Page:VCH Hertfordshire 1.djvu/455

 SPORT ANCIENT AND MODERN tries in seven matches. The season of 1879 was fairly successful, though most of the team were new choices. It included F. Gurdon, a younger brother of E. T. and C. Gurdon, who, though he never attained to the same prominence as his brothers, was always an honest and reliable forward. Another useful player of the same year was F. W. Welldon, a brother of the Bishop of Calcutta, and now a master at Uppingham. During the ' eighties ' the school match list generally included several visits from Cam- bridge college teams, in which the boys usually proved the victors. Among notable players who reflected great credit on their Hertfordshire training at this period were the brothers Le Fanu. One of them, V. C., figured conspicuously for three years in the Cambridge fifteen and also for a time assisted county football in Kent. He also appeared in many international matches for Ireland, and was one of the best forwards who have ever worn the green jersey of the Emerald Isle. Another, A. Trethewy, captained the school for two seasons, and was subsequently a prominent pushing forward in the Cam- bridge pack. O. G. Mackie captained the Cambridge fifteen in 1896 and in addition to playing for England was included in the second Rugby team which visited South Africa. In 1891 matches against other schools became a regular part of the football programme, and have naturally proved a most interesting feature of each season. Among the schools played may be mentioned Ton- bridge, Dulwich, Sherborne, St. Paul's, Bed- ford, Cheltenham and Leys. The following list of Haileybury University blues and Inter- national caps will concisely show the promi- nent part the Hertfordshire School has played in the annals of the game. OXFORD. Atkinson, C. C., 1876 ; Bour- dillon, H., 1873, 1874, 1875 ; Cadell, P. R., 1890 ; Champneys, F. W., 1874, 1875, 1876 ; Cox, F. L., 1879; Gaisford, R. B., 1876 ; Gibson, A. G., 1894, 1895 ; Koe, A. P., 1886 ; Kitson, G. A., 1895 ; Legge, D., 1897 ; Merivale, G. M., 1874; Russell, H., 1873, 1874, 1875 ; Reid, C. J., 1896 ; Surtees, E. A., 1885. CAMBRIDGE. Batten, J. M., (captain) 1873 and 1874; Darch, W. J., 1875; Gurdon, C., 1877 ; Gurdon, E. T., 1874, (captain) 1875 and 1876 ; Hopper, L. B., 1897 ; James, S. R., 1876, (captain) 1877, 1878; Le Fanu, V. C., 1884, 1885, 1886 ; Lucas, P. M., 1882 ; Mackie, O. G., 1895, 1896, (captain) 1897 ; Nelson, W. E., 1892 ; Pater, S., 1880, 1881 ; Steward, R. 1875, 1876; Trethewy, A., 1888. INTERNATIONALS. Batten, J. M., (S 1 ) 1874; Birkett, L. C. (S) 1875, 1877, (/) 1877; Cheston, E. C. (S) 1873, 1874, 1875, 1876, (/) 1875; Gurdon, E. T. (S) 1878, 1880, 1881, 1882, (captain) 1883, 1884, 1886, (/) z879, 1881, (captain) 1883, 1884, 1885, (W) 1881, (captain) 1883, 1884, 1885 ; Gurdon, C. (S) 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, (/) 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885, 1886, (W} 1881, 1884, 1886; Mackie, O. G. (S) 1897, (/) 1898. V. C. Le Fanu played for many years for Ireland. Outside Haileybury the Rugby clubs in Hertfordshire have always been limited in number, and none has ever obtained promi- nence in the Rugby world. The oldest in point of date is the Hertford town club which, though it played at Hertford in 1872, had migrated to that town after a previous existence of some years' duration at Ware. H. Athman was the secretary, and for several seasons matches were played under both codes of rules. Eventually the Association section became the more popular owing to the greater facilities for finding opponents, and the Rugby game was dropped. The Cheshunt club dated from 1869, and for several years, under W. H. Hunt and later under E. Trimmer, met with a fair amount of success. The match ground was situated at Waltham adjoining Trinity Church. Totteridge Park School followed the carry- ing game enthusiastically in the seventies and eighties and served as a useful nursery for supplying capable players to neighbouring teams. The school however has now adopted Association rules. The Pinner club, whose name would rather imply a Middlesex con- nexion, had its ground at Watford and showed promising form for some seasons. Against such London clubs as Kensington, Rosslyn Park and Upper Clapton the team rendered a good account. Unfortunately the club was dis- banded several years ago. A similar fate befell the Hertfordshire Wanderers, who must not be confounded with the Association club the Hertfordshire Rangers. Both teams played at Watford, the Wanderers having migrated there in 1887 from St. Albans. In 1893 great efforts were made to form a West Hertfordshire club, and for a few seasons success appeared probable. Like the old Hert- fordshire Wanderers the promoters selected Watford as the scene of action. Among others who played for the club were C. D. Fastnedge, W. Denman, A. E. Ashley, F. F. Burrows, T. J. Peacock and C. H. 1 Letters S, I, W denote respectively played against Scotland, Ireland, Wales. 385 C C