Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School Sporting Activities Back to previous page  |  Home page

 

This game was played as part of the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the school.

Headmaster’s XV. Back Row: Colin Morris, Dennis Gethin, J.E. Davies, Brian Hopkins, J. Beresford Williams, G. Williams, A.J. Evans, Martin Truran, Dai Morris. Front Row: Clive Dyer, Winston Bishop, A. James, W.H. Raybould, Gareth James, Ian Dunbar.             Past Students’ XV. Back Row: Peter Evans, Mike Thomas, Alun Powell, G.W. Jones, Jeff Richards, John Marsh, Michael Hussey, Terry Smith. Front Row: Bryan Webber, Gareth Powell, Robin Morgan, Mike Harris, Noel Davies, Gabriel Servini. Absent from photo: G. Ll. Jones (Capt.) Terry Smith was on the staff of the school, teaching Biology, when he played in this match for the Past Students. Noel Davies was Dai Cube's son. G. Ll. Jones was the brother of Dalla Jones, who taught Physics.

The match programme is shown below. However, the teams did not field as per programme.

Thanks to Philip Walters for the programme

Transcript of Dai Owen’s newspaper report

RAIN and high winds had much to do with a rather disappointing crowd who turned up to watch the match arranged at the Ynys between a Headmaster’s XV and a Past Student’s XV to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Aberdare Boys’ Grammar School.

The Headmaster’s XV included the famous Welsh internationals David Morris, who was very unlucky to miss the 1971 Lions’ Tour of New Zealand and Billy Raybould who was fortunate to make the 1968 Lions’ Tour of South Africa. Among other well known players in the Headmaster’s XV were the former Cambridge “Blue” Dennis Gethin, Oxford “Blue” Ian Dunbar, the current Oxford secretary from Pontypridd who will probably captain in the 1973 Varisty [sic] match at Twickenham, together with London Welsh utility man Gareth James and Winston Bishop, deputy to the great Gerald Davies at the same club.

Although the Past Students lost by the margin of 62 points to 24, they put up a very creditable show and former Cardiff stand off Gabe Servini showed that a long lay off, how the game had not diminished any of his old skills.

Bangor University fullback G. Ll. Jones played an admirable game at full-back and defended desperately against the tidal wave of constant attacks by the visitors. Mike Thomas (Loughborough Colleges and Cardiff University) was also prominent for the Past Students.

In the Past Students’ XV pack, John Marsh, Terry Smith and Webber performed creditably, but just could not cope with the undoubted class of David Morris who was supported very ably by Martin Truman [sic] (Abertillery), [Truran, Ed.] and Dr. J. E. Davies (Guys’ Hospital).

Scores came “fast and furious” and frankly one tended to lose count of the scorers, but it is known that David Morris scored four tries for the visitors, Billy Raybould two, W. Bishop three and Ian Dunbar two. One lost count of Gethin’s total number of points.

For the Past Students, Thomas, Noel Davies and Webber scored tries, G. W. Jones converting and kicking two penalty goals.

One must mention a word of gratitude to Mr. Derek Walsh who very kindly refereed the game in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Ron Lewis (Maesteg) who had been taken ill during the day.

After the game both teams and numerous Past Students’ enjoyed a social evening at the clubhouse of the Aberaman R.F.C., during which the Headmaster, Mr. Gwilym Williams, B.Sc., thanked the members of his team for coming along to play and make the evening such an enjoyable one.

In the PICTURE on the extreme right, back row, Dai Morris; third from right, front row, Billy Raybould; second from left, back row, Dennis Gethin (Cambridge); and Ian Dunbar (Oxford), extreme right front row.

— DAVID OWEN