Early autumn 1995 saw Student Rugby League Old Boys play their first ever cup game, as they took on London Warriors in the Southern Counties Cup. The Warriors were a different club that played in the last decade, but at that stage they were one of the most established sides and had won the London Cup eight times in the previous ten seasons.

However, there was no stopping the Old Boys, who ran out 22-42 winners. Marc Simons scored two tries and there was also a try from Skolars’ Hall-of-Fame member Bobby Brown.

The Southern Counties Cup was the major cup competition for clubs south of Sheffield, with the winners progressing to the first round of the Challenge Cup.

Hemel seconds had won the competition in 1994 but weren’t allowed to enter because their first team were also eligible to play, but in 1995 they fell at the preliminary round stage to the Metropolitan Police, who defeated Bexleyheath in the last 16. The armed forces were also represented through Uxbridge Blues and United Services, who beat Aylesbury Bears 0-84 before a 104-4 victory over East London in the quarter finals. Other games in the last 16 saw London Colonials beat Brent Ealing, East London defeated Swindon Bulldogs 57-20, whilst Fulham Travellers won against Ipswich and Nottingham Crusaders beat Peckham.

The Old Boys opponents in the quarter finals were Leicester, who had a walkover against Uxbridge Blues in the previous round. The Old Boys travelled up the M1 and ran out 8-66 victors.

We don’t have any details of the scorers in that game. If you have any further information or any pictures you’d like to share please email info@skolarsrl.com

October conclude with a 36-28 win over Brent Ealing with Mike Morgan and Bobby Brown both scoring braces to maintain the side’s unbeaten record. Scrum-half that day was Karl Williams, who has done much to support the student game and Skolars, with Pcubed’s sponsorship of the Varsity Game for many years, along with sponsorship of City Touch and the Junior games at the Capital Challenge.