition stuff.
“Well I don’t think Moseley got the memo! They had also played a big game on the Saturday but were saving their celebrations for the Sunday night, they wanted to honour Sam with a proper eyeballs out performance. And rightly so. They also had four or five England hopefuls and obviously a good performance against such strong opponents would perhaps count for something with the selectors.
“So a little to our surprise we found ourselves in an absolutely full on game from the off with some pretty big hits and vigorous rucking and a good deal of skill from Moseley. It was game on. And the ref Norman Sansom was in business mode as well, he was penalising both sides for crooked feeds and marched Peter Wheeler back at one stage for some backchat. No hands in the ruck, no forward passes, no leeway at all. And Norman was also right, it’s the only way to get a satisfying game of rugby
“Three or four times in the first half we opted to kick for goal rather than go for touch and Benny only landed one of them. We were huffing and puffing and struggling a little. But that was the making of the game really because it forced us to dig deep and produce something a bit special. Pride was at stake and we were a very proud group.
“After we had sweated the beer out we went to work. My God we had some talent, we played some exceptional rugby in the second half and the proof of that is how many people you meet over the years who still remember the Sam Doble game ahead of famous international matches. And here we are celebrating it 40 years later, more proof of the impact it made.
“Afterwards it was straight down to the bar again, this time with the Moseley boys, and another great session. I suppose I must have made it to work sometime on Monday and then trained with Llanelli that night. I really don’t remember to be perfectly honest. We used to thrash our bodies in those days. A great day, a great era, and it will be a treat to relive the day again with old friends.”
TEAMS
MOSELEY: C Meanwell; A Thomas (rep. A. Watson- Jones), M Swain (rep. L Cusworth), B Corless, P Beddoes; M Cooper, C Gifford; T Corless, G Cox, W Greaves, R Field, B Ayre, J White, N Jeavons, D Warren (capt.).
RUGBY WRITERS INVITATION XV: JPR Williams (Bridgend & Wales); P Squires (Harrogate & England), G Davies (Cardiff & Wales), S Fenwick (Bridgend & Wales), A Irvine (Heriot’s FP & Scotland); P Bennett (Llanelli & Wales), G Edwards (Cardiff & Wales); F Cotton (Sale & England), P Wheeler (Leicester & England) (rep. R Windsor (Pontypool & Wales), G Price (Pontypool & Wales), B Beaumont (Fylde & England), A Martin (Aberavon & Wales), T Cobner (Pontypool & Wales, capt), D Quinnell (Llanelli & Wales), A Neary (Broughton Park & England).
Replacements: A Old (Sheffield and England), J Webster (Moseley and England), A. Ripley (Rosslyn Park and England), A Faulkner (Pontypool and Wales), R Windsor (Pontypool and Wales).
Referee: Mr. N. Sansom (Scotland).
