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

Page 22 text:

FIRST FIFTEEN MATCHES SCHOOL V. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL. DRAWN 0-0 Throughout the game the forward play was vigorous but unintelligent, and a perfectly dry ball was wasted.Neither line was ever in serious danger. the opposing outsides having few oppor- tunites and showing a great lack of ability in the use of them. Of the School backs Shaw tackled well and displayed a will- ingness to run with the ball. Bell. at full back, was adequate. Forward, the School showed promise. Roome and Campbell, the old hands, were good, while Robinson, Orford and Mason put in much solid work. SCHOOL v. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL. LOST O-3 The second match against Oak Bay High School was again disappointing. As in the previous game little effort was made to open up the play and a most abortive forward scramble resulted. In this rough and tumble the School, playing without Roome, their Captain. stood up well. Campbell being outstanding. Behind the scrum the School outsides failed dismally in every department, only Bell and Shaw coming out of the game with any credit. The only score came late in the second half when a High School wing gathered a rolling ball cleanly and dashed over un- opposed to score an unconverted try. SCHOOL y. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL. WON 3-O. Playing without Campbell the School forwards gave a prom- ising display. fully holding their own in all departments. They also scored the only try of the game, the credit going to Roome, although Mason and Haley were closely involved. Behind the scrum the School was clearly superior. Barker, at outside half. and Branson and Turner, the centres, had a good match. The passing and handling showed improvement, and Turner in particular showed thrust. Territorially the School had a distinct advantage and might easily have scored three times without reply. SCHOOL y. OAK BAY HIGH SCHOOL. XVON 10-0 Throughout the first half the School forwards outplayed their opponents in the loose and fully held their own in the tight. The backs, in consequence, had rather more of the ball than in previous matches, and. though they finished badly and wasted many an opportunity, they were better together than in any previous game. Turner was full of thrust and always dangerous and he it was who opened the scoring. running through a badly placed defence to score near the posts for Barker I to convert. After half time the School continued to have the better of 18

Page 21 text:

'19 ...J First XV RUGBY FOOTBALL, 1951-1952 In addition to F. B. Roome. who was elected Captain. and H. H. Bell, Vice-Captain. only three other members of the success- ful 195O-51 side were available. and it was evident that 1951-1952 was to be a rebuilding season. Such a season it proved to be. of the eleven matches played five being won. four lost and two drawn. The forwards improved as the season progressed and at the end gave an excellent account of themselves. The backs were weak. seldom being together in attack and never dependable in defence. They were saved from complete mediocrity by the ability and determination of Barker I. who gave some fine displays at outside half. Colours were awarded to T. Barker. T. E. Robinson and J. D. Orford. The side was as follows: F. B. Roome. H. H. Bell. J. A. Campbell. C. D. Branson. T. E. Robinson. ,I T. Barker. D. Orford, R. H. Sundt. M. Turner. D. L. Mason. H. Shaw. M. D. Kendell. G. H. Jackson. N. T. Haley. A. K. Goodacre. The Colts' side enjoyed another very successful season. both St. George's School and Shawnigan Lake School being defeated in home and away matches. Both House Nlatches were won. the Senior easily. by Founders' House. R. XV. 17

Page 23 text:

the play. the High School showing nothing of a constructive nature behind the scrum and fighting it out with their pack. Failure to pass lost the School many a try, Turner being particularly guilty in this respect. Late in the game the School scored again when Campbell picked a loose ball and forced himself over between the posts. Barker I added the extra points and the School had won I0-O. On the play the score might well have been 20-U but the finishing was bad and there was much selfish play. SCHOOL v. VICTORIA COLLEGE. LOST O-3 A fairly even game with a fairly strong Victoria College side resulted in a win for the visitors by the only try scored. Play was mainly of a forward nature, neither set of backs showing to advantage. The School forwards, for whom Campbell was outstanding, stuck to their job well and fully held their own. The heeling from the loose was too slow, however, and the backs were afforded few chances. Among the backs Branson did quite well at outside half and Shaw did some good things in defence. The only try came late in the game, after a period of steady pressure by the College. the School never threatening seriously. In addition to Campbell both Bell, at fullback, and Orford, in the pack, came out of the game with credit. SCHOOL v. ST. GEORGFXS SCHOOL. LOST 3-19 The School was well beaten at Brocton Point, Vancouver. by St. George's School, by two goals and three tries 119 pointsl to a try 113 points l. The game opened with some very even play mainly of a for- ward nature. Great keenness was evident but the marking was very close and neither line was in real danger. The School opened the scoring when Turner, taking a bad pass at his feet and pressing the defence closely, reached the St. George's line, where Haley, who was in close support, fell on a loose ball to score far out. Rooper made a splendid attempt to convert from near the touch line but the ball hit the cross bar. St. George's then attacked. and almost immediately equalized, when a bad mistake by Mason led to a try which was not im- proved. Shortly after this, after several scrums on the School line. the St. George's outside half went straight through to score a try which should have been averted. The School then pressed but despite strenuous efforts were unable to score and at half time were still three points down, although territorially they had had a fair share of the game. Campbell played a magnificent first half: tackling with tremendous effect he did three men's work through- out, and it was in large part due to his prodigious efforts that the School was still in the game at the change over. After the restart. with Campbell obviously not himself follow- ing an injury. the School was hard pressed. The great weight advantage enjoyed by St. George's made itself felt more and more as the match progressed and their forwards dominated the game. 19