Welsh try scorer Dewsbury Stadden
On 15 February 1890, an international match took place at Crown Flatt – the England vs Wales fixture in the 1890 Home Nations Championship . For the first time in their history, Wales beat England. The match was played in a snowstorm and was notable also, because Dewsbury player William Stadden appeared for the Welsh and scored the only try of the match. The matches for this season were decided on goals scored. A goal was awarded for a successful conversion after a try, for a dropped goal or for a goal from mark. If a game was drawn, any unconverted tries were tallied to give a winner – hence Stadden’s try won the match for Wales.
William James Wood “Buller” Stadden (1861 –30 December 1906)won eight caps for Wales over a period of seven years and is most remembered for scoring the winning try in 1890 to give Wales their first victory over England.
On Christmas night 1906 Stadden strangled his wife in their bed. Then, with five children and a lodger asleep on the premises, he attempted to slash his own throat before surrendering to the police. He died three days later. He is buried in an unmarked grave in Dewsbury Cemetery.
England v Wales
15 February 1890
England nil – 1T Wales
Try: Stadden
Crown Flatt, Dewsbury
Referee: Robert Rainie (Scotland)
England: William Grant Mitchell (Richmond), Piercy Morrison (Cambridge U.), Andrew Stoddart (Blackheath) capt., James Valentine (Swinton), JF Wright (Bradford), Francis Hugh Fox (Marlborough Nomads), Sammy Woods (Cambridge U.), JH Dewhurst (Richmond), Richard Budworth (Blackheath), Frank Evershed (Burton), JL Hickson (Bradford), A Robinson (Blackheath), John Rogers (Moseley), Froude Hancock (Blackheath), FW Lowrie (Batley)
Wales: Billy Bancroft (Swansea), Charlie Thomas (Newport), Arthur Gould (Newport) capt., Dickie Garrett (Penarth), Percy Lloyd (Llanelli), David Gwynn (Swansea), William Stadden (Cardiff), William Williams (Cardiff), David William Evans (Cardiff), William Bowen (Swansea), John Meredith (Swansea), Alexander Bland (Cardiff), Willie Thomas (London Welsh), Jim Hannan (Newport), Stephen Thomas (Llanelli)
