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

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In the closing stages the School was forced to concede two goals and a try. On two occasions big forwards ploughed through from scrums on the School line, and clever play by the opposing outside half brought another try. During this period of stress Barker I was very prominent in defence for the School. He tackled well, kicked with effect and was by far the best of the backs. In losing 19-3 the School was not disgraced but it was beaten forward by far bigger and stronger men. Some members of the School pack failed to stand the pace as they should have done, and far too much was left to the incomparable Campbell and to Orford, who also acquitted himself nobly. SCHOOL v. SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL. LOST 3-17 Playing away the School was well and truly beaten by a goal and four tries my 17 pointsl to a try 13 pointsl. This was the first loss to Shawnigan Lake School since 1940. Shawnigan opened strongly and, after one or two nice move- ments, opened their account with a try on the right wing. The goal was kicked. They continued to attack and found the School defence badly positioned especially in the centre, where Branson and Turner were very weak. The School forwards seemed to work hard, but they were outplayed in the line out and consistently beaten to the ball by quicker and more determined men. As a result the Shawnigan backs showed to advantage and made the School outsides appear second-rate. The School tackling was pitiful, only Barker I and Shaw of the backs and Campbell of the forwards offering adequate opposition. Two more tries were conceded before half time and the School was 11 points down at the breather. After the restart some even play took place before Barker I was nearly over after a short run and Haley fell on a loose ball for the Schoolls only try, which Barker failed to convert. From then on School was never dangerous and had to concede two more tries. both from splendid movements among the backs. Neither try was converted. The School had an unhappy day. Outplayed in all depart- ments. they defended badly and showed definite lack of condition. Roome and Orford played hard but without effect. and only Barker I. Campbell and Shaw came out of the match with credit. SCHOOL v. SHAWNIGAN LAKE SCHOOL. WON 14-3 The return match with Shawnigan Lake School, played at home. resulted in a meritorious win for the School by a goal and three tries 1 14 pointsl to a try t3 pointsl. For the first ten minutes it was all Shawnigan, whose backs were a constant threat, During this period the School were saved once by Bellls splendid tackle but a little later the defence was broken in the centre and a fine try resulted. It was not converted. This reverse seemed to give the School the spur they so badly 20

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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

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needed and from this point they never looked back. The forwards suddenly began to play with great zest and gradually drove Shawnigan back to their line where Sundt got his hands on a loose ball and a try was awarded. Barker kicked a splendid goal and the School led 5-3. The School backs were now having more of the ball and. on the whole, doing quite well with it. They lacked the pace to finish their movements, however, and it was the pack who were the real danger. forcing Shawnigan to touch down several times before half time. After the breather the School continued in the same dominant vein and very shortly. from a scramble on the Shawnigan line, Sundt was again successful in a pounce on a loose ball. Barker failed to convert this try which was at the flag. The School for- wards now controlled the game and the backs received more than their share of the ball. They backed up intelligently and there was a general willingness to pass. Finally Branson, who was prom- inent at this stage, went over at the flag after a short run. Barker failed to goal. just before the end the School scored their final try when Orford, who worked very hard throughout, forced himself over far out. Barker again failed to improve and the School won ll-3. In turning the tables on a team which had beaten them decisively two weeks previously the School put up a splendid show. The forwards all played with more fire than in previous matches and subdued their opposite numbers. Behind the scrum there was also a noticeable improvement in dash and cohesion. Branson had his best match to date and Barker fully maintained his good form. SCHOOL v. ST. GEORGFXS SCHOOL. DRAWN 3-3 Playing at home the School gave a very keen and spirited display and were rather unfortunate in having to be content with a 3-3 draw. each side scoring a try. The game opened at a fast pace but marking was very close and neither side appeared dangerous behind the scrum. The for- ward play was keen to a degree and here the School, though heavily outweighed, held a slight advantage. Some better play took place in the St. George's half but it was nearly half time before any score resulted and it was Barker who was responsible. Picking up a loose ball from behind a melee he dashed ten yards on the blind side, where there was barely room for his feet, and crossed at the flag. He lost the ball as he went down but Kendell. who was in support. gained possession and the try was awarded to him. Barker failed to convert and the School led 3-0 at half time on their merits. After the restart play was largely confined to the forwards and continued to be very vigorous with no quarter being given. The School all but added to their lead on two occasions, and on the first of these were really very unfortunate when Branson picked his way through the ruck and was actually over and falling when a desperate tackler seized his jersey and pulled him back 21