
The Early Years (8)
From the early origins of the club through to the first press reports and up to the First World War.
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Argaum Villas comprises, or comprised, six large semi-detached houses (or villas) at the Stoke end of Valletort Road which, unhappily, are in the course of losing their individuality through the requirement to number them as part of Valletort Road.
The first discoverable press reference is to be found on 4th November 1902 - a fixture against Pembroke United, but the reporting did not extend to the result.
The season opened on 3rd October against R. N. E. College III, when 'not at full strength, Argaum lost 5-6 and finished one short', the try was scored by Heard, Vincent converting.
This opened on 26th September against Plymouth Reserves, with a result 5-9; an improvement on earlier meetings. 'Play was bright and entertaining, Vincent obtaining a well deserved try for Argaum, Grigg converting, but Plymouth Reserves had a general superiority'.
This season opened on September 23rd, resulting in a 0-3 defeat at Bere Alston.
To oppose Plymouth Reserves at South Devon place on 15th September 1906, the selected side was G.H. Ley, F.R. Duberty, M. Edwards, L. Godsell, A.D. Meek, E.G. Erde, G. Villar, A.W. Grundy, T.E. Hughes, A.P. Le Provost, E.W. Dudley, P. Harris, W.W. Hitchins, T. Spalding and T.R. Carr - a more than fair sprinkling of new names.
On October 5th 1907, a try apiece versus Modbury, October 19th (old rivals) Kelly College, but no report or result.
If 1907-08 had been a season of poor publicity, the seasons following, until rugby was interrupted by the first world war, were catastrophic.