Another of the many Junior clubs of the 1880s, Sunderland Rovers played south of the Wear.
Date (of image) : 21/10/1882
Donor : Brian Arnison
Creator : J Proctor, High St., Hartlepool
Part of the "BN109" collection
Location
The Robt.Wood collection has enabled the names of some of the many early Rugby clubs in the region to survive, with the popularity of the Rugby Code clubs sprang up in many areas in the 1880s, as that decade rolled on many either ceased playing (finding a field was a regular problem) some amalgamated and as a such survive today albeit under another name.
More detail »Images of the first known Rugby club in the 'Pools. The club was eventually dissolved in 1883 to join with Hartlepool Rovers to create a stronger Rugby club base in Hartlepool.
An early game for the Hartlepool Club was against United Sunderland on Feby 19th 1876 on the Friarage Field, with 14 men, they beat the Wearsiders 11 men by 4 tries, 1 poster 6 touchdowns to 1 rouge. The Hartlepool X1V was P Chamberlain (Captain), Alfred Belk, E Bell, Thomas Wearmouth, J Wilson, William & Arthur Hill, Bulmer, Sidney Wishart, Irvine, Otto & Henry Trechmann, W Gray & Henry Smurthwaite. The same year, Sunderland opened their new season and got their revenge on 31st October 1876 by trouncing Hartlepool by 3 goals, 3 tries, 1 rouge to two rouges. This was the score at 5.10 p.m. and “as it was now dark”, they stopped play!
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