Bournemouth used to be in Hampshire. It was prime minister of the day, Mr Heath that redrew the boundaries in the 70s and suddenly we found ourselves in Dorset. However, in rugby terms we have been slightly schizophrenic being affiliated to Dorset & Wilts as well as Hampshire, even playing in the Dorset & Wilts KO Cup in those early days of cup competition. Although our fixture list continued to have a high Hampshire club content it was the advent of league rugby that really separated us as we turned to face West. We had our moments in the Dorset & Wilts Cup but of late it has been deemed that we are flying too high in the league to be considered for our domestic cup competition. Whatever one might feel about such a decision it caused frustration amongst the Bournemouth players that they were not able play against their fellow county clubs with whom they now have very little contact, if any, at 1st XV level. Whatever the political situation, our links with Hampshire have remained strong. We have a number of lads who come from Hampshire and they have served with some distinction in Hampshire’s county championship campaign over these past few seasons with our own Joe Rees captaining the side. Our Director of Rugby, Will Croker maintains close links with Hampshire he had a positive response when he suggested that we would like to enter the Hampshire Cup to give us a chance to reprise our not too unsuccessful campaign of yesteryear and here we are today. We would like to say ‘thank you’ to Hampshire for allowing this to happen.
Our first Hampshire Cup game was away to the Isle of Wight in February 1971 but we lost in the second round away to Basingstoke. Note Havant lost to the US Services in the final that year. We met Havant in the first round of the cup the following season but we lost to US Services in the final at Trojans 4-nil. The following season Havant lost again in the final this time to Aldershot Sevices. The following season we beat Trojans 16-3 in the final at Basingstoke and became the first non-services side to win the cup. The following season (1974/5) the cup holders came down with a bump when they lost in the final to Havant 12-6 at Trojans and that proved to be Bournemouth’s last involvement until that historic game against Tottonians in October.
A few of us oldies got all weepy eyed and nostalgic that day with one, dare I say, veteran now Bournemouth supporter recalling being photographed as captain of Havant holding the trophy aloft after their victory over Bournemouth in 1975.
We look forward to great game this afternoon which, unquestionably, will be played in a competitive spirit we all remember of yore.
Doug Warren, President and former player I might add.
