St Helen’s ArchivePreserving the past for the future

OT073

Magic lantern Slide, B&W, Torquay Athletic v Swansea 1891. Dimensions: 3 1/4" x 3" (w8.2cm x h8.1cm)

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CIC

1890-1891

This 'magic lantern' slide from Voctorian times is a photograph of the match between Torquay Athletic rugby team and Swansea, played at the Torquay ground on Monday 16th February 1891. Swansea won the match by 3 goals, 4 tries and 11 minors to a dropped goal by the home side (20pts to 3). The match was the second in Swansea's short tour of the west country. It is understood that the Torquay side wore black jerseys, the stripe probably being white. their current colours are black and white. Swansea of course, wore white jerseys. They had played and beated Exeter on the Saturday (14th) by 1 goal, 1 try and 8 minorsto 3 minors (6pts to 0) in a match that saw Swansea full-back Teddy Throgood sent off for threatening retaliatory action against an Exeter player he said had struck him. The referee in the Exeter match was a Mr Terry from Torquay. It is not certain if this is the same referee who appears in this image but it is unlikely.