Page 29 - 2020 SoMJ Vol 73 No 2_Neat

20 The Society of Malaŵi Journal

a) The ground is not too hard for the game to be played with the option of
playing in the rainy season
b) There are enough new arrivals to raise thirty players, many of whom have
already played the game
c) Those who play the “dribbling code” could also participate and vice
versa thus benefitting both codes
d) It would add variety to the sports on offer.

The article did not go unnoticed for there was a reply in the Nyasaland Times two
days later from Mr J Foot of Likuni under the heading of “Rugger”

RUGGER

“Sir – I was pleased to read that this paper is taking up the cause of
rugger players. If Blantyre would raise a XV, I am confident there
would be no difficulty in raising another team to meet them.
But if a match is to be arranged it must be done soon or the
planters will be too busy curing to be able to play.”
Yours, etc.
J Foot
3
Likuni

The gauntlet had been thrown down. The tobacco growing area had challenged
the commercial town of Blantyre to form a team with the proviso that it must take
place before the tobacco curing season required the constant attention of the
growers. A week later the following appeal appeared in the Nyasaland Times - as
a paragraph in its “This Week” column.

“The Rugby match, the prospect of which is creating great interest locally, will
th
take place on Saturday, February 5 , subject to the approval of the Captain of
Football. Local players desirous of taking part are requested to communicate with
Mr D Mark at the Post Office, stating at the same time the position in the field, if
any, in which they were accustomed to play.”

It transpires that Mr D Mark was, in fact, the postmaster of Blantyre and
a former rugby player with Bridgend in Wales.
th
The game was played on the 5 February 1921 with a full report
appearing in the Nyasaland Times Sports Section the following Thursday.

RUGBY FOOTBALL

The first Rugby match for many years was played at Blantyre last
Saturday between a Blantyre Fifteen under Marks and a Settlers
Fifteen got together by Mr Foote of the B.C.A. Company. Great

3 Nyasaland Times 21 January 1921.
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