Bombay Rugby Football Club: The first two years

Even in my lifetime, Rugby has seen dramatic changes, from my days in the 1970’s playing First Fifteen with my Primary and Intermediate School to modern day professionalism. It should be noted it was my size that made the team not skill, sadly my early bloom did not last, and by late intermediate school I was introduced to pain and sprain when we played Wesley Intermediate and a beautiful, and highly skilled Maori girl ate me for breakfast. I hanged up my boots after that and tried Hockey in Collage, thinking it would be much less dangerous, a thought quickly dispelled when I first faced the head and shin hunting Indians of Auckland Grammar. But still for a few short years I made my father proud and harbored dreams of being a mighty All Black.

In my day, playing barefoot in heavy cotton Jersey’s, kicking a brown leather ball that when wet was no softer then a brick and walking many miles to games was the norm, we have seen of late synthetic balls, Lycra and moisture wicking clothing, energy gels and supplements, changing the game yet again, bigger, stronger, faster being the mantrum of today.

So I wonder what those few brave men of 1888 that first played for Bombay would think watching us now? After just a couple of decades of arriving to Bombay, clearing bush to farm and working the land they decided that there past time could be well served with more psychical toil by playing footie. I think they would love modern rugby, especially when we get one over Pukekohe, and that the game still brings communities together, that sportsmanship is the rule, comradeship the norm.

The blood of the past runs deep, those tough old buggers farming all week, playing on weekends have there DNA passing through all of us, I don’t like when people say previous generations were tougher back then, harder. It was a different time, different events, different life. The Rugby player and supporters of today have had it equally hard, every bit as difficult times… Balancing high cost of living with weekend sport and a Covid Pandemic just to mention two recent events. Those settlers and players in 1888 would be every bit as proud of us today.

1888

The Rugby Club came into being in 1888, when in August Bill Cornthwaite chaired the inaugural meeting of the Bombay Football Club and was elected the first President. Mr W Rutherford offered the use of a paddock on his property (Where Saint Stephen’s School is now) and the club got underway. It played its first game against Papakura, recording a win of 16 points to 4. From the Struggle to the Top: 100 years of Bombay Rugby 1888-1988.

It was not long before the young men of the district began to think football- “Rugby”. At a meeting held in August, 1888 they decided to form a club. The first football team for Bombay is shown in a framed photograph which is hung in the Bombay Hall and is one of the Bombay’s proud possessions. W K Cornthwaite was President, Williams Secretary and E Smallfield Captain. The very early matches were held in Mr R Proudes’s paddock, also in Mr Rutherford’s paddock (Now St Stephen’s school) and in Mr A J Harris’, formerly Baird’s farm.

The first match of the season was played in Mr G Proude’s paddock against Papakura. The visiting team barred Chris Cornthwaite from play. However the Bombay boys were still too many for their opponents winning 16-4. Tries for Bombay were scored by Ned Fahey (2) J Shaw and W Brownhill, one each. Vinson converting 2. In the return match at Papakura Chris Cornthwaite was again barred from play. Bombay, playing shorthanded, again had a win 12-3. For Bombay, Alf Evans, Ted Landon, Jack Findlay and Jack Buttimore one try each, Bremner scored for Papakura. Bombay’s original colours were Black and Gold. The players were named the “Yellow Bellies” because of the wide gold band around the middle of the Jersey. From They came by Ship

1889