Difference between revisions of "Portal:1961 Men/Intro"

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We have some anecdotal stories about rugby in these early years:
 
We have some anecdotal stories about rugby in these early years:
  
During the winter/spring of 61/62, rugby was introduced at the Academy as an intramural sport....I (Charles M. (Mike) Butler, MajGen, USAF(ret) ’62) was selected to be the coach of 5th Squadron's team...we spent the first 3 sessions in the day room learning the rules....long story short, we won the first Wing Championship primarily because we knew the rules....later that spring, a select team played Cranwell during an exchange visit...as I recall, they beat us by 1 point...
 
  
The picture was in the winter61/spring62 time frame (I'm an original Red Tag-62)
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No official club as I remember.    Played Rugby against the Cranwell (Brits) as part of a pick up team (I believe I was a 3rd Classman and allowed on the team eventhough the sponsors of the Brits were the 1st and 2nd classes.) Beat the Brits, I believe.  Remember the field on which we played and minor details about the game.  Also played against the Canadians a year later.  Played for 17th Squadron for two seasons.  Loved the game.  Have  not played since I left the Academy.  '''Ted Sahd''', Class of 63. 
  
From another grad:  "Nothing new to add, but the photo brings back memories.  I was in 5th Sqdn all four years so I recognize most of the guys.  The photo must have been taken in late '61 or early '62 because there are no '66ers in it, but there are '63, '64, and '65 guys"
 
  
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I played on the 7th Squadron intramural team for two years and coached for one year.  I remember the game and the fact that we played it as a contact sport like football whereas they played it with more finesse like soccer resulting in some British blood loss.  I thought we won.
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'''Wyman Harris''' 63
  
And anotherSince I played in that game, I can confirm the rugby game against the Cranwell "Crannies"as we called them during 1961.  I can also confirm that they won, but I think it was more by one point. We played it more like football.  But while they beat us on the field, we beat them in drinking beer at the Golden Bee at the Broadmore later that night.  They were great guys and a good time on and off the field was held by all.
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From Air Vice Marshal, Tony Mason:  I can however shed some light on the 1960 game, from a member of the visit who also happened to be the fly half of the Cranwell 1st XV
 
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It was a no notice scratch “pickup” game arranged as one of a handful of different sports matches. Several of the Cranwell College team were on the visit, but none of them took part in the rugby, including my informant, now a retired 4*. The contest was short, and good humoured with the comparative superior skills of the visitors being partially offset by that traditional AFA ally: altitude. A Cranwell win is remembered, but no records appear to exist over here!
Sadly, I only have fond memories of the game (including the bruises and grass burns) and no pictures.  I believe that Phil Lane, Wyman Harris, and David Small (now decesased) all from 7th Squadron played in the game. If only we knew back then that what we were doing was going to be the start of something big.
 
 
 
Howie Kraye, '63 (7th Sqdrn)
 

Latest revision as of 23:44, 17 April 2016

We have some anecdotal stories about rugby in these early years:


No official club as I remember. Played Rugby against the Cranwell (Brits) as part of a pick up team (I believe I was a 3rd Classman and allowed on the team eventhough the sponsors of the Brits were the 1st and 2nd classes.) Beat the Brits, I believe. Remember the field on which we played and minor details about the game. Also played against the Canadians a year later. Played for 17th Squadron for two seasons. Loved the game. Have not played since I left the Academy. Ted Sahd, Class of 63.


I played on the 7th Squadron intramural team for two years and coached for one year. I remember the game and the fact that we played it as a contact sport like football whereas they played it with more finesse like soccer resulting in some British blood loss. I thought we won. Wyman Harris 63

From Air Vice Marshal, Tony Mason: I can however shed some light on the 1960 game, from a member of the visit who also happened to be the fly half of the Cranwell 1st XV It was a no notice scratch “pickup” game arranged as one of a handful of different sports matches. Several of the Cranwell College team were on the visit, but none of them took part in the rugby, including my informant, now a retired 4*. The contest was short, and good humoured with the comparative superior skills of the visitors being partially offset by that traditional AFA ally: altitude. A Cranwell win is remembered, but no records appear to exist over here!