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13 Comments

Christmas card. Inside
Christmas card. Inside
Photo: RON HUNT
Views: 3,253
Item #: 30869
Inside of a Christmas Card from the Wigan Rugby Club 1889. Showing the fixtures and results. Thanks to Peter Fleetwood for the image.

Comment by: Philip G. on 13th December 2018 at 19:12

I wonder, when this scenario was last seen; a team mate holding the ball in position for his kicker? The lads beneath the sticks seem to be a little bit dejected too . . . although one of them does look as though he's about to shout Boo! Most unsporting.

Comment by: GW. on 13th December 2018 at 22:23

I'd say he's one of those St Helens lot Philip. He's spat his dummy and is about to take his ball home.

Comment by: Philip G. on 14th December 2018 at 10:50

G.W. If the artist's impression is of the game in which St Helens Recs had suffered a mild 9-0 beating then you could be right, and also of the fact that his team mates had shown some sportsmanship.
Good to have you back onboard.

Comment by: Jarvo on 14th December 2018 at 18:43

If you look closely, the players are actually standing in the field of play - in front of the try line. Is that allowed in rugby league? At first glance, this looks like rugby union: the clubs on the fixture card give that impression. But there are 13 men in front of the posts...

Comment by: Keith Beckett on 15th December 2018 at 08:02

In 1889 it would have been rugby union. The northern clubs broke away in 1895 to create what was to become the semi-professional rugby league.

Comment by: FredG on 15th December 2018 at 09:33

For the uninitiated this is Rugby Union. Rugby League came 6 years later in 1895 and it was another 10 years before it became 13 a side.

Comment by: Philip G. on 15th December 2018 at 09:48

Well-in! Keith and Fred; and Jarvo's query had certainly been on the premises.

Comment by: DTease on 15th December 2018 at 15:47

Looks like Aspull Nilled Wigan!

Comment by: DTease on 15th December 2018 at 15:49

Oops! read it the wrong way round.

Comment by: Pw on 15th December 2018 at 18:34

Not played foggy.That is a belter..I have "watched" matches at Wigan in the fog.How daft was that.

Comment by: Philip G. on 15th December 2018 at 18:48

RugbyFootballHistory.com > Scoring history table, gives bewildering accounts of 'points awarded' i.e., Prior to 1886, touching down the ball behind your own goal line was awarded a point, and not to be confused with the Cheltenham scoring system. The Cheltenham system?

Comment by: Jack on 15th December 2018 at 21:31

Holding the ball for a conversion attempt was not common but not unknown (in RU) in the late 1950's, as an ex-kicker I had the ball balanced by a colleague at times but I found it more of a hinderance than helpful.

Comment by: Philip G. on 16th December 2018 at 08:22

Jack. My tattered Encyclopaedia of Sport that gives results up to and including the 1958-59 season includes a photo of England's JE Williams holding the ball in place for DF Allison during the 1956 game against Ireland at Twickenham - You'd been in good company.

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