Christ College XV 25th October 1913

Disgrifiad

Taken on October 25th1913 the photograph shows the Christ College XV who were about to play a rugby match against Crickhowell RFC at Crickhowell. Having first played each otheron February 23rd1883, Christ College and Crickhowell continued to play each other regularly until the 1900s. The matches were well-attended and spectators enjoyed the high quality of rugby played. The fixtures overlapped one of the golden eras of Christ College rugby and in the 1898 game the Christ College side included no fewer than three future Welsh Internationals: "Hop" Maddock, "Scethrog" Williams and "Teddy" Morgan.
The matches were sufficiently popular to offer fund-raising opportunities: in 1901 proceeds from the match were donated to the County War Fund for the families of men fighting in the Boer War and in 1902 funds raised were devoted to clearing the deficit brought about by the Coronation festivities in Crickhowell.
After some years without playing against one another, the two teams came together again at Crickhowell on October 25th1913. W Battey, who was responsible for the reinvigoration of Crickhowell RFC in the second decade of the 20thCentury, led the Crickhowell team to victory. Supported by an enthusiastic crowd, the match raised £7 3s 2d for the Senghenydd Disaster Relief Fund, a sum equivalent to around £700 today.