Touring at holiday times has long been a feature of Rugby life, in Victorian times, the major town clubs took on  tours France,  Wales, Midlands and the West Country among other more local areas, sometimes at Christmas week as well as New Years week, but the Easter break soon established itself as the main away trip.

This picture shows the Old Boys side that played five matches over Easter 1903, their Fourth West Country tour, resulting in a win over Bridgewater by 3 – 0, Camborne 17 – 8, defeat at the hands of Redruth by 0 -3, followed by victory over Falmouth by 5 -0 before rounding off with a defeat to Devonport Albion by 3 pts to 21.

The side has quite a number of players who went on to play at higher levels, skipper Bob Poole, Harry Havelock and Sam. Irvin all played for England and Durham, whilst J. Smith, S.W.Gowings (sic), and R.S.Pounder also played for the County.  As was a common feature in those times, guest players went along for the trip, on this occasion five Durham City players were included in the week long tour (Holy Thursday to the following Thurday)

1. E.W. (Billy) Dyer, Hon Sec.,

2. H. Athey,

3. Geo Summerscales, Durham City, Durham County & (later England)

4. R.(Bobby) W.Roberts,

5. R.(Bob) W.Poole, 

6. Harry. Imrie, Durham City, Durham County & (later England)

7. R. Vest, Durham City, Durham County

8. R. Long, Durham City, Durham County

9. J Athey,

1. J. White,

2. Louis Charles Emerson Emmerson, Durham County, (later joined Wakefield Trinity then Rochdale Hornets -NRU) 

3. Harry Hutchinson Durham City,

4. J Harrison,

5. Jim Smith,Durham County

6. W. Gowing,Durham County, (later joined Broughton Rangers - NRU)

7. W.Markwell,

8. R Auton.

    

Date (of image) : 1903

Donor : Hartlepool RFC

Creator : Major & Darker, Camborne

Part of the "Hartlepool RFC Collection" collection