Clifton Rugby Football Club History
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v Taunton 24th September 1892

 
 
 

The first match played on Clifton's new pitch at in Fishponds.

Clifton
Back
E.Field
Three-quarter backs
C.A.Hooper, E.J.Barff, F.Borwick, E.M.Panter-Downes
Half-Backs
G.T.Kevern, A.S.Hume
Forwards
B.H.Belson, F.C.Belson, F.Barnard, W.W.Vaughan, G.W.Norington, W.Gwynn, H.Fargus, T.Jones
Taunton
Back
Boucher
Three-quarter backs
Keats, Lock, Spurway, Clive
Half-Backs
Webb, Goodman
Forwards
Morris (captain), Taylor, McAuley, Mitchell, Mezeweather, Hitchcock, Durie, T.Hancock

An account of the match appeared in The Bristol Times & Mirror on 26th September 1892 and said

The supporters of the Cliftob Rugby Club are making a special effort to raise the standard of the club, which last year threatened become defunct, and with this object in view a capital field had been secured at Fishponds, a couple of minutes walk from the railway station.. On Saturday the opening match of the season was played, against Taunton and quite a large crowd assembled, many persons journeyed over from Bristol. The home team included C.A.Hooper and E.Field, Cambridge men, and the anticipation of a good game were fully realised. The Taunton team were late in arriving, and it was not until nearly four o'clock that their captain kicked off uphill and against a strong breeze. The first scrum took place in the home25; buta judicious kick into touch by Borwick transferred the game to the halfway. Then Hooper was fed from the scrum, and, getting clear of his opponents, was able to score in an easy position. Panterdowne converted, and a goal was thus scored about three minutes after the commencement. Again the visiting forwards were able to get on the ball before it was returned, and for a few moments the Somerset men were dangerous. A bad pass by one of their three-quarters spoilt the advantage, and Hooper was enabled to put in a grand run, and thus transferring the ball to Panterdowne, this player scored. Field failed at the place, and, restarting, Clifton again penned their opponents, and before the half-whistle blew Borwick added another try, which was unconverted. After changing ends, the Tauntonians tried hard to score, but Field's defence was too good, and time after time his play was applauded. The homestart, not withstanding the strong breeze against them, had much the better of the second half, and when time was called two more tries had been added, the scorers being Norrington and Panterdowne. One was converted, so that the final score was, Clifton, two goals, three tries; Taunton, nil. The teams were as follows :- Clifton: E.Field, back; C.A.Hooper, E.J.Barff, F.Borwick, and E.M.Panterdowne, three-quarters; G.T.Kevern and A.S.Hume, halves; B.H.Belson, F.C.Belson, F.Burnard, W.W.Vaughan, G.W.Norrington, W.Gwynn, H.Fargus, and T.Jones, forwards. Taunton: Boucher, back; Keats, Lock, Spurway, and Clive, three-quarters; Webb and Goodman, halves; Morris (captain), Taylor, McAuley, Mitchell, Mezeweather, Hitchcock, Durie, and T.Hancock, forwards.

The players were

Clifton  
Edwin Field Born 16th December 1871. Clifton College 1882-91. Already a Cambridge Blue at Cricket and Rugby and an England International. For more click here
Charles Alexander Hooper Born 6th June 1869. Clifton College 1880-1888. Head boy 1886 and 1887. Went on to play for Gloucestershire, Cambridge University and England. For more click here
Edward James Barff Born on 12th July 1864. Clifton College 1878-1883. Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Assistant Master Clifton College from 1887. Retired 1927. Died 1936.
Frank Borwick Born on 16th December 1866. Clifton College 1879-1886. Died 1945. For more click here
Edward Martin Panter-Downes Born on 3rd Decmber 1872 at Rushford Rectory, Thetford, Norfolk. Clifton College 1885-1890. He trained at Sandhurst, and joined the Royal Irish Regiment. He was the son of Captain Edward Panter-Downes, R.N.; husband of Kathleen Panter-Downes. Served in the South African War. Awarded the Royal Humane Society's Bronze Medal in 1898. He died in WW1 on 26th August 1914 at the Battle of Le Chateau. For more click here
Grahame Travers Kevern Born on 11th July 1868. Clifton College 1883-1885. University College Bristol. Guys Hospital. In practice at Wivenhoe, Essex. Died 1932
Albert Stewart Hume The son of the Australian Photographer W.C.Hume. For more click here
B.H.Belson Brother of Frederick Belson.
Frederick Charles Belson For more click here
F.Barnard ?
William Wyamar Vaughan Born on 25th February 1865.Educated Rugby and New College, Oxford. Master Clifton College 1890-1904. Headmaster, Giggleswick School, Wellington College and Rugby School. Died 4th February 1938 in India. For more click here
Henry Lawrence Weekes Norrington Born 16th August 1872. Clifton College 1883-1891. Played for Gloucestershire. Went to University College, Bristol. Lt-Col in RAMC. For more click here
William Purnell Gwynn Born in 1871 in Clifton, Bristol. In 1891 living at 22 Victoria Square, Clifton.
Harold Fargus

Born on 15th February 1873. Clifton College 1883-1891. Brigadier-General in Army. He married, 7 October 1899, at Clifton, Bristol, Alice Gertrude Evans, daughter of J L Evans. He died at Cranford Nursing Home, Cranford Avenue, Exmouth, Devon.

His father was Frederick John (aka Hugh Conway) Fargus, born 26th December 1847, Bristol, Auctioneer, Author and Playwright, died 15th May 1885 in, Monte Carlo, Monaco after catching typhoid fever. 1871. Author of 'Called Back', 'Dark Days' and other books.

His brother Archibald Hugh Conway Fargus joined Clifton RFC in 1901-02. His brother also played cricket for Gloucestershire and Cambridge University. He became a Canon at St. Paul's Cathedral.

T.Jones ?
Taunton  
Boucher  
Keats  
Lock  
Spurway  
Clive  
Webb  
Goodman  
Morris (captain)  
Taylor  
McAuley  
Mitchell  
Mezeweather  
Hitchcock  
Durie  
T.Hancock