A redoubtable Scotsman and educationalist, Almond had bought Loretto School in 1862 and among other things turned it into a great centre of rugby. In total he served as headmaster, as well as rugby coach, for 39 years and was well used to dealing with stroppy, argumentative, testosterone-fuelled young blighters who were prone to “try it on” and bait authority figures.
And so it came to pass that in this first ever game between the old enemies that Scotland scored two tries, both hotly disputed by England. The first, from a scrum, came from Angus Buchanan when England were still arguing that they had touched the ball down in goal moments earlier when Scotland’s George Ritchie had lost the ball over the line.
Instead a Scotland scrum was ordered by Almond. This was a big call because the touchline conversion from William Cross proved to be the match winner – tries only being means by which you earned a kick at goal in those days. Scotland won the game one goal to nil.
Then much later came the ‘knock-on’ controversy. In those days a knock-on was punished instantly south of the border if the ball went forward while up in Scotland they had the quaint but well-established notion that if the knock-on was not adjudged deliberate you could play on. Bless.
Esta historia es de la edición January 31, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición January 31, 2021 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.