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Dai Davies

OVERALL STATISTICS

BIRTHAGESIGNED ONFROM
09-05-1909
N/A
13-08-1926
Local juniors
DEBUTLAST MATCHLEFT
25-08-1928 v Widnes
York
1930- Broughton Rangers
CAREERAPPEARANCES (SUBS)
1926-1930
29 (0)
TRIESGOALSDGOALSPTS
4
0
0
12

Biography of Dai Davies



HERITAGE NO : 363
Dai Davies by SHS

Initially a half-back in junior rugby, David or Dai as he became known, was signed in November 1927, for a "30 fee. Dai, from Clock Face, first came to prominence in August 1928, when he was designated Captain of the Possibles against the Probables in a pre-season trial match at Knowsley Road. His elder brother, Peter, a half-back, was also on the books, although his rugby league career was interrupted by working for the railways in Derby. In fact, both brothers played a number of games together in the A Team at Knowsley Road, when Peter occasionally captained the team.

His debut came in the away match with Widnes, on 25th August in what was a somewhat feisty affair, won 2-0 by the Chemics. He played as a half-back that afternoon and his second appearance was also as a stand-off against Carlisle City on 8th September, when the Saints won 8-5. It was then that he was switched to the centres, where he played the rest of his football as a Saint. The return of the 1928 Tourists was a big occasion, not least the return of the great winger Alf Ellaby and Dai was selected as his centre in the home match against Hunslet on 29th September. Ellaby was unstoppable that day, but the critics had their knives out for his inside man. To quote Premier in the St. Helens Newspaper: "That very pleasing boy, Davies, became still more boyish by the comparison that could not be avoided. He was overawed by the occasion and did not do himself justice but even if he had done himself justice he is not yet good enough for such a partnership as is being thrust upon him."

It was no easy task to get any First Team opportunities at Knowsley Road with the likes of Billy Mercer and George Lewis around, and Dai found himself back in the Reserves. Ironically, it was his brother Peter who next returned to senior action, with four appearances from December 1928 to the New Year. Returning for the game against Swinton at Knowsley Road on 19th January, which Saints lost 2-3, Dai enjoyed a run of 14 senior appearances until the end of the 1928-29 campaign, scoring three tries for good measure.

Dai was not an automatic choice at the start of the 1929-30 season and his appearances were becoming somewhat more sporadic. All told he played in nine First Team matches and as the 1929-30 season reached a climax, he was not included in the Challenge Cup final squad for the game against Widnes at Wembley and he played what was to be his last match for the club against York, on 21st April.

He initially signed on for the following season, but was promptly snapped up by Broughton Rangers for a £100 fee, indicative of his potential, on 13th September 1930. It is clear he had ability, but concerns were raised as to his relative lack of pace, which, apparently he needed to have with Ellaby outside him. This, plus lack of First Team opportunities generally triggered the inevitable. It should be noted, however, that Welshman George Lewis was centre to Ellaby on numerous occasions and it was his craft and skill that gave Alf so many tries, not pace as such. So what did he achieve at Broughton Rangers? Graham Morris, an expert in Manchester rugby league matters tells us that Davies made 158 appearances, 107 of them in his first three seasons at the club and he remained at Rangers until the outbreak of War. In 1939 he was working as a Bricklayer and living in Forrester Avenue, St Helens. Dai passed away in January 1989 in St. Helens, aged 79.

PLAYER HONOURS

SEASON STATISTICS

Season (Official Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
1928~29 4 0 0 20
1929~30 0 0 0 9
TOTALS:4 0 0 29
Season (Other Matches)TriesGoalsDGoalsMatches
TOTALS:

ALL MATCHES

DateMatchPosOpponentsCompVenueFTFTOTGDG
25th Aug 1928 1
L
 6 Widnes L A 0 2 VIEW
8th Sep 1928 2
W
 7 Carlisle City L A 8 5 VIEW
15th Sep 1928 3
W
 4 Broughton Rangers L H 12 5 VIEW
19th Sep 1928 4
W
 4 Hull Kingston Rovers L H 6 0 VIEW
22nd Sep 1928 5
W
 4 Dewsbury L A 17 7 VIEW
29th Sep 1928 6
D
 4 Hunslet L H 13 13 VIEW
19th Jan 1929 7
L
 4 Swinton L H 2 3 VIEW
26th Jan 1929 8
L
 4 Barrow L A 6 16 VIEW
2nd Feb 1929 9
D
 4 Salford L H 11 11 1 VIEW
9th Feb 1929 10
W
 2 Lindley CC1 H 32 2 VIEW
23rd Mar 1929 11
L
 4 Halifax L A 8 19 1 VIEW
29th Mar 1929 12
L
 4 Wigan L A 8 28 VIEW
30th Mar 1929 13
W
 5 Bradford Northern L H 47 5 1 VIEW
1st Apr 1929 14
W
 5 Barrow L H 9 5 VIEW
6th Apr 1929 15
L
 4 Hull Kingston Rovers L A 0 12 VIEW
13th Apr 1929 16
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L A 12 5 VIEW
20th Apr 1929 17
W
 4 Warrington L H 29 8 VIEW
22nd Apr 1929 18
W
 4 Bradford Northern L A 28 19 1 VIEW
27th Apr 1929 19
W
 4 Hull L H 24 7 VIEW
30th Apr 1929 20
L
 4 Broughton Rangers L A 7 14 VIEW
2nd Oct 1929 21
L
 5 Hull L A 5 8 VIEW
5th Oct 1929 22
L
 4 Halifax L A 13 19 VIEW
30th Oct 1929 23
L
 3 Salford LC2(rep) A 3 13 VIEW
2nd Nov 1929 24
W
 3 Broughton Rangers L A 8 3 VIEW
4th Jan 1930 25
L
 3 Oldham L A 4 20 VIEW
25th Jan 1930 26
W
 4 Rochdale Hornets L H 32 5 VIEW
22nd Mar 1930 27
W
 3 Hull L H 23 4 VIEW
19th Apr 1930 28
W
 3 Broughton Rangers L H 31 17 VIEW
21st Apr 1930 29
W
 3 York L H 29 0 VIEW
*Unofficial Match. **Non Playing Sub.
WINS : 16 | LOSSES : 11 | DRAWS : 2




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