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CONTENTS
1.
DROWNING 1913
1.1.
Plucky Rescue from
Glamorgan Canal
2.
SCHOOLBOY 1923
2.1.
Highfield Results
(Protestants 4 Catholics 0)
2.2
Hooliganism
Disgraceful Scenes at the Park.
2.3
Cardiff Boys.
2.4
Dewar Shield Final
2.5
Wales Boys.
3
CARDIFF RFC
3.1
Best Rugby Club in the
Country.
3.2
Fixture Reports.
3.3
Representative Games.
3.4
Internationals.
4.....
WELSH CAP CANDIDATES
4.1
Stone deserves a
glance.
4.2
Welsh Trial
4.3
Stone Ignored.
4.4
Stone Selected.
5
WEDDING
6.....
An International who never was.
7
The last word
?
G
V Wynne Jones 1974
Tommy was ahead of his time.
APPENDIX
Extracts
from Rugby League Contract
“Tom
Whatley of Blackweir,
Cardiff
”
Employed
by the Glamorgan Canal Company who dived into the canal and rescued a child
named Stone (inset)”
“Little
child in dire peril”.
About 4 o-clock Tommy Stone (3) son of William Stone, a foreman of the
canal company was playing with some other children near the lock when he slipped
and fell into the water. The
water was running at great pace and the child was washed through the culvert and
out into the water of the canal.
Several
people saw the accident and their cries attracted the attention of a youth named
Wm. Whatley who was working some 300 yards away. Whatley ran as hard as he could
along the canal bank and, reaching the spot where the child was being washed
backwards and forwards in the current coming from the weir, he dived in and
succeeded in bringing the little child to the bank.
The
child who had been in the water for a full four minutes was unconscious, and,
while a messenger went for the doctor, artificial respiration was resorted to by
several men who had hastened to the scene. For
an hour their efforts met with no success but when they were almost giving up
hope they noticed twitching in one of the little boys eyes and doubled their
efforts. A little later the
doctor arrived and the boy was taken into his home.
An hour later the doctor reported that due to his good constitution the
child was out of danger.
Young
Whatley who is 18 certainly deserves recognition for his brave deed. He is very
popular amongst his fellow workmen at the Cambrian yard.
As for Mrs. Stone she could not find words adequate to express her
gratitude to young Whatley. All she
could say was ‘He’s a brave little hero and I shall never forget him”.
2.1.
Highfield
School
Results (Protestants 4 Catholics 0)
St.
Monica’s
From
a scrum the ball was sent out to the Highfield threes, and Brown got over for an
unconverted try. Shortly afterwards
Stone raced over with another unconverted try.
The visitors were not long in adding to their score, Stone steadying
himself dropped a lovely goal. Prior
to to-days game, Stone, the Highfield centre had scored 95 points for 9 games
played and his 7 points this morning made his total so far this season 102,
a very creditable performance.
Tom Stone’s try was easily the best.
He was the outstanding
boy on the field and should be a strong candidate for international honours
again this season.”
Final score: Highfield
11 St. Monica’s
0
St Albans
Last
Saturday Highfield met St. Albans in the Ingram Rees cup and ran out winners by
48 points to nil. Tom Stone,
who should be an absolute certainty for a Welsh [schoolboy] cap this season,
scored eight tries and converted two.
Ninian
Park
The
first few minutes of the game when these two schools met were full of incident.
Norman Fender opening the scoring for the Park with a try wide out.
Whilst Tom Stone brought the scores level a minute later with a fine try.
No further scoring took place until about ten minutes before the end when
Tom Stone, after being tackled practically on the line, dropped a smart goal
although having very little room to work in.
Final
score: Highfield
7 Ninian Park 6
St. David’s
Highfield
had had the better of the exchange in the opening half, but failed to press home
their advantage. Early in the
second half Tom Stone, the Welsh international full back playing at centre in
this game dropped a pretty goal which decided the match.
Final
score Highfield 4 St. David’s 0.
Disgraceful
Scenes at the Park
The
replayed match between Highfield and St. David’s Schools in the final for the
Cardiff Schools Rugby Shield at the Cardiff Arms Park on Monday evening, were
productive of scenes almost without parallel in the history of schoolboy rugby.
A small rowdy element amongst the spectators made it’s presence felt during
the game and especially so, at the conclusion of the game.
The
match ended in a win for Highfield by a dropped goal to nil after a keen
struggle between to fairly evenly matched sides and the result was a fair
reflection of the game. However, the
decision did not please the section already referred to and there ensued scenes
which were a disgrace to the fair name of the sport, and which might have had
serious results. As it was the
referee was roughly handled by hooligans before he could obtain assistance and
he was escorted off the field by members of the scholastic profession.
The
boys of the winning side were also subjected to maltreatment and a stone was
thrown at Tommy Stone whose dropped goal gave Highfield the victory and was
carried off shoulder high by his colleagues.
Another lad was tripped from behind and thrown heavily.
So threatening was the behaviour of certain of the spectators that the
police had to be sent for. The ill
humour of the hooligans also found expression in threats and bad language used
towards the headmaster of Highfield.
The
scenes were such as should never be repeated, if rugby and especially the
schoolboy game is to retain its hold upon the players an spectators and it is to
be hoped that precautions will be taken to prevent any such occurrence on future
occasions.
Cardiff
Lads prepare for Mountain Ash.
Although not in his accustomed place at three
quarter, Stone the B full back, was a tower of strength to his side and
repeatedly saved them by some keen tackling and long touch finding.
Final
score B
Team 0 A Team 22
T
Stone selected to play for Cardiff
boys against Mountain Ash
First
Round
The
tit bit of the first round match, occurred about three minutes before half time
when Cardiff scored through their full-back, Tom Stone.
Play was near mid-field when the Cardiff full-back received the ball.
Instead of kicking to touch, he elected to test his vis-à-vis with a big
kick and a smart follow up. The
Mountain Ash full-back was tackled by Johnny Ring and fumbled, Tom Stone got
possession and dashed for the line evading a would be tackler on his way and
scoring a remarkable try. Stone
played a fine game, kicking and tackling superbly.
Cardiff
defeat Mountain Ash in the second round. Had Cardiff paid more attention to
scrumaging the probabilities are that the score would have been a good deal
heavier than it was. As a
compensating factor there was the brilliance of Stone the Highfield
full-back.
The
Cardiff boys fought gamely with Stone playing finely but the All Blacks win the
Dewar Shield
Mid
Glamorgan v Cardiff Supporters
The
outstanding player was Tommy Stone, the schoolboy international full back who
played in the unusual position, for him, as outside half.
Tom
Stone, probable full back, is the captain of the undefeated Highfield school
team. He was reserve full back for Wales last season.
Cardiff
Boy Rugby Player Tom Stone, who is captain of the undefeated Highfield School
team, has scored 140 points this season in twelve games.
For his school he plays centre three-quarter but as Cardiff’s full back
he has made himself famous. He was
reserve full back for Wales last season and is well in the running for his cap
again this season.
He
is playing in the preliminary Welsh trial, East v West, at Treherbert on
February 23rd. The Welsh schools Rugby Union recognised his abilities
last season, and if he keeps up his present form there is no doubt that further
honours await him this season.
Stone
selected in probables for final Welsh trial at Abertillery.
T Stone, a fine footballer and particularly
safe in fielding the ball, is an accurate kicker, and a most resourceful player.
He has scored 140 points this season playing at full back and centre, a
performance that speaks highly of his all round abilities.
Stone
has played some brilliant games at full back for Cardiff’s Rugby Schoolboys
and last Saturday distinguished himself in the East side.
“Full
back Stone was in fine form, his handling and kicking left nothing to be desired
for one who is on the small side, being clean, and of a good length. While he
rarely fails to find touch”
“Tom
Stone at full back for Cardiff played excellently, fielding the slippery ball,
accurately tackling well and kicking a fine length.
Everything he did stamped him as a footballer of great promise.”
Stone
electrified
the crowd
with a “Remarkably fine display on a quagmire”.
Stone saved his line on numerous occasions when under pressure from
forward rushes. Stone’s play is
not far below the best international standard, and he is as good as any other
Welsh full back except Bassett.”
“In
the opening minutes of the half, Stone electrified the crowd of 20,000 with am
amazing run in which he covered 60 yards after fielding the ball in his own 25.
The full back darted clean through the opposition, but when he finally
passed a Newport man snapped up the ball. Stone’s
brilliant effort, however paved the way for a Cardiff score, and this was
obtained in the next movement when A T Thomas dashed over in the corner after B
R Turnbull had paved the way. Stone
failed to convert.
Final
score: Newport
0 Cardiff 5.
Contender for
international honours
“Stone
the Cardiff full back was great and he should certainly become a contender for
international honours.”
Tommy
Stone, the Cardiff full back, was outstanding in the match won by Cardiff by two
tries to nil at Newport on Saturday. Many
are the fine games he has played for his club, but the probability is that he
has never before shown such perfection in positional play, such accuracy in
fielding and kicking and such sound judgement on when and whom to tackle
Final
score Newport ?
Cardiff ?
Stone
dropped a truly great goal
Though
beaten by Newport for the second time this season, Cardiff had one consolation.
They had the most popular and admirable player on their side and he
contributed the most spectacular incident of the match.
He was their full back, Tommy Stone, who played a perfect game and
dropped a truly great goal. He
was severely tested by Newport’s kicking to the open and by the dashing work
of the Newport forwards but his sense of position was sure, his fielding
excellent, and his touch finding accurate”
Final
score Newport 11 Cardiff 4.
Great
Tackles by Tommy Stone
“Newport,
specially in the first half, frequently had the Cardiff defence running in the
wrong direction. But always,
there was little Tommy Stone or Hughes, both grand defenders to crop up and
bring off a decisive tackle”
Final
score Newport 3 Cardiff 3.
“Tommy
Stone, the Cardiff full back was the best man on the pitch and almost won the
game for them”
Rhondda
“Tom
Stone saved Cardiff several times with his fine tackling” .
Final
Score Upper Rhondda 0 Cardiff
3.
Splendid
game at Torquay Stone plays well at full
back and did much stylish work in the second half.
Final
score Torquay 8 Cardiff 11.
Bristol
Defeat Cardiff but the
outstanding man on the field was Tommy Stone, who was magnificent in all he did.
The Bristol full back was eclipsed by the great display of Stone who was
loudly applauded by the crowd at the close.
Tommy
Stone, the youthful and versatile Cardiff Rugby player originally operated at
outside-half but lately, due to the injury to Trevor Lee has played phenomenal
football at fullback.
Then
came a delightful piece of work by Stone, the visiting full back, who darted
away from the scrum, beating several opponents.
So elusive was his running that he got almost under the posts before
being stopped”
“Cardiff were splendidly served by T
Stone, whose form at full back make it difficult to understand why he has failed
to find favour with the Welsh selectors.”
Final score
Bristol 6 Cardiff 4
Stone
and Bowcott shine in a thrilling game. Perhaps
the outstanding feature in the play of Cardiff’s back contingent was the
display given by young Tommy Stone. Last
week we had occasion to call attention to his magnificent exhibition at Torquay,
and he kept up the high standard in no uncertain way at Bristol, adding to his
good defence and kicking qualities, by some unorthodox attacking movements, in
one of which, he nearly got through the whole of the Bristol team, after a run
of nearly half
the
length of the field. There is no
questioning the fact that Stone is a bundle of versatility and able to adapt
with uncanny fitness to any position among the backs.
Final score Bristol 5 Cardiff
0.
Tommy
Stone, who will play for Cardiff against Llanelly on Saturday, is one of
Cardiff’s own. He played for
the Highfield School and secured his schoolboy cap at full back in the same year
he was one of the outstanding successes of the Cardiff boys’ team.
Leaving school he became one of the stars of the supporters
ex-schoolboys. Not yet twenty
years of age he has figured for the Cardiff premier team this season
Stones
Brilliant defence
“Stone
was playing a magnificent game at full back for Cardiff, his touch finding being
faultless. On at least half a
dozen occasions in this half he got his side out of difficulty by clever
pick-ups and lengthy kicks to touch”
Final
Score Llanelly 5 Cardiff 3.
Stone in
International form against Llanelly.
“Stone
plays brilliant game at full-back. A
tussle between the Llanelly attack amd the Cardiff defence ended in a win for
the Scarlets by a dropped goal. Stone
was in brilliant form at full-back for the Taff siders.
The Scarlets fully merited their victory.
Had they piled on another 10 points no one could haggle over the result.
From start to finish the game was one long tussle between Llanelly’s
attack and Cardiff’s Defence. Stone,
the Cardiff full back played a miraculous game; he was here, there and
everywhere to frustrate the Llanelly’s attacking efforts.
“There was, however one Cardiff back who added to his
reputation. This was diminutive full
back Tommy Stone. Cardiff owe a good
deal to him, and how many Llanelly attacks he pulled up I can not count.
More that once he was not content to kick to touch.
He started perhaps the most dangerous Cardiff attacks which the game
produced.”
“I
watched Cardiff last Saturday at
Llanelly. Then they were a side
which had lost all the sparkle and lustre I have seen them show.
They had one great player in this match, this was young Tommy Stone their
full back. Very many worse men
have worn a red jersey, and Wales could be quite safe with Stone in the last
line. Stone is not afraid of the
unorthodox. It is extraordinary when
you think how the vast majority of our full backs are wonderfully content with
just the defensive side of football.”
Final
score Llanelly 4
Cardiff 0.
Stone
never wavered
“There
was great merit in Llanelly’s display on Saturday; adopting tactics suitable
to the muddy ground and slippery ball, the Llanelly forwards directed the trend
of play throughout. Their
fierce yet well concerted rushes swept aside the Cardiff defence time after
time, and it was only the heroic play of Tommy Stone, the diminutive Cardiff
full back, which repeatedly saved the visitor’s line.
He was harried by the fast Llanelly forwards as, probably never before,
yet he stuck to his task magnificently.
Final
score Llanelly 15
Cardiff 5.
Stone at
his best, was the greatest stumbling block to the visitors, repeatedly gathering
the ball at their feet and driving them back with long touch kicks.
His display all through was polished.
Final
score OM Tailors 3 Cardiff 27.
“T Stone defies Swansea, Cardiff full back stands out."
Cardiff
were slightly the better side and just deserved their 3 points to nil victory.
There was not much to choose among the forwards but the Cardiff backs
were faster and handled better. The
outstanding player of the whole game was T Stone the Cardiff full back, who
proved a veritable stone wall through which the Swansea attack could not
penetrate. He was always ready for
the ball and nearly always got touch with a good length.”
Tom Stone
takes his chance, Swansea mistakes
help Cardiff.
The game
was robbed of a great deal of interest by the conditions, which were so bad that
only 20 minutes play was possible in the second half.
Stone, at full back for Cardiff, was the outstanding player, his kicking
and fielding being particularly clever.”
“Stone
and Herbert both fielded the treacherous ball magnificently and, Stone in
particular, kicked with Bancroftian accuracy and length.”
Final
score Swansea 6
Cardiff 6.
Gloucester
Gloucester
outplayed in second half. Tommy
Stone played a great part in a Cardiff victory over Gloucester at Kingsholm
to-day, for besides scoring a remarkable try which he also converted, the full
back also added the extra points to tries by Thomas and Jones.
A remarkable triumph was then secured by Stone.
He fielded a punt, broke clean through the Gloucester defence , and ran
half the length of the field . He
then punted and there was a great race to the Gloucester line .
Mackay fumbled and Stone who was at his heels beat him and scored one of
the finest tries seen at Kingsholm for a long time.
He was loudly cheered for his great exploit.”
Outstanding Full back
At the
end of the match the name of T Stone, Cardiff’s
full back, was on the tongue of most of the spectators.
He gave a scintillating display, and without exaggeration might be said
to have played the principal part in Cardiff’s victory..
His positioning and fielding were perfect and he kicked a good length
with excellent judgement, but it was
the manner in which he eluded would-be tacklers and gained large slices of
ground by clever running, which was the feature of his play.”
Gloucester face
a gifted back in Stone.
The
outstanding Cardiff player was Stone the full back.
His touch finding was perfect and his try which resulted from a run
almost the length of the field ending in a clever punt over an opponents head
was a great effort.
Final
score Gloucester 3 Cardiff 15
points”
“Tommy
Stone was the hero of a keen and fast clash in which the Gloucester side played
desperately but unsuccessfully
against a sound defence. It was a
great day for Tommy Stone. He was
always in position and what few attacks Gloucester made found him ready and able
to clear. He
fielded cleanly, and cleverly eluded Gloucester’s rushes. He also used the touch line to advantage
Cardiff
lose their record, Stone plays superb game. There were two outstanding features
and both were to the credit of Cardiff. Tommy
Stone played a superb game. No words
can fully do him credit. He never
put a foot wrong; his fielding and kicking were grand and his tackling saved at
least two tries in the first half when Aarvold and Tallent were all but
through.”
“Little
Stone played a great game, fielding, dodging and kicking safely and employing a
sense of anticipation to such effect that repeatedly the Blackheath people
looked to be feeding him with direct punts”
Final
score Blackheath 6 Cardiff 3.
T.
Stone the Strong Man of Cardiff.
Final
Score Cardiff 3 Blackheath 0.
“Radcliff,
the home full back played quite a good game, and yet in comparison with Tommy
Stone, the Londoner was outclassed. In
fielding high kicks in a treacherous wind, in kicking and in defense, Stone was
a host in himself and was given an ovation by the sportsman like crowd.”
“In commenting on his play the London critics stated that
Stone’s display was masterful, and if Wales had better full backs they are
lucky.”
Final Score Blackheath
5 Cardiff 6
Full
back Stone a Fine Stand –Off
“Plymouth
Albion, with a clear lead of 6 points at the interval seemed likely to beat
Cardiff comfortably but in the second half , T Stone, the visiting full back and
Gabe-Jones the stand off half, changed places, and the transfer and stones’
brilliance won the game for Cardiff.”
Final
Score Plymouth Albion
6 Cardiff 8
Stone
in Form
Cardiff
had a remarkably good ‘midget’ back in Stone with a kick out of all
proportion to his inches and a bulldog tackle.
The marking and tackling were as keen as anyone could imagine, and there
was no one more sure or certain in his tackles than Stone, who played a great
game for his side. Stone had a lot
to do with movements at the end of the game when the Cardiff backs gave a
glimpse of their real selves in several delightful bouts of passing, one of
which sealed the Albion’s fate.”
Final
Score Cardiff
8 Plymouth Albion 3.
Richmond
The home
team got no fewer than sixteen of their 23 points in the concluding stages, and
Tommy Stone, the full back, had the distinction of figuring amongst the getters.
Stone again came to his side’s rescue when Webber put in a kick ahead.
The Cardiff full back took the ball easily dodged two would be tackles,
and found a long touch. Stone a
great little full back particularly impressed with his positional play.”
Final
Score Cardiff
v Richmond.
Full
back scores clever try
The home forwards gradually wore the opposition down and
following a remarkably fine try by Bassett easily the fastest man on view,
Cardiff ran riot and tries were scored in quick succession by Brown and Spence
whilst in the last minute was obviously the most popular try of the day was
scored by Stone who converted it.
Final Score Cardiff
23 Richmond Park 3
Neath
Cardiff
had the honour of taking Neath’s ground record on Saturday, and were able to
perform the feat b exhibiting an all-round superiority in every position at
forward, which was not represented in the final score.
The hero of the game was Tommy Stone, the Cardiff full back who was
magnificent in all that he did and a rock upon which the fierce rushes of the
home forwards spent them selves in vain. “No custodian playing the game could
have improved upon the display given by Stone in this match.”
“I
must not forget Tommy Stone, Cardiff’s
wonder full back. He was definitely
one of the heroes of the game, and his pluck forced Neath to cheer.
Final
Score Neath 3
Cardiff 6.
Coventry
Cardiff
and Coventry draw blanks. The rival
lines of threes seldom made much headway, yet one brilliant movement was only
held up when Stone brought the house down with a beautifully timed tackle that
prevented Roberts making full use o a pass from Campbell.
Final
score Coventry 0
Cardiff 0.
Falmouth
“Stone
was taken off with an injured ankle but returned a little later, playing in the
three quarters . Stone played his
usual sound game.”
Final
Score Falmouth 3
Cardiff 22.
Penzance
did better for a time but responding to calls of ‘ Come on Tommy Stone’
Stone had a go at scoring on his own, being brought down within inches of the
line
Final
Score Penzance 0 Cardiff 23
T Stone acts as giant killer to Aarvold.
The
talent of four nations combined to make the Barbarians a formidable side against
Cardiff and the football they played was quite in keeping
with their reputation.
Except perhaps at full back where little Tommy Stone played grandly for
the home team, the visitors were superior in all departments. T Stone was outstanding for Cardiff, and the way he tackled Aarvold, who
was nearly twice his size was a joy to the fine holiday crowd of 10,000.”
“
Stone continued to be the star man of the Cardiff side, his safe hands, and
splendid sense of position gaining him many rounds of applause.
He was admirably safe with his kicks but was a little ambitious when he
attempted to drop a goal from half way.”
Final
Score Cardiff 8
Barbarians 14.
“The
wings, too gave no cause for complaint in any direction but Bayliss had a most
unhappy afternoon. Stone at the
other end made several glaring errors and occasionally sliced the ball, but he
was along way in front of Bayliss.”
Final
score Glamorgan
26 Monmouthshire 9
One of
he most coveted honours in Rugby has been offered to Tommy Stone, the Cardiff
full back, who has accepted it. Barbarians
have written to the Cardiff club offering Tommy Stone a place in their team to
play East Midlands in the Mobbs memorial match on March 4th.
SPRINGBOCKS
1931
Little
Stone with a Great Heart
Critical
Match...
Interesting contrasts are provided in the Cardiff team.
The forwards, who include such famous Welsh caps as A Skym and B Barrel
average 18 stone, but the full back, T Stone, is at 5 foot 2 inches the smallest
man playing first class rugby in this position. Stone is, however strong and sturdy, a plucky tackler and a good kick
Twice in
the first half, when Cardiff were the better side a sprinter might have rounded
off the attack, while on a third occasion, a minute or two before the interval,
Stone (who played his best game of the season and did not suffer in comparison
with Brand) with the assistance of Barrel and Skym, ran for over half the length
of the field and failed to find a speedy man on the right flank to accept a pass
when all the defence had been left behind.
“Cardiff
as a team played nobly and Stone and Boon played heroically”
“Little
full back’s amazing pluck, went down to rushes of giant forwards.
Although Cardiff did not beat the South Africans, they made them go all
out to win by 2 goals and one try to 1 goal.
Over 30,000 spectators attended. The
man who caught the most, though was Stone, Cardiff’s diminutive full back He did not miss-field a single ball and went down to rushes in plucky
style. On this display he must be
the best full back in Wales to-day”
Final score Cardiff 5South Africa 13
4
WELSH CAP
CANDIDATES
Tommy
Stone, Cardiff’s diminutive full back was born in Llandaff North. He attended Highfield school and in 1924 gained his Welsh School boy
international cap. He began his
career in senior football through the medium of the Cardiff supporters XV.
Stone was then outside half and it was such that he first appeared in the
Cardiff first XV in 1926. He
alternated between fly-half and full back before eventually settling in the last
line from where he is now making a serious bid for a cap.
Though on the small side, this does not prevent him being a splendid
player. Stone is a fine kick, a full
blooded tackler, and if he has one fault it is that of being unnecessarily
daring in endeavouring to defeat oncoming opponents “
“Cardiff’s
brilliant full back. If he is judged by his form against Newport, T Stone the
Cardiff full back is bound to be considered for a place in Wales match against
England at Twickenham.”
“For
years Stone has been playing up to international standard without getting the
honour so richly deserved. I have
been following rugby for over 45 years and have never known another player so
treated Newport Supporter.”
“Tommy
Stone, the Cardiff full back deserves a glance. There are of course Scourfield, Bayliss and Bassett ready to hand;
Stone has one advantage over these three ; his former experience as a
fly-half makes him a much more constructive back than any of them.
I am tending to the opinion that the great full back of the future is
going to be a very real part of the attack.
Full backs ignore attack too much. Someone
will arise one day and alter that.”
Gwyn Bayliss (Pontypool) v Tommy Stone (Cardiff)
More
problems for the selectors as Possibles beat the Probables.
The second Welsh trial match at Cardiff provided a surprise, the
Possibles beating the Probables by
fifteen to ten, and the run of the play indicated that the selectors have been
set more problems to solve. Tommy
Stone, with his speed and his kicking showed Bassett to be an ‘old man’.
“The
man of the moment who could slip into Bassett’s shoes, and fill them with some
considerable credit is Tommy Stone of Cardiff. I have seen him play half a dozen times this season, and I go as far as
to wonder whether or not he is Bassett’s equal. In my view Stone stands out above all the candidates and, provided he
retains his form, I hope to see him gain his first cap.”
Final
score Possibles 10
Probables 15.
Mention
of the full back position brings up the topic of Tommy Stone.
Perhaps we of Newport have been unlucky (or lucky enough to praise
without bias) in that Stone almost invariably has shown his best form in Cardiff
Newport games. That was the
case yet again on Saturday and I do not think there is any doubt that Newport
followers generally believe that Stone is still quite easily the best full back
in Wales. Yet he is still only a
reserve for the Swansea trial.
There
must be some prejudice in the selector’s minds against Stone, perhaps they are
fearful of his audacity, preferring stodgy efficiency, but if the little Cardiff
full back ends his carer without winning a Welsh cap it will be possible to say
with perfect truth that he is one of the finest uncapped man who has ever
played. When we remember the
questionable credentials of so many internationals honoured even in Stone’s
time, we can not but sympathise with a grand little player.
Tommy
Stone, the Cardiff full back is to play for Wales against Ireland at Belfast on
Saturday. The official announcement
was made on Wednesday. Stone has
been on the fringe of international honours for several seasons.
He secured them now through the chosen full back, V J G Jenkins, having
intimated that he will be unable to play owing to a sceptic knee.
Until this season, Stone has been one of the most unfortunate of players
in the matter of the highest honours.
Although he played in many Welsh trials it was not until January that he
secured a final trial cap.”
“Of
all the honours accorded to Cardiff men none has given such satisfaction as that
of an award to Tommy Stone. True, he
secured the coveted honour by being brought in from the reserve list instead of
as an original selection, but that matters little.
For years Cardiff supporters have urged that Tommy Stone
really deserved a cap. Doubtless, he would have had it ere this had it
not been for the fact that he happened to be playing at a time when Wales was
particularly well off for full backs. The
honour has come, somewhat belatedly, though it Is non the less welcome, and it
can be safely asserted that the satisfaction felt at the inclusion of Stone in
the Welsh side is more wide spread than had been the case in regard to any other
player in recent times.
“ I
learned yesterday that the admirable club full back, Tommy Stone, has never been
given a final trial cap. This, in my
opinion is an injustice to one of the most consistent players in the country.”
Football
team at wedding, Guard of honour for vice-captain an bide. The bride
was Miss Marjorie Smith of Radyr Road, Llandaff North, given away by her
brother Mr Gwyn Smith she wore a gown of ivory ring velvet with a draped
corsage, with embroidered tulle veil and wreath of orange blossom.
She carried a bouquet of flame tulips and this was the colour chosen for
the velvet gowns of her two bridesmaids, Thelma Cook and Joyce Smith.
Mr Bert Walters, brother in law of the bridegroom was the best man.
“I
have not had my International cap , but what does that matter when compared with
the kindness I am receiving from my club mates.
This was the reply made by Tommy Stone, the Cardiff full back, when he
was presented with a canteen of cutlery and a Westminster chiming clock by the
players and committee men of the Cardiff Rugby Club at Cardiff on Saturday.”
Picked
by Wales and never capped. That
was the bitter blow dealt out to stubby and powerful Tommy Stone, who played
nine seasons at full back and fly half for Cardiff between 1928 and 1937.
It was in his last season for Cardiff that Tommy received the news that
every player cherishes – he was picked to play for his country.
Selected
to appear against Ireland in 1937 in
place of the injured Vivian Jenkins, Stone
even made the journey across the Irish sea only for the fickle weather to
prevent him wearing the coveted red jersey. Heavy snow falling on the Ravenhill ground wiped out all possibility of
the match being played and Stone, together with his team mates returned to Wales
empty handed. By the time the
rearranged international was played a few weeks later Stone, in his
disappointment had gone north an Walter
Legge of Newport stepped into the breach to win the first of his two caps.
“The
scouts had been after me for years” he explained “and in my disappointment
in not playing in Ireland I thought I might as well get something out of the
game so I signed for Barrow at a fee of £300.”
He turned out to be one of Barrow’s most costly buys.
After no more than a dozen games for the rugby league club he strained
the ligaments in his knee and was unable to play another game of rugby.
Cheery
and imperturbable Tommy, his chubby face constantly creased with an engaging
grin, has only one regret about his rugby carer -
that he did not turn professional earlier.
“ I was 27 years old when I went north and that was too late” he
points out. “I could have gone as
a youngster to either Leeds or Salford for £560 but my father was very ill and
I thought it better to stay at home.”
He has
one outstanding memory about his playing days and that goes back to the time
when he was an outside half for Highfield school. “We won the schools cup at Cardiff Arms Park for three years in
succession” he recalls. ”and each time it was
through a dropped goal that went through the same posts.” It is with some reluctance that Tommy admits that it was he who dropped
the match wining goals
“It is
a matter of getting the right mixture of individualism
and discipline. If I
had a son who was keen to be a threequarter I would want him to watch Wilf
Wooler but learn from Bleddyn Williams. Wilf
was the great individualist, the completely natural player.
Bleddyn was a player who did all the orthodox things well, who could play
the team game to perfection and then decide the match with one magnificent side
step..
The
changes in the game today would have appealed to the people I played within the
1930’s. Tommy Stone would have
been in J P R’s class as an attacking full back.
Tommy who started as a fly half was regarded as too much of a risk as an
international full back because he came up with his threequarters too often.
They’d have said the same thing about J P R had he been playing then. .
Now he is rightly regarded as the best full back in the world.”
An Agreement made the 20th day of
March One thousand nine hundred and 37 between J.E. Senior the Secretary of and
acting pursuant to Resolutions and Authority for and on behalf of the Barrow
Rugby Football Club Limited (hereinafter referred to as “the Club” of the
one part and W.T. Stone (hereinafter
called “the Player” of the other part).
Whereby it as agreed as follows:-
1
In consideration of the
stipulations and agreement on the part of the Club hereinafter contained, the
Player hereby agrees with the Club,
that he will well and faithfully and to the best of his ability and skill, play
the game of the rugby League Football for the Club, either for the First Team,
Second Team, or as a Reserve to either Team.
The Player shall do everything necessary to get and keep himself in the
best possible condition so as to render the most efficient service to the Club.
2
The Player shall observe and
be subject to all the Rules, Regulations, and Bye-laws
of the rugby Football League or any other League, Unions or Combination
of which the Club shall be a member.
3
The Player shall have the
right to refuse to play when called upon , if by his playing he would jeopardise
is position at his ordinary work or be likely to lose such work.
4
In consideration of the
Player faithfully observing and performing the stipulations and agreements
herein contained, the Club hereby agrees that it will pay the Player for each
First Team Match in League or Cup-Ties in which he plays:- Home Matches for a
win the sum of £4 0s
0d.; for a draw the sum of £3 0s
0d.; for a loss the sum of £2 0s
0d. Away matches for a
win the sum of £4 10s 0d.;
for a draw the sum of £3 0s
0d. for a loss the sum of £2
0s 0d.(payment for friendly
matches to be left to the discretion of the Club.)
For ‘A’ Team Matches in the Lancashire Senior Competition: Home
Matches for a win £1 0s
0d. ; for a draw the sum of
£1 0s
0d.; for a loss the sum of 10s 0d.;
Away matches for a win the sum of £1 10s 0d.;
for a draw the sum of £1 10s 0d.;
for a loss the sum of £1 0s
0d. North Western League
matches; for a win the sum of 10s
0d.; for a draw the sum of 10s 0d.;
for a loss the sum of 7s 6d.
5
The Club will pay, in
addition to the remuneration to be paid to the Player under the preceding
paragraph, all reasonable travelling expenses incurred by the Player when
travelling on the Club’s behalf.
6
If the Player shall be unfit
to play and such unfitness is caused by an accident while playing for the Club,
and renders him unable to follow his ordinary employment, then the player shall
be entitled to the benefit of the Insurance next hereinafter provided for.
7
The Club shall pay to the
Player the sum of £2 10s 0d. per week if such Player be incapacitated whilst
playing with either the First or Second Team so long as he is unable to follow
any employment.
8
The Club shall at its own
expense, cause an Insurance Policy against accident at Football to be issued by
the Northern League Football Union Insurance Society.
9
The Player shall not (except
in International, county, or other Representative Matches), without the express
written permission of the Club previously obtained, play either in practice or
in matches, whether ordinary fixtures or not, the game of Football for any Club
or Team other than of the Club..
This
agreement is subject to the following right of appeal:-
1
A Player shall have the right
of appeal to the Council of the Rugby Football League
2
A Right of appeal to the
Management Committee of the Rugby Football League
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