Over one hundred years ago, the then Northern F.C and RFU President, William Cail, was involved in managing the split between the Rugby Football Union and the Northern Union (later to become the Rugby Football League). That may have been William Cail's claim to fame in the eyes of rugby in England and internationally, but he is much better known to students of Tynedale RFC's history for other reasons - for William Cail was also a referee!

An extract of the minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Northumberland Rugby Union, reporting a Tynedale v Percy Park cup-tie, recorded the following:-

"April 2nd 1889
Northumberland Rugby Union AGM
President - Mr. Cail
Vice Presidents - Messrs. R.M. Henzell and R.H. Robb
Mr. Williamson was re-elected Hon. Secretary and Mr. Cail Hon. Treasurer."
"Mr. Cail told of terrible experiences he had had, refereeing a replayed cup-tie at Hexham, and after relating them to the meeting it was proposed that, if Tynedale entered the cup competition next season it would be subject to the ties being played on neutral ground"

"Only the efforts of visitors and police prevented Mr. Cail being thrown into the river."

In case you think that William Cail surrendered meekly to this treatment, his report to the county committee at its next meeting showed otherwise. During the game he said that, if he blew his whistle he was hooted and, if he did not blow his whistle he was also hooted. One Tynedale committeeman, he alleged, called him "a scoundrel" and flourished his stick at him while, as he left the ground afterwards, the crowd began to throw clay at him. Mr Cail retaliated by striking one man and getting hold of another by the neck!!

A letter from the Tynedale club's secretary, Mr. William French, in reply, pointed out that the man whom Mr. Cail, by his own admission had struck, was " a half-deaf and blind old fellow aged sixty years or so." Furthermore, the letter added, following the first game with Percy Park at North Shields, a large number of Hexham people were "displeased at Mr. Cail for hitting twice on the mouth with his fists James W. McIntyre, one of the Tynedale players, when on his knees protesting against the play of a member of the Percy Park team (as no quieter or more unassuming young man plays football than McIntyre)."

William Cail was a man of many parts, referee, Treasurer, President of Northern, President of Northumberland and President of the Rugby Football Union - and certainly not one to be cowed by abuse or bad behaviour.

Who said that abuse of referees was a recent phenomenon?

ERNIE AVERELL
In 1911 strange things happened in a semi-final match of the Northumberland Senior Cup. It was a match which Tynedale were not expected to win. Their opponents that day were Northern whose team was probably the most powerful, at any rate on paper, that the Newcastle club has ever put out. It contained five International players, J.A.S.Ritson and A.D. Roberts (England),J.G Scoular (Scotland), O.J.S. Piper and T. Smyth (Ireland).The rest were International triallists or County players. Ritson lived in Hexham!

After a great tussle Northern appeared to have had the game won, but five minutes from the end, with Tynedale three points in arrears, when the game seemed to have been lost, William Robb picked up after a loose scrum, passed to J.W. Stephenson who found an opening and sent E. Averell away down the touchline. The wing three-quarter got the try that levelled the scores, and with the final kick of the match William Robb added the goal for victory.

The final was against Percy Park at the Royal Grammar School ground, Newcastle. Tynedale won a very tense game by 7 points to 6. Jack Scott, the stand-off, was carried shoulder high to the club’s headquarters in the North Eastern Hotel, having dropped the four-point goal which secured victory.

Ernie Averell’s interest in rugby had been kindled at St. Bees School, Rockcliff RFC and Durham University. They subsequently recognised his ability as a winger. He played in the five eighths position in 1905 against the All Blacks!!!!

In 1910 he found his way to Tynedale, and reports say that since the cup victory no man has been a more enthusiastic supporter of the game and the club. When he died in 1948 it was reported that he was one of the most ardent supporters of rugby at Dene Park and in the County during the past half century.

HAMISH HASTIE

A few old-timers who were watching the Tynedale v Rossendale National 2 (North) League match on Saturday 4th. October 2025 at Tynedale Park, and who remembered Hamish Hastie, were delighted to find that one of his grandsons, Blair Hastie, was playing as hooker for the visitors that day. (This Hastie family are not, by the way, related to Martyn Hastie our esteemed Honorary Life Member).

Hamish joined the Cross House veterinary practice in Corbridge in 1958. and played for Tynedale Rugby Club, who were then based in Hexham. He was a fine back-row forward, and captain of the 1st XV in the 1959/60 season. He had been a tank commander in the Royal Scots Greys during his National Service and then, after graduating, had married Laura in 1956. Their three children, daughter Mhairi and two sons Calum and Niall’s early days were spent in Corbridge.

Hamish had previously played for George Heriots and the Royal Dick Vet rugby teams. For Tyne supporters the Hamish links to our club have continued, since Tynedale later played Dick Vet teams in friendly matches and then in the last two years the 1st XV and Raiders have played Heriot’s 1stXV and Second teams in pre-season matches. Also, Grenville Harris, another product of George Heriots and the Royal Dick joined the Cross House practice and eventually his three sons, Michael, Ranald and Iain all played for the Tynedale 1stXV.

Hamish practised as a veterinary surgeon in Corbridge until 1964, when he returned to Edinburgh to lecture at the Dick Vet. College. He played for the Dick Vet rugby team until he retired from playing, and then took up rugby refereeing, continuing into his 40’s. He joined Heriot’s Rugby Club as a social member but concentrated on his other sporting passion, golf.

Hamish established a business which designed and patented veterinary equipment. Politically he was a dedicated proponent of Scottish independence and stood as a candidate for the Scottish National Party in the Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles constituency in the 1970 General election.

In 1975 Hamish left Edinburgh to join his old college friend and best man, George McDougall in Sutton Coldfield, helping George expand his practice and pursue his real passion, the care and welfare of animals. Hamish continued to practice there until, following a heart attack in 1987, he retired to North Berwick, East Lothian in the following year.

Hamish died on the 23rd. October 2018, aged 88 years. His funeral took place on November 7th at the Pentland Chapel, Edinburgh. His wife Laura had died in 2009.

The family’s love of sport had been continued through their three children and grandchildren, spanning a variety of sports to varying levels. In rugby they excelled. Niall, who was at Tynedale Park that day to watch his son Blair, had played at senior level for Coventry, having represented England Colts and Scotland U21’s. He then coached at Glasgow Hawks for 14 years. Fraser, a Lock, has played for Ayrshire
Bulls, Heriot FP (of course), S.C. Frankfurt 1880 and is currently playing for Rotherham Titans in National One. Blair played for GHK Glasgow before joining Rossendale, where he is regarded as a hooker/ No. 8.
We will now follow their progress with renewed interest.

D.F. Hamilton