The rivalry between Wales and England in rugby spans three centuries, and this narrow 12-11 encounter at the Cardiff Arms Park in 1893 was the first Triple Crown-winning season for Wales.
It began the fairytale tradition of players being carried shoulder-high out of the ground after defeating England, although that tradition might never have started after the game was almost called off due to a bitter frost. A Cardiff committee-man, Bill Shepherd, suggested that ‘devils’ be brought in to avoid calling the game off; ‘devils’ was the name given to portable fires used by watchmen on street works. Tons of coal were therefore burned on the pitch, night and day, and blackened patches were left on the grass.
Fred Lohden and Howard Marshall gave England the lead with tries, the latter converted by Andrew Stoddart; then Marshall, who was making his debut, scored again before Wales replied when Arthur Gould ran splendidly from halfway to score between the posts and Billy Bancroft converted. This was followed by a Norman Biggs try, but the magnificent Marshall went over for his hat-trick try to make it 11-7 to England.
Incredibly, England never selected Marshall again and his ill-luck continued as he missed a blue at Cambridge through injury and was not picked for a test on the British tour of South Africa. Wales lost centre Conway Rees with a broken collar bone, but Gould’s second try cut England’s lead to 11-9.
Wales were then awarded a penalty some 30 yards out and near the touchline. Bancroft refused the plea of his skipper (Gould) for a placed goal and wanted a drop kick. Gould threw the ball down in anger and as Bancroft drop-kicked, he shouted to Gould that he had been successful, even before the ball had cleared the posts.
Many in the crowd thought that Wales had lost or drawn, but Bancroft had known the new scoring values that were changed that morning and gave Wales the win by way of his drop kick. In any event, WRU Secretary and former player, WH Gwynn, shouted: “We’ve won!”
