WITH Wales about to take on England in rugby union’s Six Nations later this afternoon, it gives us an opportunity to look back at one of Cowley’s star players who made his debut in this particular fixture 43 years ago.
Fly half John Horton played opposite Phil Bennett at Twickenham in England’s 6-9 defeat by Wales on February 4, 1978.
It would be the final time that this great Welsh team of the 1970s would win the Grand Slam. That team, of course, featured JPR Wiliams, JJ Williams, Gareth Edwards and the legendary Pontypool front row.
It was a tough, tight game with the rain-sodden Twickenham surface dictating the style of rugby – with Gareth Edwards’ kicking game from the base of the scrum calling the shots.
It would be the first of 13 caps between 1978-84 for the old Cowleyan, who played for St Helens and Sale before moving south to Bath.
Horton's career highlight would undoubtedly be his steepling drop goals in England’s first win in Paris in 16 years back in 1980 – a match which paved the way for the Grand Slam.
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