This film is believed to be the Hartlepool Rovers' Diamond Jubilee match at the Old Friarage Field, Hartlepool Headland, on Saturday April 22nd, 1939. The match features R F Oakes and his International XV and Hartlepool Rovers XV. A Sunday reception is held at Greystones, Elwick Road, Hartlepool, Neville Horsley's residence, with guest Bob Oakes and his International XV team, many of whom were players in various Yorkshire Rugby Union teams. The opening shot shows two men walking...

This film is believed to be the Hartlepool Rovers' Diamond Jubilee match at the Old Friarage Field, Hartlepool Headland, on Saturday April 22nd, 1939. The match features R F Oakes and his International XV and Hartlepool Rovers XV. A Sunday reception is held at Greystones, Elwick Road, Hartlepool, Neville Horsley's residence, with guest Bob Oakes and his International XV team, many of whom were players in various Yorkshire Rugby Union teams. The opening shot shows two men walking across the old Friarage Field on Hartlepool Headland, in the background the lighthouse and the old gun battery. The teams assemble on the field whilst a brass band plays. An enthusiastic crowd waits for the game to begin. As the Rovers team runs on to the field a small dog snaps at their heels, eager to join in the game! The team in the striped shirts (the Oakes select team) warm up, passing the ball to each other. Close ups of the spectators follow. The game gets under way. Various shots of the game follow. The ball is kicked into touch and a line out follows, the ball thrown in over two lines of opposing players. A scrum follows and the ball is won by an International player who scores a try. The ball is then kicked over the bar of the goal posts, thus 'converting' the try and scoring extra points. A Rovers player tries to make a break to the opponents goal line but is quickly brought down by the International players. At half-time some schoolboys try their hand at rugby, practicing a few moves. A gentleman chats to spectators in the stand, possibly Bob Oakes. There are shots of women in the crowd of spectators enjoying the match. The second half gets underway. Despite Rovers trying their best, the International team score early in the second half. A linesman walks along the side of the playing field. A group of men, likely to be members of the various Yorkshire Rugby Union teams, arrive by car at Greystones . They chat amongst themselves in front of the house. One of the women who greets the visitors (probably a Horsley family member) points her movie camera towards camera. Bob Oakes arrives wearing his distinctive blazer and a group of men greet him at the doorway. The film cuts to a general view of the cars parked in the driveway. Inside, the dining room is laid out and prepared for a banquet. Bottles of drink and glasses are placed on tables around the wall of the room. The players and other guests chat and drink. Outside the house, Bob Oakes joins in some high jinks, and other guests prepare to leave. Guests continue their socialising in the garden. Bob Oakes appears again as he chats to guests, joins in more high jinks and shakes the hand of a one or two guests who are leaving. A man appears wearing a fez and pretends to play an accordion. A teenage boy appears who seems curious about the accordion. Another man takes up the musical challenge. [Colour film follows] General views follow of the celebration guests socialising and of the lawns and flowers. Two Scottish terrier dogs appear and are curious about all the activity in the garden. A number of guests prepare to leave and climb into their cars. A group of women mill around the doorway. More general views follow of the garden, including a shot of a solitary tortoise. A dark interior shot shows a group of men sitting with their backs to the light of an exterior window Some of the guests stand outside on the front door steps prior to making their departure. Note: Oakes was President of the Rugby Football Union from 1933-34 and received an Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Hartlepool in 1941.