Bottle Match

The first recorded rugby match between the Camborne School of Mines and the Royal School of Mines took place in London on 17th December 1902 when an honorable draw was reported. The first visit by RSM to Camborne appeared to be in 1910 when the game was drawn. There were other matches between the School of Mines between 1903 and 1920, but not all of these results are recorded.

Except for the years during WWII, matches have been played on a regular basis since 1921. During WWII the remaining students at RSM were evacuated to study at Camborne and their players played in CSM teams against Cornish and military teams. Again, there are some gaps in the results recorded.

The trophy for the game is first mentioned in the CSM magazine of 1946 and of course is known to all as the Bottle.  It was apparently acquired by RSM students from a Bass-Charington beer lorry and was presented as a trophy for the RSM vs. CSM match 1946. CSM won the Bottle on the first occasion by 11points to 3. A CSM student, Rafe Hunt, decorated the Bottle with the crests of CSM and RSM and immediately CSM lost it to RSM in season 47-48 by 5 points to 8.

The Bottle Match is felt to be one of the longest recorded inter-varsity matches in the country and still retains a very important place in the life of the school. In recent years the traditional Rugby Bottle Match has been augmented by other sports having their Bottle Matches against RSM over the same weekend, at the alternate annual venues.

Since the 1950’s Union Corporation presented players with personal tankards and their names were engraved on the master tankards that are under the supervision of the UEC President. A player of a winning Bottle Match team can come back to Camborne and claim the use of his named tankard for the night.

On the merger of Union Corporation with General Mining in the 80's, Gencor continued the tradition of tankards until 1993. Since then, Michael
West and the Mining Journal have kindly agreed to recognise the Bottle Match by providing personal tankards for the winning team; this started in 1994. Such Presentations provide a lifetime reminder of winning the Bottle and are much appreciated by the players.

The Bottle Match will be held at the mighty CSM this coming year. RSM may have sneaked it away last year but this year is a year for Gods, Legends and Miners! The Bottle will once again sit proudly in the CSM museum where it belongs!