In addition there are wonderful insights about the way both the club and rugby in the region operated. Argaum was going through a very good period during the mid 1960s and this particular season saw arguably the club’s greatest victory, a defeat of Camborne, away, with 14 men! Bill, like many others at Argaum, was a product of St Boniface School and played for a number of seasons during the 1960s with appearances restricted by periods away from the area including Dublin and Twickenham. Returning to the area for a teaching post at Saltash High School, he was later instrumental in the formation of Saltash RFC in 1969 and its continued development till the present day, where he is Club President. Nevertheless Bill still finds time to pop into the reunions and is always interested to hear about the club’s progress.

A Captain’s Year is presented here for your enjoyment, its a great read!

The post Bill Ryan – A Captain’s Year 1966-67 first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

By the mid 1960s Plymouth Argaum had established themselves as one of the leading junior sides in the region, regularly running 3 Senior Saturday sides, 2 colts sides and even a Wednesday team, The Barbarians. This was a time long before leagues and therefore fixtures were arranged against traditional opponents based on whether clubs were deemed to have ‘senior’ or ‘junior’ status. Despite Argaum’s success during this period the fixture secretary were frustrated with not being able to obtain fixtures against some of the better teams in Devon. This grew to such an extent that the club even applied to join the Cornwall RFU where it was perceived that fixtures were drawn up more on merit and results rather than tradition.

The application was turned down however, before the start of the 1966-67 season, which saw Argaum continue their good from by winning the first 8 matches of the season. Bill Ryan, who went on to establish the club at Saltash, of which he is now President, was 1st XV captain, whilst Rip Kirby returned from a brief spell at Plymouth Albion to operate at scrum-half. John Ellis and Tony Blonden were other prominent members of the backs behind a pack that contained Barry Rees, Peter Green and a prolific back row of John Price, Fred Rogers and Frank Lavis.

By the time they travelled to The Recreation Ground at the end of January they had a record of 16 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats which included victories over the likes of Brixham and Launceston. Camborne have always been one of Cornwall’s leading clubs with numerous players representing the county over the years whilst their ground regularly staged important representative matches. Indeed 3 weeks before Argaum’s visit, the touring Australians had played a Cornwall & Devon side, running out 11-6 winners.

To the match in question then and Camborne missed an early penalty opportunity through Tonkin, after which Argaum’s backs showed promise through good handling with Ryan and Blonden both prominent. Camborne pressured the Argaum defence through their pack with Terry Mankee, held up over the line after an excellent effort to score in the corner. Argaum defended stoutly but eventually pressure told as Carter sent Rockett over for an unconverted try to give the Cherry & Whites a 3-nil half time lead. Argaum’s prospects look bleaker at the start of the second half when Dave Martin, who had played much of the season on the wing, but was occupying the fly-half berth on this occasion, was badly injured with a suspected broken ankle. This was in the days before replacements were allowed in rugby, the laws were not changed until the 1968-69 season, therefore Argaum were down to 14 men. This appeared to galvanise Argaum’s efforts and the back row in particular, with tries coming through Fred Rogers and the previous season’s captain, John Price. A conversion was added by the prolific Kirby to give Argaum a famous 8-3 victory.

The outcome was viewed differently on opposite sides of the Tamar, with Argaum seeing the result as proof that they could live with a higher standard of opposition, whilst for Camborne it was viewed as something of a disaster losing to a junior club such as Argaum. The Cornish Press whilst launching a scathing attack on the Cherry & Whites did acknowledge however that Argaum were ‘a competent side who would not be disgraced in the senior ranks’. The season never quite hit the same heights for Argaum, who had a bit of a mixed bag of results thereafter. Camborne recovered and the following season secured the first victory over Ebbw Vale, who regularly toured Cornwall during Easter. They went on to become the premier side in the County during the 1970s and 1980s and when League Rugby arrived in 1987 where placed in the National Leagues. 

The post Classic Matches: 28th Jan 1967 – Camborne 3 Argaum 8 first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.

The 1st XV made an encouraging start by going without defeat until 29th October but thereafter “stuttered” somewhat (despite a double over Salcombe) and recovered in the period January to March to score 6 wins 2 draws and a defeat. The results included creditable wins over Launceston and Exeter Saracens and away draws with Crediton and Newquay Hornets. There were narrow defeats at Tiverton 0-3, St Marys Old Boys 6-8 and “C” Division 3-6.

However, the crowning point of the season was the match against Camborne – at Camborne – when the Club against all expectations, defeated the home side’s 1st XV 8-3 and this despite losing one of the Club’s key players Dave martin at stand off with a broken ankle early in the second half. For some time the Club had been pressing for an opportunity to meet stronger opposition with, let it be said, no encouragement whatsoever from the Devon County Committee and a win such as this surely emphasised the Club’s potential. However, the Cornish press, whilst accepting Argaum’s superiority, suggested “Camborne are heading for junior status”. The tries were scored by wing forwards Fred Rogers and John Price, Kirby kicking a conversion.

On the other side of the coin, a Cambridge touring side, Old Perseans, ironically under the management of a former Argaum member, gave the Club a lesson in the value of backing up and deservedly inflicted the heaviest defeat of the season 5-28 and this at Bickleigh Down. The final figures for the season, W22, L12, D5, 426-239.

The Wanderers had a very good year, W24, L5, D2, beating most other club 2nd XVs – with the exception of Truro II and returning 5-8 and 14-6 v St Austell 1st XV. The Drifters W16, L8, D2, 271-179, but the Floaters won but 1, losing 13 and drawing 3, 38-209. The A Colts, despite heavy defeats at the hands of St Austell Colts, St Boniface College and Tiverton, emerged W17, L12, 300-244. John Williams, a massive forward, played regularly – and equally as regularly kicked goals – for the Devon Colts side. The B Colts W2, L8, D1, 28-130 and the Barbarians W6, L8, D1, 139-131, but both these sides tapered off early in March. The continued overcrowding in the dressing rooms, the result of so many sides, resulted in DHSOB seeking pastures new.

The post The 1966-67 Season first appeared on PLYMOUTH ARGAUM RFC.