The Very First Match…
The Oxford Book of Records gives the following description of the first Varsity Match.
“On Saturday, February 10th, 1872, a match was played between the Rugby football clubs of Oxford and Cambridge. The length of the journey, reading and other causes prevented Cambridge from playing their full strength. For the first quarter of an hour, however, their great weight forward kept them near the Oxford goal. Oxford also lost the services of Francis after about ten minutes’ play, as he strained his leg and could not go on. The Oxford forwards, however, soon showed their real superiority, and by some excellent play, notably by Isherwood, Cholmondeley and Fletcher, took the ball to their opponents’ goal line and forced them to touch it down. On their dropping it out, it was returned to the 25 yards post, and Isherwood, getting the ball when thrown out of touch, made a good run in, and turned it into a goal by an excellent kick, for the distance was very long.
“Goals were now changed, as it was just half-time: but Oxford could not succeed in gaining any other positive advantage, though they forced Cambridge to touch it down three times, and would have done so oftener but for the excellent play of Lambert. Just at the call of time Fletcher kicked the ball over the bar from the ground: but it was alleged it had touched one of the Cambridge men on the way, and no goal was therefore counted.
“For Oxford, Deacon and K. R. Fletcher were always useful half-backs: while Pearson (back) by his long drops, and Isherwood, Gardner, Cholmondeley, W. R. Fletcher and Edgell forward did great service. For Cambridge, Lambert played splendidly, saving Cambridge many times: Luscombe also played well at back; and Collin, Agnew, Back and Baxter showed their ability to play a losing game well forward.”
That first Varsity Match was played as a 20-a-side game and the two teams would have been pretty familiar with each other! Of the 40 players stepping out onto the pitch, 24 had been educated (appropriately enough) at Rugby School – 16 for Oxford and eight for Cambridge. Uniformity is also evident when looking at their future career choices. After graduation 13 became lawyers, seven were ordained, five took up teaching and four followed military paths. Where known, brief biographical details follow:
The 1872 Cambridge Team - Backs
JOHN MAXWELL BATTEN
Born: Almora, Kumaon, India
School: Haileybury
Age: 19
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2), 74. Captain in 1873, 74
Profession: Assistant Master at Haileybury College 1875-7; at Kelly College 1877-82; at Newton Abbott 1883-4. Head Master of Plymouth College 1884-9. Secretary of the British Branch of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, USA. Became the first Cambridge University player to win a cap for England when he played full back in a win over Scotland in 1874.
HAMILTON ANNE HAMILTON
Born: Simla, India
School: Wellington College
Age: 19
Blues: 1872, 1873 (2). Cricket 1873, 1875.
Profession: Ordained Deacon 1876, Canon of Bloemfontein Cathedral 1902-05, Vicar of St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich, 1915-25, Rector of Marlesford 1925-29 and Canon of St Edmundsbury Cathedral.
REGINALD POPHAM LUSCOMBE
Born: Ashcott, Somerset
School: Marlborough College
Age: 23
Blues: 1872, 1973 (1,2), 1874
Profession: Hebrew scholar ordained a Deacon in 1875 and became priest in 1876. Chaplain at Tavistock, St Mark’s Gloucester and Brookthorpe, Gloucestershire 1975-81. Vice-Principal of Gloucester Theological College 1878-87.
The 1872 Cambridge Team - Half-Backs
ISAAC COWLEY LAMBERT (CAPTAIN)
Born: Stockwell, London
School: Rugby
Age: 22
Blues: 1872 as captain.
Profession: Solicitor and JP who became the Conservative MP for Islington East
1886-1892. Became a Friend of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London.
HAMLET RILEY
Born: Halifax
School: Rugby
Age: 21
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2). Captain 1873 (1).
Profession: Joined army and graduated to rank of Major in the Westmorland and Cumberland Yeomanry Cavalry. Became High Sheriff of Cumberland in 1901
CHARLES EDWARD LYON
Born: Eccleshall, Staffordshire
School: Clifton College
Age: 21
Blues: 1872
Profession: Unknown
The 1872 Cambridge Team - Forwards
GEORGE WILLIAM AGNEW
Born: Salford
School: Rugby
Age: 20
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2)
Profession: Partner in family firm, Thomas Agnew & Sons, art publishers and a member of the firm of Bradbury, Agnew & Sons, proprietors of the satirical magazine Punch. Widely known as an expert in art sales and appreciation, he was a governor of Manchester Victoria University and the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital. Liberal MP for Salford West 1906–1918, he became 2nd Baronet Agnew, of Great Stanhope Street, in 1910 and was High Sheriff of Suffolk, 1922. His younger brothers Charles and William also won Blues and there was an Agnew playing for Cambridge in seven of the first eight Varsity Matches.
RICHARD BAXTER
Born: London
School: Rugby
Age: 19
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2)
Profession: Unknown
FRANCIS FORMBY BACK
Born: Ealing, London
School: Marlborough College
Age: 19
Blues: 1872
Profession: Merchant banker
TURNER COLLIN
Born: Saffron Walden
School: Rugby
Age: 19
Blues: 1872
Profession: Solicitor
JAMES EDWARD DEAKIN
Born: Hobart, Australia
School: Hereford Cathedral School
Age: 21
Blues: 1872
Profession: Unknown
ROBERT FRANCIS DUDGEON
Born: Dumfries
School: Rugby
Age: 20
Blues: 1872
Profession: Served in auxiliary forces for 43 years and was Captain, 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers and Lieut.-Col., 3rd V.B. King's Own Scottish Borderers; Vice-Convener of County Council of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry, 1908-32 and Director of the Highland and Agricultural Society.
FREDERIC MARTON HULL
Born: Liverpool
School: Marlborough College
Age: 19
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2)
Profession: Solicitor
ANGUS MACDONALD
Born: West Alvington, Devon
School: Kingsbridge Grammar School
Age: 19
Blues: 1872
Profession: Unknown
RICHARD MARGERISON
Born: Bradford
School: Rugby
Age: 19
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2)
Profession: House Surgeon, Anaesthetist and Demonstrator in Anatomy, at St George's Hospital. Then surgeon to Belgrave Hospital for Children and Royal County Hospital, Hampshire.
EDWARD ST JOHN MORSE
Born: Edgbaston
School: Marlborough College
Age: 19
Blues: 1872
Profession: Ordained Deacon 1879 and became Priest in 1880. Chaplain of St Mary's, Nottingham 1879-82 and then Vicar of Shelford, Nottinghamshire 1882-1940.
RT HON MARK FRANCIS NAPIER
Born: Naples, Italy
School: Wellington College
Age: 20
Blues: 1872
Profession: Barrister who defended Arabi Pasha after the Cairo uprisings in 1882. MP for Roxburgh, 1892-5.
JOHN POPE SISSON
Born: St Asaph
School: Rugby
Age: 21
Blues: 1872
Profession: Solicitor who emigrated to Australia and died in Perth.
ALEXANDER SPROT
Born: Edinburgh
School: Harrow
Age: 18
Blues: 1872
Profession: Commissioned into the Royal Lanarkshire Militia, where he reached the rank of Lieutenant. In 1874 he was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the 6th Dragoon Guards. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1876, Captain in 1882, Major in 1889, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1900, and Colonel in 1904. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War 1879-1880 (awarded the Afghanistan Medal). He later served in the South African War (for which he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with 6 clasps, the King’s South Africa Medal with 2 clasps, and was mentioned in despatches twice). He retired in 1909, but later served in World War I as an Administrative Commandant from 1915 and was twice mentioned in despatches. Defeated former Prime Minister Asquith to win East Fife parliamentary seat in 1918. Lost it in 1922 but became MP for North Lanarkshire 1924-29. Appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1917 and made 1st Baronet of Garnkirk, Lanarkshire, in 1918.
WILLIAM YOUNG WINTHROP
Born: Unknown
School: Wimbledon
Age: 19
Blues: 1872
Profession: Solicitor
The 1872 Oxford Team - Backs
William Octavius Moberley
Born: Shoreham-by-Sea
Age: 22
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2). Captain in 1972 and 1873 (1).
Profession: Assistant Master, House Master and later Second Master at Clifton College 1874-1913. Won his England cap v Scotland five days before the first Varsity match in 1872 and helped Gloucestershire win county cricket title in 1877.
Thomas Sherwin Pearson
Born: Harlaxton, Lincolnshire
Age: 20
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872. Racquets 1874, Real tennis 1873, 1874.
Profession: A lawyer, he became a JP and the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire in 1899. He played cricket for Middlesex and became President of Nottinghamshire CCC.
Arthur Tompson Michell
Born: Oxford
Age: 21
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1,2), 1874. Captain 1874.
Profession: Ordained 1879, he was Rector of Brampton, Norfolk from 1885-91, then Vicar of Sheriffhales 1891. Diocesan Inspector of School for Norwich and edited the ‘Rugby School Register’, ‘Marsham Parish Register’ and ‘Brampton Paris Register’. Brother of William Michell who played for Cambridge in a future Varsity Match.
The 1872 Oxford Team - Half-Backs
Charles King Francis
Born: Upminster
Age: 20
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872. Cricket 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873.
Profession: Became a barrister in London and was a Metropolitan Police magistrate for 29 years. Played County cricket for Middlesex and also played for the Gentlemen v Players.
Keddy Ray Fletcher
Born: Unknown
Age: 20
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Became a solicitor who then went to New York when he married. Was Master of the Worshipful Company of Drapers.
Edwin Augustus Deacon
Born: Ottery St Mary
Age: 21
School: Marlborough College
Blues: 1872, 1873 (1)
Profession: Joined Chinese Maritime Customs and died in China at the age of 31.
The 1872 Oxford Team - Forwards
Alfred Stanton Garnett-Botfield
Born: Unknown
Age: 21
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Became a solicitor in Manchester.
Harold Brierley
Born: Eochdale, Lancashire
Age: 19
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Ordained in 1876, he became Chaplain at St Catherine’s Hospital 1880-85, Vicar of Upper with Lower Bullinghope and Grafton 1885-1903, Rector of Ribblesford, Vicar of Bewdley and finally Vicar of Bridstow.
Charles William Lloyd Bulpett
Born: Chertsey
Age: 19
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872. Athletics 1875
Profession: Was with HM Inspector of Schools before becoming a barrister in 1884. Described as a traveler, big game hunter, explorer and war correspondent. Author of ‘A picnic party in wildest Africa’; being a sketch of a winter's trip to some of the unknown waters of the upper Nile’ in 1907. Took on two notable sporting wagers, both of which he won. The first was to run a mile, walk and mile and then ride a mile within 16 ½ minutes. The second was to swim across the Thames with all his clothes on, including gloves and a Top Hat, and carrying a walking stick. Also played cricket for MCC and Middlesex.
Harold Baird Carlyon
Born: Exeter
Age: 22
School: Marlborough College
Blues: 1872
Profession: Became a private tutor in Falmouth after leaving with a 1st Class honours degree in History.
Francis Grenville Cholmondeley
Born: Gloucester
Age: 21
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872, 1873 (2)
Profession: Ordained in 1875, he became Vicar of Leek-Wootton 1880-1905 and then followed his father as the Vicar of Broadwell with Addlestrop until 1936. That meant the Parish had been served by father and son for 84 years.
Edward Methuen Rogers Edgell
Born: Broham, Wiltshire
Age: 21
School: Marlborough College
Blues: 1872, 1873 (2)
Profession: Ordained in 1874, he became Chaplain at Melksham Union 1881-1883 and was then Rector of Rodden 1883-1916.
William Robert Badger Fletcher
Born: Kensington
Age: 20
School: Marlborough College
Blues: 1872, 1873 (2), 1874
Profession: Became a merchant in London. Won two caps for England v Scotland in 1873 and 1875. Also played for North v South and for Blackheath.
James William Gardner
Born: Staffordshire
Age: 20
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Qualified as a solicitor before becoming Registrar of the County Court for 20 years and Clerk to the Magistrates in Rugby for 50 years.
Francis William Ramsbottom Isherwood
Born: Berkshire
Age: 19
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872. Cricket 1872
Profession: Was an oil prospector in the Carpathians. Played cricket for Essex and made his international debut against Scotland five days before the Varsity Match in an England team that also contained Moberly.
Alexander MacGregor
Born: Unknown
Age: 18
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Was a civil engineer in London.
Henry William Peake
Born: Unknown
Age: 21
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Became a schoolmaster at Woodcote Prep School in Bournemouth.
John Sayer
Born: Unknown
Age: 21
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Became a barrister who was also a JP. Was Deputy Lieutenant for Kent.
Ernest Robert Still
Born: Epsom
Age: 19
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872, 1873 (2 captain)
Profession: Became a solicitor in Leatherhead. Also a director of the Imperial Tobacco Company. Played for England v Scotland in 1873.
John Wakefield Weston
Born: Crosby Ravensworth.
Age: 19
School: Rugby
Blues: 1872
Profession: Lt Col of the 4th Battalion of the Border Regiment and then a politician. He was chairman of the Westmorland County Council from 1913-24 and sat as MP for Kendal between 1913-18, when the constituency was abolished, and for Westmorland between 1918-24. In July, 1926 he was created the 1st Baronet of Kendal.
