Eric Liddell's Rugby Career
Eric Liddell played rugby for Scotland - these are the summaries of the
matches he played in.
On 2nd January 1922 at
Colombes
FRANCE 3 SCOTLAND 3
France: J. Clement (Valence), A. Jaureguy (Toulouse), F.
Borde (Toulouse), R. Crabos* (St Severs), R. Got (Perpignan), J. Pascot
(Perpignan), R. Piteu (Pau), R. Lasserre (Cognac), J. Sebedio
(Carcassone), F. Cahuc (St. Giruc), P. Moureu (Beziers), A. Cassayet
(St. Guadens), M. Biraben (Dax), P. Pons (Toulouse), G. Lubin-Lebrere
(Toulouse)
Scotland: W.C. Johnston (Glasgow HSFP), A. Browning (Glasgow
HSFP), G.P.S. Macpherson (Oxford University), A. L. Gracie
(Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh University) J. C. Dykes (Glasgow
Academicals), J. Hume (RHSFP), A. Wemyss (Edinburgh Wrs), D. M. Bertram
(Watsonians), A. K. Stevenson (Glasgow Academicals), D. S. Davies
(Hawick), J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP), J. R. Lawrie (Melrose), C. M.
Usher (Edinburgh Wrs), G.H.H.P. Maxwell (London Scot.)
Referree: H. C. Harrison (England) Touch Judges: J. M. Dykes, C. F.
Rutherford
A. Jaureguy scored but Crabos failed: (3-0); A. Browning scored but
Maxwell failed (3-3). (H.T.).
The ground was soft after some heavy rain but the dismal conditions did
not keep away a record crowd of 37,000. The game
was fairly even up to half time; then rain fell continually so that
handling became very difficult. The Scottish pack
dominated the second half but no score came from many near things, the
French defence being desperate but successful.
On 4th February 1922 at Inverleith
SCOTLAND 9 WALES 9
Scotland: H. H. Forsayth (Oxford University); A. Browning
(Glasgow HSFP), R. C. Warren (Glasgow Academicals) , A. L. Gracie
(Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh University), G. P. S. Macpherson
(Oxford University), W. E. Bryce (Selkirk), A. Wemyss (Edinburgh Wrs),
D. M. Bertram (Watsonians), W. G. Dobson (Heriot’s FP), D. S. Davies
(Hawick), J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP), J. R. Lawrie (Melrose), C. M.
Usher (Edinburgh Wrs), J. C. R. Buchanan (Stewart’s Former Pupil)
Wales: F. Samuel (Mountain Ash), F. Palmer (Swansea), I. Evans,
(Swansea), B. E. Evans (Llanelli) C. Richards (Pontypool), W. Bowen
(Swansea), W. J. Delahay (Bridgend), T. Parker (Swansea), J. Whitfield
(Newport), S. Morris (Cross Keys), D. D. Hiddlestone (Neath), T.
Roberts (Risca), J. G. Stephens (Llanelli), W. Cummings (Treorchy), T.
Jones (Newport).
Referee: R. A. Lloyd (England), Touch Judges: J. M. Dykes, W.
W. James
There was no scoring at half time. W. Bowen scored and Samuel
converted (0-5); A. Browning scored but Bertram failed (3-5);
A. Browning kicked a penalty and scored a try which he did not convert
(9-5); I. Evans dropped a goal (9-9).
The Scottish forwards played well but their backs did not make good use
of a plentiful supply of the ball, Bryce had a fine game making several
good breaks, one of which gave Browning his first
try. The winger also had a good game, scoring all
the points. The opening score came when Forsayth, catching a
high kick under the posts, had has kick charged down by Bowen who ran
on to drop on the rebound. Evans’ equaliser came in
the last minute and a very disappointed crowd left in stunned silence.
On 25th February 1922 at Inverleith
SCOTLAND 6 IRELAND 3
Scotland: H. H. Forsayth (Oxford University), A. Browning
(Glasgow HSFP), R. C. Warren (Glasgow Academicals), A. L. Gracie
(Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh University), G. P. S. Macpherson
(Oxford University), W. E. Bryce (Selkirk), A. Wemyss (Edinburgh
Wrs), D. M. Bertram (Watsonians), W. G. Dobson (Heriot’s
Former Pupil), D. S. Davies (Hawick), J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP),
J. R. Lawrie (Melrose), C. M. Usher (Edinburgh Warriors), J. C. R.
Buchanan (Stewart’s Former Pupil)
Ireland: W. E. Crawford (Lansdowne), H. W. V. Stephenson (Un.
Services), G. V. Stephenson (OU Belfast), D. B. Sullivan (U. C.
Dublin), T. G. Wallis (Wanderers), J. R. Wheeler (OU
Belfast), J. B. Clarke (Bective Rangers), W.P. Collopy (Bective
Rangers), M. J. Bradley (Dolphin) I. Popham (Cork Const.), F.G.T,
Hallaran (Un. Services), S. McVicker (OU Belfast), R. H. Owens (Dublin
University), J.K.S. Thomson (Dublin University), J. D. Egan (Bective
Rangers).
Referee: T. D. Schofield (Wales) Touch
Judges: J. M. Dykes, R. M. McGrath
J. A. Clarke scored but Wallis failed (0-3). (H.T.)
Bryce and E.H. Liddell scored but Browning failed to convert (6-3).
A Strong wind made handling difficult and play often surged from end to
end. The Scottish pack held in the first half, finished
strongly to give Bryce, who had another good game, and the backs the
chances they needed, for the Irish defence was fast and
effective. G.P.S. Macpherson did not please the
critics as a stand-off half.
February 1923 at Cardiff
WALES 8 SCOTLAND 11
Wales: B.O. Male (Cardiff), W. R. Harding (Cambridge
University), A. Jenkins (Llanelli), R.A, Cornish (Cardiff), T. Johnson
(Cardiff), J.M.C. Lewis (Cambridge University), W.J. Delahay (Cardiff),
A. Baker (Neath), S. Morris (Cross Keys), D.G. Davies (Cardiff), T.
Parker (Swansea), G. Michael (Swansea), G. Thomas (Llanelli), L.
Jenkins (Abaravon), T. Roberts (Newport).
Scotland: D. Drysdale (Heriot’s F.P.), A. Browning
(Glasgow HSFP), E. McLaren (RHSFP), A. L. Gracie
(Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh University), S. P.
McQueen (Waterloo), W. E. Bryce (Selkirk), D. S. Kerr
(Heriot’s F.P.), D. M. Bertram (Watsonians), A. K.
Stevenson (Glasgow Academicals), L. M. Stuart (Glasgow HSFP),
J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP), J. R. Lawrie (Melrose), D. S.
Davies (Hawick), J. C. R. Buchanan (Stewart’s Former Pupil)
Referee: J. W. Baxter (England)
A. Jenkins kicked a penalty, (3-0). (H.T.). E .H.
Liddell scored but Browning failed (3-3), J.M.C. Lewis scored and
Jenkins converted (8-3): L. M. Stuart scored but Browning
failed (8-6): A.L. Gracie scored and D. Drysdale converted (8-11).
Although the police closed the gates before the start, a record crowd
got in and lined the playing area. They were to
witness a hard game which finished with one of the most famous tries in
the history of the game. Wales failed to take their chances
in the first half and only led by a penalty goal. Straightway
Eric Liddell showed his pace by scoring a fine try only for Wales to
increase their lead to 8-3 with a converted try.
Then with fifteen minutes to go the Scottish pack put in a tremendous
finish. Firstly, L. M. Stuart scored another fine forward
rush. Then came two scoring attacks by the backs but Liddell
and Gracie were both tackled short of the line. With three
minutes to go the ball was heeled from the scrum on the 25;
Bryce passed to McQueen who went to the left and seeing that McLaren
was covered, threw a long pass over his head to Gracie. Now
in his own words: ‘Running, slightly diagonally to the left to go
between Arthur Cornish and “Codger” Johnson, who I saw in a flash was
in two minds – whether to go for me or run between me and Liddell and
prevent me passing to the latter … as I went on the way opened up for
me and the tactics to be adopted were as plain as a
pikestaff. Whether I dummied or not I do not
remember but I was just able to swerve round my opposite number and in
doing so saw I had Male on the wrong foot and all I had to do was to
carry on over the line. But here I nearly spoilt everything,
the dead ball line at Cardiff was desperately close to the goal line
and in trying to touch down near the posts I recklessly ran along the
dead ball line, only inches off it, till the close proximity of Cornish
and Jenkins made me decide to drop on the ball”. It is
recorded that he was so close to the dead ball line that a small boy
sitting there was struck by Gracie’s boot and lost some
teeth. One can only add that the disappointed Welsh
supporters swarmed onto the field and carried Gracie off the field
shoulder high!
On 24th February 1923 at Lansdowne Road
IRELAND 3 SCOTLAND 13
Ireland: W. E. Crawford (Lansdowne), D. J. Cussen
(Dublin University), G. V. Stephenson (Queen’s), J. B. Gardiner (NICF),
R. O. McClenahen (Instonians), W. H. Hall (Instonians), W. Cunningham
(Lansdowne), M. J. Bradley (Dolphin) R. Collopy
(Bective Rangers), W.P. Collopy (Bective Rangers) D. M.
Cunningham (NICF), P.E.F. Dunn (Bective Rangers), R. D. Gray
(Old Wesley), T. A. McClelland (Queen’s), J.K.S. Thompson (Dublin
University).
Scotland: D. Drysdale (Heriot’s F.P.), A. Browning
(Glasgow HSFP), E. McLaren (London Scot), A. L.
Gracie (Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh University), S.
P. McQueen (Waterloo), W. E. Bryce (Selkirk), N. McPherson
(Newport), D. M. Bertram (Watsonians), J. C. R.
Buchanan (Stewart’s Former Pupil), L. M. Stuart (Glasgow HSFP),
J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP), J. R. Lawrie
(Melrose), D. S. Davies (Hawick), R. S. Simpson
(Glasgow Academicals).
Referee: T. H. Vile (Wales)
D. J. Cussen scored (3-0): E.H. Liddell scored and Browning converted
(3-5). A Browning scored but failed to convert
(3-8). (H.T.) S.B. McQueen scored and Browning
converted (3-13).
In drizzling rain Ireland played a spoiling game and gave Gracie and
Mclaren little scope. Nevertheless, the two wingers
were successes, Liddell showing that he was not only very fast but
determined. It was considered that McQueen, given a
good supply of the ball from the scrums, did not vary his play
enough. Drysdale was praised for his defence.
On 17th March 1923 at Inverleith
SCOTLAND 6 ENGLAND 8
Scotland: D. Drysdale (Heriot’s F.P.), A. Browning
(Glasgow HSFP), E. McLaren (London Scot) or (RHSFP)
?, A. L. Gracie (Harlequins), E. H. Liddell (Edinburgh
University), S. P. McQueen (Waterloo), W. E. Bryce
(Selkirk), N. McPherson (Newport), D. M. Bertram
(Watsonians), A.K. Stevenson (Glasgow Academicals),
L. M. Stuart (Glasgow HSFP), J. M. Bannerman (Glasgow HSFP),
J. R. Lawrie (Melrose), D. S. Davies (Hawick), J.
C. R. Buchanan (Stewart’s Former Pupil)
England: T. E. Holliday (Aspatria), C. N. Lowe (Blackheath), E. Myers
(Bradford), H. M. Locke (Birkenhead Park), A. M. Smallwood (Leicester),
W. J. A. Davies (Un. Services), C. A. Kershaw (Un. Services), A. F.
Blakiston (Northampton), G. S. Conway (Rugby), R. Cove-Smith (OMT), E.
R. Gardner (Devonport Services), W. G. E. Luddington (Devonport
Services), F. W. Sanders (Plymouth Albion), A. T. Joyce (Gloucester),
W. W. Wakefield (Cambridge University)
Referee: T. H. Vile (Wales) Touch Judges:
H. S. Dixon, J. Baxter
A. M. Smallwood scored but W. G. E Luddington failed (0-3):
E. McLaren scored but A. Browning failed (3-3). (H.T.) A. L.
Gracie scored but D. Drysdale failed (6-3): A. T. Joyce
scored and W. G. E. Luddington converted (6-8).
The match was played in brilliant weather before a crowd of 30,000
which included the Duke of York. The teams were quite evenly
matched but England were expert at seizing chances, their pack being
very ready to run with the ball. Smallwood had a
good solo try after beating the defenders and this was later matched
when Gracie, taking the ball on at his feet, kicked it past the full
back and only his speed enabled him to fall on the ball just before it
went over the dead ball line. The winning score
came from an interception by Locke (? Or Lowe?) which was
carried on by the forwards for Joyce to score.
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