After the win over Wales recorded in the previous piece Scotland entered four years without a single win 1951-55


So we entered on the black years, suffering 17 successive defeats between February 1951 and February 1955. It sometimes seemed as if we would never win again. We scored only 54 points in these 17 games: 11 tries, six conversions, and four penalties. Admitted, scoring was low in the 1950s, and there were far fewer technical offences punished by penalties. Nevertheless, this record was miserable.

The selectors ran wild. In three seasons, 39 new caps were awarded. More than 30 players were selected in 1953. There was more stability in 1954 when only 20 were used, but of these, 14 had not played the year before, and 10 were new caps. That season saw some light at the end of the tunnel. There was no crushing defeat, and, captained by Douglas Elliot, Scotland held New Zealand to a margin of one penalty to nothing. That season also saw the emergence of a number of forwards - Hugh McLeod (Hawick), Hamish Kemp (Glasgow High School FP), Ernie Michie (Aberdeen University) and Adam Robson (Hawick) who would form the nucleus of the pack for several seasons and restore national pride.

The turning-point was the Welsh match at Murrayfield after a 15-0 defeat in Paris seemed to dash hopes of a revival yet again. It is always rightly remembered as Arthur Smith’s match, in acknowledgement of the importance of the solo try he scored from deep in the Scottish 25. It was the first of the nine tries he was to score for Scotland and by far the most significant. (It was also his first international match). Scotland went on to win 14-8, and the black cloud was lifted

NOTE FROM ED
ANNIESLAND'S CONTRIBUTION TO THIS WIN TOOK THE FORM OF ANGUS CAMERON GLASGOW H.S.F.P.(VICE CAPTAIN OF 1955 BRITISH LIONS WHOSE JERSEY IS IN THE OLD ANNIESLAND PAVILION) ,HAMISH KEMP G.H.S.F.P. AND JIMMIE DOCHERTY G.H.S.F.P. WHOSE DROP GOAL HELPED SEAL THE VICTORY -JIMMIE WAS A GUEST AT LAST YEAR'S DAVID`GILMORE MEMORIAL MATCH

This article was originally posted on 8-Feb-2007, 09:28 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 8-Feb-2007, 20:07.