Douai Crest


DOUAI Rugby 1919 to 1929


"These notes will be, to many of our Old Boys, the first intimation that ´Rugger´ has replaced ´Soccer´ in the School. The change came about after long thought and deliberation on the part of the authorities. Our ´Soccer´ record was so good, and its traditions were deeply rooted, that there was every reason for hesitation."

These are the first lines of the 1920 edition of the Douai Magazine sports report, which puts the introduction of Rugby football into future Douai thinking. Apparently there were initial difficulties in getting fixtures with other suitable Rugby schools, and despite his own footballing prowess, Fr Ignatius Rice was the leader in this matter.
We had played a few games against other teams, and acquitted ourselves well, and there was a marked advance in the game during 1919, mainly due to the energy and constant advice of Fr Columba, the games Prefect.
Within the first year, two significant players achieved some distinction - B Coope, at fly half, and M J O´Sullivan, at scrum half, who both proved their worth. J Eckersley (later Fr Aelred), proved to be the exception as the backs gradually got their act together, and the first colours were awarded to J Walsh(Capt), R Jennings and G Sullivan.
In that first proper year of competition, we were successful in beating Newbury Grammar twice, Nautical College, Pangbourne, drawing with Reading, and losing to a South African Team (Perham Down), and our old rivals, Beaumont.
J G Dunne; L P Mulcahy, J Eckersley, McGuire, R T Jennings; B R C Coope, M J O´Sullivan; Mayou, C Peabody, G P Higgins, Barr, W B Walsh, G O´Sullivan, and L J Carey.
P 11 W 8 D 1 L 2 F 242 A 40

1920-1921



P 19 W 17 D 1 L 1 F 581 A 61
The promise of last season had been abundantly fulfilled. We were fortunate to retain practically the same XV, so and that gave us a great combination. Colours were awarded to B.R.C.Coope ( Capt), M J O´Sullivan, R Jennings, G P Higgins, and B F Barr. Latterly colours were also awarded to D Murray-Davey, C Peabody, L J Carey, M Calahan, D H Robson, and W B Walsh.
The side which turned out against the Old Dowegians was also victorious. The Old Boys thought that they would put a spoke in the School´s side, but went down 40 - 3, much to their chagrin.
J G Dunne: D Murray Davey, A J Young, C W Lord, R T Jennings, L P Mulcahy: B R C Coope, M J O´Sullivan: J M Calahan, G F Solly, G L Adam, C Peabody, L J Carey, G P Higgins, W B Walsh, D H Robson , T E Arrigo, J M Briscoe, J F Brennan, B Sandy.

Old Dowegians: Rev M C Merrick, F Skivington, A L Murphy, Rev I S Mooney, S J Low, Rev R B Teeley, H F Lord, Dr D V Murphy, Ph Slocombe, P Slocombe, F Caunter, Dr F Murphy, C Caunter, P L Murphy, Rev J O Dorman.

1921-1922


P 22 W 16 D 0 L 6 F 464 A 162
At this point, everyone wondered whether Douai was a large enough School to compete with bigger Public Schools. However, the effective way in which the School played was reflected in the enthusiasm of those taking part. A new XV had to be found, as few of last season´s players were available. Practice was the watchword, although the fixture list was more ambitious than previously, but the results were nearly as good.
J G Dunne, J I McGuire and T J Arrigo were the most conspicuous, but the Captain, Denis Robson, (later Judge Robson), was a fine scrummager. Colours were awarded to J I McGuire, and M P Bryce.
School team: J G Dunne; H P Adam, A J Young, H Murray Davey, C A Williams; L C Carey, M P Bryce; D H Robson (Capt), R W Price, J I McGuire, W E Maher, T J Arrigo, J F Brennan, W B Walsh, C M Peabody, B Sandy, T J Kervin, H Apthorpe-Webb, M H Carty.

Old Dowegians: C W Lord, A L Murphy, F A Skivington, H F Lord, K S Dearlove, B R C Coope, M J O´Sullivan, Dr F Murphy, Rev H Bowler, G O´Sullivan, Ph Slocombe, P Slocombe, E Powell, P McGetrick, D H Milmo.

1922 - 1923

P 19 W 9 D 2 L 8 F 209 A 175
With ten of last year´s team still with us, another successful year was anticipated. However, that form was missing, and the team was very inconsistent, and the results in the end were disappointing.T J Arrigo, the Captain, has led the forwards excellently throughout and W E Maher and B J Milnes will be much missed when they leave at term´s end. Among the backs, L J Carey and H Murray-Davey were superb, and Carey played for the English Public Schools in the holidays and was awarded his colours.
Colours were awarded to C A Williams and B J Milnes.
All the usual games against local Schools were played but also games against Taunton School, Brighton College, and Clayesmore School.
C P Murray-Davey, P A Plunkett, H Murray-Davey, M P Bryce, C A Williams; L J Carey, T J Kervin; T J Arrigo(Capt), WE Maher, R W Price, H Apthorpe-Webb, D H Milmo, McGetrick, B J Milnes, J T Arrigo, M J Carty, A Ibbett, R G Strickland, K W Stokes.
After Christmas, C A Williams took over as Captain, and the team were supplemented by T G Davidson, J S Potocki.
The match against the Old Dowegians was delayed until after Christmas, and ended in a 15-15 points draw. The Old Boys team has not been quoted, but there were significant players amongst them, including last year´s Captain, Denis Robson, and C M Peabody.
Unfortunately there was no photograph taken of the team, for the Magazine.

1923-1924

P 20 W 7 D 0 L 13 F 168 A 269
The severest of critics could not write ´total failure´. A glance at the results for this year will show that we have not been favoured by by fortune. We lost one School match by three points, another by two points, another by a single point, and it included matches against Brighton College, Kings College School, Wimbledon, among others. .
The lack of a good hooker was the most influential , but as the present incumbent was only 15, and packing against bigger boys, it was only to be expected. C Murray-Davey was excellent on the tackle front, and L J Carey( Capt), has played as well as ever under severe difficulties. He was also picked for English Public schools for the second time. W A Baron (later Fr Anthony) nabbed the scrum half position, and performed well, and it should be noted that the whole team tackled well and reached a really high standard.
J T Arrigo was awarded his colours.
The game against the Old Dowegians was won by 14-6, and it was played by a strong team of Old Boys. The School had the best of the first half, but the Old Boys made them pay in the second half, but the School held out to the end.
Old Dowegians team; R L Jones, D P Murray-Davey, A L Murphy, M J Sullivan, C A Williams; C W Lord, C M Peabody, Dr F Murphy, J A Eckersley (now Br Aelred), B P Barr, D H Robson, H Apthorpe-Webb, P Slocombe, B Peabody, N Towsey.

School team: C P Murray-Davey; H T Walton, E R Gryspeerdt, L J Carey (Capt), J L Trotman; G E Strickland, W A Baron; R W Price, D H Milmo, J T Arrigo, P A Plunkett, M A Carty, E W Keily, M H White, T G Davidson.
T J Kervin, E B Willis, P R Rutherford, B J Apthorpe-Webb, D P McCoy, R L Calmon, J H Hess, R B Taylor, M O Adam, P C Skivington. M McCarthy also played.

1924-1925


P 15 W 3 D 0 L 12 F 109 A 296
From the accounts of the matches played, the season was at best disappointing. J T Arrigo (Capt), had little to work with on this occasion, and the results were very much below par. The Captain has worked as hard as anyone in the School, but there were too many inexperienced performers.
After Christmas the team did a much better job, and several individuals showed to much greater advantage. A C Powell, G W Tickle and F T McKeown were particularly good in the tight scrums, while P A Plunkett and M White were good in the loose. E R Gryspeerdt was nominated Captain, on the departure of J T Arrigo, and he was always well backed up by G E Strickland and W A Baron (later Fr Anthony).
School team:
G V Russell; G P Marlowe-Dauncey, L J O´Reilly, G E Strickland, R B Taylor; E R Gryspeerdt, W A Baron; J T Arrigo(Capt), G P McCoy, P A Plunkett, G W Tickle, A C Powell, F T McKeown, M J McCarthy, A B Warren-Darley, K A Flood.
.
1925-1926

P 12 W 4 D 0 L 8 F 138 A 238
The season 1925-26 can hardly be called satisfactory, but it was dogged by ill-fortune. Illness in the School constantly kept us below par, and after Christmas the School was forced to abandon several matches due to measles. P L Plunkett and L J O´Reilly both played well, and K A Flood was fearless at full back.
Colours were awarded to L J O´Reilly, J G Murphy, M W White, A C Powell, G W Tickle and H H Skivington. The latter two were also asked to play in the representative Public Schools team during the Christmas holidays.
The Old Boys team gave us a difficult time, as with half the team on their sick bed, the School lost a rather scrappy game. For the Old Boys, H M Davey, E R Gryspeerdt, D H Robson and F Skivington all played well.
Old Dowegians team ; A Pelly-Fry, C Lord, H Murray-Davey, F Skivington, A L Murphy, E R Gryspeerdt, J W Apthorpe-Webb, R Jones. D H Robson, E McGetrick, P L Murphy, P C Skivington, N Towsey, M England, M Low.

School team: T G Lanigan; M A Anderson, E O Plunkett, L J O´Reilly, C J Vasey; K A Flood, M McMurtrie; M W White, G W Tickle, A C Powell, W W Carty, H C Law, H C Riddell, I P Stiven, J Beasley.

1926-1927


P 17 W 5 D 2 L 10 F 125 A 205
The season was very disappointing. Most of the defeats were by small margins, but the capabilities of the team were such as to suggest that wins could have taken place in a number of cases. L J O´Reilly (Capt), was the outstanding player in the team, and the most successful kicker the School had had since J G Dunne in the early days. Among the forwards G W Tickle was outstanding, and M White and E O Plunkett deprived the team of two valuable members, when they left at Christmas.

The game against the Old Boys was a close run thing, with the School winning 13-11.
Old Boys team: Rev J Eckersley, P Skivington, B R C Coope, A Pelly-Fry, F Skivington, J Apthorpe-Webb, E R Gryspeerdt, Rev A D Cammack (Fr Dunstan), P Longhurst-Murphy, D P McCoy, D H Robson, J Walsh, J P Brennan, J B Ray, H C Riddell.

School team: G H Warren-Darley; M A Anderson, J J Gibbons, W W Carty, D W Wade; L J O´Reilly (Capt), M H McMurtrie; G W Tickle, E O Plunkett, L P Stiven, J A Beasley, D A McGinity, W G Brabin, M W White, H C Law, G E Porter. M W Vincent-Townend.


1927-28


P 18 W 10 D 2 L 6 F 204 A 160
The standard of play showed a marked improvement this season. All the Junior teams were showing the signs of the efforts Fr Bruno had put in, and that was reflected in the overall condition of the School game. It cannot be considered a great side, as 1921-22 was, but it was improving.
G W Tickle (Capt), later to become a Bishop of the Forces, was now in his third year at the top level, and the esteem he was held as a leader of the pack, was inestimable. The Magazine Spectator congratulates him as a Captain, but also on his work for the School.
M H McMurtrie, at scrum-half, is a much improved player, and J Plunkett showed himself as a most accomplished back.
In the match against a fairly representative team of Old Dowegians, the School were, this time, victorious 15-6, although there was never much in it.
Old Dowegians: J Walsh; D Murray-Davey, E R Gryspeerdt, P Skivington, Rev J O Dorman (Fr Oswald); L J O´Reilly, Rev W A Baron (Fr Anthony); Rev A D Cammack (Fr Dunstan), D H Robson, J Beasley, Rev A C Cunningham, R Grant Ferris (future MP for Nantwich), D P McCoy, J Caunter, J Apthorpe-Webb.

School team: G H Warren-Darley; D G Wade, J Plunkett, A P Garces, P J Fletcher; W W Carty, M H McMurtrie; G P Burnham, G W Tickle (Capt), H F Tremlett, R W Tickle, W F Meynell, W G Beaton, E B Brennan, D A McGinity.
B H Porter, T Durkin, A L Garces, Doyle, White, Molyneux, Dulanty, Cunningham, Misselbrook, and Rabbit all turned out for the fist team at some time.

1928-1929

P 15 W 4 D 2 L 9 F 115 A 177
Results show that this season´s XV, from which we were expecting great things, have fallen below the standard, even by more mediocre teams in the past. The tackling has been good, with particular reference to J Plunkett, A Garces and G H Warren-Darley.
The Captain, W W Carty, was slow off the mark on too many occasions, but always kicked well. We have also not yet found a hooker like G W Tickle, but E Rabbit, S Dulanty, P J Fletcher and R W Tighe were always noticeable. R W Tickle, A J Littledale, R E De Souza and P F Norton were all to the fore.
Colours were awarded to G H Warren-Darley.
The match against the Old Dowegians was lost in this year, 18-27, but it was played in good spirit.
Old Dowegian team: J Walsh; J Apthorpe-Webb, E R Gryspeerdt, D G Wade, J Pelly-Fry; G E Strickland, M H McMurtrie; D P McCoy, D H Robson, R Jones, E O Plunkett, E B Brennan, A Cassar, H Apthorpe-Webb, H H Skivington.

School: L Foster; O G Horrigan, W W Carty(Capt), G H Warren-Darley, W F Meynell; F G Halpin, A Garces; R W Tickle, P J Fletcher, P F Norton, S Dulanty, G O Porter, A J Littledale, R W Cunningham, J F Godsall.

1929-1930


P 16 W 5 D 1 L 10 F 149 A 190
We have had yet another season of disappointment, although a XV of young and inexperienced players demonstrated a talent which has been missing in the past. The work of S Dulanty (Capt), P Norton and R W Tickle were constantly reliable, but the backs seemed to throw it anywhere. A Garces played some splendid games, and both he, Dulanty, Norton and Tickle were awarded their colours during the Christmas term.
In the game against the Old Dowegians, the School lost 8-18, and although the defence was good, they were soundly beaten.

Old Dowegians: T J O´Byrne; C M Davey, R B Taylor, L J O´Reilly, P Skivington; E R Gryspeerdt, M McMurtrie; D Robson, D P McCoy, J A Webb, A P Cassar, E Rabbit, R G Ferris, H Skivington, E O Plunkett.

School team: F Martens; L Hughes, F Halpin, O Horrigan, L Foster; R Fletcher A Garces; S Dulanty, P Norton, R Tickle, J Godsall, G Porter, E Hinsberger, A Littledale, L White.