With Scotland about to face Wales its worth recalling a remarkable victory at Murrayfield in 1951
Anniesland was represented by Angus Cameron and Bob Gemmill Glasgow H.S.F.P ;Hamish Dawson Glasgow Accies and Robert Taylor Kelvinside-West(an algamation of West of Scotland and Kelvinside Accies that helped the clubs restart after the Second Word War)

Three matches in this period deserve special attention, all being in different ways remarkable. The first was against Wales in 1951. The Welsh had won the Grand Slam the previous year. They made up almost half the 1950 Lions party. They came to Murrayfield having beaten England 23-5 at Twickenham, in what was agreed to have been the finest display of back-play since Wilson Shaw’s match in 1938. There were 13 Lions in their side at Murrayfield.

In contrast, the Scotland XV was young and inexperienced, exceptions being Elliot and the captain, Peter Kininmonth (Richmond). Kininmonth was the only Lion. (Elliot had had to refuse an invitation being unable to give up the time from his farm.) On the morning of the match, the experienced full-back Tommy Gray (Northampton), who had won the Calcutta Cup the previous March with a last-minute conversion from the touchline, had to drop out and was replaced by the 19-year-old Herioter, Ian Thomson. Only the most inveterate optimist gave Scotland a chance.

Wales dominated the early stages of the match, but failed to score. Elliot was soon disrupting their back-play, targeting their young fly-half Glyn Davies. The Welsh centres were shackled by the young Scottish pair Donald Scott and Donald Sloan (Edinburgh Accies). Just before half-time, Thomson kicked a penalty from in front of the posts. The score was still 3-0 as the last quarter of the game approached. Then, a Welsh clearance was fielded under the grandstand by Kininmonth, the No 8. He let fly with an unexpected drop-kick which soared between the posts. If ever a kick won a match in any but the last minute it was that one. Wales were finished, Scotland rampant. Three tries followed, two scored by Bob Gordon (Edinburgh Wanderers) playing in his first international. It was remarkable.None of the Scottish backs was more than 22.


In 1951, the Springboks massacred Scotland 44-0, for a long record. With modern scoring values, the result would have been 62-0.

This article was originally posted on 7-Feb-2007, 20:10 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 8-Feb-2007, 20:09.