St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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close marking and keen tackling, kept the School outsides very quiet. A penalty against the School gave the University their first points and before the end they had scored twice, neither try being converted. There was no further score and the School won 16f9. The School backs seemed to lack an effective reply to the spoilf ing tactics of the opposition but showed flashes of form. Hicks was outstanding although Craig put in an astonishing amount of work and Mercer performed very creditably at scrum half. The forwards did well in the line out and generally held their own although the packing in the loose was not good. Gillespie worked hard and was unlucky in not being credited with what appeared to be a legitimate try. A fair crowd of Old Boys were on hand to witness the game and later in the evening the School team was entertained by them at a banquet at the Shaughnessy Golf Club. ...OM SCHOOL vs. OLD BOYS QVANCOUVERJ An exceptionally strong Old Boys side from Vancouver visited the School on March 11th and defeated the School side easily, 26f3. Exerting pressure from the opening whistle the Old Boys with the Mercer brothers, Leggat, Field and N. Hayer in the three' quarter line kept the School very busy in,defence. Some vigorous running and wellftimed passing was seen and it was not long before Hager took a pass from Field and crossed at the flag only to be held up before he could ground the ball. A little later Hicks saved the School when he stopped Leggat with a fine tackle, but persistent attack had its reward and Allan Mercer opened the scoring after some nice passing among the backs. He converted his own try. Conf tinuing to display fine form the Old Boys threefquarters, splendidly served by K. Featherstone at scrum half, gave the School a lesson in straight running and timely passing and before half time had scored twice through Field, Allan Mercer goaling on one occasion. After half time the School had much more of the game but the Old Boys tackling was keen and progress was difficult. Craig was all but over on one occasion but a grand tackle saved the Old Boys. After some ten minutes play a scrum was ordered on the Old Boys' line, Gillespie called for a concerted push and the scrum took the ball over, Sproule who had lent his support, being credited with the try which he failed to improve. Shortly after this a grand move' ment in which the Mercers and Leggat were prominent saw Leggat in a characteristic dash down the wing which resulted in a try between the posts. Allan Mercer added the extra points. The next try came when Everett was late in clearing in his own twentyffive and D. Worthington, who played well throughout, blocked his kick enabling A. Pollock to burst through and score a well merited try. Allan Mercer goaled for the fourth time. The final try was scored just on time, another good movement among the backs result' ing in a try by Allan Mercer which Leggat failed to improve.

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After the change over the game took an entirely different turn. The School forwards, playing with zest, more than held their own, and it was soon evident that. unless Brentwood could dominate the set and loose scrums as they had done during the first half, the fast School threefquarters would materially increase the score. The first School success came when Everett sent Thorne in on the left wing for a try which Hicks failed to improve, and a little later Craig slipped through the centre on his own and forced himself over be' tween the posts for Sproule to convert. Hicks was very prominent at this stage, his work at right wing being purposeful and effective, and had Evertt gathered his inside pass on one occasion a grand try would have resulted. A similar run however was more successful, a well judged inside pass from Hicks and some intelligent backing up by Sproule giving the last mentioned a try between the posts which he goaled without difficulty. The final try came when, after some short passing among the forwards, Everett, backing up well, took McKenzie's pass and scored near the posts. He failed to conf vert from an easy angle. Brentwoodimade a fine rush near the end but one of their forwards was held up when over the School line. No further score resulted and the School won Z4f6. The School backs, though somewhat fluttered by the faulty tackling of their opponents, gave a pleasing display. They were thrustful, unselfish, backed up intelligently and their passing was crisp and well timed. The forwards after a slow start gradually im' proved and finished strongly. -Oi SCHOOL vs. UNIVERSITY OF B.C. Ord Teamj The School journeyed to Vancouver for this game which was played under perfect weather conditions at Brocton Point Oval. For some twenty minutes of the first half the University played three short and during this period the School had considerable ad' vantage. Thorne scored twice on the left wing taking the final pass from Everett on both occasions. On the other wing Hicks was full of enterprise running with zest and using the short kick ahead with judgment. Craig did some good things at outside half and scored once, dribbling over after being tackled near the line, but both he and the centres were inclined to hold on too long and in addition, revealed unexpected deficiencies in gathering and handling. The School forwards were held but managed to give the backs ample opportunity to show their paces. These chances were, on the whole, badly used and although Sproule converted Thorne's tries, the School's 13fO lead at the interval was not particularly meritorious. After half time the School almost immediately increased this lead when Hicks made ground on the right wing and Sproule, folf lowing up fast, obtained possession after a kick ahead and scored an unconverted try. Following this the University exerted pressure with their heavy forwards while their backs, by means of exceptionally -15-

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All the Old Boys' backs played open and intelligent football, and gave a most pleasing display. They were well looked after by their scrum half Featherstone who was one of the best men on the field. The Old Boys scrum, though disorganized at times and too slow to form, gave the backs ample opportunity. H. G. Cornwall was outstanding but one and all played spirited football. The School backs were outclassed. The halves played fairly well, but the threefquarters with the exception of Hicks, who tackled with resolution, did not have a good day. Thorne at full back was weak. The forwards had a definite advantage in the set scrums but were no match for their opponents in the loose. . The Vancouver Old Boys were assisted by D. H. Murray and A. B. Miller, two Victoria Old Boys, and the full team was as follows: P. C. Townsend K. Featherstone R. K. Mercer W. S. Leggat fCapt.j, A. W. Mercer, A. L. Field, N. P. Hager H. G. Cornwall, D. H. Massy, D. G. Worthington, A. Pollock, F. G. Skillings, A. B. Miller, R. E. Gook J. Carlyle MOM SCHOOL vs. VICTORIA COLLEGE and WANDERERS The School closed the season on their own ground with a game against a team composed of eight Victoria College and seven Wanderers players. Throughout the first half the game was very even, the School playing more polished football but being held in check by the keen tackling of the opposition's outsides. One good try was scored how' ever, Hicks crossing at the flag and scoring between the posts for Sproule to convert. The loose play of the opposition was very good and their forwards were always dangerous with the ball at their feet. Just before half time the School conceded a forward try which was not converted and at the change over led 5f3. After the resumption the School had a considerable territorial advantage and even after Sproule had missed badly with an easy penalty they still had the game well in hand. just before nofside however a fatal indecision on the part of Hicks enabled a fast for' ward to kick ahead a dribble over for the winning try which was not converted. On the play the School hardly deserved a 65 defeat, but several good openings were not taken and the inability of the School pack to match their opponents in the loose was the deciding factor.