100 Years Ago Today

THAT Tom English talks some shite sometimes. His book 'The Grudge' – now a BT Sport film, ensured most rugby fans are aware of the great 1990 Grand Slam show down between Scotland and England, at Murrayfield. Incidents such as David Sole slow marching his Scotland team out of the tunne; the raw emotion of Flower of Scotland; Fin Calder's charge right at the heart of the English pack; and, of course, that clinching try from Tony Stanger – these are now part of Scottish Rugby folklore.

Mr English claimed this was the first occasion in which a Grand Slam was on the line when sports' two oldest international rivals clashed. Less well-known, however, is the fact that when sports oldest international rivals lock horns at Twickenham this year, the game will mark the centenary of the first Scotland v England Grand Slam decider.

That game was held, exactly 100 years ago today - on 17 March, 1923, at Inverleith, in the presence of HRH The Duke of York – the future King George VI, and attracted a crowd of 30,000.

The 1923 Five Nations had, for Scotland, began on 20 January, when the French arrived at Inverleith. Scotland opened impressively, but squandered numerous scoring chances, before Ted McLaren (Royal High School FP) scored a great solo try, converted by Heriot's full-back Dan Drysdale, who was making his debut.

Scotland's 5-0 lead held until the interval, Drysdale converted a try by Selkirk scrum-half Willie Bryce to double the Scots' advantage, before McLaren scored a second, unconverted, try. The French were handicapped by injuries to stand-off Joseph Pascot (Toulon) and centre Francois Borde (Toulouse), but tight-head prop Louis Beguet (Racing Club) got them on the score-board with a dropped goal. However, Scotland had the last word via an unconverted Eric Liddell try to make the final score 16-3 to Scotland.

Two weeks later the Scots faced Wales, in Cardiff. The side showed one change from that which accounted for the French, with Arthur Browning of Glasgow High School FP coming in on the wing for Oxford University's Scots-Australian CE “Johnnie” Wallace.

The match attracted a then record crowd to Cardiff Arms Park, with the Police closing the gates well before the kick-off. When play started, Wales made the early running, but could not breach a stout Scottish defence and, at the interval, for all their pressure, they led only by a penalty goal from Llanelli's Albert Jenkins.

Scotland levelled early in the second half, thanks to an unconverted try from the flying Eric Liddell. However, Wales responded and stand-off and captain Clem Lewis (Cambridge University) scored a try, which Jenkins converted to make it 8-3 to the home side.

Scotland finished the stronger and an unconverted try from Ludovic Stuart (Glasgow HSFP) made it a two-point game. The Scots really piled on the pressure as time ran out and both Liddell and skipper Gracie were stopped right on the line.

The visitors kept attacking however and, with just three minutes on the clock, Harlequin Archie Gracie, the Scottish captain, scored a glorious solo try, flirting with the dead ball line as he cut infield to leave Dan Drysdale with a theoretically easier conversion to seal an 11-8 win for the Scots. History tells of Gracie, who had won the MC during World War I, being carried off, shoulder-high by the Welsh fans, following his winning solo try.

Three weeks elapsed, before the Scots headed for Dublin, to face an Irish side smarting from a heavy loss to England in their only previous game. The Irish opted for a spoiling game, but still took the early honours courtesy of a penalty from winger Denis Cussen, a student at Dublin University.

Scotland then took command. Liddell levelled with a try, converted by Browning, who then failed to convert his own try .to make it 8-3 to the Scots at half-time. Browning, however, found his kicking form in the second half, converting the only other try, scored by Scotland stand-off Sam McQueen (Waterloo).

The future King was accompanied to Inverleith by his then fiancee. Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – the future Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. They lunched with the two teams in the North British Hotel, before the game.

In near perfect conditions, the older, more-experienced English team showed unexpected speed and stamina. They took the lead in the first half, when Alastair Smallwood shook off the challenges of Browning and Drysdale to put England in front. However, the Scots hit back and McLaren cut through to square the match.

The Scots then took the lead in the second half, when skipper Gracie out-paced debutant England full back Toff Holliday to touch down, just before the dead ball line.

Back came England, however and Harold Locke intercepted a Bryce pass and sent Tom Voyce clear for a try, converted by William Luddington, to put the visitors back in front. The Scots tried hard to snatch victory but not even the pace of Eric Liddell could prevail, when an English defender got back to just beat him in a race to touch down a loose ball in the English in-goal area.

Flanker Jock Lawrie had earlier got over the line for Scotland, but the “try” was disallowed for a prior forward pass. So, the match ended in a win for England – 8 points to 6. Therefore, since it wasn't the final game of the season, the Inverleith wasn't the all or nothing game which the 1990 match was. However, the Grand Slam was still on the line. Had Scotland won the match, they would have taken the Slam. They didn't, but, England, having won the Triple Crown, still had the bigger prize to aim for.

Sure enough, with the Triple Crown secured and the Calcutta Cup retained – Scotland had not won it since 1912, England moved on to complete the 1923 Five Nations by beating France 12-3 in Paris.

The final 1923 Five Nations table:

Position	Nation	Games				Points			Table points
		Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Difference
1	England	4	4	0	0	50	17	+33	8
2	Scotland	4	3	0	1	46	22	+24	6
3	Wales	4	1	0	3	31	31	0	2
3	France	4	1	0	3	28	52	−24	2
3	Ireland	4	1	0	3	21	54	−33	2