He was reserve for the final, he only had a short career with Saints, I looked it up on the heritage site, but I don't think the picture they use on there is correct, he was only mid 20's when he played and the picture seems to be of an older player.

Obviously I'm proud of the connection but, if you go back to the era when the team was mainly drawn from local lads, then I would guess a lot of families in the town would have had a relative who has played at one time or another.

S57

There are not many who played in the first 2 Derby's

Would the sides have played each other as RFU teams pre 1895?

Indeed they did Sir, The first game was at Frog Lane, Wigan on Dec 3rd 1887, Wigan won by 3 tries ( Baldwin 1 and Slevin 2) and 9 minors, (a minor point was awarded to the attacking side when the defenders had to make the ball dead in their own goal area) Saints scored 1 Minor point.
The last game played under RU rules was at St Helens on April 25th 1895, Wigan won.
All in all they played each other 15 times under the auspices of RU rules, Wigan winning 10, Saints 2 with 3 draws.
In our defence there were some very dubious decisions, I'm sure that one of the games was referee'd by a Brian Rogues.


It would be very interesting to see the "Minor" rule brought back into todays game.
Just out of interest, the first Derby at KR was on September 20th 1890, the first at CP was on April 18th 1903.

Just for the record =#FF4000SAINTS won the first derby at CP by 5 points to 3. Halcyon days



"Phillistine" of "The Athletic News" wrote of the game, Quote
" Some 5000 spectators assembled in the sylvan retreat of Central Park, and though the umbrageous trees were not wearing their summer costumes, nor the pastoral beauties very evident, there was sunshine in the air, and the pearly stream that meanders over the rocky bed contrived to give the Park all the glamour of a rural resort. The sanguinary mountains and the arena of the succulent onion have no charms like this new home of the Wigan club"
Please note there is no mention of Pooles pies anywhere
Stevo, eat your heart out.