Page 3 - BRFC NEWS SPRING 2018

Phil Hoggarth reminds us what it was like in the good old days...
BRECON RFC
MEMORIES OF 50s AND EARLY 60s...
My first introduction to Brecon RFC came on a Saturday afternoon in mid-January 1955. I was walking back to work through the Bulwark when, at the monument, I encountered Danny James (then Chairman) Joe Power and Reg Jones. They stopped me and asked, “What are you doing this afternoon?” I replied, “I’m on my way back to work.” The next question was more pointed, “You’ve got transport haven’t you?” I responded explaining, “Yes but I still have “L” plates.” In a flash Danny asked me, “Do you want to play rugby this afternoon?” “Definitely,” I replied, “But, Mr James, if you want transport you will have to ask my dad.” He did and I played that afternoon at Tick Tock, Ystradgynlais.
However, my first match on the pitch wasn’t for Brecon but for the opposition. We arrived with 15 players but they only had 13 so, as the newest recruit, I was sacrificed and offered to
season we managed with two tin baths before three shower roses were installed and we were able to shower in relay.
After a couple more years we were given permission to play on the Gas Works field. Gwyn Pugh (brother of the (in)famous, John) obtained permission to cut trees from the wood at the Taff Reservoir to make goal posts. Gwyn and I travelled to the site, selected four tall straight trees, cut them down and trimmed them. With difficulty we threaded the long timbers through the forest and to the reservoir. We floated them on the water and I jumped in and pushed them around to the dam wall. There we picked them up and carried them across to the main road where, on Monday morning, they were put onto a Jenkins the Builders lorry to bring into town where we further trimmed, painted and erected them.
There were a number of Characters in our team none more so than Joe Power. He was
forwards and we couldn’t retaliate as they were only BOYS! In one of the matches Roger Williams, who later became MP for Brecon and Radnor, played at full back. All that I remember of the game was that I scored my most points in any match, 16 (at that time tries were worth 3 points).
All the funding for the team came from the players themselves, a few supporters and from fund raising events organised by the players. Such events included Dances, Rugby Queen, 7’s competition and weekly draw in which tickets were 6 pence each and the weekly prize was £1. The Balance Sheet for 1957 showed a total income of £101-10s-11d. Expenditure (including jerseys at £7-16-2) to- talled £90-9-7 leaving a balance of £11-1s-4d. Perhaps the most surprising/amusing memory occurred after the final game of one season. We had a coach (unusual) and stopped off at the Bear in Crickhowell. We had a very heavy session and when we were kicked out I left
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the opposition to even up the numbers. It was a decision that Brecon were to regret as, in the last minute, I tackled Mike Hicks as he was going in for what would have been the winning try.
At that time the team played at the Tythe Barn Field off the Fenni Fach Road. The changing facilities were in a tent near the Boathouse whose proprietors supplied hot water. Some of our team and the opposition chose to jump and bathe in the Usk instead.
Later we upgraded our changing facilities by moving to, what was then, the Fountain Inn (now the Working Men’s Club). For the first
one of the best raconteurs I have ever come across and was as blind as a bat without his glasses. On one occasion, while we were playing at Abertillery, we had a line out on their 22 metre line. The ball was thrown in and Joe emerged with the ball. At first we shouted “Pass, pass!” soon the cry changed to, “Stop, stop!” We eventually stopped him as he reached our 22!
One of our regular fixtures at that time was against Christ College. After a time the matches against them were abandoned as they were becoming too dangerous. The College Boys were hitting lumps out of our
with a couple of bottles of spirits. After a while I went back to return the bottles and asked Mrs Dennis (landlady at the time) if she could give me something to present to her partner, Roger, who would be attending the Club dinner on the following Friday. John Curry (England) was to be the guest speaker. Two swift moves later and her knickers (bloomers) were on the bar. The presentation, to Roger, was duly made and he wore them all night!
There are many other stories and fascinating characters which will have to keep for another time!
BRFC News
SPRING 2018