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

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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

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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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inches from the line and under the posts. A little later a stronger runner than Archibald would have scored far out but here again a try was narrowly averted. St. George's also had their chances and forced the School to touch down twice. With time running out they made desperate efforts and two minutes from the end they were successful when their outside half side-stepped his way through the centre and scored after a short run. The try was not converted and a draw resulted. The game. though vigorous to a degree, was singularly lacking in incident, the abilities and the opportunities of the outsides being limited. The School had given their best performance of the season, however. in that, though heavily outweighed, they had earned rather the better of a drawn game and that against a team which had beaten them soundly earlier in the season. Branson did quite well at centre and all the older forwards played sterling games, but it was Barker at outside half and Campbell at break who once again earned the palm, both playing extremely courageous and spirited football. SCHOOL v. THE OLD BOYS. LOST 9-22 The Old Boys raised a very strong side for this fixture and had no trouble in winning by two goals and four tries C22 pointsj to a penalty goal and two tries 19 points r. Throughout the first half the School showed to advantage. They opened their account when Barker was successful with a penalty. and a little later went further ahead when Turner scored near the posts. Barker failed to convert. The Old Boys scored twice late in the half. John Shipley kicking the goal on one occasion, and they led 8-6 at the changeover. After half time the Old Boys asserted themselves and their experience and weight proved too much for the School. A goal and three tries were added and of these the most noteworthy were one through the fine individual effort of R. Shipley. and another the result of the masterly initiation of R. Calton and the dash of H. Burnett. The School added to their score late in the game when Goodacre fell on a loose ball following a scrum on the Old Boys' Line. The try was not converted. For the School Barker was in a class by himself behind the scrum, while in the pack Roome, Campbell, Robinson and Orford showed to advantage. SCHOOL v. J.B.A.A. XVON 19-5 In this. the final game of the season, the School proved to be too strong for the J.B.A.A. second division side, and won by two goals and three tries i 19 pointsl to a goal 45 pointsl. Though giving away some weight the School was a more experienced side and were superior in all departments. Barker again had an excellent match, scoring two tries and kicking two goals, Robinson, who had put in much solid work throughout the 22